Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/28

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. x. JULY n, MW.

1695. Befoiv this latter year, then, it was impossible for a book to be printed in Worcester except surreptitiously, and after Oswen (a six- teenth-century printer) nothing has certainly been produced there until 1708."

The (quinquennial) Act in question was 13 and 14 Car. II. c. 33. It can be seen in ' The Statutes at Large.' It, however, was not renewed in 1678, owing to Titus Oates's plot. But it was in full force again from 1680 to 1695. Nothing, therefore, was printed openly in Worcester before the year 1695, and nothing is known to have been printed surreptitiously even when the Act was not in force. J. B. WILLIAMS.

(To be continued.)

THE GOVERNOR OF MALTA

IN 'MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY':

SIR THOMAS MAITLAND.

IN his Introduction to ' Mr. Midshipman Easy ' in the " Illustrated Standard Novels " Series published by Messrs. Macmillan, Mr. David Hannay says :

"The Governor who rejoiced in Jack's stories may be named with confidence as Sir Alexander Ball, whom Marryat may have known, and must at least have heard of, when he was in the Mediterranean with Dundonald in the Imperieuse."

I propose to show that this Governor of Malta was not Sir Alexander Ball, but Sir Thomas Maitland.

1. The Governor was much amused at the triangular method of fighting a duel, with three parties engaged at the same time, which was adopted by the Midshipman at the suggestion of Mr. Tallboys, the gunner. Capt. Wilson says to his First Lieutenant : " I dine at th3 Governor's to-day ; how he will laugh when I tell him of this new way of fighting a duel!" To which Mr. Saw- bridge replies : " Yes, sir, it is just the thing that will tickle old Tom " (chap, xviii.)-

2. The Governor is addressed and spoken of as " Sir Thomas " (chaps, xxii., xxviii., xli.).

3. But what seems conclusive is the remark made by Jack when the Governor takes very decisive steps to ensure that Jack's friend and fellow-midshipman, Gascoigne, shall not fight a duel with the Spanish " blackguard," Don Silvio, and to summon both ii idshipmen to appear before him. An aide-de-camp with " a corporal and a file of men " is sent to see that this latter order is duly executed.

'This is confounded tyranny .... Well may they call him King Tom. ' Yes,' replies the

A.D.C., ' and he governs here in rey absoluto so- come along.' "

Now it is known that Mait land's nickname among his officers, civil and military, was " King Tom " or " Old King Tom."

In addition to the argument from names, the character of the Governor of Malta, as depicted in the novel, is exactly that of Sir Thomas Maitland, who was noted for his eccentricities and arbitrary conduct. Sir Charles Napier, who had served under him for six years, describes him as " a rough old despot." He had, too, a sort of grim humour, and was fond of a joke, more especially a practical joke. He took strong^ fancies and antipathies was a good friend and a good hater. In the book Jack, as soon as he had given him an account of the grotesque duel, at which he " had laughed . . . .till he held his sides," became a first favourite, and afterwards, whenever Mr. Midshipman Easy had been through any other extraordinary adventure or was con- templating some fresh escapade, he used to say to himself, " I 've a famous good yarn for the Governor," or "It would be a good joke to tell the Governor." So did Capt. Sawbridge console himself on one of these occasions for stifling his instinct to assert discipline and spoil sport with the reflec- tion : "There'll be another yarn for the Governor, or I 'm mistaken." But with all his faults Maitland was a man of sound judg- ment and prompt action, and he had a kind heart. He gave Mr. Midshipman Easy whom he invited to make a home of Govern- ment House while he was detained at Malta very good advice, and helped to prevent him from spoiling Ms career.

Like his predecessor Sir Alexander Ball , Sir Thomas Maitland died in office at Malta, so that the following incident proves nothing either way. The Governor promises to pay Jack a visit at his house " if ever I come to England again." On which the author com- ments : " But Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was t eir final adieu."

It is, of course, chronologically inaccurate to make Maitland Governor of Malta during the period in which the Midshipman was serving in the Mediterranean, when England was at war with Spain as well as with France. Peace had been concluded with Spain in 1809. Maitland came to Malta from Ceylon, where he had been for six years Governor, in 1812 or early in 1813, and died there in 1824. But, as Mr. Hannay himself points out in his Introduction to ' Newton Forster,' Marryat " cared as little as Lever for mere