I am sure that in The Nutmeg of Consolation, Midshipman Harper is killed by the Dyaks, yet he, or someone with the same name turns up later.

Any idea what's going on?

Message edited by its author, Aug 27, 2009, 5:28pm.

Good question. We need to find somebody with Brown's The Patrick O'Brian Muster Book.

ps I asked three people who own the Brown if we could borrow it!

Message edited by its author, Aug 28, 2009, 10:50pm.

I'm one of them :) Now, I just moved and my Patrick O'Brian Muster Book is admittedly packed. That said, when it comes to finding out whether someone's dead/wounded/alive there's the wonderful Butcher's Bill, which is freely available online. Definitely get a copy for yourself!

As noted on page 167 of it (Note 3)
Harper is dead: “Your clerk was killed in the charge; so was little Harper…” Stephen to Jack (NC 2:45). However: “It is no use to a one-armed cove, you know; but you shall treat Harper and me to a bowl of punch when we reach Botany Bay.” Miller to William Reade on Nutmeg (5:111). Harper later incurs a splinter wound in the action with Cornélie (5:139).

So yes, undead midshipmen! I just reread the series myself and I think I caught that too :)

Arghh, I feel like a right fool. The Butcher's Bill - I've got a link to that right on my desktop! Thanks parelle!

Thanks folks, I didn't expect anyone would be able to answer it, which shows what I know