“The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle,” published in 1751, is the second of Smollett’s novels.  It was written under more congenial circumstances than “Roderick Random,” although it is admitted that the hero is by no means a moral improvement on his predecessor.  Sir Walter Scott describes him as “the savage and ferocious Pickle, who, besides his gross and base brutality towards Emilia, besides his ingratitude towards his uncle, and the savage propensity which he shows in the pleasure he takes to torment others by practical jokes, exhibits a low and un-gentlemanlike way of thinking, only one degree higher than that of Roderick Random.”  But the real interest of the story lies not so much in the adventures of Peregrine, as in the character of the old Commodore Trunnion.  Thackeray declared Trunnion to be equal to Fielding’s Squire Weston.  If in “Peregrine Pickle” Smollett occasionally exhibits a tendency to secure variety by extravagant caricature, it is certain that in none of his works, and in none of those of any of his contemporaries, does a richer and more various crowd of personalities appear—­a crowd at once quaint and amusing, disgusting and contemptible.

I.—­Peregrine’s Parentage

In a certain county of England, bounded on one side by the sea, and at the distance of 100 miles from the metropolis, lived Gamaliel Pickle, Esq., the son of a London merchant, who, from small beginnings, had acquired a plentiful fortune.  On the death of his father, Mr. Pickle exerted all his capacity in business; but, encumbered by a certain indolence and sluggishness that prevailed over every interested consideration, he found himself at the end of fifteen years five thousand pounds worse than he was when he first took possession of his father’s effects.  Convinced by the admonitions of his only sister, Miss Grizzle, then in the thirtieth year of her maidenhood, he withdrew his money from the trade, and removed to a house in the country, which his father built near the seaside.

Here, then, Mr. Pickle fixed his habitation for life in the six and thirtieth year of his age; and before he had been three months settled, the indefatigable zeal of Miss Grizzle had arranged a match for her brother with a fair Miss Appleby, daughter of a gentleman who lived in the next parish.

The following letter was transmitted to Miss Appleby by her brother: 

Miss Sally Appleby.

Madame,—­Understanding you have a parcel of heart, warranted sound, to be disposed of, shall be willing to treat for said commodity on reasonable terms; doubt not we shall agree for same; shall wait on you for further information when and where you shall appoint.  This the needful from Yours etc.,

Gam.  Pickle.

This laconic epistle met with as cordial a reception as if it had been couched in the terms of passion and genius.  Mr. Appleby at once visited Mr. Pickle, the marriage settlement was determined, and the day appointed for the wedding,—­to which everybody of any fashion in the neighbourhood was invited.  Among these were Commodore Trunnion and Lieutenant Hatchway, two retired seamen, and the sole companions of the bridegroom.