by Alaric Bond
James Mangles was a midshipman under Donnelly in two of his commands, and rose to become a post captain in the Royal Navy. He is, however, better known as a botanist, being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1825, as well as one of the first Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society. The floral emblem of Western Australia was named after him. He died in 1867.
Sir Alexander Ball was a prominent naval officer, having been active in many major actions including the Battle of the Saintes and the Battle of the Nile. Although originally dismissed by Nelson as a coxcomb, the two were to become firm and trusted friends. His benign governorship of Malta won much acclaim, none more so than by the population who petitioned for his reinstalment after Pigot's tyrannical administration threatened rebellion, and still hold his memory in high regard to this day. He was made a Rear Admiral in 1805 but never hoisted his flag, and died in Malta four years later. Ball is buried in Fort Elmo, Valletta.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge really needs no further explanation by me, as his life and works have already been comprehensively covered. On arrival in Malta he was quickly absorbed into Ball's governing administration and found employment. Despite a knowledge of law that only extended as far as his duties as a leader writer for the Morning Post together with a dependence on drugs that had already become legendary, Coleridge was given the task of drafting proclamations (Bandi) and public notices (Avvisi) that carried the full weight of law behind them. His efforts were judged to be just however, and much of his work remained in place long after his departure from Malta. Coleridge's appreciation of his friend, Alexander Ball was later recorded in his weekly journal The Friend in an essay entitled The Third Landing Place. This gives a slightly glorified sketch of the man, and contains little of biographical interest, although still acts as an insight into the life of one of England's greatest sailors and statesmen.
William Keith Ball, only child of Sir Alexander and Lady Mary Ball, had been present with his father in Malta, but travelled back to Great Britain at the time I have suggested under the protection of his tutor Francis Lang. In later years he was to marry Louisa Yates, who survived until 1914. The title became extinct upon William's death in 1874.
Major Adye did indeed accompany Coleridge on his trip to Sicily, but was even more instrumental in his life a little later. Adye was taken ill with the plague and died whilst in Gibraltar in 1805, when his body and all personal effects were destroyed to prevent infection. These included a great number of letters, notes and drafts written by Coleridge which Adye had been entrusted to deliver to Wordsworth.
Alexander Macaulay served as Public Secretary under Ball. On his death, in January 1805, Coleridge was to take over his duties on a temporary basis.
Edmund Chapman served as Ball's Private Secretary until later being promoted to Public Secretary after Coleridge's departure. His journey to Odessa secured a number of stores that allowed Ball to instigate a two year plan for grain storage that gave the island a measure of independence. He was later awarded £1,000 for his efforts, and retired due to ill health in 1811 with an annual pension of £700.
George Elliot (HMS Maidstone) was an extremely active officer, whose battle honours included Genoa, St Vincent, the Nile and Copenhagen. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and died an Admiral in 1863.
With regard to Is-Sur Spiteri's remarkable revolving pistols; by 1804 gunsmiths were already experimenting with diferent methods of improving the ignition mechanism in firearms. These included using a variety of chemicals, including chlorate of potash, sulphur, and charcoal to produce a compound that would be ignited by concussion. In 1800, Edward Charles Howard's discovery of mercury fulminate (Hg(CNO)2), provided an excellent primary explosive which was soon investigated by various makers, culminating in Forsyth's scent bottle style lock (patented in 1807) that has become regarded as the first reliable method. Forsyth, a clergyman and keen rough shooter, was inspired to develop his lock to prevent game from rising at the sight of the flash of a flintlock mechanism. Incidentally, Napoleon Bonaparte offered Forsyth a reward of £20,000 to take his invention to France, but he declined.
Finally, I feel a few words about Wiessner's confinement are in order (and I am phrasing this carefully to avoid spoilers as I always read Author's Notes first). This is something I have investigated, although not, thankfully experienced. It seems that a person can expect to live anything from ten minutes to thirty-six hours in such conditions and two reliable medical sources agree on a time of five and a half hours as being the average expected (not allowing for shallow breathing due to sedation). That fits in with the time line suggested and frankly I do not wish to delve any deeper!
Alaric Bond
Herstmonceux 2016
Principal Characters
(Showing ranks and positions held at the start of the story)
Former officers and men of HMS Prometheus
Sir Richard Banks:Captain
Thomas King:Lieutenant
Anthony Hunt:Lieutenant
Corbett:Lieutenant
Brehaut:Sailing Master
Robert Manning:Surgeon
Cooper:Master's Mate
Adams:Midshipman
Bentley:Midshipman
Steven:Midshipman
Cranston:Seaman
Beeney:Seaman
Wiessner:Seaman
Joe Roberts:Boy
Officers and men of HMS Rochester
William Dylan:Captain
Heal:First Lieutenant
James Timothy:Second Lieutenant
Harper:Marine Lieutenant
Chalk:Sailing Master
Turrell:Gunner
Berry:Midshipman
Summers:Volunteer first class
Miller:Seaman
Clement Jones:Seaman
Additional officers and men for HMS Kestrel
Cruickshank:Surgeon
Broome:Master's Mate
Kyle:Master's Mate
Pocock:Gunner
Duncan:Boatswain
Allen:Boatswain's Mate
Holby:Purser
Curry:Master at Arms
Vasey:Carpenter
Davison:Captain's Secretary
Cork:Marine Sergeant
Black:Marine Sergeant
Crowther:Marine
Collins:Marine
Erickson:Seaman
Farmer:Seaman
Also:
Nikola Lesro:Aspirant aboard Crécerelle
Father Vella:Kappillan of the Church of the Blessed Virgin, Valletta
Edwardu Lesro:Merchant in Valletta and father of Nikola
Pinu:Nikola Lesro's servant
Guzi:Edwardu Lesro's servant
Burke:Lieutenant HMB Otter
Cawsgrove:Dockyard Superintendent, Gibraltar
Captain Otway:Naval Commissioner, Gibraltar
Selected Glossary
Able Seaman One who can hand, reef and steer and is well acquainted with the duties of a seaman.
Bachelor's Son (Slang) You'll have to work that one out for yourself.
Back Wind change; anticlockwise.
Backed Sail One set in the direction for the opposite tack to slow a ship.
Backstays Similar to shrouds in function, except that they run from the hounds of the topmast, or topgallant, all the way to the deck. (Also a useful/spectacular way to return to deck for a topman.)
Backstays, Running A less permanent backstay, rigged with a tackle to allow it to be slacked to clear a gaff or boom.
Banyan DayMonday, Wednesday and Friday were normally considered such, when no meat would be issued.
Barky (Slang) A seaman's affectionate name for their vessel.
Beakhead Forward part of a ship often containing the heads (latrines).
Belaying Pins Wooden pins set into racks at the side of a ship. Lines are secured about these, allowing instant release by their removal.
Bilboes Iron restraints placed about an offender's ankles, allowing him to be of some use, picking oakum, etc.
Bitts Stout horizontal pieces of timber, supported by strong verticals, that extend deep into the ship. These hold the anchor cable when the ship is at anchor.
Black Draught A purgative made from senna, Epsom salts, ginger and, occasionally coriander. Often prescribed for cattle, horses and midshipmen.
Blazes (Slang) A euphemism for 'hell', which was considered obscene.
Block Article of rigging that allows pressure to be diverted or, when used with others, increased. Consists of a pulley wheel, made of lignum vitae, encased in a wooden shell. Blocks can be single, double (fiddle block), triple or quadruple. The main suppliers were Taylors, of Southampton.
Board Before being promoted to lieutenant, midshipmen would be tested for competence by a board of post captains. Should the applicant prove able they would be known as a passed midshipman, but could not assume the rank of lieutenant until appointed to such a position.
Boatswain (Pronounced Bosun) The warrant officer superintending sails, rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage etc., committed to his charge.
Boom Lower spar to which the bottom of a gaff sail is attached.
Bootneck (Slang) Term for a marine. Also Guffies, Jollies and many more...
Braces Lines used to adjust the angle between the yards, and the fore and aft line of the ship. Mizzen braces, and braces of a brig lead forward.
Breaker Small wooden cask, normally for storing water.
Brig Two-masted vessel, square-rigged on both masts.
Bulkhead A partition within the hull of a ship.
Bumboat (Slang) Shore-based vessel used to convey small luxuries to those aboard ships at anchor. The name is a combination of the Dutch word for canoe and boat.
Bum Fodder (Slang) Toilet paper. Now usually abbreviated to Bumf.
Burgoo Meal made from oats, usually served cold, and occasionally sweetened with molasses.
Bulwark The planking or woodwork about a vessel above her deck.
Burden Boards Grating inside a small boat.
Cake (Slang) A fool.
Canister Type of anti-personnel shot: small iron balls packed into a cylindrical tin case.
Careening The act of beaching a vessel and laying her over so that repairs and maintenance to the hull can be carried out.
Carronade Short cannon firing a heavy shot. Invented by Melville, Gascoigne and Miller in late 1770's and adopted from 1779. Often used on the upper deck of larger ships, or as the main armament of smaller.
Cascabel Part of the breech of a cannon.
Caulk (Slang) To sleep. Also caulking, a process to seal the seams between strakes.
Channel (When part of a ship) Projecting ledge that holds deadeyes from shrouds and backstays, originally chain-whales.
Close Hauled Sailing as near as possible into the wind.
Companionway A staircase or passageway.
Convent The official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar. The name was changed to Government House after 1903.
Counter The lower part of a vessel's stern.
Course A large square lower sail, hung from a yard, with sheets controlling and securing it.
Cove (Slang) A man, often a rogue.
Coxcomb (Slang) Vain or egotistic: a dandy.
Cutter Fast, small, single-masted vessel with a sloop rig. Also a seaworthy ship's boat.
Deadeyes A round, flattish wooden block with three holes, through which a lanyard is reeved. Used to tension shrouds and backstays.
Dgħajsa A Maltese water taxi similar in appearance to a gondola, but powered by two oars used from the standing position.
Diachylon Tape An early form of sticking plaster, often used by surgeons. Also Court Plaster.
Ditty Bag (Slang) A seaman's bag. Derives its name from the dittis or 'Manchester stuff' of which it was originally made.
Dolly/Dollymop (Slang) A low woman, mistress or prostitute.
Dolphin Striker Spar set beneath the bowsprit where it hangs, near vertically, to maintain tension and counteract the more upward strain from the forestays.
Dolt (Slang) A fool.
Driver Large sail set on the mizzen. The foot is extended by means of a boom.
Fall The free end of a lifting tackle on which the men haul.
Faldetta Traditional hooded cape much favoured by Maltese women.
Fetch To arrive at, or reach a destination. Also a measure of the wind when blowing across water. The longer the fetch the bigger the waves.
Fish To bind lengths of wood about a break in a mast or yard.
Forereach To gain upon, or pass by another ship when sailing in a similar direction.
Forestay Stay supporting the masts running forward, serving the opposite function of the backstay. Runs from each mast at an angle of about 45 degrees to meet another mast, the deck or the bowsprit.
Frizzen Part of a flintlock mechanism: a plate of metal on which the flint strikes, causing the spark that is to ignite powder in the pan. Also known as the steel.
Gewgaw Cheap or showy; seamen were not noted for their taste.
Glass Telescope. Also an hourglass and hence, as slang, a period of time. Also a barometer.
Gun Room In a third rate and above, a mess for junior officers. For lower rates the gun room serves a similar purpose as a wardroom.
Go About To alter course, changing from one tack to the other.
Go Snacks (Slang) To offer, or accept, a share in something.
Halyards Lines which raise yards, sails, signals etc.
Hammock Man A seaman or marine employed to tend the hammock of a junior officer. This was an unofficial duty, and could often be combined with the role of teacher (or sea daddy).
Hanger A sword, similar in design to a cutlass but usually carried by an officer.
Hard Tack Ship's biscuit.
Hawse Area in the bows where holes were cut to allow the anchor cables to pass through. Also used as a general term for bows.
Hawser Heavy cable used for hauling, towing or mooring.
Heave To Keeping a ship relatively stationary by backing certain sails in a seaway.
Idler A man who, through duty or position, does not stand a watch, but (usually) works during the day and can sleep throughout the night.
Jack Tar The traditional name for a British seaman.
Jib-Boom Spar run out from the extremity of the bowsprit, braced by means of a Martingale stay, which passes through the dolphin striker.
John Company (Slang) The East India Company.
Jollies (Slang) The Royal Marines. See Bootneck.
Jonathan (Slang) American.
Jury Mast/Rig Temporary measure used to restore a vessel's sailing ability.
Landsman The rating of one who has no experience at sea.
Lanthorn Large lantern.
Larboard Left side of the ship when facing forward. Later replaced by 'port', which had previously been used for helm orders.
Leeward The downwind side of a vessel.
Liner (Slang) Ship-of-the-line (of battle). A third rate or above.
Lubber/Lubberly (Slang) Unseamanlike behaviour; as a landsman.
LuffTo sail too close to the wind, perhaps allowing work to be carried out aloft. Also the flapping of sails when brought too close to the wind. Also the side of a fore and aft sail laced to the mast.
Martingale Stay Line that braces the jib-boom, passing from the end through the dolphin striker to the ship.
Mud (as in name) (Slang) The origin of this word is often incorrectly thought to refer to Dr Mudd, who gave medical assistance to Lincoln's assassin in 1865, although it is believed to have been in common usage as far back as as the beginning of the eighteenth century and simply derides the person so called.
Nanny House (Slang) A brothel.
Mot (Slang) Term, usually derogatory, for a young girl.
Orlop The lowest deck i
n a ship.
Pipe Size of cask holding 105 gallons (half of a tun). Also known as a butt.
Point Blank The range of a cannon when fired flat. (For a 32-pounder this would be roughly 1000 feet.)
Polacre Small merchant ship common in the Mediterranean.
Portable Soup A boiled down mixture of beef and offal that could be reconstituted with water.
Pusser (Slang) Purser.
Pusser's Pound Before the Great Mutinies, meat was issued at 14 ounces to the pound, allowing an eighth for wastage. This was later reduced to a tenth.
Quarterdeck In larger ships, the deck forward of the poop, but at a lower level. The preserve of officers.
Queue A pigtail. Often tied by a seaman's best friend (his tie mate).
Quoin Triangular wooden block placed under the cascabel of a long gun to adjust the elevation.
Ratlines Lighter lines, untarred and tied horizontally across the shrouds at regular intervals, to act as rungs and allow men to climb aloft.
Reef A portion of sail that can be taken in to reduce the size of the whole.
Reefing Points Light line on large sails, which can be tied up to reduce the sail area in heavy weather.
Reefing Tackle Line that leads from the end of the yard to the reefing cringles set in the edges of the sail. It is used to haul up the upper part of the sail when reefing.
Resurrection Men Those employed to secretly exhume fresh bodies for the purposes of medical dissection.
Rigging Tophamper; made up of standing (static) and running (moveable) rigging, blocks etc. Also (Slang) clothes.
Rummer A large wine glass.
Running Sailing before the wind.
Salt Horse (Slang) Salt beef.
Sea Daddy An older, more experienced, seaman who teaches a youngster (often a junior officer) the lore of the sea.
Scarph A joint in wood where the edges are sloped off to maintain a constant thickness.
Schooner Small craft with two or three masts.
Scran (Slang) Food.
Sheet A line that controls the foot of a sail.
Shellback (Slang) An old seaman.
Shrouds Lines supporting the masts athwart ship (from side to side) which run from the hounds (just below the top) to the channels on the side of the hull.