While the tension lasted he is known to have used the critical period in exercising his fleet in tactical evolutions, in order to perfect it in a new code of signals which he had been elaborating for several years.[1] It is probable therefore that this Signal Book belongs to that year, and that it is one of several copies which Howe had printed with the battle signals blank for his own use while he was elaborating his system by practical experiment.

This conjecture is brought to practical certainty by a rough and much-worn copy of it in the United Service Institution.

It was made by Lieut.

John Walsh, of H.M.S.Marlborough, one of Howe's fleet, and inside the cover he has written 'Earl Howe's signals by which the Grand Fleet was governed 1790, 1791, and 1794.' It was upon the tactical system contained in this book that all the great actions of the Nelson period were fought.

The alterations which took place during the war were slight.