Chapter I: Front Matter

“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

(_All rights reserved._)

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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

LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT.