12mo. [2], 25pp, [1]. With an engraved folding frontispiece. Uncut in recent red half-calf, marbled boards.

An apparently unrecorded martial panegyric calling for the reintroduction of the pike to the British Army. The author, 'formerly of the Fencible Cavalry, and now of the Royal Cumberland Militia', attempts to 'do away with the prejudice entertained against the pike' noting that the weapon is superior to the ubiquitous musket as it is 'easily manufactured, costs little, requires no repairs, and consequently is in continual readiness.' He sets forth numerous ways in which pikemen may be employed in the field, particularly as a support for musketry. The annotated frontispiece depicts three uses of the pike, the most curious and probably cumbersome being mounting a pistol to the shaft, somewhat in the manner of an inverse bayonet, 'which might be used for boarding, as no time would be lost in firing it and returning it.' The work was evidently motivated by the contemporary threat of invasion by the forces of Napoleon, and the potential need to raise militia in defence of the nation, a situation the author addresses in his closing remarks, emphasising the ease with which may be trained to wield the pike as opposed to the laborious instruction required to handle firearms.

The Monthly Review (Vol. XLVI, April, 1805) received the work favourably: 'The pike is undoubtedly a formidable weapon and possesses many recommendations. We rather wonder, therefore, that the numerous suggestions for the use of it have been so generally disregarded; for we know not that it is adopted in any instance except among the Sea Fencibles. Mr. Orr is a strong advocate for this instrument of offence, and displays its advantages in different points of view'.