This is a quite amusing nautical tale of the British Navy of the around the year 1700. While, as with much early 'humor', it is somewhat heavy-handed, the sympathies
of the author are clear and good, and cruelty is often averted by good fortune or background characters. First published under the title 'The Dog Fiend', the primary
characters are an evil captain of a cutter and his dog. The dog seems indestructible, as is the poor cabin boy who is the butt of the captain's ill humor, and who often
is chewed on by the dog. The cutter is sent against smugglers, transporting ' Alamodes and lute strings' - a term for foreign silks. But, the smugglers really are
Jacobites plotting against King William, and much of the action relates to politics of that time.
( Arnold Banner)
Chapters
1 Introduction of Divers Parties and a Red-Herring 14 min 2 Showing what Became of the Red-Herring 10 min 3 A Retrospect, and Short Description of a New Character 13 min 4 In which there is a Desperate Combat 9 min 5 A Consultation in which there is much Mutiny 19 min 6 In which as often happens at Sea when Signals are not made out, Friends exchange Broadsides 13 min 7 In which Mr Vanslyperken goes on Shore to woo the Widow Vandersloosh 9 min 8 In which the Widow lays a Trap for Mr Vanslyperken, and Smallbones lays a Trap for Snarleyyow, and both bag their Game 15 min 9 A Long Chapter, in which there is Lamentation, Singing, Bibbling, and Dancing 32 min 10 In which is explained the Sublime Mystery of Keelhauling, Snarleyyow saves Smallbones from being drowned, although Smallbones would have drowned him 23 min 11 In which Snarleyyow does not at all assist his Master's Cause with the Widow Vandersloosh 14 min 12 In which Resolutions are entered into in all Quarters, and Jemmy Ducks is accused of Mutiny for singing a Song in a Snow-Storm 16 min 13 In which the Ship's Company join in a Chorus, and the Corporal goes on a Cruise 22 min 14 In which some new Characters appear on the Stage, although the Corporal is not to be heard of 22 min 15 In which the Crew of the Yungfrau lose a Good Prize, and Snarleyyow loses his Character 12 min 16 In which we change the Scene, and the Sex of our Performers 20 min 17 In which there is a Great Deal of Plotting, and a Little Execution 26 min 18 The whole of which has been fudged out of the History of England, and will therefore be quite New to the Majority of our Readers 11 min 19 In which Smallbones is sent to look after a Pot of Black Paint 22 min 20 In which Mr Vanslyperken proves False to the Widow Vandersloosh, and Many Strange Things take Place 31 min 21 In which are narrated the Adventures which took place in the Corporal's Cruise in the Jolly-Boat 21 min 22 In which Snarleyyow proves to be the Devil, and no Mistake 25 min 23 In which Mr Vanslyperken finds Great Cause of Vexation and Satisfaction 22 min 24 In which Mr Vanslyperken has Nothing but Trouble from the Beginning to the End 29 min 25 In which Mr Vanslyperken proves that he has a Great Aversion to Cold Steel 15 min 26 In which Mr Vanslyperken sees a Ghost 13 min 27 In which Mr Vanslyperken is taught a Secret 18 min 28 In which we have at last introduced a Decent Sort of Heroine, who, however, only plays a Second in our History, Snarleyyow being the First Fiddle 26 min 29 In which Jemmy Ducks proves the Truth of Moggy's Assertion, that there was no one like him before or since, Nancy and Jemmy serenade the Stars 27 min 30 In which Mr Vanslyperken treats the Ladies 35 min 31 In which Snarleyyow again triumphs over his Enemies 19 min 32 Listeners never hear any Good of Themselves 27 min 33 In which there is nothing very Particular or very Interesting 14 min 34 Besides other Matter, containing an Argument 21 min 35 In which the Agency of a Red-Herring is again introduced into our Wonderful History 20 min 36 In which Mr Vanslyperken, although at Fault, comes in for the Brush 19 min 37 In which Mr Vanslyperken drives a very Hard Bargain 14 min 38 In which Mr Vanslyperken is taken for a Witch 12 min 39 In which is recorded a most Barbarous and Bloody Murder 26 min 40 In which a most Horrid Spectre disturbs the Equanimity of Mr Vanslyperken 16 min 41 In which is shown how Dangerous it is to tell a Secret 19 min 42 In which is shown the Imprudence of sleeping in the Open Air, even in a Summer's Night 13 min 43 In which Smallbones changes from a King's Man into a Smuggler, and also changes his Sex 20 min 44 In which Mr Vanslyperken meets with a Double Defeat 20 min 45 In which Mr Vanslyperken proves his Loyalty and his Fidelity to King William 18 min 46 In which there is much Bustle and Confusion, Plot and Counter-Plot 20 min 47 Which is rather interesting 15 min 48 In which there is a Great Deal of Correspondence, and the Widow is called up very Early in the Morning 19 min 49 In which is related much Appertaining to the "Pomp and Glorious Circumstance" of War 15 min 50 In which the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Rank and File, are all sent to the Right About 12 min 51 In which the Jacobite Cause is Triumphant by Sea as well as by Land 12 min 52 In which a Great Deal of Loyalty is shown to counterbalance the Treason of Vanslyperken 16 min 53 Trial and Execution of two of the Principal Personages in our History 14 min 54 In which Affairs begin to wind up 13 min 55 In which we trust that Everything will be arranged to the Satisfaction of our Readers 16 min
