A Sea of Gold: Thomas Kydd 21 by Julian Stockwin

Author:Julian Stockwin [Stockwin, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2018-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

* * *

The Admiralty

‘My lord?’ Cochrane strode in, his shock of red hair and height giving him a compelling presence in Mulgrave’s neat office.

‘Do sit, my lord,’ Mulgrave said mildly. ‘My apologies for taking you away from your illustrious field of battle but the matter presses.’

‘As it must, the Spanish coast lying unharried all the while.’

‘Then, sir, consider this. The French under Willaumez have lately sallied from Brest and now lie in Rochefort in numbers that cause us to take fright of our colonies. They must be destroyed, and remembering your celebrated exploits there in Pallas, I thought to take counsel with you as knowing the ground better than any man.’

‘I do. And I’d wager that Willaumez is not to be found in Basque Roads but in the inner harbour, Aix Roads.’

‘You are correct, of course.’

‘Where they may lie in perfect safety.’

‘Sir, this cannot be suffered to continue. Their destruction is our first duty, and your advice to this end will be most valuable.’

‘Aix Island and to its south is girt about with hazards. I will not be party to an action of significance in those waters, sir.’

‘You will not?’

‘Do I resemble a fool, sir, a looby? I repeat, this is not—’

‘With fireships?’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Were a commander to be granted a flotilla of fireships in the right quarter for the wind to then bear them down on the anchored ships would not this answer?’

Cochrane sat back contemplating, a smile playing. ‘If you are offering me a command such as this, be aware, sir, that there will be conditions attached.’

The first lord of the Admiralty raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh? I’d be interested to hear them, sir.’

Leaning forward, Cochrane rapped, ‘Explosion vessels. I will have two, three vessels preceding the fireships that are in their nature but laden with powder carcasses to my specifying, intended to explode among the enemy.’

‘I see. I should think that quite possible.’

‘And the other, I am not unaware that my appointment to such a post will excite a frisson, not so much a jealousy among my brother officers over whom I shall have been placed. I desire that a way may be found whereby my position is regularised beyond repine.’

‘Ah. Well, I suppose it can. In view of your superior qualifications for the position, Lord Gambier will be, er, directed to make you responsible for the actions of the fireships and thereby unable to vary the appointment. Will that answer, pray?’

‘Shall I have forces sufficient for the task?’

‘I have identified and caused to be manned eight fireships for your enterprise. They, with store-ships and transports, are being prepared in the Downs at this hour while two bomb-vessels will sail shortly. In addition, I’m able to offer you the services of any captain and his ship you deem a suitable associate in the endeavour.’

‘Very well, I accept the post. And Captain Sir Thomas Kydd will suit most handsomely.’

‘I understand his ship is under repair in Plymouth. Should it be in a fit state for sea, and Sir Thomas is agreeable, he will receive orders to join you.

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