The Threat in the Baltic (The Merriman Chronicles Book 5)

by Roger Burnage

  “Mr Andrews, I want this ship well away from that fire which must reach the powder magazine eventually and then I will speak to the men”. That was done and a sullen faced crew assembled on the gundeck and side decks to hear what he had to say. “Men, that has been a terrible business but there was no choice. That was a plague ship and if we had tried to save those men the disease would have been transferred to this ship with consequences you can imagine and which I couldn't risk. That is all”. The ship was now alight from stem to stern and not long after that the powder magazine on the burning ship exploded and burning timber was scattered all round but the Lord Stevenage was well to windward and far enough away to miss it.

  All watched silently because no seaman likes to see a ship burning and finally Merriman ordered that the hulk should be finished off with gunfire. A full broadside to the waterline had the desired effect and the still burning remains disappeared beneath the waves with much hissing and steam as the cold water reached the burning timbers. All that was left were some floating, smouldering timbers and some scorched and burned bodies floating on the surface.

  “Gentlemen, I believe we have completed our orders” said Merriman, “We shall return to Copenhagen and the fleet. Mr Henderson, set a course for Copenhagen”.

  Chapter 21 - Report to Admiral Nelson

  Three days later many sails appeared to the south of them and two frigates hastened over to investigate. Signals quickly established the ship's identity and as they closed on the fleet another signal from the flagship ordered Merriman to come aboard. All the ships hove to and all Captains called to the flagship which was flying a blue Admiral's flag at the fore masthead. Merriman's boat waited while more senior officers boarded and as he climbed on to the deck to the usual sound of the bos'n's whistles and salutes from the marines, a Flag Lieutenant met him and whispered in his ear that it was Nelson below and he had been made a Viscount and Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and then escorted Merriman below to the Admiral's quarters, where all the other Captains were gathered and he was astonished to meet Admiral Nelson instead of Admiral Parker as he had expected.

  Nelson rose to his feet when Merriman entered the cabin, “It's a pleasure to meet you again Captain Merriman. Gentlemen, Captain Merriman is the man who made such a good report about, and charts of the defences of Copenhagen.

  There were murmurs of congratulation and handshakes before Nelson said “Sit down Gentlemen, you will join me in a glass of claret I know”. When all were seated with a glass of claret in hand, Nelson looked round them all and said “ Now then Gentlemen, most of you know one another but you may not know Captain Merriman. I sent Captain Merriman in his frigate Lord Stevenage together with two fast sloops to investigate in the eastern Baltic and report back to me the condition of the Russian fleet with the results that you know. Captain Merriman, your two sloops returned with your reports, but that was weeks ago and probably by now the Russian fleet will not be icebound which is why we are here now. Another thing Captain, you were tasked with keeping an eye open for the reported French warship loose in the Baltic, did you find it?”

  “Yes My Lord I did, but first may I congratulate you on your preferment to the Blue. Yes, we found that French ship but you need to worry about her no longer”. Merriman then recounted how they had found the ship drifting with no sails set properly. “I approached slowly and with great care to windward but there was no sign of life and then the lookout reported bodies lying all over the deck. I sent Doctor McBride aloft to see what he could make of it and he said that from what he could see it was a plague ship. Many of the bodies were naked and covered in sores”. There were cries of horror from the assembled Captains and remarks such as “You didn't board it I hope?” and “Did you sink it?” and “What did you do?”

  “I set fire to it Gentlemen, my Gunner, a most resourceful man devised a burning projectile to be fired from a carronade. Several were fired to land on the ship's deck and they started fires which quickly spread until she was burning from end to end”. “Were there any living men left on that ship Captain?” asked one of the group. “Yes Sir” replied Merriman, There may have been some below but if so they were most certainly affected and I couldn't risk sending anybody aboard to find out before setting light to it. Five men appeared on her quarterdeck waving for help but I ordered the marines to shoot them. Again I couldn't risk bringing them aboard my ship. I don't know what else I could have done and I have my written report here Admiral, I trust you will approve”.

  “Certainly I do Captain, what else could you do? Now, whilst you have been away we have learned that as you said in your report, The Tsar of Russia, Paul has died. That has been confirmed from several sources. Also the League of Armed Neutrality has been abandoned, at least for now. The fleet is now sailing back to Copenhagen. Another item Captain, Admiral Parker has been recalled and I am now the Commander-in-Chief of the entire Baltic Fleet”.

  “Congratulations again M'Lord” said Merriman, “May I ask, what are my orders now?” “You will come back to Copenhagen with us Captain. A naval ship should have arrived by now from London with more orders and letters for us all”.

  Once back in Copenhagen with the fleet safely anchored in or near the harbour Merriman felt able to relax below until the marine sentry banged his musket on the deck and announced “Midshipman Edwards Sir”. Edwards duly appeared and reported “Signal from Flag Sir, our number and Captain to go aboard. Your Cox'n Mr Matthews is getting your boat ready Sir”. Merriman was pleased to see that the boy was no longer nervous but was much more confident. “That boy might make a good officer in a few years” mused Merriman as he was hastily dressing in his best uniform. Above decks he climbed down into his gig to the usual ceremony and the boat pushed off. In only a few minutes he was climbing the flagships side, aided by the white handropes held by the sideboys and then raising his hat as the usual ceremony was observed.

  Lord Nelson met him with a smile, “Ah Merriman, do sit down and have a glass of claret with me. It's not as good as the claret I tasted aboard your ship but it is at least drinkable. Now, the reason for calling you over is that I have received orders for you from the Admiralty. You are to return to Portsmouth without delay, what for I cannot tell you. You can take copies of my reports with you. Do you need to take on any fresh stores and water before you go?”

  “Only some fresh vegetables if possible M’Lord. My ship has none left and as for water we may have sufficient, as the men don't need as much to drink in these cold conditions but as Your Lordship knows it is always well to stock up when you can, so water and vegetables are needed Sir”. “Good, see my Flag Lieutenant as you leave, he will arrange it all,” he broke of and shouted for his secretary. “There are some letters for your ship Captain”. The man entered clutching a leathern wallet containing the latest letters which doubtless were already months old and Merriman took his leave. The Flag Lieutenant was waiting and confirmed that the necessary items would be sent off to the Lord Stevenage immediately. It was quickly done and the ship made ready to depart. Merriman wrote a brief note to the Admiral and sent it and a bottle of his best claret to the Flagship.

  Chapter 22 - Return to Admiralty bearing Nelson's reports

  After an uneventful voyage Lord Stevenage nosed slowly into Portsmouth harbour to the usual noise of the signal guns, and anchored as indicated by the Harbourmaster's boat. As he had done so many times, Merriman was ready in his best uniform, freshly brushed and pressed by his servant Peters, his sword polished and gleaming and with his own and Lord Nelson's reports ready to take ashore.

  On arrival at the Naval offices he told a worried looking Lieutenant who he was and prepared himself to wait. The Lieutenant was soon back and told Merriman that Admiral Fitzherbert would see him in a few minutes. It was only a few minutes before he was called in to the obvious disapproval of the officers already waiting.

  “Good to see you again Captain, welcome. We knew you were coming, that telegraph system is wonderful don't you think?” Now s
it down and tell me all about what you have been up to in the Baltic”. The Admiral seemed to say all that without once drawing breath, before shouting for his Flag Lieutenant to bring drinks. “Brandy or wine Sir?” asked the man. Merriman chose wine and the Admiral chose brandy. As the Lieutenant made to take the tray of bottles away the Admiral said “Leave it Prudhoe, we may need more”.

  Merriman launched into his account of what had occurred in the Baltic, the battle of Copenhagen, the search for the Russian fleet and the plague ship. “My God, a plague ship, how did you deal with that?” cried Fitzherbert. Of course Merriman told the Admiral all that had happened and what he had done. “That was well done Captain, but why did you not shoot at it first?” “Well Sir, I thought there was something wrong, she wasn't sailing, just drifting and no guns run out, indeed her portlids were closed. Naturally I chose to approach on the windward side and my lookout aloft reported the bodies on the deck so I kept well clear. It's all in my written report for you Sir and I have copies for the Admiralty in London”.

  “Good, very good. Your friend Mr Grahame knows you are here and the expense of a post-chaise to take you to London has been allowed. You will meet Grahame at the admiralty. Quite what the hurry is I don't know, so collect what you need from your ship and leave your First Lieutenant in command. I know he is a very capable man and he can deal with all the paperwork involved with the dockyard and such, so I suggest that you go back aboard and collect what you need then come back here where your carriage will be waiting”.

  The journey to London was fast and uncomfortable, but Merriman enjoyed seeing the lush countryside as the coach passed through the rolling hills of the Downs and the Devil's Punchbowl and all the sleepy villages they passed through, stopping at regular intervals for fresh horses. Then they were clattering through Esher and finally over the Thames at Putney and so into London. It was late and full dark by then so Merriman directed the postilion to drop him and his cases off at the same hotel he stayed at last time he had to report to the Admiralty.

  The following morning, with his best uniform freshly pressed and brushed he presented himself early at the Admiralty and asked that Admiral Edwards be told of his arrival. The Lieutenant he spoke to informed him that the Admiral was not yet present but would be informed as soon as he arrived. In the event Merriman had no more than an hour to wait with the waiting room steadily filling up with more officers, some of whom Merriman knew. Then the Lieutenant appeared and told Merriman that Admiral Edwards would see him now.

  As Merriman entered the well-remembered room with its huge mahogany table in the centre he was surprised to see that the Admiral was not alone. Standing by one of the windows was Mr Grahame from the Treasury, who had requested Merriman's services in the past. Striding forward he clasped hands with Merriman, saying “It's good to see you again James and to see that you are well”. “Thank you Sir, it is indeed good to see you again”.

  The Admiral interrupted, “Gentlemen please, be seated. Captain Merriman I see that you have some reports with you, surely not all yours?” “No Sir David, they are mostly from Lord Nelson who asked me to deliver them, not knowing how soon he could bring them in person”. Merriman looked at the Admiral whilst he was sorting out the reports and he realised that he was really an old man now who was looking weary and with more wrinkles on his face than he did two years ago. In fact the Admiral had been a friend of Merriman's father when they had been young Lieutenants together at the start of their careers.

  “Mr Grahame, perhaps you would be kind enough to tell the Captain what events are unfolding here”, he coughed and reached for a glass of water before going on “You see Captain, that damned man over the Channel is trying to negotiate a peace treaty with us and I for one don't trust him”. He intimated to Grahame that he should continue. “That is true James, from all that we can learn we think it is only Napoleon's ruse to give him time to gather his forces together again both on land and sea before declaring war again. Our good friend Mr Pitt is out of office now due to ill health. The Prime Minister now is a Henry Addington, a weak man preferring to give way to the French rather than stand up for Britain as Mr Pitt would do. He wants to reduce the number of ships to save payment to the men and the army is being reduced as well”

  “The preliminary documents are expected to be signed in October and ratified by March next year but as Sir David says, we can’t trust him. Some of his demands are that we return French possessions in the Caribbean and let him have Malta, the crossroads in the Mediterranean. This must not be allowed to happen. We can let him have one or two of the smaller islands in the West Indies but not Malta, it is too important to us. So you see James I am going to send you off on another mission to find out what the feelings are about this by the people of Malta, Italy and other places out there currently being held to us by treaty”.

  “Will you be coming with me Sir? I mean I am no agent or spy, indeed all I did was to take you where you wished to go. You are the one who went ashore to meet your agents”.

  “No, I shall not be with you this time James. As I told you when we last met, your patron Lord Stevenage is not well, indeed I think he will not live much longer, so I have been appointed his successor at the Treasury with all that that entails. Anyway we have much to discuss about your next mission but I can tell you that one of my most trusted agents will go with you. Now Admiral, I think we should leave you, I know that you are a very busy man. My discussions with the Captain can wait until we are at the Treasury”.

  “Very well Mr Grahame, good fortune go with you Captain, I don't think we shall meet again. Mr Grahame has told me about some of what he has prepared for you”. They shook hands and Merriman and Grahame left. Once outside Grahame said, “I have a carriage waiting and I have a surprise waiting for you. First we must go to your hotel and collect your belongings and then we are going elsewhere”. “Where are we going?”, asked a bewildered Merriman apprehensively as he climbed into the carriage but he was not too bewildered to notice the musket propped up by the coachman and the brace of pistols in pockets in the doors.

  Grahame noticed that Merriman had seen the weapons and said quietly “There could well be rioting in the streets before the week is out with so many men coming home from the fleet and the army and no work waiting for them and the factories that make uniforms and muskets and all the equipment for war laying men off as well”.

  Chapter 23 - The King honours Merriman

  The carriage made its way through the crowded streets until it drew up at the steps leading up to an imposing house, one of a terrace of houses. “Here we are James, Follow me”. Turning to the coachman he said “take it round to the mews Belton, I don't think we shall need it again today”. Climbing the well-scrubbed steps to a solid, green painted front door sporting gleaming brasswork, Merriman was surprised when it was opened by a smart, liveried and bewigged footman who stood aside and bowed them in.

  Merriman's bewilderment was increased by the sight of the figure standing by one of the big doors leading off the hall. “By the Gods Helen, is that really you?” he cried excitedly. “Yes James, it really is me” she said and she rushed forward into his arms. The footman closed the door and pretended to be looking elsewhere with an expressionless face and Grahame stood there with a big smile on his face. “That is the surprise I promised you James, happy now?” “Oh yes Sir, I mean Laurence, how did you manage this?” said Merriman looking down onto his wife's smiling face, “However you did it, it is wonderful, I thought I would have to wait to see her until I got home again. Thank you”. “Oh, it wasn't all my doing, come into the big room over here, there is someone else I want you to meet”.

  That someone was no other than Sir William D'Ablay, the fourth Lord Stevenage who had been responsible for Merriman's advancement and promotion. “My Lord” cried Merriman in surprise, “Mr Grahame told me that you are not well. I had imagined you to be at your country house not in the smells and noise of London”. “I have been James but I had to come to Lond
on to see to one or two matters. This is my house, so expecting you to be home soon I arranged for the delightful Helen to come and stay to keep an old man company until you arrive. I tell you James, if I were forty years younger you would have your work cut out to keep hold of her I promise you”.

  He turned to Helen and said “Helen my Dear are you going to show your husband the next surprise?” She opened the door and called out “Annie, Come here”. Annie, once Merriman's mother's friend and housekeeper came into the room carrying a child little more than a baby and holding a little boy of some three years old by the hand. She curtsied to the Gentlemen and said “Master James don't look so bewildered, these two are yours”. Helen took the baby in her arms and turning to Merriman she said “Meet you new daughter James, I called her Mary Anne after your mother, I hope you approve”. “How could I not my Dear. Has she been christened yet?” “Yes James, like her brother in the local church”.

  Lord Stevenage spoke, “I would have liked to be her Godfather James, Helen did ask me but I was too ill to travel”. Merriman became conscious of a tiny figure standing next to him, thumb in mouth, tugging at his breeches. “And this fine boy must be my son Robert” said Merriman, lifting the boy up into his arms. The child squealed with delight and reached out to tug at one of the golden epaulettes in front of him. That old trick of lifting the child into the air and then pretending to drop him called forth more squeals of delight. With Helen, his children and his friends around him Merriman had never felt happier. “I am delighted to see you all reunited James, but I am tired now and need to rest. We all have a big day tomorrow and I don't want to miss it” said Lord Stevenage. Annie called for his valet and footman and they gently lifted the old man from his chair and supported him as he walked out of the room.