An Essay on Military Law, And the Practice of Courts Martial. 1st ed

1800. Edinburgh: Printed by Murray & Cochrane, 1800. 1st. Edinburgh: Printed by Murray & Cochrane, 1800. 1st. Copy of a Treatise on Military Law Owned by an Officer Who Was Part of the Honor Guard That Escorted Lincoln's Funeral Train to Springfield, IL Tytler, Alexander Fraser, Lord Woodhouselee [1747-1813]. An Essay on Military Law, And the Practice of Courts Martial. Edinburgh: Printed by Murray & Cochrane, Craig's Close; For T. Egerton, at the Military Library, Near Whitehall, London, 1800. [iii], vi-xi, [3], 428 pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/4"; 20.9 x 13.3 cm). Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt-edged raised bands, gilt ornaments and lettering piece to spine. Light rubbing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, chipping to head of spine and lettering piece, gilding mostly rubbed away from spine, joints starting at head, corners bumped and somewhat worn, front hinge cracked, rear hinge starting. Moderate toning, light foxing in a few places, a few upper corners dog-eared. Early owner signature ("Williams"?) to head of title page, later owner stamp (of "T[homas] Y. Field U.S.M.C") to front free endpaper and p.287, early marks and underlining in pencil to a few passages. $1,500. * First edition. In addition to his legal career, Tytler, later Lord Woodhouselee, was a highly respected teacher and polymath. "The following Treatise is the joint result of the Author's reading, and enquiry into every source of information, relative to the Military Law of the country, and of his professional experience in the Forms and Practice of General Courts-Martial, during a period of several years, in which he has had the honour of holding his Majesty's commission of Judge-Advocate for this part of the United Kingdom" (Preface). An important and well-received treatise, it went through fifteen editions and issues between 1800 and 1814. Thomas Y. Field, who is also identified by a laid-in note, had a lengthy and distinguished career with the Marines and would have found this text useful during his several stints as a judge advocate. Commissioned a second lieutenant in 1847, he later attained the rank of colonel and was part of the honor guard that escorted Lincoln's body from Washington, DC to Springfield, Illinois. English Short-Title Catalogue T130384.