This is the first publication in English of this essay by Georg Forster in full facsimile of the original Berlin printing of 1787. Forster, who accompanied Cook on his second voyage, originally wrote the essay as an introduction to his translation of the German edition of the official third voyage account. This new translation, complete with notes and a select bibliography, has been commissioned especially for this edition. The text is accompanied by an introductory essay by Dr Nigel Erskine of the Australian National Maritime Museum which provides an insight into the fractured relationship between Georg Forster and the British establishment.