Merriman and the French Invasion (The Merriman Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  Left alone, Merriman’s mind was racing. A Frenchman, all in black and with a scarred face, surely it must be Moreau the French agent whom he had encountered in the Irish sea nearly four years ago. With that description it could be no other. Well, he was out of reach now.

  Nearer to the English coast there were all manner of small trading vessels passing up and down the channel and the entrance to Portsmouth harbour was alive with small craft as Aphrodite crept in under topsails and jibs. Once the business of saluting the Admiral’s flag was concluded, a string of flags was seen to soar up a signal mast ashore.

  “Our number Sir, captain to go ashore immediately,” reported Shrigley the signal midshipman.

  “Very good Mr Shrigley. Mr Laing, Have my gig made ready.”

  Merriman dived below to his cabin where his servant Peters already had Merriman’s uniform laid out. Rapidly changing out of his shabby sea going uniform of trousers and salt stained coat, Merriman looked ruefully at the white breeches and stockings and the coat with the stained lapels of his best uniform which were all showing wear after so long away at sea with no chance of replacing them.

  Shrugging his shoulders, Merriman grabbed his hat and sword and returned to the deck.

  Whist he had been below the ship had been safely anchored and all sail neatly stowed. Under the watchful eyes of the Port Admiral and any other critical watcher on the other ships around, Mr Laing could be relied upon to ensure that every detail of the ship was perfect. The gig was waiting alongside. Owen his cox’n could equally be relied upon to see that the gig’s crew was as smart as new paint.

  As Merriman stepped down into the boat the officers saluted and the bos’n’s whistles accompanied the slap and stamp of the marines presenting arms. The boat was under way almost before he had time to sit and settle his sword, with Owen urging the oarsmen to greater efforts.

  Stepping ashore at the base of the slippery steps leading up the harbour wall, Merriman was surprised to see marines with bayonets fixed to their muskets, looking down at the boat. At the top a lieutenant stepped forward to meet him.

  “Lieutenant Williams, Sir. I’m ordered to take you directly to the Admiral. I’m sorry Sir, but the marines are to ensure that none of your crew come ashore and I have a written order here for your First Lieutenant to that effect. May I suggest that your gig returns to your ship at once Sir.”

  Merriman looked about him at the other ships at anchor, surprised to see that marines, obvious in their red coats, were present on every one. The lieutenant quailed a little at the fierce glare directed at him. “Damn it man, what’s the reason for this?” demanded Merriman angrily, “Tell me, now.”

  “I’m Sorry Sir, but the Admiral ---- the Admiral is waiting.” He leaned forward confidentially, “If I may recommend Sir, the Admiral has a short fuse Sir.”

  “Oh very well then. Owen, take the boat back to the ship and give this order to Mr Laing, and tell Mr Griffin he’ll have to stay aboard until I know what the problem is.”

  Admiral Sir George FitzHerbert, a tall thin man, did indeed have a short fuse. His first broadside was barked out before Lieutenant Williams had finished announcing Merriman.

  “What kept you so long Lieutenant, you were expected weeks ago? And take a look out of the window at your main course. Like washing on a line, never seen worse. Having to re-furl it, not got it right first time I suppose. A sloppy ship Sir.”

  Merriman endeavoured to explain that the sail and yard were being taken down so that the fished main yard could be replaced, but the Admiral carried on without listening.

  “Your crew must be kept aboard Lieutenant, incommunicado as they say. You won’t have heard of the mutiny I suppose. No, how could you, it only happened two weeks ago. The officers, marines and some loyal seamen managed to gain control but not before the mutineers had killed two of the warrant officers, the first Lieutenant and the two marine officers and extensively damaged the ship. The frigate anchored ahead of you there, Thessaly, is the one, and I have to have it fit for service without half I need for the job. The dockyard is stretched to the limit.”

  As the Admiral drew breath Merriman ventured, “What has happened to the crew of the frigate Sir.”

  “The mutineers are in chains in the prison hulk across the harbour, we held a court martial and most of them will hang and some flogged. The Captain was cleared, but I don’t think he will be given another command. The incompetent fool has gone to London for examination and other officers have been moved elsewhere. The loyal men are still confined aboard the ship with the midshipmen.”

  “What in heaven’s name could have driven them to it Sir.”

  “There was talk of the captain being a drunkard and leaving all control of the ship to first officer who was too fond of the use of the cat, but that’s nothing unusual.”

  “No Sir, I’m afraid not.” Merriman paused, “I was ordered to bring my ship here, but I have no idea what for. Have you orders for me Sir?”

  “Yes Lieutenant, I have. You are to make your way to London, to the Admiralty and report to Admiral Edwards there as soon as you can. I’m to send a signal when you arrive here, which has already been done and the expense has been authorised for you to travel by post chaise. Someone wants you there in a hurry so I suggest you leave immediately.”

  “Aye-Aye Sir. May I submit that my First Officer Mr Laing is a thoroughly reliable officer and should be made aware of where I am and why nobody may leave the ship, and there is another matter Sir.”

  The Admiral’s bushy eyebrows came together in a frown, “What is it now Mr Merriman?” he said tetchily.

  Merriman went on to tell the Admiral about the loss of the Lucy and the presence of the French privateer. “I have Captain Griffin and his crew aboard my ship Sir. He is desperate to know how soon the Admiralty will recompense him for his loss. The ship was his livelihood and home.

  “It will be done, we’ll probably give him another ship as we’re so short of good seamen for the Victualling Service. They all have exemptions I suppose so we can let them go ashore in due course. Now go and get yourself ready to travel to London.

  Chapter 2 : Promotion and news of Irish rebels

  When Merriman stepped into the waiting room at the Admiralty he smiled wryly to himself. The scene was almost exactly as it had been last time he was there almost four years ago to the day. A collection of officers, several lieutenants but mostly post-captains, all waiting anxiously to be called in to face whatever may be awaiting them. For some a new appointment, maybe promotion, for some a possible reprimand or something more serious.

  Merriman took a seat, acknowledged by one or two with a nod, but ignored by most of them. As time passed he reflected that the last time he had been in the Admiralty he had been ushered into the inner sanctum ahead of all the other officers waiting and he had left with a promotion and a new command. Also, Lord Stevenage had proved to have an interest in his career.

  But as time dragged on and the other officers were summoned to their interviews in turn, including a few who arrived after him, Merriman resigned himself to a long wait. It was interesting to speculate on the fate of those officers. They passed through the waiting room on their way out and some were clearly pleased whilst others left with head down and not meeting the interested stares of those still waiting. The last one to go in, a captain whom Merriman had noticed to be sweating freely, left with his face the colour of ashes, staring ahead of him with unseeing eyes.

  “There is one career finished,” thought Merriman as he watched the wretched man leave. The next to be called was Merriman himself, and as the admiralty clerk called his name he drew a deep breath to prepare himself for what might happen next.

  The clerk ushered him into the same room as on his previous visit, in time for him to hear the words “Damned fool, should never have been given a command, but by God I’ll see to it that he never has another,” spoken by none other than Admiral Edwards who had been Merriman’s captain when he first went to sea
as a midshipman.

  “Lieutenant Merriman, Gentlemen,”announced the clerk, discreetly closing the door behind him.

  “Lieutenant, a pleasure to meet you again, you remember Captain Edgar I trust?” said the Admiral advancing to meet him, hand outstretched.

  “Indeed I do Sir, I could hardly forget our last meeting in this very room.”

  “Yes, we sent you away with a new ship on that occasion didn’t we, what, four years ago now isn’t it?”

  “Yes Sir,” agreed Merriman, trying to conceal his impatience to learn what was expected of him now.

  “Sit down Lieutenant. The Admiral turned to Captain Edgar, “Jonathan, please tell the other gentlemen that we are ready.”

  “Yes Sir David,” said Edgar rising from his chair and going towards a door at the far end of the room.

  “Sir David” echoed Merriman. “If I may offer my felicitations Sir, I had no idea, when did you ---- ?”

  “Oh, it was last year when His Majesty bounced the sword on my shoulder, nearly cut my ear off too. I nearly fell over trying to kneel,” said the Admiral, dismissing the whole affair with a smile and a casual wave of his hand.

  The far door opened and Captain Edgar ushered two gentlemen into the room. One was Lord Stevenage who, four years previously had become interested in Merriman’s career and been instrumental in obtaining for him the command of the sloop Aphrodite. He was followed by a tall, lean, hawk faced man whom Merriman immediately recognised as Mr Grahame the Treasury agent who had been with Merriman four years ago when they foiled the French plot to kidnap the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on the high seas and whom Merriman had not seen since he left Merriman’s ship in Antigua.

  After the usual polite greetings, bowings and handclasps, Lord Stevenage brought them down to the business at hand. “Mr. Merriman, I’m sorry you have been kept waiting so long. I was with the Prime Minister and was unable to leave when Sir David’s messenger told me that you had arrived. I wanted to meet you again and take the opportunity to commend you for the admirable way you carried out those duties entrusted to you last time we met. Mr Grahame here has told me far more about what you did to save the life of Lord Westmorland the Lord Lieutenant and indeed to save his own life, than we read in your reports. It seems that our faith in your abilities was well founded.”

  “Thank you my Lord, you are too kind. It is Mr Grahame and his agents risking their lives who deserve most of the credit.”

  “Nonsense Mr Merriman,” broke in Grahame forcefully, “I was out of action and unconscious most of the time. No, the credit is entirely yours.”

  “Perhaps, Sir David,” said Lord Stevenage gently, “we could now look to the future and enlighten Mr. Merriman about why he has been summoned here in such haste. He must be eager to hear.”

  “Of course my Lord. It pleases me immensely Lieutenant, to tell you that their Lordships are giving you a frigate and to go with it you are to assume Post rank immediately. There, what do you say to that?”

  He gasped, “I’m grateful to you and their Lordships Sir David, what else can I say, I’m so taken aback.”

  “Should have happened sooner,” said the Admiral gruffly, “would have too if you’d been in home waters. You have been a Lieutenant too long. The country needs it’s best young officers pushed forward. But unfortunately there is one aspect of this that will not be so pleasant. Had you arrived earlier you would have been given a frigate which was completing a refit at Chatham, but with every ship desperately needed by the fleet, that one is already at sea with another officer in command.”

  He paused and cleared his throat, “You have heard of the mutiny aboard the frigate Thessaly I suppose?

  “Yes Sir, my crew is confined aboard Aphrodite because of it.”

  “Couldn’t be helped, we can’t risk the infection spreading. Anyway, that’s the frigate you are to take under your command. The fellow who just left here was her captain, he won’t get another ship if I can help it.”

  “The entire crew of your Aphrodite is to be transferred over to her. To make up the extra numbers you will need you can have your pick of the men who remained loyal to their officers during the mutiny. They are still aboard the ship under a marine guard. You can dispose of those you don’t need to other ships, I’ve no doubt their captains will be glad of them and you’ll need some of the marines as well. Apparently Thessaly was badly damaged by the mutineers and is still in need of some refitting.”

  “Now my Lord, will you tell Captain Merriman what his next commission entails?”

  Captain! Of a frigate! Merriman’s mind was awhirl with conflicting thoughts and it was with difficulty that he dragged his mind back to hear what Lord Stevenage was saying.

  “------- involved with Mr Grahame again you see. The Irish are as fond as ever of hatching plots against the Crown and for some time our agents have been aware of further stirrings there. This time we know more, thanks to Mr Grahame’s network of spies. You may remember the Society of United Irishmen which was founded by an Irish lawyer named Wolfe Tone. That is only one of many rebellious societies in Ireland, all fired by admiration for the ideals of the French revolution. Their avowed aim is to unite both Catholic and Protestant factions in the Irish population in a popular movement to gain political and religious freedom by the overthrow of English rule.”

  Lord Stevenage paused and refreshed himself with a sip of water, then continued, “In 1793 the British government passed the Catholic Relief Act which granted Catholics the vote and the opportunity to hold civil office and even to attend the University of Dublin, but in spite of this and other measures to allow Irish goods into British markets, this fellow Tone and his friends are a constant thorn in our flesh.”

  Lord Stevenage paused again and indicated to the Admiral that he should continue.

  “Fortunately for England, these various factions in Ireland cannot agree amongst themselves, the old difficulty about religion you see Mr Merriman, why, only last year there was a pitched battle between two of these groups or societies; on the one hand The Defenders, the Catholic lot and on the other hand the Protestant lot who for some strange reason call themselves The Peep o’ Day Boys. The Defenders were soundly beaten and the Peep o’ Day Boys are absorbing all the fanatics and the intolerant among the Protestant and Presbyterian people and beginning to call themselves The Orange Society.”

  “I’d no idea that things were so bad Sir David,” remarked Merriman, “Bits of news reached the West Indies of course, but no details.”

  “That’s not all Captain.” Lord Stevenage broke in, “The aim of the United Irishmen to try and join Catholic and Protestant together was perhaps a laudable idea from their point of view but it won’t work and the French are involved again in Irish affairs. Mr Grahame, perhaps you are the best person here to tell the Captain what you have learned in that regard.”

  “Yes My Lord. If I could go back to 1794 when France sent yet another agent to England. That one was a Protestant clergyman, the Reverend William Jackson, an Englishman of Irish descent who had lived in Paris for many years and favoured the revolution. It seems that his purpose was to travel to Ireland to see if there would be support there in favour of a French invasion.”

  “You will realise Captain, that here is an echo of the business we were involved with four years ago,” put in Lord Stevenage.

  “I certainly do remember My Lord. And that Frenchman Moreau seems to have appeared again.”

  “Moreau, you’ve seen him again?” exclaimed Grahame with excitement.

  Merriman went on to recount the events leading up to his fortunate rescue of the men in the boat and Captain Griffin’s description of the privateering ship and the man with the scarred cheek.

  “I think it must be Moreau Sir, he was involved with the rebels in Ireland four years ago to try and bring about an invasion even then. Griffin said that he believed the ship was coming from Ireland so perhaps Moreau is dipping his fingers in there again.”

  “Well I can tell y
ou that he is, quite definitely involved. My people in Ireland have reported several sightings of him.”

  “However, to continue, this fellow Jackson wasn’t suited to the job. As soon as he arrived in London he visited an old friend and rather foolishly told him why he was here. His friend, a solicitor by the name of Cockayne, is a loyal Englishman and he immediately informed Mr Pitt who in turn informed us. We asked Cockayne to travel to Ireland with Jackson, to observe his activities and obtain incriminating evidence.”

  “In Ireland they met with Wolfe Tone and some of his cronies, MacCracken, Neilson and Russell to name but three and Tone was asked by Jackson to go to France on behalf of The United Irishmen. But Tone was already walking on thin ice with the authorities and declined to go at that time. All this took several months and finally Jackson was arrested and charged with treason. With Cockayne giving evidence against him he was doomed and he was found guilty and condemned to death in April last year, ‘95. He cheated the executioner by committing suicide in prison, poisoned himself I believe.”

  “What about Tone and the others you mentioned Sir?” asked Merriman.

  “After Jackson’s arrest the United Irishmen faded away for a while. As for Tone, although his known activities were not enough to send him to the scaffold, he was a marked man and with the aid of powerful friends he escaped to America in June of last year, arriving in Philadelphia in August. You will appreciate Captain, that most of what we know has been discovered by our agents well placed in Paris and elsewhere in France and also in America and Ireland. Any whisper in the wrong place about their activities could put their lives in jeopardy.”

  “Of course Sir, I realise that only too well. You may depend on my silence in that respect.”

  “I know Captain, I know, my remark was not intended to show doubt over you, I know you too well, but I feel that we cannot be too careful. The French have their own spies you know. However, to bring the story up to date, you must know that Tone left America on January the first of this year armed with letters of introduction from the French Consul in Philadelphia. He arrived in Paris in February and with little delay he met the French Foreign Minister, De La Croix, General Carnot and a rising young general by the name of Lazarre Hoche. He also made a speech to the French Directory. Apparently they were mightily impressed with his zeal and ability and we know that they have approved a plan to send a large expedition to Ireland. He must have convinced them that the Irish people will rise in revolt en masse when the French arrive.