A wonderfully illustrated midshipman's log recounting his time as part of the Baltic Fleet during the Crimean War in HMS Royal George.

In 1852 HMS Royal George was fitted with a steam powered retractable screw propellor, one of the growing number of British Navy ships that were being converted into steam-powered vessels, and joined the British Baltic Fleet as only the second First-rate Ship-of-the-line in the fleet. Between 1853 and 1856 the Royal George saw action in the Baltic Theatre, most notably in the blockade of both Revel (Talinn) and Kronstadt (the Russian naval base in the Gulf of Finland off St Petersburg), and the bombardment of Sveaborg (the fortified islands near Helsinki now known as Suomenlinna). The extensive illustrations depict the ports and harbours of the Scandinavian and Baltic states as well as inland depictions of churches and buildings (such as the Duke of Holstein's palace near Kiel), whilst the maps give detailed measurements and soundings of several harbours including the line of battle against Sveaborg.

Midshipman Grant's accounts also offer insight into the actions of the fleet as well as offering 'Remarks' on various harbours and regions of Finland, Germany, Estonia, and Russia. One moment he is walking along the Rendsburg (Kiel) canal, describing how 'the whole of the country was covered with violets which sent forth a delicious perfume', the next he is describing trading fire with the batteries of Kronstadt, or the resignation of Lord John Russell (1792-1878) as Secretary of State for the Colonies. The three day bombardment of Sveaborg is described over five pages, as seen from one of the mortar gun-boats HM Thistle, and lays out in detail the damage wreaked on the fortress: 'The Admiralty a fine round building caught fire and was soon enveloped in flames, the ensign standing nobly to the last, and the fire as if invigorated by such glorious prey swept on still faste towards the dockyard, which was soon destroyed'.

Complete log books of the Crimean War are scarce, especially of this neglected theatre, and rarely so well illustrated.

Small 4to (22 x 18 cm); pictorial ink frontispiece and endpiece initialled by the author 'A.D.G.' and dated '21/2/56' showing the H.M.S. Royal George at sea, 18 full page or half page watercolours mounted or tipped-in, several folding, 5 full page pen & ink drawings, 13 further in-text ink drawings & diagrams, 8 ink & coloured maps and charts (1 of which defective), 10 full-page coloured cross sections and diagrams of Royal George, decorative ink head-and tail-pieces, and numerous meteorological tables and lists including 'List of the Allied Fleet in the Baltic'; contemporary dark green half roan, green cloth boards, a little worn and shaken, very good; [iii, contents], 283 pp.