Quarto. 94pp. Remaining [28] leaves blank. Contemporary half-calf, marbled paper boards, marbled edges. Heavily rubbed and marked. Internally clean and crisp.

The manuscript journal of George Cecil Bayly recording his experiences as a gentleman cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and his subsequent voyage to India.

The diary, commencing August 1860, details Bayly's participation in theoretical and practical classes, his expenditure - including the purchase of books and drawing materials - and his examination results. The majority of the manuscript is devoted to 'Notes on Riding', a series of observations on the temperaments of numerous mounts exercised between August 1861 and November 1862.

In March 1863, shortly before his twentieth birthday, Bayly received his commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. On the, 31st July, following a short visit with family at Jersey, Bayly and his garrison departed for Calcutta on board the Holmsdale. Bayly provides a synopsis of several noteworthy events during the four-month voyage, including on 21st August 'a row on board in consequence of a woman (Mrs. Malone) being put in the cell for refusing to clean her berth'. The ship reached the Bay of Bengal on 17th November, before docking at Calcutta on 30th, where the journal concludes.