The Three Cutters

The Three Cutters

Frederick Marryat's *The Three Cutters* follows three vessels in the English Channel: the yacht *Arrow*, owned by Lord B—; the revenue-cutter *Active*, commanded by Lieutenant Appleboy; and the smuggling lugger *Happy-go-lucky*, captained by Jack Pickersgill. The novel opens at Plymouth's Barn Pool, where Lord B— entertains guests aboard the *Arrow*: his sailing-master Mr Stewart, the idle Mr Hautaine, the debt-ridden Mr Vaughan, the foolish cousin Mr Ossulton, the witty barrister Mr Seagrove, Lord B—'s spinster sister Miss Ossulton, the young widow Mrs Lascelles, and his daughter Cecilia. Over dinner Seagrove performs a comic scene about "Five Thousand Acres in a Ring-Fence," concerning Mr Ponsonby pressuring his nephew William to marry Miss Percival to unite two estates. Meanwhile at Portsmouth, the *Active* lies at anchor, where Lieutenant Appleboy, Mr Tomkins, and Mr Smith drink gin-toddy and swap sea stories until the cook accidentally serves them salt water. At Saint Malo, Jack Pickersgill loads the *Happy-go-lucky* with lace, tea, silk, and brandy, aided by his mate Corbett and old Morrison, before sailing for West Bay. All three vessels converge off Portland. The *Active* chases the smuggler; the *Arrow*, spotting the pursuit, also gives chase. When becalmed, Lord B— and Stewart row over and attempt to seize Pickersgill's vessel, but Pickersgill turns the tables, declaring their act piracy, stranding them oarless in their own boat, and sailing off in fog. He then boards the undermanned *Arrow*, forces Hautaine, Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove into smugglers' clothes and sends them off aboard the *Happy-go-lucky* with Morrison (who is later captured by the *Active* and jailed), while he and Corbett don the gentlemen's clothes and pose as "Lord B—" and "Mr Ossulton" aboard the *Arrow*. Pickersgill governs the yacht with courtesy, winning the confidence of Cecilia and Mrs Lascelles, to whom he confides his true situation as a well-born, educated man reduced to smuggling. He terrifies and humiliates the pompous Miss Ossulton, tricking her into carrying contraband lace ashore at Torquay on his arm, to Mrs Lascelles's private satisfaction. He unloads his cargo through further ruses at Torquay before turning the *Arrow* back toward Cowes. Lord B—, having reached shore and later borrowed a friend's yacht, catches up with the *Arrow* near the Needles. A tense confrontation gives way to reconciliation once the ladies vouch for Pickersgill's honorable conduct throughout. Lord B— thanks him and offers future assistance; Pickersgill declares he will smuggle no more, moved partly by Mrs Lascelles's disapproval, and departs after safely piloting the yacht home. He later writes securing his men's release from custody. Two years afterward, the widowed and remarried Mrs Lascelles visits Cecilia, now in mourning for her aunt, and introduces her new husband, Mr Davenant—revealed to be Jack Pickersgill, the smuggler, now restored to respectable life under his true name.

By Frederick Marryat · First published 1829 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Nautical Fiction · 7 chapters · 27,070 words

First lines

Reader, have you ever been at Plymouth? If you have, your eye must have dwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful property of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe: if you have not been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go there the better. At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber in existence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feathering down to the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely spot you will witness one of the most splendid panoramas in the world.

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The Three Cutters is listed on Textopian as a novel by Frederick Marryat, dated 1829 CE.

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adventure · nautical · historical · fiction · maritime · sailing · exploration · friendship · conflict · courage · seafaring · mystery

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