Man Of War

‘A reasonable deduction, but not necessarily true. The duke believes we should not be entangled, especially since now the Spaniards show no appetite to intervene. The duke is of the opinion that these matters are best settled by the Portuguese themselves.’

Hervey was not surprised to hear it: the Duke of Wellington had been opposed to the expedition in the first place, believing it to be another of Mr Canning’s wild adventures in what was the business of other states. He wondered now if his own tribulations – notably his incarceration at Badajoz – had been without point, for withdrawing the force only sixteen months from sending it seemed hardly propitious as far as peace in Portugal was concerned. Except, of course, that at Badajoz he had forced himself to consider his condition, and thence to amend it. Without Badajoz there was no betrothal to Lady Lankester, no mother for his daughter.

Howard rang for a messenger to bring tea. ‘By the by, your last letter was most welcome. It gave the official account a little colour, shall we say.’

‘Somerset’s account? I fancy it was accurate, but . . . incomplete.’

Howard smiled. ‘The duke was of the same opinion.’

Hervey was content again. He held that virtue, if not entirely its own reward, would certainly speak for itself, but he was ever grateful to have such a friend at court as John Howard. They had known each other these dozen years and more, never intimately but with the highest mutual regard. ‘Rather a wild place, the Cape Colony. At least, that is, the eastern frontier; the Cape itself is a most delightful place. The east will increasingly be like trying to erect defences against the sea, for I can’t suppose there can be a settled frontier for as long as there are untold millions wandering the interior.’

Howard looked not exactly sceptical, but his enquiry suggested he had supposed it otherwise. ‘Do you believe it of any greater order of apprehension than was, say, India, or the Americas?’

Hervey nodded slowly. ‘You have to stand in that country to get a true sense of it. I never had so powerful a feeling of being in deep waters – never in America, nor India. I mean . . . of waters that ran so deep.’ Lord John Howard could only imagine. He had rarely served beyond Whitehall and had never heard a shot fired in anger except very distantly. But Hervey both liked and respected him for his diligence as a staff officer and his absence of pretentiousness and conceit.

‘Is that the lieutenant-governor’s opinion too?’

‘It is. I sent on Sir Eyre’s opinion and the estimates to the Colonies Office this morning.’

The messenger returned with tea.

Howard let him pour two cups and withdraw before cutting to the subject that he knew must preoccupy his friend. ‘The court of inquiry for Waltham Abbey: you will not know what is decided as to the evidence, I imagine?’

Hervey shook his head: he had heard nothing; but this was not in truth his preoccupation. ‘Howard, if we may, before the inquiry, I should very much like to ask you of this affair at Navarino. You know that Peto was under orders to join Codrington’s fleet: it would be good to hear confirmation that he’s well.’

Howard looked surprised: the battle had been six months ago (although its consequences were almost daily a matter of speculation). And then he nodded. ‘I have to remind myself of the distance you have been from the centre of affairs. Do you not, though, receive the Gazette regularly?’

‘We were several in arrears when I left the Cape.’

‘Well, Peto’s name was not on the list. That, I may assure you. I would most certainly have noticed – and, indeed, have remarked on it at once on seeing you, for I know what a friend he is. I myself would count him so. When my clerk is returned this evening I shall have him hunt out the relevant Gazette with Codrington’s despatch and all. I confess I read its detail but cursorily. It was an affair of much pounding, as far as I could tell.’

‘I’m relieved to hear he’s not on the list at any rate. I’d be indeed obliged if your man could hunt out the despatch. There ought to be copies in the United Service, but the imminent move seems to have disordered things somewhat.’

Howard nodded, wrote a short memorandum and placed it in his tray.

Hervey could now turn with a clearer mind to his own concerns. ‘I saw Sir Francis Evans in the United Service this morning. He said the new commander-in-chief is unhappy with the inquiry.’