William Cockburn is believed to be the author of this logbook, kept on board the H.M.S. Aeolus under Commander John Elliott from January 1, 1759-April 30, 1760 and on board the H.M.S. Norwich from May 1, 1760 through September 22, 1762. The Aeolus sailed from Deptford, England to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Bay of Biscay. The Norwich sailed from the English Channel to New York, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Antigua, Martinique, and back to England. The volume includes ten hand drawn, colored maps.
