The Seaman's Christian Friend; Containing Moral and Religious Advice to Seamen - 1779

London: Sold by Dodley et al., 1779. [6], liv, [6], 292pp. With an engraved frontispiece and an engraved title page. Recent blind-tooled calf, contrasting black morocco lettering-piece. A trifle rubbed. Slight loss to lower corner of leaf C4, else internally clean and crisp. Jonas Hanway (bap. 1712, d.1786), English merchant, philanthropist and author. Hanway had been responsible in 1756 for the foundation of the Marine Society, the first public charity for seamen. The initial aims of raising numbers in the Service and improving the provision of clothing were almost immediately successful: by the end of the Seven Years War, more than 10,000 men and boys had been recruited for the service by the Society. Further involvement in Naval matters followed in the form of several pamphlets which proved sufficient to convince Lord Bute to award Hanway a commission as a victualler in 1762. He seized upon this appointment with characteristic zeal, pioneering efforts to improve sailors' diet in the North American stations. The present work, a direct result of the establishment of the Marine Society, serves as a spiritual vade mecum for naval officers, with particular attention given to the navy's official concern with irreligious behaviour. ESTC T93962.. 8vo.