by George Anson
George Anson’s voyage is one of the great Voyages of the 1700’s. British navigators were often interested in more than increasing the glory of God & Country. In September 1740 Commodore Anson set off across the Atlantic with six poorly manned, ill-equipped vessels to capture Spanish treasure ships in the Pacific. He lost three ships rounding Cape Horn but went on to raid Spanish mining settlements on the coast of Chili. Although he and his crew suffered incredible hardships while crossing the Pacific in their one remaining ship, the Centurion, Anson managed to capture a Spanish treasure galleon near the Philippines. He sold this prize for £400,000 in Canton, China, the Centurion being the first British warship to enter Chinese waters. By the time he reached England in June 1744, more than half the original crew of nearly 2,000 men had died, chiefly of scurvy. A tremendously interesting book to read for many reasons. First published in 1743. Originally published in two volumes, ours is a combined edition. Illustrated with numerous black & white woodcuts, several colour portraits of Anson, his officers and principals and with a track of the Centurion in colour. Reference is often made in this volume of Dampier's Voyage and use is made of his notes, journals and earlier charts.
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