The editors began their introduction to this volume by remarking that it contains ‘very little history, as commonly understood’ -by which they meant the history of naval operations. Gardner’s Service career was undistinguished for reasons which can easily be inferred from his stories, but he was clearly a convivial shipmate, and as a raconteur of life afloat he can hardly have been equalled. This is easily the funniest volume the Society has ever issued.