Some sets of Instructions seem to be lost beyond recall; but, on the other hand, a good deal of hitherto barren ground has been filled, and it is hoped that the collection may be of some assistance for a fresh study of the principles which underlie the development of naval tactics.
It is of course as documents in the history of tactics that the Fighting Instructions have the greatest practical value, and with this aspect of them in view I have done my best to illustrate their genesis, intention, and significance by extracts from contemporary authorities.

Without such illustration the Instructions would be but barren food, neither nutritive nor easily digested.

The embodiment of this illustrative matter has to some extent involved a departure from the ordinary form of the Society's publications.

Instead of a general introduction, a series of introductory notes to each group of Instructions has been adopted, which it is feared will appear to bear an excessive proportion to the Instructions themselves.

There seemed, however, no other means of dealing with the illustrative matter in a consecutive way.