Originally published by Pepys in June 1690, this is a defense of his administration of the Royal Navy and a criticism of his opponents. While Pepys provides a fascinating insider's view of the working of the Admiralty, the wealth of fact and figures is far from impartial. The new introduction by J. D. Davies explains the political controversy that formed the background to the book's publication and shows how Pepys manipulated his mastery of arcane information to his political ends. This edition is illustrated with contemporary drawings of period ships.