In demonstrating the extensive use to which his code could be put, Popham gives one or two amusing illustrations, apparently in all seriousness. Thus:
FA1 Have you an idea G647 a change of ministers is about to take place
52A Certainly 8BF not G643 ministers are gaining strength
BOE Your AC8 sister 852 married 85F to C87 a Lord of the Admiralty
This vocabulary, published in 1812, was such an evident improvement that it was issued to the fleet in 1813.
In 1816 it was revised by Popham and re-issued by the Admiralty as an official Vocabulary Signal Book. Eleven years later the signal books were again revised and re-cast in three volumes:--
1. The General Signal Book, containing evolutionary and battle signals, to which the numeral flags were henceforth appropriated.
2. The Vocabulary Signal Book, containing words and general sentences, to which were appropriated the alphabetical flags, now increased to 21 by the addition of P, Q, R, S, T, V, and Y.
In 1882, W was substituted for V and slight alterations were made in some of the flags, and in 1889, when the signal books underwent a more extensive revision, the alphabetical series was completed by the inclusion of all the letters, and a series of numeral pendants was added. The flags thus finally established in 1889 remain in use to this day. It may be observed that they contain a number of survivals from Howe's Code of 1790, four indeed with their original significance. They are as follows:
(1) An alphabetical series, in which many of the flags are of the same design as those in the International Code (see p. 184) but with different significations, as follows:
A flag, diagonally striped yellow & red = Y of Internat^l Code
B flag, white, bordered with blue & pierced with red = W " " "
C flag, divided diagonally yellow, blue, red & black = Z " " "
D Pilot Jack (Union Jack with white border[393])
E flag, divided horizontally blue, white, blue = J " " "
F flag quarterly yellow & black = L of Internat^l Code
G flag divided vertically white, black, white
I flag, blue with yellow saltire = Numeral 7 of 1790
J pendant, divided vertically white & red
K flag, divided horizontally yellow & blue
L flag, white with red saltire = V of Intern^l Code