Life of Frederick Marryat - 1

“Great Writers.”

EDITED BY
PROFESSOR ERIC S. ROBERTSON, M.A.

LIFE OF MARRYAT.

LIFE
OF
FREDERICK MARRYAT

BY
DAVID HANNAY

LONDON
WALTER SCOTT, 24 WARWICK LANE
NEW YORK AND TORONTO: W. J. GAGE & CO.
1889

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NOTE.

The materials for a life of Marryat are scanty, and I have acknowledged my obligation to them in the text. Mrs. Ross Church collected, in 1872, all the surviving knowledge about her father’s life—all of it, that is, which the family thought it right to publish to the world. The present little book has no pretensions to be founded on new materials. My object has only been to make the best use I could of already published matter—to tell what story there is to tell in the clearest possible manner, and to add the best estimate of Marryat’s work and position in letters that I could supply.

D. H.

CONTENTS.

	PAGE
[CHAPTER I.]
Frederick Marryat born 10th July, 1792; his parentage; his ancestry; home training; schooling at Enfield; runs away to sea; is sent into the navy and joins the Impérieuse under Captain Lord Cochrane, in September, 1806	[11]
[CHAPTER II.]
The naval war in 1806: the frigates of the Great War; Lord Cochrane, afterwards Lord Dundonald, Captain of the Impérieuse; his character; his influence on Marryat; the cruises of the frigate as described by Marryat in his private log; a narrow escape; Cochrane in the House of Commons; an affair in the boats; the Maltese privateer, Pasquil Giliano; movements of Impérieuse	[17]
[CHAPTER III.]
Impérieuse on coast of Spain; cutting out privateer from Almeria Bay; alliance with Spain; Rosas; the Basque Roads; naval service of Marryat after parting with Cochrane till the end of the Great War; saves several men from drowning; various adventures; summary of his services from 1806 to 1815	[31]
[CHAPTER IV.]
Marryat’s position in 1815; goes abroad; marriage; appointed to Beaver; at St. Helena changes to Rosario; in Channel; pays off Rosario; the Channel smugglers; appointed to Larne; Burmese War; promotion and made a C.B.; transferred to Tees in July, 1824; short command of Ariadne; the Ariadne his last ship; resigns command November, 1830; begins writing; equerry to Duke of Sussex; story of William IV.	[46]
[CHAPTER V.]
From 1830 to 1848 a writer; his literary life; expensive habits; early success in novel writing; editorial ventures; The Metropolitan Magazine; hard work in 1833-34; in 1833 he stands for Tower Hamlets, and fails; at Brighton in 1834; quotation from letter on lawsuit; goes abroad; life abroad; leaves for America	[58]
[CHAPTER VI.]
Marryat’s literary work up to 1837; his early success, and determination to make money; quarrels with publisher; prices paid him; “Frank Mildmay”; quotation from Metropolitan Magazine on “Frank Mildmay”; other books from “King’s Own” to “Pirate” and “Three Cutters”; quality of Marryat’s style; quotation from “Peter Simple”; his plots; his fun; quotation from “Midshipman Easy”	[73]
[CHAPTER VII.]
Visit to America in 1837; his object in going there; in New York; letter to his mother describing where he has been; visit to Canada; affair of the Caroline; unpopularity in United States; Marryat stands his ground; return to England	[98]
[CHAPTER VIII.]
Movements in London; ruin of West Indian property; life and friendships in London; Duke Street, Wimbledon, Piccadilly, Spanish Place; first signs of breaking health; goes to Langham; books of these years; “Phantom Ship”; children’s stories; “Masterman Ready”; skirmish with Fraser’s Magazine; Marryat defends publication of his stories in the Era	[114]
[CHAPTER IX.]
Marryat goes to Langham for good in 1843; life there; Marryat and his children; kindness to his men; his scientific farming, and its financial results; his literary work; asked to write life of Collingwood; declines; last stories: “The Mission,” “The Settlers,” “The Children of the New Forest,” “The Little Savage”	[132]
[CHAPTER X.]
His fatal illness; his physique and personal appearance; letter to Lord Auckland on supposed slight; Hastings; loss of H.M.S. Avenger, and death of Marryat’s son, Lieutenant Frederick Marryat; returns to Langham; last months, and death on 9th August, 1848; estimate of his character and work	[149]
[INDEX.]	[161]