The Yellow Admiral

by Patrick O'Brian

  But we celebrate him tonight above all for his Aubrey and Maturin; for his Villiers and his Preserved Killick and his Barret Bonden, and his Babbington and his Blaine; for his Sophie and his poor Polychrest and for his beautiful Surprise; for the extra-ordinary care which founds every reference on the rock of scholarship; for his love of nature and the sea; for his celebration of courage, honour, and humanity. For Mary, without whom I suspect none of it would have come out quite like this, we offer this evening as a 'thank you'; for Patrick we raise our glasses, in seated naval toast, to our great storyteller, and say 'may we drink to you in three times three'.

  TO PATRICK O'BRIAN