Джулиан Стоквин - Persephone

Settled in a Persian chair, Kydd waited. There was a stately sway as Hibernia took up again on her slow sweep across the Tagus.

‘What is your conceiving of why we’re here, pray?’ Smith asked.

‘Sir. To make motions off the port of Lisbon that shall cause Bonaparte to reflect on his position.’

‘Wrong in general, wrong in the particulars,’ Smith said crisply. ‘Like all Gambier’s crew you think that Copenhagen has put a stopper on the man’s ambitions. I’ve certain knowledge that he’s made pact with Spain to bring about an end to Portugal as the only nation left in Europe defying him. He’s brought an army from France and means to invade, dividing the spoils with the Spanish.’

‘As I said—’

‘And you were wrong. Here we have your Copenhagen over again. A neutral country with a mad ruler caught between two greater powers – and which possesses a battle fleet that is the greatest prize of all to both. Do we demand of this demented queen she hands over her fleet into our protection before Boney can lay hands on it, or do we set ashore our siege engines for a bombardment and seize it? The country wouldn’t stand for it, of course.’

‘You’re – we ’re to see they don’t sail.’

‘Bravo! Our task is to keep watch until Regent Dom João shows his hand. Failing we receive a satisfactory pledge of surety, it will be our melancholy and desperate duty to destroy the fleet where it lies.’

The Tagus was notorious for its sandbanks and currents – this would be no closing under a press of sail in line-of-battle: it could only be fire-ships and boats sent in against ships-of-the-line.

‘A desperate measure indeed, sir.’ Kydd was appalled by the prospect.

‘It shouldn’t be long,’ Smith went on, with a bored expression. ‘General Junot is at Bayonne and has probably marched by now. Dom João must choose his fate very soon.’

Chapter 4

Tyger took her place in the line and prepared as best she could. This would be no fleet action, and until the fire-ships and mortar sloops arrived, there was no clear plan to neutralise the Portuguese fleet.

A day later word came that Junot was poised at the border with an army of twenty-five thousand men, cavalry and infantry with three Spanish divisions as well marching to join.

Would Bonaparte violate the neutrality of a sovereign nation? Later the same day the answer came: the invasion had begun. Junot was striking direct for Lisbon, taking the shorter but more difficult direct route along the valley of the Tagus. Goaded by an impatient emperor, French soldiery could be expected at the gates in days rather than weeks.

From the deck of Tyger Kydd watched scores, then hundreds of vessels make for the open sea as the news spread. This was very different from Copenhagen – there was no sea girdling Lisbon that the navy could take for its own to deny the enemy passage; it was only a matter of time before Lisbon would see Bonaparte’s legions.

Hibernia signalled, ‘Heave to and all captains.’

Sidney Smith was a cunning and resourceful commander, who had wreaked great destruction on the trapped French fleet in Toulon early in the war. What was he planning for this much more dangerous and urgent mission?

Three charts lay face down before the admiral, who waited with a slight smile as the nine captains filed in and sat around the big table.

‘Gentlemen. In the matter of the Portuguee navy I have—’

A lieutenant appeared at the door. ‘Sir – the ambassador is alongside.’

‘Be damned to it. Send him in.’

In respect the captains rose as a fine-drawn, red-headed young dandy entered in sheer pearl silk jacket and elegant cravat.

‘Lord Strangford. I’m sensible of the honour of your visit, but at this moment am in conclave with my captains to consider how to deny Bonaparte the Portuguese fleet.’

‘Then it’s as well they hear what I have to inform you.’ The voice was high-pitched and peevish.

‘My lord, please go on,’ Smith said heavily.

‘Then it is this. The Regent Dom João has this day made statement that he intends to accede to the “continental cause” by which is meant that he moves Portugal to Bonaparte’s side. I have demanded my passport and am here to seek asylum in your good ship.’

‘Dear God. Is it war, then?’

‘Not yet. He responds to the tyrant’s demands, which are to cleave to his continental system of economic warfare against Great Britain. He believes by declaring this he might yet stem the emperor’s wrath and retain his throne.’

‘You have remonstrated with the man.’

‘I have – his response is to send orders to arrest on sight all British citizens and seize their goods.’

There was a rustle of dismay about the table.

‘I can land above a thousand armed seamen and marines should you believe it necessary for security,’ Smith said curtly.

‘I can’t think that a good idea, Admiral. The city is in a ferment and the partido francés , the French interest, would make much of it. No, there is another way.’

‘Do tell, sir.’

‘On my instigation a secret convention has been agreed in London, which provides for British support for any move by the Portuguese to transfer their monarchy and seat of government to the Brazils, thereby putting out of reach the legitimate head of state, whatever puppet Bonaparte finds to inhabit the Mafra Palace.’

‘Then?’

‘His Highness does not see fit to avail himself of this convention, believing the French want merely to deny Lisbon and its trade to the English, which is what he undertakes to do at once.’

‘My lord, you have just tied my hands in the matter tighter than those of a topman aloft in a blow. If I proceed against their fleet it will be in the character of an assassin, for I must act before Junot arrives and puts Dom João’s words to the blush. The fool must be made to see the folly of grovelling to Boney before it is too late.’

‘Quite. Yet the man must be accounted obtuse and of little understanding of the world. You will understand that for autocracy and benightedness this kingdom is hard to beat. He will not hear me and I fear the end must not be long delayed.’

Smith bit his lip. ‘You may have a cabin aboard this ship. Your followers must berth on the mess-decks ‒ we’re not an Indiaman. Now, you tell me the British are hunted down and—’

‘I didn’t say that. Dom João has to satisfy the French spies he’s doing something, and to this end he’s rounding up stragglers and confiscating the odd cargo in a half-hearted sort of way. Do recollect Portugal is our oldest ally.’

‘So gratified to hear this.’

Strangford pursed his lips. ‘Admiral, I shall be recommending to the government that—’

‘Recommend away, my lord. I shall be steering a more direct course.’

Kydd hid a smile. This was more the Sidney Smith he knew.

‘Which is, might I ask?’ Strangford wanted to know.

‘As of this hour there is a close blockade clamped on the port of Lisbon.’

‘And what, pray, do you conceive this might achieve?’

Smith’s contempt was barely concealed. ‘By this your sainted Dom João may see for himself at the first hand the consequences of his siding with the tyrant. An instant ceasing of trade – no Customs revenue, taxes. No imports, exports – need I go on?’

‘This is an illegal act!’

‘If it were formally declared, yes. But it will not be. We are protecting our national interests in accordance with our own orders-in-council issued to counter the French Milan decree. Namely, that we may stop and search whatsoever ships we will for contraband, which they will discover is to be a monstrously long-protracted delay.’