The book is one of the most popular of the English books of voyages. It is a pleasantly written work. The story is told with a grace and quietness "very grateful and refreshing." The story itself is remarkable. It bears witness to the often illustrated contrast between the excellence of Englishmen and the stupidity of their governors. The management of the squadron before it sailed gave continuous evidence of imbecility. Something fine in a couple of hundred "emaciated ship-mates" drove them on to triumph through every possible disadvantage. In the general joy over their triumph, the imbecility was forgotten. There is something pathetic in the mismanagement of the squadron. The ships were sent to sea on the longest and most dangerous of voyages with no anti-scorbutics. When scurvy broke out the only medicines available were "the pill and drop of Dr. Ward" (very violent emetic purgatives), which came not from the government, but from Anson's own stores. In the absence of proper medicines, Anson produced these things, "and first try'd them on himself." This spirit in our captains and in our common men has borne us (so far) fairly triumphantly out of the bogs into which our stupidity so often drives us. JOHN MASEFIELD. _January_ 30, 1911. {xix} BIBLIOGRAPHY A Voyage to the South Seas, and to many other Parts of the World, performed from the Month of September in the Year 1740, to June 1744, by Commodore Anson, in his Majesty's Ship the _Centurion_. By an officer of the Fleet, 1744. An authentic journal of the late expedition under the command of Commodore Anson. Containing a regular and exact account of the whole proceedings, etc. To which is added A Narrative of the Extraordinary Hardships suffered by the Adventurers, in this voyage. By John Philips, midshipman of the _Centurion_, 1744. A True Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas and round the Globe, in the _Centurion_, 1745, by Pascoe Thomas. A Voyage round the World in the Year 1740, 1, 2, 3, 4; compiled from papers and other materials of the Right Honourable George Anson, and published under his direction by Richard Walter, M.A., chaplain of His Majesty's ship _Centurion_ in that expedition, 1748, and many later editions. One in 1749 was illustrated with 42 plates. A supplement to Lord Anson's Voyage round the World, containing a discovery and description of the Island of Frivola, by the Abbé Coyer, 1752. Anson's voyages were included in J. Harris's Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca, etc., vol. 1., revised and enlarged edition by Campbell, 1744-8, 1764; and also in J. H. More's A New and Complete Collection of Voyages, etc., vol. i., 1780. LIFE: By John Barrow, 1839. {xxi} CONTENTS BOOK I CHAP. I. Of the Equipment of the Squadron: the Incidents relating thereto, from its first Appointment to its setting sail from St. Helens II. The Passage from St. Helens to the Island of Madera; with a short Account of that Island, and of our Stay there