Boydell Press Russian Faith, Honour, & Courage Displayed in a Faithfull Narrative of the Russian Expedition by Sea (1769 & 1770): by Rear Admiral John Elphinstone ... from Original Letters, Papers & Journals.

John Elphinstone (1722-1785) was a captain in the Royal Navy in 1769 when he received leave to enter the naval service of the Russian empire with a rank of Rear-Admiral. Elphinstone was assigned to lead one of five squadrons that took part in the First Russian Archipelago Expedition (1769-1775), with which he sailed to the Eastern Mediterranean. In the waters of the Aegean Sea, his squadron blockaded the Dardanelles and took part in the famous Battle of Çeşme (July 1770). Soon after, he was recalled to St. Petersburg and dismissed from the Russian service. Between 1771 and 1783 he composed this text with the intention of blackmailing the Russian government and clearing his name