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Trim
The story of a brave, seafaring cat who, in the company of Matthew Flinders, circumnavigated the globe in the years 1799-1804. To the memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants, and best of creatures. He made a tour of the Globe, and a voyage to Australia, which he circumnavigated; and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers. Returning to Europe in 1803, he was shipwrecked in the Great Equinoxial Ocean; this danger escaped, he sought refuge and assistance at the Isle of France, where he was made prisoner, contrary to the laws of Justice, of Humanity, and of French National Faith; and where, alas! he terminated his useful career; by an untimely death, being devoured by the Catophago of that island. Many a time have I beheld his little merriments with delight, and his superior intelligence with surprise: Never will his life be seen again! Trim was born in the Southern Indian Ocean, in the Year 1799, and perished as above at the Isle of France in 1804. Peace be to his shade, and honour to his memory.
30 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
Matthew Flinders
29 books4 followers(For the 21st century political writer, see Matthew^^Flinders)
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was a distinguished navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent.
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was a distinguished navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 28, 2012
Originally written around 1809, this charming little memoir of a seafaring cat laid unpublished until 1973 since when it has become a popular little work.
Matthew Flinders spent most of his time in the navy circumnavigating Australia and with him from 1799-1804 went his little black cat Trim.
Trim had a great time on board ship, being treated right royally by the crew and having an interesting relationship with the dogs on board, over whom he ruled with a paw of iron.
Flinders and company were shipwrecked and later imprisoned. Trim stayed with them but then, making excursions into the surrounding neighbourhood but always returning, it was a sad day when he eventually disappeared for good, despite a reward of 10 Spanish dollars being offered for his safe return.
Flinders, who was unsurprisingly distraught, wrote of him as 'my faithful intelligent Trim ... the sporting, affectionate and useful companion of my voyages during four years' and wondered 'to take thee all in all, shall I see thy like again?' I suspect the answer was 'No' but Trim's likeness does now appear in bronze in Macquarie Street, Sydney, just behind the tall figure of his master.
Footnote: How strange that this book should suddenly come to the surface as Matthew Flinders' coffin has just this week (January 2019) been discovered in the work going on around London Euston railway station. He died in 1814.
Matthew Flinders spent most of his time in the navy circumnavigating Australia and with him from 1799-1804 went his little black cat Trim.
Trim had a great time on board ship, being treated right royally by the crew and having an interesting relationship with the dogs on board, over whom he ruled with a paw of iron.
Flinders and company were shipwrecked and later imprisoned. Trim stayed with them but then, making excursions into the surrounding neighbourhood but always returning, it was a sad day when he eventually disappeared for good, despite a reward of 10 Spanish dollars being offered for his safe return.
Flinders, who was unsurprisingly distraught, wrote of him as 'my faithful intelligent Trim ... the sporting, affectionate and useful companion of my voyages during four years' and wondered 'to take thee all in all, shall I see thy like again?' I suspect the answer was 'No' but Trim's likeness does now appear in bronze in Macquarie Street, Sydney, just behind the tall figure of his master.
Footnote: How strange that this book should suddenly come to the surface as Matthew Flinders' coffin has just this week (January 2019) been discovered in the work going on around London Euston railway station. He died in 1814.
March 23, 2019
Such a beautiful, heartwarming dedication to Flinders’ faithful companion and friend. There’s lots of gorgeous nuggets in this little tome, but one of my favourites was:
“Finding at length that nature had not designed him an astronomer, Trim had too much good sense to continue a useless pursuit; but a musket ball slung with a piece of twine, and made to whirl round upon the deck by a slight motion of the finger, never failed to attract his notice and give him pleasure...”
There’s also a particularly cute little passage where Trim is having a conversation with William the gun room steward after Trim’s been naughty and stolen some of his breakfast.
So glad I happened across this and can now keep it in my shelves.
“Finding at length that nature had not designed him an astronomer, Trim had too much good sense to continue a useless pursuit; but a musket ball slung with a piece of twine, and made to whirl round upon the deck by a slight motion of the finger, never failed to attract his notice and give him pleasure...”
There’s also a particularly cute little passage where Trim is having a conversation with William the gun room steward after Trim’s been naughty and stolen some of his breakfast.
So glad I happened across this and can now keep it in my shelves.
October 17, 2018
I’m keeping this book forever! Mathew Flinders is my fav explorer because he had a cat and loved him very much. If I ever have a cat that’s black and white but 80% black and 20% white I will name him/her Trim.
August 30, 2019
This was a short book written by Matthew Flinders about his cat Trim. Trim was quite a well travelled cat and went on many voyages with Flinders. The man certainly was a cat lover!
February 27, 2021
Five stars not because, "It was amazing", but because it's a short and delightful tale about a cat and written by the man who just really, really, adored that cat. Actually, maybe it was amazing after all.
October 28, 2017
A delightful essay by Matthew Flinders and insight to life at sea in the early 1800s.
Trim had these intelligent, brave men wrapped around his paw. What a comfort and distraction his antics provided them!
I know I talk to to my dog just as William did to Trim.
Flinders observations of his furry friend and crew's interactions showed he was a warm and considered man.
Trim had these intelligent, brave men wrapped around his paw. What a comfort and distraction his antics provided them!
I know I talk to to my dog just as William did to Trim.
Flinders observations of his furry friend and crew's interactions showed he was a warm and considered man.
August 22, 2019
Vilken fantastisk liten bok, med en stor historia! Kärlek mellan en sjöfarande - världsomseglande (?) - katt och hans människa, fint skrivet och helt otroligt att den är 200 år gammal. Önskar att den hade varit längre bara, mer i detalj kring resorna fast nu är det kattens "resa" som står i fokus. En bok för alla.
August 25, 2023
‘To the memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his Race…’
Accompanying Matthew Flinders, Trim was probably the first cat to circumnavigate Australia. This delightful tribute to Trim was written by Mathew Flinders around 1809 but was not published until 1973. I particularly enjoyed reading about Trim and his manners in the mess:
‘Trim was admitted upon the table of almost every officer and man in the ship: in the gunroom he was always the first ready for dinner, but though he was commonly seated a quarter of an hour before any other person, his modest reserve was such that his voice was not heard until everybody else was served.’
And, if a piece was not forthcoming :
‘Without the greatest attention to each morsel, in the person whom he had petitioned in vain, he would whip it off the fork with his paw, on its passage to the mouth with such dexterity and an air so graceful that it rather excited admiration than anger.’
Trim was born in the South Indian Ocean in 1799 and perished on the Île de France (present day Mauritius), where Flinders was imprisoned in 1804.
A delightful tribute to Trim, with sentiments that many cat lovers would share.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Accompanying Matthew Flinders, Trim was probably the first cat to circumnavigate Australia. This delightful tribute to Trim was written by Mathew Flinders around 1809 but was not published until 1973. I particularly enjoyed reading about Trim and his manners in the mess:
‘Trim was admitted upon the table of almost every officer and man in the ship: in the gunroom he was always the first ready for dinner, but though he was commonly seated a quarter of an hour before any other person, his modest reserve was such that his voice was not heard until everybody else was served.’
And, if a piece was not forthcoming :
‘Without the greatest attention to each morsel, in the person whom he had petitioned in vain, he would whip it off the fork with his paw, on its passage to the mouth with such dexterity and an air so graceful that it rather excited admiration than anger.’
Trim was born in the South Indian Ocean in 1799 and perished on the Île de France (present day Mauritius), where Flinders was imprisoned in 1804.
A delightful tribute to Trim, with sentiments that many cat lovers would share.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 14, 2019
This is a beautiful essay written by Matthew Flinders while he was held captive by the French between 1803 and 1810. It tells the story of his beloved cat Trim who, as a kitten, climbed aboard his ship in the Indian Ocean and accompanied him on several voyages, including the first circumnavigation of the Australian continent, and survived multiple shipwrecks.
Trim sadly went missing during Flinders' imprisonment, never to be seen again, assumed by the author to have been eaten by Mauritian natives, though that could just be classic 19th century racism. Regardless, he clearly misses his feline companion as this short work attests.
It is a humorous and heart warming missive from an explorer and naval officer used to writing the official and technical accounts of his voyages and observations. Well worth the short read.
Trim sadly went missing during Flinders' imprisonment, never to be seen again, assumed by the author to have been eaten by Mauritian natives, though that could just be classic 19th century racism. Regardless, he clearly misses his feline companion as this short work attests.
It is a humorous and heart warming missive from an explorer and naval officer used to writing the official and technical accounts of his voyages and observations. Well worth the short read.
November 9, 2020
Trim is a thoroughly delightful biography of a seafaring cat who lived a life of adventure at the dawn of the 19th century. This short book gives some excellent insights into the daily lives and personalities of sailors on an important voyages of exploration, revealing the little details generally omitted from the official narratives. It was written during the author’s unfortunate imprisonment on Mauritius, helping him pass time time, along with learning French, playing flute, writing a song for his wife, and teaching math. We are fortunate that this unpublished manuscript was discovered in the archive of his papers and letters and made available to the public. Though it was written over 200 years ago, anyone who has ever loved a pet can still identify with Mathew Flinders’ ode to his constant feline companion.
January 15, 2024
There is something very poignant in this little essay. Flinders's humanity and delicate soul transpires in each sentence he writes about his esteemed cat Trim. Having someone writing and mourning the loss of a cat might seem normal now, but it sure wasn't the case back in the day.
Flinders was a great man and adventurer in his own right, but this little book is for me essential to discover him fully. Thanks to "Trim," Flinders is no longer just a bronze statue or a face in a canvas painting. He was a real man who enjoyed a very human like, relatable experience with his sassy, unique cat.
Flinders was a great man and adventurer in his own right, but this little book is for me essential to discover him fully. Thanks to "Trim," Flinders is no longer just a bronze statue or a face in a canvas painting. He was a real man who enjoyed a very human like, relatable experience with his sassy, unique cat.
March 6, 2022
I loved reading this little book on a cat who went around the world with Matthew Flinders and crew this cat had an amazing life and adventures I do wish to see thethe statue sometime soon. Plus imagine a cat travelling around the world and the adventures wonder where he is now cat heaven
October 4, 2024
Took maybe 15 mins to read but so full of loving thoughts and funny anecdotes about Trim, 'the best and most illustrious of his race'. I have a tuxedo cat myself called Sylvester (Silly) but the next elegant boi will be called Trim to honour this incredible seacat.
September 22, 2020
That was one hell of an adventurous cat, what a life, and what may have unfortunately been an untimely end.
December 11, 2023
This tiny book speaks volumes of the love and admiration in which Trim was held by Matthew Flinders and all the crew of the various ships in which he sailed. What a well-travelled cat he was!
July 18, 2024
A wonderful, wonderful story and beautifully written by Flinders. Trim has statues in Australia (Sydney, Port Lincoln, Adelaide), and in the UK in London and Lincolnshire. Well deserved.
October 30, 2024
Eye read 2024 (half hour) I made a audio recording :) https://youtu.be/IjT-lMMDwAo
7/10
7/10
February 10, 2025
A unique story about Captain Flinder’s pet cat. A Quick and intriguing read.
May 11, 2015
It was somewhat a surprise when in landing on the French Provence of Mauritius (1803-1809) that Flinders found himself imprisoned for the duration of a European War. Trim ( the ships cat) may have escaped ship, but behind bars his Master was left only to reflect fondly upon him. This gem was hidden in the National Archive at Greenwich and was first published in 1973.
Born in 1799 aboard the Reliance, Trim's presence was mentioned in the ships log. From this moment on his Master owned him as did many of the crew. He swam & climbed rope often better than the other crew & was ever inquisitive & polite with many of his on board adventures. Bit of a loss on land though and made his escape by petitioning for crew on the Investigator.
This work is a wonderful reflection of the personality of Flinders and a great view of ship board life during this period. Totally sweet.
Born in 1799 aboard the Reliance, Trim's presence was mentioned in the ships log. From this moment on his Master owned him as did many of the crew. He swam & climbed rope often better than the other crew & was ever inquisitive & polite with many of his on board adventures. Bit of a loss on land though and made his escape by petitioning for crew on the Investigator.
This work is a wonderful reflection of the personality of Flinders and a great view of ship board life during this period. Totally sweet.
January 22, 2014
This is a little treasure of a book, just 51 pages.
Lovely change from the usual history stories, about the true life story of an intrepid cat named Trim who belonged to Matthew Flinders and along with him sailed the oceans.
4*s.
January 9, 2015
What a great little story. Matthew Flinders wrote about his cat, Trim and what a wonderful companion he sounded. He was an unusual creature and very different from other cats. The reader also gets an insight into the man from this story.
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February 27, 2012Charming tribute to a faithful companion who served his master and crews well, only to meet a most unfortunate end.
November 30, 2012
It is only a little book, however it is a gem! If you love cats you will love this book. What a character!
June 15, 2015
A great man and a great cat.
March 1, 2016
This was adorable. :D
January 27, 2019
A lovely little book about the life of Trim and life on board a ship in the late 1700's.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews