The London Volunteers on review in Hyde Park, 1799

RANDOM, Charles.

A Plan of Hyde Park Taken on the Fourth of June 1799 when Sixty Six Volunteer Corps Paraded there in Honor of their Sovereigns Birth day and by their Loyal, Steady and Military Appearence, shewed themselves both willing and able to defend their King and Constitution. An Event unequalled in History, Grand and highly gratifying to the Heart of every Briton, at the same time truly formidable to the Enemies of this Country.
London: Charles Random, 20th September, 1799. Original colour. 385 x 445mm. With ink presentation inscription.

Repairs to folds,

A plan of Hyde Park showing the stations of the London Volunteer Corps, regiments raised to counter the threat of invasion by Revolutionary France, during a review by George III. The key around the map also lists the commanding officer of each parish's volunteers.
This plan was first published in July 1799 with a dedication to the Volunteers; this second state, published two months later, has the dedication replaced by 'General Orders' from Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, commending the Volunteers, and two armorials of the Royal Westminster Volunteers. The publication line has been extended to specify that the map was published ''for the Use of the Royal Westminster Volunteers'', and a presentation template has been engraved at the top of the map. This example was given to William Farringdon Maugham of the First Battalion Company and is signed James Robertson (1733-1818), founder and Colonel of the RMV.
The artist and publisher of this map, Charles Random of the RMV, had a chequered career. In 1803, thanks to his skill with a rifle, he joined the Duke of Cumberland's Sharpshooters. However, as the Baron de Bérenger de Beaufain (because of his marriage to a widow), he was found guilty of the Great Stock Exchange Fraud of 1814, in which fake news of Napoleon's death caused government bonds to surge in value then plummet. Also found guilty was MP and naval hero Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, whose was an inspiration for the fictional characters Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey, although he was later pardoned.


Stock ID : 23101