The episode, chap, iv., of being bitten by a skate--supposed to be dead--which is used again in _Peter Simple_, came from Marryat's own experience; and he declared that he ran away from school on account of the very indignity--that of being compelled to wear his elder brother's old clothes--which Frank Mildmay pleads as an excuse for sharing at least the sentiments of Cain. Marryat, again, was trampled upon and left for dead when boarding an enemy (see chap, v.); he saved the midshipman who had bullied him, from drowning, though his reflections on the occasion are more edifying than those recounted in chap. v. "From that moment," he says, "I have loved the fellow as I never loved friend before. All my hate is forgotten. I have saved his life." The defence of the castle of Rosas, chap, vii., is taken straight from his private log-book; while Marshall's Naval Biography contains an account of his volunteering during a gale to cut away the main-yard of the _Aeolus_, which scarcely pales before the vigorous passage in chap. xiv.:-- "On the 30th of September, 1811, in lat. 40° 50' N., long. 65° W. (off the coast of New England), a gale of wind commenced at S.E., and soon blew with tremendous fury; the _Aeolus_ was laid on her beam ends, her top-masts and mizen-masts were literally blown away, and she continued in this extremely perilous situation for at least half-an-hour. Directions were given to cut away the main-yard, in order to save the main-mast and right the ship, but so great was the danger attending such an operation considered, that not a man could be induced to attempt it until Mr Marryat led the way. His courageous conduct on this occasion excited general admiration, and was highly approved of by Lord James Townsend, one of whose company he also saved by jumping overboard at sea." The edition of 1873 contained a brief memoir of the author, by "Florence Marryat," frequently reprinted. _Frank Mildmay_, originally called _The Naval Officer; or, Scenes and Adventures in the Life of Frank Mildmay_, is here printed from the first edition published in 1829 by Henry Colborn, with the following motto on the title-page:-- My muse by no means deals in fiction; She gathers a repertory of facts, Of course with some reserve and slight restriction, But mostly traits of human things and acts. Love, war, a tempest--surely there's variety; Also a seasoning slight of lubrication; A bird's-eye view, too, of that wild society; A slight glance thrown on men of every station _Don Juan_. R.B.J. Chapter I These are the errors, and these are the fruits of misspending our prime youth at the schools and universities, as we do, either in learning mere words, or such things chiefly as were better unlearned.--MILTON.