Chapter Rattlin the Reefer to Real Life in London of R by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Rattlin the Reefer to Real Life in London

Rattlin the Reefer, published in the works of captain Marryat, was by Edward Howard.

On the 29th September, at Sydney, New South Wales, captain Frederick Howard, R.N., youngest son of the late Edward Howard, author of Rattlin the Reefer.—Times, November 10, 1892.

Rattray (Sir Runnion), of Runnagullion; the duelling friend of sir Mungo Malagrowther.—Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Raucocanti, the buffo of a troupe of singers going to act in Sicily. The whole were captured by Lambro the pirate, and sold in Turkey for slaves.

‘Twould not become myself to dwell upon
My own merits,and,tho’young, I see, sir, you [Don Juan]
Have got a travelled air, which speaks you one
To whom the opera is by no means new.
You’ve heard of Raucocanti? I’m that man…
You was [sic] not last year at the fair of Lugo,
But next, when I’m engaged to sing there,—do go.
   —Byron: Don Juan, iv. 88 (1820).

Raven, emblem of Denmark, and standard of the Danes. Necromantic powers are ascribed to it. Asser says, in his Life of Alfred, If the Danes were destined to gain a victory, “a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the unfurled flag; but if they were doomed to be defeated, the flag would hang down motionless;” and this, he continues, “was proved to be so.”

The raven banner was called Landeyda (“the desolation of the country”), and its device was woven by the daughters of Regner Lodbrok.

…we have shattered back
The hugest wave from Norseland ever yet
Surged on us, and our battle-axes broken
The Raven’s wing, and dumbed the carrion croak
From the gray sea for ever.
   —Tennyson: Harold, iv. 3 (1875).

Raven (The), a poem by Poe (1831).

Raven (Barnaby’s), Grip, a large bird, of most impish disposition. Its usual phrases were: “I’m a devil!” “Never say die!” “Polly, put the kettle on!” He also uttered a cluck like cork-drawing, a barking like a dog, and a crowing like a cock. Barnaby Rudge used to carry it about in a basket at his back. The bird drooped while it was in jail with his master, but after Barnaby’s reprieve

It soon recovered its good looks, and became as glossy and sleek as ever…but for a whole year it never indulged in any other sound than a grave and decorous croak.…One bright summer morning …the bird advanced with fantastic steps to the door of the Maypole, and then cried, “I’m a devil!” three or four times with extraordinary rapture,… and from that time constantly practised and improved himself in the vulgar tongue.—Dickens: Barnaby Rudge, ii. (1841).

Raven (Noah’s). It is said that Noah, at the end of forty days, “sent forth a raven, which went to and fro [the ark] till the waters [of the Flood] were dried up from the earth” (Gen. viii. 7). It is usually said that the raven fed on the dead bodies, and thus supplied itself with daily food. But before the mariner’s compass was invented, the sea-kings and others employed ravens to ascertain if land was in sight. If not, the raven returned to the ship, but if it saw land it did not return.

Floco, leaving Hietlandia, took certayn ravens unto him, and when he thought he had sayled a great way, he sent forth one raven, which, flying aloft, went back again to Hietlandia. … Whereupon Floco perceived he was nearer to Hietlandia than to any other countaye, and therefore courageously going forward, he sent forth another raven, which, because it could see no land … lit upon the ship again. Lastly, he sent forth a third raven … which through the sharpness of her sight, having discerned land, flew thither, and Floco, following, beheld the eastern side of the island.—Arngrim Jonas (“Floco’s Journey from Shetland to Iceland”).