The Merriman Chronicles Book 3
The Threat in the East
By Roger Burnage
Copyright Information
The Merriman Chronicles
Book 3
Merriman & the threat in the East
First Edition
Copyright © Roger Burnage
All rights reserved
With the exception of certain well known historical figures the characters in this book have no relation or resemblance to any person living or dead. This book is a work of fiction.
Foreword
In the spring of 1998, workmen demolishing an old nursing home in the country to the north-west of Chester, discovered bundles of old papers concealed behind a bricked up fireplace. One of the men with more perspicacity than his fellows rescued the papers from the bonfires of rubbish and gave them to his employer, a builder, who, knowing of my interest in such things passed them on to me. The discovered papers were mostly in a very bad state due to the effects of dampness, mildew and the depredations of vermin over the years, and many of the oldest bundles were totally illegible. Another obvious problem was that the papers had been written by different people and some of the handwriting was not of the best. Sorting the papers into chronological order took many months of part time effort, indeed I gave up on the job for weeks and months at a time, but as I progressed with the work I realised that it was a history of the Merriman family from the late 18th century to the early years of the 20th century.
The first clearly decipherable writings referred to a certain James Abel Merriman, a naval officer at the time of the Napoleonic wars, and revealed some startling facts about French activities in and around Ireland and the Irish Sea at that time. I quickly realised that I had in my hands the material for a novel or novels about a little known part of our history. Other papers showed that beside those serving in the navy, other members of the family were connected with the 22nd Regiment of Foot, the Cheshire Regiment. Intriguingly, a family tree was among the papers in one of the later bundles. Armed with that and from research in local archives, church records etc., it appeared that the last direct male heir of the family, Albert George Merriman was killed in France in 1916 and the last descendant, his unmarried sister Amy Elizabeth, a nurse, was also killed in France in 1917.
I have written several novels about members of the Merriman family whose members served their country and sometimes died for it and I have collected them under the heading “The Merriman Chronicles”. This novel, the third, is “The Threat in the East”.
The year 1798.
Chapter 1 – The Threat - Napoleon
His Majesty’s frigate Lord Stevenage heeled sharply as a particularly savage gust of wind hit her. The weather had been foul for the last few days and all aboard hoped that it was improving, the wind had slackened and the sun had been glimpsed occasionally through gaps in the racing clouds. If there was one person aboard who really longed for the ship’s pitching and rolling to cease it was Mr. Grahame who had never been a good sailor and who had fled below to his cabin as soon as the ship encountered the first heavy seas.
Captain James Merriman grinned at the thought. Grahame was one of many agents of the Treasury which at that time coordinated all of Britain’s espionage services under the Prime Minister William Pitt and Lord Stevenage. He was one of the most experienced and capable agents and over the last few months he and Merriman had been responsible for the capture of a French agent in Ireland and of several important French documents detailing French activities, spies and collaborators in Portugal and the Eastern Mediterranean and even India.
During that adventure, Merriman and his ship the Lord Stevenage had captured a French corvette, a small frigate really and also a merchant ship The Fat Frog, so called by a witty crewman because they couldn’t pronounce the French name. Both ships had been bought in by the Admiralty and his share of the prize money had gone into his account with the agent in Portsmouth and of course the crews were happy to get their share too, small though it was.
Merriman and Grahame had gone to London to report to the Admiralty where they met with the same Admiral Sir David Edwards as the last time they were there and also Grahame’s spymaster Lord Stevenage. Both men were in deep conversation when Merriman and Grahame were ushered in but broke off to welcome them. After the usual civilities had been exchanged and they were all seated round the big shiny mahogany table that Merriman remembered from his previous visits, the Admiral said
“Captain Merriman, I must congratulate you again on the success of your last foray into Ireland and the capture of the French agent Moreau, that was well done and now I must give you some bad news. Before you left for Ireland rumour had it that Napoleon was putting a fleet together to take an army to Egypt from where he might be able to threaten and even attack India to join with Tipu Sahib the ruler of Mysore who as you will know is a firm ally of the French and no friend of ours. A British fleet under Admiral Nelson is hoping to intercept him but we don’t know yet what has happened. Perhaps Mr. Grahame could advise you further.”
Grahame replied, “Indeed I can Sir. As you know James, all countries have spies and agents in opposing countries and we have ours in France, indeed in Paris itself. I am commanded by the Prime Minister himself to go to India to find out what I can of French activity there. It is not a rumour, our people have confirmed it. Napoleon intends to attack Egypt. He proposed the campaign to the ruling Directory last year, telling them that he intended to undermine Britain’s access to India to fulfill his dream of linking up with Tipu Sahib and his large French trained army. The Directory approved it and since then he has been gathering a large army and fleet in Toulon intending to sail as soon as possible. After defeating Egypt, although he won’t find that easy because the Mamelukes are fierce warriors, he intends to march south and collect another fleet to take the army down the Red Sea and across to India. All this is true Gentlemen, our best agents in France, all reliable people, have confirmed it.” He paused and took a sip of water then continued, “We also know for a fact that Tipu intends to build a navy. His father had a few ships mainly used to protect his merchant fleet but Tipu is aiming to build a fleet of some forty warships of seventy two and sixty two cannon. If he succeeds he will have the biggest and most powerful navy in Asia.” He paused and shook his head, “but we have had no more recent news from our people in India.”
Merriman took a few moments to absorb all that and consider the ramifications of Napoleon’s plans. “This is terrible news Gentlemen, if he succeeds he and this Tipu man would be able to isolate India and force us out.”
“Yes, that is certain to happen unless he can be stopped James.” said Lord Stevenage, who until then had said nothing, merely nodding to confirm what had been said. “I am sure that you can see what you will be called upon to do. You are to take Mr. Grahame to Bombay where he will endeavour to find out for us how far Tipu’s naval building has progressed. The East India Company has requested the navy’s help to protect their shipping from pirates. I say pirates but some of them could be some of Tipu’s own ships. That will be your main duty and to support Mr. Grahame as you have done so well in the past”
“That is it Captain, your ship will be stored and supplied for an extended voyage and you will return to Portsmouth and put to sea immediately your ship is ready. The dockyard has been told to expedite the work. I hope you have a speedy voyage and you both meet with success.”
They had returned to the ship bringing with them their written orders. Merriman’s were to take Grahame to Lisbon and then Gibraltar from whence he could send the information aboard a King�
�s ship about French spies and their collaborators to Naples in Greece. It would then go to Britain’s man in the consulate who coordinated the English agents in that part of the world. From Gibraltar the orders sent Merriman and Grahame on to India.
During Merriman’s absence in London, Acting Fourth Lieutenant Alfred Shrigley had passed his examination and was now a fully qualified officer, managing to stay with the Lord Stevenage thanks to the Port Admiral Sir George FitzHerbert who had been earnestly requested by Merriman to allow him to stay and Mr. Laing the First Lieutenant had managed to find seven more men to replace those lost previously. An uninspiring lot, jailbirds all, who had chosen service in the navy instead of deportation or hanging. A new young midshipman had joined the ship in Portsmouth, only twelve years old, one Edward Green who at first was terribly sea sick but fought his stomach valiantly and very quickly recovered. Merriman had interviewed him when he joined the ship and found him to be intelligent and wanting to learn. With his red hair and blue eyes he reminded Merriman of his first lieutenant and friend aboard his first command the brig Conflict, Alan Jones, who had been killed during a fight with corsairs off Africa. Green would be the most junior, below the other two midshipmen, Alan Hungerford, sixteen and now the ship’s signals officer and Gideon Small still only just turned thirteen.
They found Lisbon to be a pleasant city, much of it being rebuilt after the recent earthquakes had demolished a lot of it. The temperature was like the Mediterranean at that time of year and very pleasant after the cold and stormy passage from England. The ship passed the famous Belem Tower built in the 16th century by King Manuel 1st as part of the fortifications at the mouth of the Tagus to safeguard the people of Lisbon from attack from the sea.
The Lord Stevenage anchored near the bustling harbour and after the usual formalities with the Portuguese officials, Mr. Grahame hurried off to find the British Consulate where he could pass on the new information about the activities of French agents in Spain and Portugal to England’s main agent.
After ensuring that water and fresh fruit could be supplied, Merriman left the arrangements in the hands of his second officer and Grummage the purser whilst he sat at his desk to write letters home to his family and to his new wife Helen.
Nearly every day for the last weeks Merriman had thought about what his new wife Helen would be doing, and not for the first time he thought about the passionate few days they had together shortly before Admiralty orders took him away. “Had he had left her with child? If he had, he could not be there and would know nothing about it, except maybe by post, until he was home again, months and maybe years ahead. And his parents too. When he left, his mother was gravely ill. She was being looked after by Helen’s father William Simpson, an excellent doctor who had kept her alive to see her son’s wedding but he did not expect to see her again. And his father, now an old man, would he live long after his wife’s death?” He shook his head, there was no time now for such thoughts there was too much else to be done.
Gibraltar was the next port of call and as they passed Spain, now allied to the French, a wary lookout was kept in case any Spanish warships put in an appearance, but none did and the straits of Gibraltar gave no problems. Anchored in the harbour under the looming bulk of the great Rock, Merriman and Grahame reported to the Admiral in the naval headquarters to ask him to arrange for Grahame’s dispatches to go in a King’s ship bound for Italy and Greece to take the new information about French agents in the Eastern Mediterranean so that it could pass on to their man in Naples. Grahame’s documents ensured the Admiral’s co-operation.
Merriman seized the opportunity to have any ship’s mail put ashore for eventual delivery to England. He had been writing letters to his parents and Helen, adding a paragraph or two every day, but when they would be delivered was anybody’s guess.
During the last months and years Merriman and Grahame had worked together a lot and become good friends and Merriman was pleased by what Grahame had said to him before they left Gibraltar. “I have enjoyed working with you James, we seem to think alike and our last adventures have both proved to be more successful than we could have hoped. Let us hope that our next venture in India will be equally successful.
“Yes Sir, let us hope so. It has been a long time since I was there.” Briefly his mind drifted back to the days in the Indian Ocean when he served as a Lieutenant aboard the frigate Calcutta and to memories of the action in which they had captured a French brig renamed Conflict which he had been ordered to take back to Gibraltar with dispatches. Hastily bringing his mind back to the present he hurried back on deck to confirm that the replenishment of fresh water had been completed and to issue the orders needed to set sail again for the long journey ahead.
Chapter 2 – En route to India
Once under way and all sight of Gibraltar lost astern, he called his officers down to his cabin to inform them what the Admiralty orders were. The Master, Mr. Cuthbert, was an elderly man, grey haired and with a weather beaten face, legacy of his years at sea. He had a pronounced stoop due to having to bend low to avoid striking his head on the beams above him. Merriman noticed that he still favoured his side where he had received a severe splinter wound over four years ago. He was followed in by Lieutenant Andrews and the other officers together with the marine officers. Young Green stood in a corner with his mouth open, obviously overwhelmed at being in the presence of so many of his seniors. The other young Midshipman, Gideon Small, was used to it and Merriman had noticed that the two youngsters were becoming fast friends.
Merriman stared at them for a few moments before speaking. “Sit down gentlemen, I have news for you.” Mr. Cuthbert immediately sat down in the best chair, claiming the privilege due to his age whilst the others sat on the few chairs and benches.
When all were settled he began. “I have no doubt it will come as no surprise to you that we are bound for India.” There was a stir of excitement at the news but Merriman quickly called for order.
“I want you Mr. Cuthbert, to set the best course for the Cape of South Africa as the winds allow.” Mr. Cuthbert the master replied “Aye-aye Sir, I’ve done that voyage often enough. I have all the charts I need. May I ask Sir, to which coast of India are we going?“
“Indeed you may, the Malabar coast as we have to go to Bombay first of all to speak with the Governor and the senior members of the Honorable East India Company there. They are having trouble with French privateers and Arab pirates to the extent that they dare not send many merchant ships back to England unless in convoy, although the biggest Indiamen are quite well armed and usually can take care of themselves. The Company’s small naval force, the Bombay Marine, is quite unable to cope with the problem and the Admiralty has ordered us to reinforce the Marine and to try and seek out and destroy as many of these cutthroats as we can and do whatever we can to defeat them. Now Mr. Grahame, perhaps you would explain to these gentlemen what you know about Napoleon’s plans for Egypt and India?”
As Grahame recited what was known the faces of the officers registered shock and amazement and then the usually calm officers plied Merriman with questions who laughingly answered “I’m sorry Gentlemen, I know little more than we have told you, we will have to wait until we reach Bombay. Mr. Andrews, doubtless we will need our fair weather sails, so have them checked over again. The bos’n tells me that they should be all right but remember that we have never used them since commissioning and after the soaking the ship received in the Irish Sea I don’t want any trouble with them, so have them brought up and aired. We should have plenty of sun soon which will help.
Mr. McBride, I trust you have all you need to look after the men.”
“Indeed I have Sir, you will remember that your father-in-law the good Doctor Simpson gave me much knowledge of the health problems in the tropics before we went to the West Indies.
“Doctor Simpson was employed by the East India Company for many years before retiring home to England. “ Merriman explained to the others.
; “Thank you Mr. McBride, I will arrange to call at as many ports as possible to buy fresh vegetables and citrus fruit to stop the spread of scurvy as you know it does.”
Gideon Small the little Midshipman put his hand in the air and asked “How does it stop scurvy Sir?”
“That is a very good question Mr. Small, I can’t tell you all the medical details but you can ask the Doctor afterwards. I do know that a Scottish doctor, in the navy, discovered this many years ago and the Admiralty have only recently woken up to his work and issued orders that citrus fruit should be obtained whenever possible. Right, Gentlemen I think that is all for now.”
The officers filed out and Merriman noticed that Small followed the Doctor closely. “A good lad that one, not afraid of asking questions. I think he will make a good officer in time.”
The voyage southwards continued and as they passed the coast of Morocco and north Africa to port, Merriman found himself recalling the events in those waters more than four years ago, the wild fight with the two corsair ships to save an Indiaman and passengers, the loss of his ship the brig Conflict and the fortunate meeting with Lord Stevenage on the Indiaman, that meeting being very eventful as it eventually transpired that Merriman’s father and Lord Stevenage were cousins. Stevenage had been instrumental in obtaining Merriman’s last command the sloop Aphrodite and his present command the frigate Lord Stevenage named after his lordship.
Chapter 3 – The Indian Ocean
That was all months ago and the Lord Stevenage was now well on her way up the Indian ocean and taking every advantage of the favourable wind to push her northward. The erratic and fickle winds that had plagued the ship over the last months had, once they rounded the southern tip of Africa, settled at last to a reasonably steady wind and the ship was making good progress. On the whole, Merriman was happy with the ship’s officers and crew except for two of the seven new men. Five of them had soon but resentfully learned their duties, spread out among the seasoned hands but, in the Boatswain’s words, the odd two, Smithers and Greely “were bloody useless bastards, troublemakers from the start and violent with it.”
The Threat in the East (The Merriman Chronicles Book 3) Page 1
