The Admiral's Daughter

Your naval officer of the usual sort would be telling me of duty and honour, but you see through the superficialities to the hard matter without adornment.'

Rising to her feet she straightened her skirt and, in a businesslike voice, went on, 'You are an interesting man, Mr Kydd. Perhaps we may continue this conversation on another occasion. Do you ride?'

The man from London stood up briskly, strode to the centre of the room and looked about. 'Smuggling! If there are any among you who still thinks to puff up smuggling as the stuff of romance, then, sir, I will take the most forceful issue with you. It's a pernicious and abiding folderol that conceals the most frightful consequences to the nation.'

There was intelligence but also animal ferocity in the man's demeanour, and Kydd recalled the respect in the admiral's manner when he had introduced him as an emissary from Whitehall. Kydd stole a glance at Bazely, who wore an expression of studied blank-ness; the three other captains present seemed either puzzled or bored.

'I see that I shall require to be more direct with you sea officers,' the speaker continued. 'You, sir!' he said, pointing to Parlby. 'How do you conceive this war is being funded? Hey? Where is the means to be found to bestow plentiful vittles and rightful pay on your fine ship? It costs His Majesty some thousands merely to set it afloat. Pray where, sir, is this treasure to be found?'

Parlby started in surprise. 'Why, er, the consolidated funds of the Treasury.'

'Which are entirely derived from?'

'Ah—taxes?'

'Yes?'

Brow furrowed, Parlby hesitated and was instantly rounded on.

'Taxes! And since Mr Pitt's scheme of tax upon income was lately repealed what others are left to His Majesty's government? Naught but a sad collection of imposts on hair-powder, windows, candles, playing-cards—and the dues of Customs and Excise.'

His glare challenged them all. 'If this source withers, the very capability of this country to defend itself is in question. Gentlemen, I have to tell you in confidence that the situation now is of such a grave nature that the prime minister has asked that no pain be spared to control this accursed bleeding of treasure.

'And it is a grievous loss. We find that for every ounce of tobacco faithfully duty-paid, near a pound is smuggled, and three fourths or more of our tea escapes its fair due. When I confide our best understanding is that for every cask of contraband intercepted eight get through, what is this but a ruinous deprivation to the country that it cannot sustain?'

'Just so,' Lockwood rumbled, discomfited by the man's intensity. 'Now, gentlemen, we are asked to apply our best efforts to the suppression of this vice. My orders will reflect this request, requiring you to pursue these rogues with the same vigour as you would a privateer or similar.' He flourished a handkerchief and trumpeted. 'May I remind you that any smuggler taken in the act will suffer seizure of ship and cargo to the interest of the captor . . .'

Chasing smugglers was no way to achieve fame and distinction, but on the other hand, there was a real threat to the nation and the path to duty was clear. 'Sir, are there any parts o' the coast that we should especially watch?' Kydd enquired.

'Devonshire and Cornwall might be accounted as having the worst rascals in the kingdom, sir. They've been at the trade since the time of good Queen Bess, and I don't believe they see reasons now why they should abandon their ways. Polperro and Fowey have been mentioned, and Penzance is far from guiltless, but you will find their kind everywhere you look. Each tiny cove and fishing village has its 'free traders' who, in the twinkling of an eye, can turn back into honest fishermen.

'But there has lately been a change, a disturbing and possibly fatal turn. Our best information has it that an organising intelligence is at work along the coast, such that where before we could try to contain and subvert the efforts of an individual village there appears now to be one evil genius who can control and direct the smuggling ventures of all. If we descend on one, there will be a speedy diversion elsewhere and we cannot watch every contemptible little hamlet. The situation approaches dire calamity.'

Penzance harbour was a shimmering expanse under summer sunshine while Teazer, anchored in the lazy calm, saw to her domestics. Kydd returned aboard, went below, divested himself of his coat, then gratefully accepted a cordial from Tysoe.

'Be damned!' Kydd threw at Renzi, who sat inoffensively with a book at the stern windows. 'Not as who should say but th' Revenue are a hard crew t' fathom.'

He flopped into his chair and took out some notes. 'D' ye know, Nicholas, as there's a rare parcel o' coves needed t' keep a Customs post? I give ye tide-waiters, boat-sitters, searchers of salt, ridin' officers an' quantities of land-waiters—the rest I forget.'

'How entertaining, brother. Did you by chance learn of how they spend their day?'

'Customs an' Excise? As far as I c'n tell, they're tasked to see that every merchant vessel from over th' seas attends at a full-rigged Customs port, an' there will find the 'legal quay' t' land cargo to be assessed. This is where we find our tide-waiters and land-waiters at work t' keep a weather eye open that all's legal an' above board.'

'Legal quay?'

'Aye. This is y'r definition. If freight is landed not at a legal quay then, in course, it's contraband and we may seize the villain. But all this'n is your Revenue man earning his daily bread. Where we'll be of use to 'em is in the Preventive Service—catching the rascals as they come in from seaward to try t' land th' contraband.'

'They have their own officers, I believe.'

'They do, Nicholas—an' a sea service as well. If y' remember, Seaflower was Revenue cutter built—monstrous sail area, mighty bowsprit an' the rest. All built f'r speed to catch our smuggler. But they've boats as well, galley built as will take twenty oars, some of'em, can go against th' wind or chase up a hidden creek. And along shore, there's ridin' officers out on good horses, goin' up an' down the coast atop the cliffs t' spy out what's to see, with more afoot t' call on.'

'They will have their successes, then.'

Kydd looked at him askance. 'They're losin' th' battle, is my supposin'—a sizeable venture has too much hangin' upon it. They're desperate men. Now they're bein' organised. The Revenue is outnumbered—an' just consider.