Round, folding table made of timber on central turned post and tripod base. Brass inscribed plaque in centre: 'MADE FROM THE TIMBERS OF H.M.S. ARIADNE Commanded By CAPT. FREDERICK MARRYAT R.N., C.B. IN 1828.' The inscription is confusing since the 20-gun 'Ariadne' was built in 1816 and began a major rebuild just before Frederick Marryat -now best remembered as the popular writer of sea stories and children's novelist that he later became - was appointed to command it in October 1828 while the reconstruction was in progress. He left it in Novembr 1830 and the ship was finally sold for breaking up in 1841 while still in Alexandria, Egypt, where it had been used as a coal hulk since 1837. The table is reputed to have formerly belonged to Marryat, who died in 1848. If that is true, it is perhaps more likely that it was made from timber being replaced in the 1828-29 rebuild rather than something he acquired later: if not then it may date to the 1840s and simply record his former command of the ship.