The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-08-20
Gbs 8sbieh.

| Martyau's Works New York: Derby y jackson
| Midshpman Easy.
Newton Forster.
| Pacha OF Many Tales.
The Kings Own.
| Peter Simple.
Naval Offcer.
Captain Marryatt has justly been regarded IL
England, for many years, as one Of tie be-;
sketchers of sea characters snd seattle. His
stories have consequently been very popas-.
fer there is romance about the sea which
pleases nearly all classes Of readers, and rev.
de-s any story Of seattle. if written with ev-r
moderate degree OF merit, almost universally
popular.
Cap.ain Nartyatt commenced his literary ca.
reer in lS2s, by the publication Of the . Nay.,
| Officer a racy volune-in this edition a sn.
| gle volume, but in the original Hree-but too
coarse in portions of the story to satisfy tie re
fined and critical.
"The Kings Own " followed it, and was
much better story. 1t was written witt great
care, and evinces great familiarity with tie
ses, and life on board manof war In this
novel, and in nearly sll his Others. the suthy,
made use Of his experience, for he rose from
midshipmsn to be a post cap,sin in the Eng
lish navy. BE is at home in his descriptions
OF life at sea, but always awkward on shore
like genuine sailor.
After The Kings Own . came Newton
Forster" lively story, but not equal to the sue
ceeding one, Peter Simple which was very
popular in Englsnd-more so, perhaps, than
any of its predecessors. Us humor is bread
aud catching. No one can read this without
laughing heartily over it. E1travagar. as are
portions in 1t, nevertheless it is full of genuine
interest and fun. The characters in it are we'll
drawn, and such as to be remembered
"Midshipmsn Easy" is another of Marryatt's
good sea-stories, containing his sverage merits
and faults. These latter cannot be, overlook.
ed-they are great. The coarseness of certain
personages almost spoils the volume. Captain
Msrrystt was specimen OF his class-a hearty,
gocd-humored, prejudicei, swearing captain.
That is, he is such a character in his books.
His heroes swear, ridicale good principles, ani
do thousand strange and in3efensibe things.
The racy Captain was violent hater OF any,
thing savoring of democracy. de frequently
boils over with rage at a republican or q radi-
cal. Anything ne,o upsets hin-any,hing So
voring of democracy ia sure TO meet with rdi-
Guile in his pages. So, too, he exaggerates in
the widest style. One of bis characters, par
example, gets up in an appetree to steal sr-
pies the owner of the tree calls him down 10
punish him he refuses the owner sets cog
to watch him, and leaves the dog gets into
fight with bull our hero takes advantage OF
the fortunate circumstance, and descenis: the
bull chsses him F; he, in his flight, knocks over
several bee-hives; the bees attack him, stipy
him nearly to death he flies pladly away, falls
into well forty feet deep, fortunately catches
the bucket and chain, and is saved; is drawn
up by servant, who, when be finds that he
has drawn up man instead Of a bucket OF
water, lets go the windlass, and down goes our
hero, forty feet below, the second time-but is
eventually rescued Els stories abound in rank
improbabilities = nay, impossibilities - vet.
strange to say, the story is told so spiritedy 50
graphically, with such an air of truth, that it
carries the reader along with it.
The Westminster Rerietc SAYS:
Captain Marryatt's writings depict life q.
sea with the same fidelity, aud with far more
spirit than any of the fashionable novels por-
tray rout, ball, or breakfast, and we much
prefer the subject as well as the talent of the
nautical novels a storm at sea is more ANNA
ting than crash at st. Jsmess; we prefer
shipwreck to ruin at Crockford's the sly hui
NOR OF the old sailor is more amusing than the
exclusive slang of Bond street, and frigate
action calls up higher feelings and qualities
than hostile meeting in Battersea Fields.
Captain Marryatt's productions are happy in
more senses than one he employs neither the
effort nor the prolixity Of Cooper; his cOncep-
ton of character is SO fscis and telicitous that
his personages Immediately become our init
mate acquaintance, and astonish us By their
faithful resemblance to whole classes of beings