In the loose and eclectic collection of Captain Marryat's surviving correspondence that his daughter Florence assembled into The Life and Letters of Captain Frederick Marryat (published 1872), there are many letters addressed to his sister-in-law Caroline, wife of his brother Charles Marryat. They seem to have had a good relationship, and Caroline still had these letters almost 25 years after Marryat's death. (Florence laments in her introduction that her father's voluminous correspondence has been "mostly lost or destroyed".)
In September 1843, it appears that Caroline was in search of a donkey, prompting the following letter:
My dear Caroline,
It is a very difficult affair to get a good donkey and a large one. I do not know of one anywhere about here, except one in my own possession, who is of a large size, and very virtuous for a donkey, going well in harness and saddle, and very fast when he thinks proper. He has always been much petted, and with kindness will, I have no doubt, do well, especially if to fair words you add a few oats. It will further suit Charles's economy and my feelings if you will accept him from me; and of course you will call him Fred the Second. Am I to send him up by railway? If so, he must go to Norwich. What the expense will be I cannot tell, as I do not think that donkeys are enumerated among the passengers; but Charles can inquire in London, and when you write again let me know all about it. It will cost five shillings to get him to Norwich.
Love to gr. ma and others.
Ever yours,
F. MARRYAT
Study of a donkey, 1841-1843, by the artist David Cox the elder (Art UK). Could this unassuming fellow be Fred II? (Nice name suggestion by Marryat — making an ass of himself).
