Landsman Hay, ed M D Hay

Landsman Hay, Memoirs of Robert Hay 1789-1847
ed M D Hay

In 1803, at the age of 13, Robert Hay ran away from his Scottish home and spent eight and a half years at sea. His memoir (published here) is not only an exciting adventure but also  a valuable historical document about life at sea during the Napoleonic Wars. He served in action against the Dutch shore batteries in Java, survived a violent storm on the way back to Plymouth, reached land and promptly deserted. Unable to make it back to Scotland he sailed to Jamaica on a leaky merchantman, where the crew kept deserting; returned safely to England only to be Press Ganged when he reached London. Finally, after a protracted period of preparation he and another Scot swam ashore and succeeded in returning to Scotland.

Hardback with dust jacket in protective cellophane cover. Dust jacket rubbed at corners. Very small pieces missing from ends of spine jacket. Front endpaper inscribed ‘Randall’. Inside pages in very good condition.

248 pages
8 pages of b&w photographs
140 mm x 208 mm (5.5 in x 8.25 in)
1953, Rupert Hart-Davis, London