With this scene of mingled heroism and stupidity, the more brilliant part of Marryat’s naval life came to an end. He was engaged in the Basque Roads on one of the fire-ships, and when they proved of little use, was probably recalled to the _Impérieuse_. It is to be hoped at least that he was on her deck when her captain, in an exaltation of fury, drifted her among the French liners. In point of time, however, his service was merely beginning, and he was to do good work yet, both as a subordinate and as commander; but it wanted the heroic touch of the first three years. When Cochrane was superseded from the _Impérieuse_, Marryat remained with the new captain, and under him took part in the wholly wretched Walcheren business, out of which he got--in common with some thousands of others--all that it had to give--a distinct idea of how a combined expedition ought _not_ to be conducted,--and an attack of marsh fever.
From this time until the close of the Great War, he was on such active service as the overpowering supremacy we had attained at sea left to be performed. From the Scheldt he returned invalided on board the _Victorious_, 74. As soon as he was fit for service, he was appointed to the _Centaur_, 74, the flag-ship of Sir Samuel Hood, with whom he went back to the Mediterranean, but not to the stirring life of his old frigate. After a year of the seventy-four he returned home, and was appointed to the _Æolus_ frigate on the American station. He went out as a passenger on the _Atlas_, 64, and joined his ship at Halifax. In the _Æolus_, and then in another frigate, the _Spartan_, he became familiar with the West Indies, which are, with the Mediterranean, the scenes of so large a part of his stories. In 1812 he had served his time as midshipman, and returned home to pass. His influence was good, as the fact that he served so much in frigates proves, and he received his lieutenant’s commission immediately after going through his examination (December 26, 1812). Six months later he was appointed to _L’Espiègle_ sloop, and cruised in her on the north coast of South America, till he was invalided by the breaking of a blood-vessel, and sent home as a passenger on board his old frigate, the _Spartan_, which had now finished her commission. This accident, due in part to a constitutional infirmity, which ultimately proved fatal to him, occurred at Barbadoes, at a dance--perhaps a dignity ball. In 1814 he was back on the coast of America in the _Newcastle_, 58, and was again invalided home, this time from Madeira. In June, 1815, just as the Great War was closing, Marryat was promoted commander, and the first period of his life came to an end.