A unique lower deck view of the eighteenth century navy first published in 1796, this unparalleled account by an ordinary seaman of the mid 18th century of his life, travels and adventures is one of the most fascinating autobiographies to have come out of the Age of Sail - and also one of the rarest, as there are only a handful of copies extant. Spavens describes his career in the Royal Navy of Anson's time, giving insights into the conditions of life on the lower deck, the Press Gang, which he both suffered from and served in, and an eyewitness account of Admiral Hawke's famous victory at Quiberon Bay in 1759. Also included are fascinating descriptions of all the ports and islands around the world which he visited. This remarkable first-hand account of life at sea is both an enthralling story of one man's adventures and a major contribution to our knowledge of the lot of the common seaman. 'One of the finest pictures of life at sea on the lower deck.' - Dudley Pope
