“That will do for now Gentlemen, I would be obliged if you left, Captain Andrews, you will stay for a few minutes”.
Everybody wanted to shake Andrews' hand before they left but soon they were left alone . Andrews sat down with a bump. “Is this real Sir, I mean it's so sudden I can't take it all in, Post at last, I dreamed of it of course but thought I would have to wait longer, what with the news that ships will be laid up”.
“It's true enough David so you better get used to it. I learned at the Admiralty that all three of the ships are fully stored and manned ready to sail, is that right?”
“Yes Sir, the Corvette has new people aboard but I have met the officers and many of the crew and they seem to be sound. In your absence Sir I took the liberty of checking everything as I did for this ship”
“Good, now here are your orders and commission so you had better get your stuff together and have my Cox'n Matthews take you over to your new command to read yourself in. Have a signal sent to the brig, 'Captain to come aboard' at once if you please”.
“Aye-aye Sir, and thank you again. If I can make her as good a ship as this I will be well pleased”. Merriman sat back to consider his next move. He couldn't do anything until Mr Humphries and the new officer came aboard which made him wonder about the new officer and what place he would take in the ranks of the officers He didn't have to wait long before the thump of the marine sentry's musket on the deck and the sentry called “Lieutenant Stewart Sir and a Mr Humphries”.
Humphries was a tall thin man with a lively manner and Merriman took to him at once. The Lieutenant was different all together. Short and with a rather dour expression, he was older than his rank seemed to indicate although well experienced Merriman hoped. He made them both welcome and told them what their orders were. The small talk was interrupted by Midshipman Small who announced “Signals from Flag Sir. Our number and for the other two, “Make Sail and good luck”. The boy darted away but was soon back “Another officer has come aboard Sir, He says he is appointed to us”.
“Thank you Mr Small, tell him I shall speak to him later. Lieutenant, back to your ship and make ready to sail. I hope to get to know you better over the coming weeks”.
“Aye-aye Sir, it will be a pleasure to serve with you Sir” said Stewart with a faint smile.
Three days later the small flotilla was encountering the swells of the Atlantic Ocean as they passed Ushant on the larboard side and keeping well offshore they headed for South America and new adventures.
Authors Notes:
Regrettably the papers covering the years 1802 to 1810 were in too bad a state to decipher at all, indeed some were missing completely. But I will keep at it. It seems that Captain Sir James Merriman with his ship, the frigate “Lord Stevenage”, was involved in many actions in South America and must have played a significant part in naval affairs of the time. He must have been involved in many other serious naval actions in those years and acquitted himself very well because there are many mentions of his name in the gazette. Merriman will sail again.
The Threat in the Baltic (The Merriman Chronicles Book 5) Page 15
