Mar 30, 2025
"he considered that in proportion as midshipmen assumed a cleaner and more gentlemanly appearance, so did they become more useless,"
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"he considered that in proportion as midshipmen assumed a cleaner and more gentlemanly appearance, so did they become more useless,"
Book illustration for Mr. Midshipman Easy written by Captain Frederick Marryat
"Midshipman Easy, Page 173 - "Oh Mr. Easy, Please Forgive Us". by unknown
Jack ascended, taking it very easy: he stopped at the main-top for breath; at the main-topmast head, to look about him; and, at last, gained the spot agreed upon, where he seated himself, and, taking out the articles of war, commenced them again, to ascertain whether he could not have strengthened his arguments. He had not, however, read through the seventh article before the hands were turned up — “up anchor!” and Mr. Sawbridge called, “All hands down from aloft!” Jack took the hint, folded up his documents, and came down as leisurely as he went up.
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy
Jack Easy, mastheaded and reading the Articles of War on a Player's Cigarettes card (New York Public Library collection).
"There is no situation perhaps more difficult, and demanding so much caution, as the occasional meeting with a doubtful ship. On the one hand, it being necessary to be fully prepared and not allow the enemy the advantage which may be derived from your inaction; and on the other, the necessity of prudence, that you may not assault your friends and countrymen. Captain Wilson had hoisted the private night-signal, but here again it was difficult, from his sails intervening, for the other ship to make it out. Before the two frigates were within three cables length of each other, Captain Wilson, determined that there should be no mistake from any want of precaution on his part, hauled up his courses and brailed up his driver that the night-signal might be clearly seen."
(Midshipman Easy, Captain Frederick Marryat | A Moonlit Night, Aivazovsky)
“Man is a free agent,” replied Easy.
“I’ll be shot if a midshipman is,” replied Gascoigne, laughing, “and that you’ll soon find.”
“And yet it was the expectation of finding that equality that I was induced to come to sea.”
“On the first of April, I presume,” replied Gascoigne. “But are you really serious?”
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy. Illustration by Leonard Huskinson.
“He must be mad—quite mad,” exclaimed Sawbridge, whose astonishment even mastered his indignation. “Mad as a March hare—by God.”
“No, sir,” replied Jack, “I am not mad, but I am a philosopher.”
“A what?” exclaimed Sawbridge, “damme, what next?—well, my joker, all the better for you; I shall put your philosophy to the proof.”
“It is for that very reason, sir,” replied Jack, “that I have decided upon going to sea: and if you do remain on board, I hope to argue the point with you, and make you a convert to the truth of equality and the rights of man.”
“By the Lord that made us both, I’ll soon make you a convert to the thirty-six articles of war—that is, if you remain on board; but I shall now go to the captain, and report your conduct, sir, and leave you to your dinner with what appetite you may.”
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy
Captain Marryat's Mr. Midshipman Easy, 1930 edition with illustrations by Sybil Tawse
As there was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth. As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much pleased at finding himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his ship, and five or six companions not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, or had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to put it off until the very last moment.
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy
Portsmouth, drawing by Nicholas Pocock, c. 1800.
He then dressed himself, went on deck, found that the sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very queer, then very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put into his hammock, where he remained during a gale of wind of three days, bewildered, confused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his head against the beams with the pitching and tossing of the sloop.
— Frederick Marryat, Mr. Midshipman Easy. Illustration by Leonard Huskinson.