Chapter 1: Bermuda

February 1819

The knock on the door woke Thomas.

“Yes?”

“Sir Thomas, it’s nigh on 8 bells,” Broderick’s voice came through the cabin door.

In an instant, Thomas was wide awake. He gently shook Mirabel’s shoulder.

“Time to rise and shine, my love,” he whispered in her ears.

“Go away!” she mumbled sleepily. The farewell dinner had gone too long the evening before.

“We’ll weigh anchor in a half hour, darling. We must get up.”

“My head hurts.”

“I’m sure Derrick has some tea ready for you.”

“Fine. Remind me why I’m in this freezing cabin?”

“Because you want to be Lady Grey, the leading lady of Bermuda.”

“May I reconsider that? I know, I know! I’ll get up.”

Outside the night cabin, Broderick had left a burning candle, and Thomas brought it back into the cabin. In its light, he quickly dressed, picking thick, knee-length, wool socks and long trousers. He also wore a woollen vest under his uniform when he left the sleeping cabin to let Mirabel dress in peace. On the quarterdeck, he found Robert standing near the binnacle, supervising the preparations for weighing anchor.

“Morning, Captain,” he greeted his friend. Here on deck they were Commodore Sir Thomas Grey and Captain Robert Bryce.

“Good morning, Sir Thomas. I trust we did not wake you?”

“No, I gave orders to Broderick to wake me before 8 bells. How are things looking?”

“About right, Sir Thomas. The free watch gets a quarter hour to drink some hot soup. They must be frozen after the morning watch.”

“Good thinking, Captain. We don’t want anybody to lose his footing up in the rigging. Sun-up in twenty minutes?”

“Yes, Sir Thomas. Wind from nor’east, tide’s still running.”

“Perfect. Once we’re anchor up, we’ll better have the bell going. This fog is thick,” Thomas mused. “Kindly have a lantern hoisted to the main top. It’s likely above the fog.”

“Aye-aye, Sir Thomas,” Robert answered laconically. “I have one up there already.”

“Oh, I am sorry. I shouldn’t interfere with the handling of the ship.”

“I’ve never shipped a commodore before either,” Robert answered with a grin. “Shall I get her under way?”

“Yes, please. It’ll be noon before that fog will lift.”

Soon, the crew was piped up. Royal Marines and the idlers — cooper’s and gunner’s mates, the cook and his mates, and other men not involved with handling the sails and the rigging — assembled around the capstan and inserted the bars. Meanwhile, the topmen manned the topsail yards and prepared to loosen the topsails. When everybody stood ready, Robert blew his pipe and eighty-two men threw their weight against the capstan bars, heaving in the anchor cable. Salsette slowly moved forward towards the anchor until the cable was almost vertical and the bow of the ship depressed. When the anchor broke free, Salsette’s bow lifted up.

“Anchor free, Sir!” came a shout from the forecastle.

“Loosen tops’ls!” Robert commanded. “Mister Marsden, course southeast by south!”

“Course southeast by south, aye-aye, Sir!” the sailing master responded and relayed the order to the two quartermasters at the wheel.

“On deck, brace the tops’ls!”

The idlers raced from the capstan to the braces and heaved them until the yards were trimmed correctly. This was overseen by the boatswain, Mister Charles. Robert turned to Thomas.

“I’ll keep her under tops’ls only until it clears up a little, Sir Thomas.”

Thomas just nodded. It was sensible. Salsette would barely have steerage, but if they collided with another vessel, the damages would be minimised. It would be a quarter hour before they would enter The Solent, where the shipping in and out of Portsmouth was always lively. Even knowing that he had not the command of the ship, Thomas felt uneasy about leaving the quarterdeck to have breakfast. Robert noticed and smiled.

“I shan’t run her aground, I promise,” he whispered.

“I know that, but it’s hard to be at ease,” Thomas whispered back with a rueful smile. He forced himself to speak up normally.

“I shall take my breakfast, Captain. Have me called if anything demands my attention.”

“Aye-aye, Sir Thomas.”

The friends grinned at each other before Thomas retreated aft and to the day cabin. There he found the table laid and three women, Mirabel, Harriet-Anne and Catriona, waiting. Teresa was at table, too, looking longingly at the cold cuts and the fresh bread which she knew not to last long into the journey.

“The fog’s thick outside,” he explained, but three females pointed at the stern windows and smiled. “Oh, yes, I guess you noticed,” he added sheepishly.

“Derrick, kindly bring a cup of coffee to the quarterdeck for my husband,” Harriet-Anne told the steward. He was new to Thomas, but not to Robert, having served under him in the far east. Still, he first looked at Thomas for approval.

“In matters of food and drink, consider Lady Harriet’s wishes as orders, Derrick.”

“Aye-aye, Sir Thomas!”

“Ha-hm!” Thomas heard Catriona.

“Oh, yes, the same goes for Missus Douglas.”

“Aye-aye, Sir Thomas!”

Once he had poured a cup for Robert and left the cabin, Mirabel giggled. “What about my wishes?”

“I though that was clear, my dear. Since I command the squadron and you command me, you are the commandress-in-chief,” Thomas smiled back at her.

“Good to know. I believe the first thing I’ll order is to turn south as soon as feasible. This weather is not what we expected from a voyage to Bermuda.”

“I believe we better get started with our breakfast, lest Teresa will start to use her knife on us,” Thomas teased their daughter.

“Thank you, Father. I also concur with the commandress-in-chief.”

“I consider myself under strict orders.”

It took until the end of the morning watch before the fog lifted. By then, they were sailing the Channel in westerly direction and past the Isle of Wight. Salsette was not the fastest frigate in the service, but with her clean hull and fresh copper, and driven by northeastern breeze, she showed herself from a very good side.

It helped that they had a full crew with only three landsmen — men new to serving in the Navy — and experienced petty officers. It had taken Robert but seven days to man the ship to complement. Many Navy ratings had been beached after 1814, and the famine of 1816 had thrown many of them into poverty and worse. In these days, commissioning Navy ships had to turn down sailors seeking enlistment.

The same held true for the officers. Mister Bellweather, the 1st lieutenant, was a veteran of sixteen years seniority. Mockridge, the Nº2, had eight years in rank, and even the Nº3, Mister Peter Henley, was an experienced man. Thomas and Robert had decided to give their former fellow-scholar a chance. He had finished the Academy as second in the rankings, meaning that he knew more of navigation than the vast majority of sailing masters. Thomas also felt that a man, who had been relegated to brig-sloops for his entire career, deserved a chance. When approached by Robert, Henley had jumped at the chance, and what they had seen of him during the fitting out, amply validated their decision.

The servants and nurses were already making the first uses of the increasingly sunny afternoon, drying freshly washed nappies and undergarments under the instructions of Derrick and Broderick. The latter had volunteered to accompany his master, admitting to a liking for the shipboard life, and so far, he and Derrick had worked harmoniously. It was a good start into their voyage, Thomas determined.

Nightfall saw them off Lyme Bay, and after an uneventful night, they sighted Ushant shortly after sun rise. For six days, they were facing winds from West by North, as they sailed close-hauled on a south-south-western course, but then they caught the northeastern trade winds and settled on a direct course for Bermuda. It was a very relaxing voyage. Officers and crews were experienced and dependable, the weather at 32° northern latitude was pleasant, sunny and dry. Under the watchful eyes of 260 men, little Maggie explored the quarterdeck regularly, whilst Theo was still in the crawling stage. He would pull himself up on a carronade carriage and stand on wobbly legs until the motion of the deck made him fall back on his well-padded buttocks, much to the amusement of the quarterdeck crews. One of the deck hands was always ready to catch the children before they could reach the companionways.

For Harriet-Anne, it was the first exposure to sea travel, and after an initial affliction with seasickness, she adapted well, showing pride in her husband and gratitude for Thomas. For a year or more, she and Mirabel would be near the top of Bermuda’s social order, even more so than amongst the gentry around Guildford, and she had not to defer to a jealous husband. Robert had indeed asked her opinion before accepting the command, and she still felt blissful when she recalled the conversation. Of course, she had urged him to accept, not only to be able to accompany him, Thomas and Mirabel, but also because she wanted to repay Robert for his consideration.

Only Mirabel was slightly apprehensive. Whilst slavery had almost died out in Bermuda since the shift from plantations to shipping and trading, the prejudice against people of colour was still rampant, also due to Bermuda’s close ties to the American southern states. It might develop into a difficult time for her.

Thomas was also slightly worried. Brigadier Thelonius Argyll, commanding the Army fortress on the island and acting governor, was supposedly not an easy man with whom to deal, let alone cooperate. Nominally, Thomas was his equal in rank as a commodore of the 1st class, but the acting governorship established Argyll as higher ranked. Rumours were that Argyll was deeply religious and leaning towards the anti-slavery movement, and Thomas hoped that the latter would ease life for Mirabel.

Still, the crossing was a pleasant time for everybody. Thomas and Robert — and by extension, Mirabel, Teresa, Harriet-Anne and Catriona — had to share the main cabin, limiting the available room at the table. Therefore, they had to invite the officers to dinner three at a time, a lieutenant, a senior warrant officer, and a midshipman. Teresa had the most fun in those evenings, receiving the admiring looks from the young and not-so-young gentlemen. Almost fifteen-year-old Teresa was flattered and giddy during and after the dinners, but also during the days when she strolled on the quarterdeck. Catriona, too, was on the receiving end of admiration and lustful gazes, but she was blasé about the attention.

Thus, it was almost regret with which they sighted St. George after 23 days of sailing. Since it was close to sunset, Thomas asked Robert to heave-to for the night, to make St. George harbour in the morning hours. This gave them one last dinner in the main cabin and their servants time to prepare their masters’ uniforms for next day’s ceremonies.

Thomas slept a little unruly going over the plans in his head, but he was not tired when Salsette approached the narrow passage into the harbour. They all had a last breakfast together whilst Thomas’s broad pennant was hoisted along with their recognition signal. As they entered the natural harbour, the proper eleven-gun salute greeted them, to which Salsette answered in kind. Soon, they could drop their anchor, and as the crew stowed away the sails, Thomas looked around the harbour and found the Caroline frigate, Elias Benning’s old ship, two cable lengths away, a blue rear admiral’s flag flying from her top. Wearing his Nº2 captain’s coat, he and Robert took the gig to the flagship.

As they approached, they were challenged properly to which Thomas’s new coxswain responded with, “Pennant!” Indeed, six side boys stood at the ready when they entered Caroline’s port and saluted the flag. There was a man in admiral’s uniform looking at him with a smile.

“Welcome aboard, Sir Thomas!”

“Thank you, Sir!” Thomas answered politely. “Rear Admiral Hames, Sir?”

“Yes, Sir Thomas. A pleasure to meet you. Their Lordships advertised your arrival, and you are most welcome.”

“Thank you, Sir, again. I was hoping for that. May I introduce Captain Robert Bryce?”

“Again, a pleasure, Captain. Why don’t we go aft? Oh, this is Captain Marsh, my flag captain.”

Thomas and Robert stated their pleasure, and then the four officers entered the main cabin which Thomas had known so well, back in 1812, when Elias had commanded the ship. It looked different, but was well appointed. They were offered seats at the table and a steward brought jars of coffee and tea.

“I don’t drink wines or spirits,” Hames explained with a shrug.

“It’s not yet sundown anyway,” Thomas answered.

“You’ve led a squadron before?”

“Yes, Sir, in ‘13, on the Berber coast. I suppose I was a 2nd-class commodore then, but Lord Exmouth did not formally appoint me, and I flew no broad pennant.”

“Yet, if I remember correctly, you wiped out most of the Algerian navy?”

“One may look at it that way. They tried to box us in, but we taught them a lesson. The Dey blamed us for the death of his favourite son; a pirate by any other name.”

“Well, you’ll do well here. Argyll is a churchy man, and he’s already impatient to meet you. Myself, I have good friends in Barbados, men who own well-governed plantations, not scoundrels like Ellington. I cannot see eye to eye with you on the slavery issue, but I can respect your stance.”

“That is all I can ask, Sir. Let me hasten to explain that I am friendly with several gentlemen who identify themselves as members of the sugar interest in the Commons. I am loath to reduce a person to a single trait or opinion.”

“That is eloquently said, Sir Thomas. That aside, when will be a good time for you to take over the station?”

“I have been advised to wait for the transfer of command before interviewing the governor.”

Hames nodded with a wry smile. “Brigadier Argyll is not a bad man. Keeps his troops here in good discipline and has an ear for the needs of the colonists. Yet, executing the office of governor, he may appear to be a tad presumptuous. If you don’t mind the advice of a more experience officer, don’t let him meddle with the running of the station and your squadron.”

“I was already warned against that, Sir.”

“He’ll also be jealous of you. He’ll have to wait for his CB¹ suffix until after his command ends, if at all. You already were inducted, and you have those foreign knighthoods, too. I’d wear all those sashes and stars sparingly, if I were you. Again, he is a good commanding officer and an able governor, if a little vainglorious. Handle him the right way, and you’ll have an easy time, rub him against the grain, and you’ll be looking at aggravation.”

“Thank you for your views, Sir. Again, they echo what advice I received at the Admiralty.”

“Well, that’s all the advice you’ll hear from me. Shall I hand over the station tomorrow?”

“That would suit me fine, Sir.”

“I shall come over to your flagship. That way, we can save gunpowder. I shall have my flag hauled down here and then take my barge to Salsette. Say, four bells, forenoon?”

“Splendid, Sir. Will you and Captain Marsh join us at dinner afterwards? Our wives will be happy to make your acquaintance.”

“With pleasure, Sir Thomas. May my wife join, too?”

“But of course. May we expect Missus Marsh, too?”

“I am unmarried, Sir Thomas,” Marsh answered.

“Then you can lead my daughter to table. She’s fifteen and learning to conduct herself in society,” Thomas answered. Marsh was a young captain and appeared to be modest and sober, ideal for Teresa.

“With the greatest pleasure, Sir Thomas, but how ... I mean...?”

“We adopted her when she was nine years old, in 1813.”

“That explains it, Sir Thomas. I’ll be delighted.”

The ceremony in the next morning went without a glitch, but with shortcuts. When Hames came aboard the Salsette, his flag in the Caroline had already been hauled down. Thus, hoisting Thomas’s broad pennant was the only act performed, and the eleven gun salute from Salsette remained the only salute fired. It was nevertheless a memorable moment for Thomas and his family, and the celebratory dinner which followed was a success.

Thomas had also decided to start his posting with a polite gesture. The evening before, Thomas had sent a billet to the shore, inviting Brigadier Argyll to the ceremony, and the governor had indeed attended it and the dinner, in which the best English fare was offered. The governor was received with a proper 19-gun salute, which seemed to please him extraordinarily. Thomas had also restricted the decorations he wore to the small companionship cross of the Order of the Bath, and he was wearing his father’s unadorned sword. Yet, the admiral’s uniform showed him to be Argyll’s military equal, which the Brigadier did not seem to mind.

In any case, the old and new Navy station commanders and their captains received a counter invitation to the governor’s quarters two days hence, giving their ladies time for preparations. It also allowed Thomas to shift his family to his Navy Station quarters with Hames’s wife staying as guest.

Thomas used the free day to invite the commanders of the four sloops in the harbour and gave them an opportunity to offer suggestions. All of them were rather senior, as had been the policy of the Admiralty, but Thomas knew that this would change under the new regime. He could feel their resentment over a thirty-year-old commodore and station commander, but they hid their sentiments and were nothing but polite and helpful. Thomas shrugged inwardly. In a moment of clairvoyance, he realised that his own father would have resented serving under a whippersnapper commodore. It was only human, and he had been lucky to be in the right places at opportune times. With any other commander-in-chief than Lord Exmouth, he might have shipped mail and gossip for the rest of the war and missed out on post-captain’s rank and on a fortune in prize monies.

The reception at the governor’s residence, was pleasant if a little stiff. Argyll was not an outgoing man, but his wife made up for that, skilfully leading the conversation and including the newcomers, the Greys and the Bryces. Missus Argyll was delighted over young Teresa, too, who had a knack for wrapping older women around her dainty fingers, but Captain Marsh, her table partner, was also enthralled, if maintaining an impeccable, gentlemanly demeanour. Only Admiral Hames appeared a little on the outside, but that might have been due to having relinquished his command.

This even went so far that Hames asked for his leave early, citing a consuming headache, and forcing his wife, who had seemingly enjoyed the evening, and Captain Marsh to follow suit. They would all retire to the Caroline frigate which was due to leave St. George Harbour in the next morning. Thomas and Robert bade their respectful farewells, and the Arnolds expressed the hope to see him again once they returned to England. It was all very proper and convincing, but as soon as they were gone, Brigadier Argyll shook his head.

“What a pity they could not stay,” he said with a polite smile. “I hope you will still enjoy yourself, Miss Grey.”

“I shall have to console myself,” Teresa said with a straight face and perfect poise. “Captain Marsh was a perfect table partner.”

“I trust that with time, you will get over it,” Missus Argyll answered with the same straight face, but then she spoiled it with a smile and a shake of her head. “Poor Admiral Hames! Returning to half-pay will come hard to him.”

“He was very gracious to me,” Thomas said with a shrug. “I shall defer judgement until I shall have to give up this posting.

“I trust you’ll find a better excuse than a headache, Sir Thomas,” Argyll opined.

“Now that we don’t have to consider the good admiral’s sensitivities, tell us all about what inspired you to write your Comparative History! I have been dying to hear about it,” Missus Argyll demanded.

“Yes, Sir Thomas. It was with great pleasure that we learned who would be the next Navy Station commander.”

“I should start with telling you that neither of my parents held with slavery,” Thomas sighed. “This was further enforced when I first came to the Caribbean in my father’s sloop and saw the face of slavery, the wanton beatings. Then I caught the yellow fever, and when my life was in the balance, my father had me brought to a well-known Black doctress, a healer. Cubah Cornwallis saved my life by lowering my fever and feeding me broth and herbal teas. The sailor who had carried me to her dwelling was suffering from a festering wound to the leg, and she cured that, too. She even explained why she did what she did. If I am alive today, I owe it to that smart Black woman, and I cannot subscribe to the view that people of colour are inherently less capable than White people.”

“When Thomas returned to England after the first voyage, he spoke of his experiences. I was only thirteen years old I think, but his tales made me a fervent abolitionist,” Harriet-Anne recalled.

“My exposure to white slavery came when the Wolverine sloop in which I served as a midshipman was escorting victualling ships on the Berber coast, at Oran. There was an enslaved Scotswoman in Oran, and she managed to have her young daughters smuggled out to us, rolled up in carpets. In the next morning, the owner of the woman came out in a boat, holding a sabre to the woman’s neck, threatening to behead her if we would not turn the girls back to him.”

“Oh, dear, what did you do?”

“Captain Benning ordered the scum blown to smithereens. He released a full broadside into the boat. The slaver stood at the bows, and he and the woman were thrown into the water. I was tasked with swimming to the wreckage and I was able to pull the woman to safety. I’ll never forget the welts and scars on her back where that swine had whipped her. She eventually recovered and she is happily married now, and her daughters found loving husbands, too.”

“Missus M.,” the governor nodded. “A stout and brave woman and to be admired. But you fought more against the Berbers?”

“Eventually. It was years later, in 1813, when I commanded the Unicorn frigate in the Mediterranean. We thwarted a slave raid on a small Sardinian island and caught over six-hundred corsairs. Through a middleman, an exchange was arranged, corsairs against Christian slaves held in Algiers.”

“That is when I was freed from slavery, although the man who had purchased us was more like a father to me. Yet, Mother convinced him to offer me for the exchange, and since then I have been with Sir Thomas and Lady Grey,” Teresa added. “My mother finally became free after the Battle of Algiers.”

“Astonishing! What was the impetus to write a book then?”