captainhornblower | Second Dispatch

Second Dispatch - [written]

December 2nd,

I have asked a few individuals before my time with our [His pen hesitates, but he doesn't know what they can see. Since this book is obviously magical, he may as well be cautious.] hosts, and now, given the task they assigned me, I wish to ask the community at large.

In your harbour, there is a sloop-of-war with British colours on her called Britannia. Does she have a captain here?

I believe, with a bit of work (as she has been adequately maintained but requires attention in a few areas), she would be ready to take to sea come spring, provided there is a crew to do it. I am willing to [eager to, desperate to] take on that responsibility, but I would not wish to interfere with an already-present chain of command.

H. Hornblower

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And offer no apologies when they lose. Sometimes, one must gamble. Even take a loss to allow the odds to right themselves. But they seem not to even consider the cost if their hand is bad.

[He's a gambling man himself, so the analogy comes easily.]

[ aye. losses happen. sharpe had always been the sort of officer who braved those losses alongside his men, except being a major did tend to take him away from the fray more often than he might like. and yet ambition drove him on. ]

Good observations, every one. Your crew is lucky to have you.

If only I had a crew. Nine out of ten ships decommissioned, and I've no patronage amongst the Admiralty to get myself a place on those remaining.

[ ...bloody hell. ]

Where does that leave you?

[He isn't there now, isn't in that situation any longer, so there's nothing to pity. Because he doesn't want pity.]

Playing whist for my supper, as the Admiralty decided not to confirm my promotion and withhold my half-pay until the salary I'd drawn for the promotion was repaid.

[He had no small doubt Hammond had something to do with that.]

Bastards.

I have a better lot than others, so I suppose it isn't my place to complain.

[Because there's no reason to complain about being penniless if the cards go too far against him.]

Of course it's your bloody place. Had a gazette myself what went two and a half years before Horse Guards saw fit to tell me it had been refused.

[ but not until after he'd been feted in london, dined by the patriotic fund, presented with a fifty guinea sword in recognition of his capture of a french eagle. the bloody newspapers had taken to calling him the scarred hero of the field of talavera. all of london had wanted to meet him; he'd hated it. but he hadn't hated it to much as the disdain army headquarters had showed him when their dutiful little hero sought to check in at whitehall only to be told he wasn't a captain at all. it had only taken them this long to tell him. ]

How is it that men with so much power and who command such forces can be so utterly inefficient?

[Normally, it would never be said or written, but hearing that brings it out. The wounds are still too raw-- losing Archie, parting from Bush, having to command that hateful ship, only to be plunged into poverty and denied being at sea.]

I arrived with my field promotion and dispatches two days after the preliminary treaty with France had been signed. With a fairer wind, I might have had it in hand before.