Baron Eben served as a Captain in the 10th (or Prince of Wales’s) Regiment of Light Dragoons from 1804-1806, and dedicated this manual to his Colonel, The Prince of Wales (later George IV).  He was keen to encourage constant practice of aiming and firing, both for the development of manual dexterity, and for the material influence upon the martial spirit of the whole corps.  One of George IV's long-held ambitions was to see service in the army, as several of his brothers, especially the Dukes of York and of Cumberland, were doing.  This George III refused to allow, but made him Colonel-in-Chief of the 10th Light Dragoons, a sop to George IV which allowed him to 'play soldiers'.  His military book collection greatly improved his ability to do this, since it consisted very largely of such books as the present volume, and others on display, filled with theoretical formations, manoeuvres, banners and so forth.  He even went to the extent of redesigning his regiment's uniforms (much to their disgust), since the style chosen was remarkably florid.