A sailor's life under four sovereigns, Volume 2 (of 3)

A senior naval officer continues his memoir, narrating shipboard life and command across distant stations. The volume recounts anti-piracy expeditions in eastern archipelago waters, cruises and port visits in Hong Kong, Australia, and the Americas, technical study of steam power, and routine shore periods. It also describes participation in mid-century military operations, including actions in the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and the Crimean theatre, with accounts of bombardments, landings, trench warfare, and naval brigades. Interwoven are practical details of ship handling, gunnery, small-boat operations, and interactions with local allies and communities.