Peter Simple and The Three Cutters, Vol. 1 | Page 6

legal difficulties arose in connection with his father's
memory, which Marryat accepted with admirable philosophy:--
"As for the Chancellor's judgment," he told his mother, "I cannot say
that I thought anything about it, on the contrary, it appears to me that he
might have been much more severe if he had thought proper. It is easy
to impute motives, and difficult to disprove them. I thought,
considering his enmity, that he let us off cheap; as there is no punishing
a chancellor, and he might say what he pleased with impunity. I did not
therefore roar, I only smiled. The effect will be nugatory. Not one in a
thousand will read it; those who do, know it refers to a person not in
this world; and of those, those who knew my father will not believe it,
those who did not will care little about it, and forget the name in a week.
Had he given the decision in our favour, I should have been better
pleased, but it's no use crying; what's done can't be helped."
This letter was written from Brighton, and the following year found
Marryat on the Continent, at home in a circle of gay spirits who might
almost be called the outcasts of English society. They were
pleasure-seekers, by no means necessarily depraved but, by narrow
incomes or other causes, driven into a cheerful exile. The captain was
always ready to give and take in the matter of entertainment, and he
was invited everywhere though, on one occasion at least, it is recorded
that he proved an uncongenial guest. Having dined, as a recognised lion
among lions, he "didn't make a single joke during the whole evening."
His host remarked on his silence the next morning, and Marryat
replied:--
"Oh, if that's what you wanted you should have asked me when you
were alone. Why, did you imagine I was going to let out any of my
jokes for those fellows to put in their next books? No, that is not my
plan. When I find myself in such company as that I open my ears and

hold my tongue, glean all I can, and give them nothing in return."
He did not always, however, play the professional author so offensively,
and we hear of his taking part in private theatricals and dances,
preparing a Christmas tree for the children, and cleverly packing his
friends' portmanteaux.
Meanwhile, he was writing The Pirate and Three Cutters, for which he
received £750, as well as Snarley-yow and the Pacha of many Tales. He
had been contributing to the Metropolitan at 15 guineas a sheet, until
he paid a flying visit to England in 1836 in order to transfer his
allegiance to the New Monthly Magazine, from which he secured 20
guineas. Mrs Lean states that her father received £1100 each for Peter
Simple, Jacob Faithful, Japhet, and The Pacha of many Tales; £1200
for Midshipman Easy, £1300 for Snarley-yow, and £1600 for the Diary
in America. Yet "although Captain Marryat and his publishers mutually
benefited by their transactions with each other, one would have
imagined, from the letters exchanged between them, that they had been
natural enemies." She relates how one of the fraternity told Marryat he
was "somewhat eccentric--an odd creature," and added, "I am
somewhat warm-tempered myself, and therefore make allowance for
yours, which is certainly warm enough."
Marryat justified the charge by replying:--
"There was no occasion for you to make the admission that you are
somewhat warm-tempered; your letter establishes that fact. Considering
your age, you are a little volcano, and if the insurance were aware of
your frequent visits at the Royal Exchange, they would demand double
premium for the building. Indeed, I have my surmises now as to the last
conflagration.
* * * * *
Your remark as to the money I have received may sound well,
mentioned as an isolated fact; but how does it sound when it is put in
juxtaposition with the sums you have received? I, who have found
everything, receiving a pittance, while you, who have found nothing

but the shop to sell in, receiving such a lion's share. I assert again that it
is slavery. I am Sinbad the sailor, and you are the old man of the
mountain, clinging on my back, and you must not be surprised at my
wishing to throw you off the first convenient opportunity.
The fact is, you have the vice of old age very strong upon you, and you
are blinded by it; but put the question to your sons, and ask them
whether they consider the present agreement fair. Let them arrange
with me, and do you go and read your Bible. We all have our ideas of
Paradise, and if other authors think like me, the most