Life of Frederick Marryat

SUBJECTNovelists, English -- 19th century -- BiographyMarryat, Frederick, 1792-1848CONTENTS.(decorative)PAGECHAPTER 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, 180611CHAPTER 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 Impérieuse17CHAPTER 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 181531CHAPTER 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.46CHAPTER 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 America58CHAPTER 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”73CHAPTER 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 England98CHAPTER 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 Era114CHAPTER 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”132CHAPTER 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 work149INDEX.161