Welbeloved couldn’t contain himself any longer. “I don’t understand what yew mean by recognition and reward, Admiral. I already have that!” he fumbled in his pocket and produced a letter. “Sir John wrote this to commend our efforts, while I was lying feverish in Titan. That is reward enough for me and my men. If other fools cannot recognise the value of our intervention, I will willingly forego their good opinion.”
Harrison raised his hand to halt him. “I’m sure you mean every word you say. I envy you your disregard for the opinions of those who would seek to lessen the achievements of better men, but I have determined that there should be some acknowledgement of your services. It is necessary that you should have some recognition for your achievements, or those who would see our Hornets disbanded will win their petty battle.
Because the Duke of York; our patron in this matter; has resigned, the army will not recognise us or give us any further support. The Prince of Wales and the Whigs are damning everything connected with Sir John’s campaign; but the old King, bless him, has been told a little more than most and has been pleased to have you gazetted as a Colonel of Marines.”
He smiled at Welbeloved’s look of astonishment. “It should have been more, but the post is honorary and normally requires no duty to be performed for the annual remuneration of two thousand pounds.” Welbeloved gasped. It was a fortune he was talking about. “However,” Harrison went on remorselessly, “in this case it will not be entirely a sinecure. The Admiralty will carry your force on its books as Royal Marines and you will have complete freedom to make up your numbers once more, by recruiting where you will. I want you to double your force and get them trained as quickly as you can. Believe me, we haven’t finished with the Iberian Peninsular yet. We still have a base at Lisbon, and I’m sure there will be another expedition when the outcry about this one is over.
I want you to be ready to play a part in it. I would think you have less than six months to be ready, so tell me what you need.”
A Despite of Hornets Page 35