Rare sailing directions for the English Channel, from London to the Ventry Harbour in Ireland.

William Heather (c.1766-1812) started business as a publisher and dealer in charts and nautical instruments, on the same street as the East India Company, at 157 Leadenhall Street, under the sign of the 'Little Midshipman'. This address, which became known as the 'Naval Academy' and 'Navigation Warehouse', was later immortalized in Charles Dickens' work 'Dombey and Son'. In 1768 the firm became 'Heather and Williams' until 1812 when Heather's name disappeared and the business was henceforth conducted by the celebrated mathematician and hydrographer, John William Norie.

All pilots of this nature are rare, due to their use aboard ship, the mortality rate was high. We are only aware of four institutional examples: The British Library; Welsh National Library; National Library of Scotland; and the Essex Peabody Museum.