1792-1848
[Sidenote: F. Marryat’s _Life and Letters of Captain Marryat_.]
“Although not handsome, Captain Marryat’s personal appearance was very
prepossessing. In figure he was upright, and broad-shouldered for
his height, which measured five feet ten inches. His hands, without
being under-sized, were remarkably perfect in form, and modelled by
a sculptor at Rome on account of their symmetry. The character of
his mind was borne out by his features, the most salient expression
of which was the frankness of an open heart. The firm decisive mouth
and massive thoughtful forehead were redeemed from heaviness by the
humorous light that twinkled in his deep-set gray eyes, which, bright
as diamonds, positively flashed out their fun, or their reciprocation
of the fun of others. As a young man, dark crisp curls covered his
head; but, later in life, when, having exchanged the sword for the pen
and the ploughshare, he affected a soberer and more patriarchal style
of dress and manner, he wore his gray hair long, and almost down to
his shoulders. His eyebrows were not alike, one being higher up and
more arched than the other, which peculiarity gave his face a look of
inquiry, even in repose. In the upper lip was a deep cleft, and in his
chin as deep a dimple--a pitfall for the razor, which, from the ready
growth of his dark beard, he was often compelled to use twice a day.”
[Sidenote: _The Cornhill_, 1876.]
“He was not a tall man--five feet ten--but I think intended by nature
to be six feet, only having gone to sea when still almost a child, at a
time when the between-decks were very low-pitched, he had, he himself
declared, had his growth unnaturally stopped. His immensely powerful
build and massive chest, which measured considerably over forty inches
round, would incline one to this belief. He had never been handsome,
as far as features went, but the irregularity of his features might
easily be forgotten by those who looked at the intellect shown in his
magnificent forehead. His forehead and his hands were his two strong
points. The latter were models of symmetry. Indeed, while resident
at Rome, at an earlier period of his life, he had been requested by a
sculptor to allow his hand to be modelled. At the time I now speak of
him he was fifty-two years of age, but looked considerably younger.
His face was clean-shaved, and his hair so long that it reached almost
to his shoulders, curly in light loose locks like those of a woman.
It was slightly gray. He was dressed in anything but evening costume
on the present occasion, having on a short velveteen shooting-jacket
and coloured trousers. I could not help smiling as I glanced at his
dress--recalling to my mind what a dandy he had been as a young
man.”--1844.