Letter #7, Post #9

Wednesday 21 March 2012
To Cassandra, from Rowling, "The Triton is a new 32 Frigate, just launched at Deptford.-Frank is much pleased with the prospect of having Capt: Gore under his command.
"Miss Austen
"Steventon
"Overton
"Hants" - Jane Austen - Sunday 18 September 1796

This painting was made for Vice-Admiral James Gambier, Lord of the Admiralty in 1796, and designer of the HMS Triton, a fifth-rate 32 gun Frigate which was built as an experiment in that it had fir timbers rather than oak. The painting shows the Triton in three positions "sailing in a fresh breeze".

                                               Frank Austen

Jane Austen started this letter out saying "Frank has rec:d his appointment on Board the Capt John Gore, commanded by the Triton, ..."

In mythology Triton is a Greek god, the messenger of the sea, so, I guess he could command the Capt. John Gore :)

This is a great entry from the book A Jane Austen Encyclopedia, by Paul Poplawski, about Frank Austen.
http://books.google.com/books?id=hW-OXDSc3rAC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=frank+austen+%2B+hms+triton&source=bl&ots=7niWxGYO03&sig=_BmjflYFmlJV3Hyx9YjyniWZWyY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4AJqT8GPG4LliAK-nMmgBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=frank%20austen%20%2B%20hms%20triton&f=false

This is a quote from the book about Frank, "Frank Austen seems to have been cut out for the life he actually led: physically robust and fearless from infancy, placid and controlled in temperament though resolute in action, precise and methodical in thought, and with a strong sense of duty and morality." Frank seemed like a good person to know, well worth your time.

Frank served on the HMS Triton in 1796 and then on to the HMS Seahorse from 1797 to February 1798. So he was not on the Triton long.

So, today we finished letter #7. I hope you enjoyed it and have a great day!
Terrie