OF

TOBIAS GEORGE SMOLLETT

BY

DAVID HANNAY

LONDON

WALTER SCOTT

24 WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW

1887

(All rights reserved.)

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The family of Bonhill; Smollett's parentage; his schooling at

Dumbarton; with Dr. Gordon at Glasgow; writes a

tragedy; starts for London; how far was Roderick Ran-

dom, Smollett?; anecdotes; his early fondness for

sarcasm

PAGE

II

·

CHAPTER II.

First year in London; the fortunes of his tragedy; patronage

of Lyttelton; grievances against the managers; the merits

of the "Regicide"; surgeon's mate in Sir Chaloner Ogle's

squadron; how put into the navy; character of the sea-

life of the time; expedition to Carthagena, 1741; its

failure; Smollett's account of the expedition in the "Com-

pendium of Voyages," quoted

21

CHAPTER III.

Smollett in Jamaica; Miss Anne Lascelles; Smollett's mar-
riage; in London again 1744; in Downing Street; attempts
to obtain practice; in the '45 year; Dr. Carlyle of
Inveresk quoted; the news of Culloden; Smollett's
opinions on the suppression of the Jacobite rising; the

"Tears of Scotland"; anecdote; "Advice" and "Re-

proof" satires, 1746; another try at the stage; "Alceste"

and misdeeds of Rich; Smollett's position in 1748 and pro-

gress up to that year; the stage and literature; beginning

of busy years

PAGE

40

The three first novels -

CHAPTER IV.

"Roderick Random," "Peregrine

Pickle," and "Count Fathom"; their similarity; sources of

inspiration; Le Sage, and the Spaniards; method of Smol-

lett; his interpretation of life and literary aim; his use of his

own experience; how illustrated by "Roderick Random;"

the love scenes; the "brutality" of Smollett; how far

can he justly be accused of it?; his personalities; visit to

France; Jacobite exiles; Mark Akenside; "Peregrine

Pickle," how differs from "Roderick Random"; "Fer-

dinand Count Fathom "

59

92

CHAPTER V.

The sailor in literature; Smollett's unique position as describer

of sea-life; his view of the navy of the time, how far sup-

ported by evidence; Shelvocke's voyage and Anson's

experience; H.M.S. Thunder-Captain Oakum, Captain

Whiffle, and Mr. Midshipman Crampley; Lieutenant

Thomas Bowling; his character, excellence of the picture;

his speech compared with Captain Best's; Captain Walton's

famous despatch; the garrison in "Peregrine Pickle";

Rabelaisean figure of Trunnion; the change in his cha-

racter; Hatchway and Pipes

CHAPTER VI.

Beginning of new period in Smollett's life, 1752 to 1763; his
degree of M.D.; renewed attempts to secure practice in
Bath or London; their failure; establishes himself in
Chelsea circa 1752; his multifarious occupations; his