The Baltic Prize

Chapter 40

‘A most intriguing and, may I say, entertaining account, Sir Thomas,’ Saumarez said drily, raising his eyebrows. ‘Where is the orlogskapten now, pray?’

‘In close audience with King Gustav, I shouldn’t wonder, sir,’ Kydd replied, with a grim chuckle.

After a bruising overland haul together to the western shore of Finland, then a thrash in a fishing boat across the icy waters of the Gulf of Bothnia to Stockholm, he was probably the first officer to give detail and substance to the dreadful rumour of the fall of Sveaborg. How it would have been received by the stubborn and eccentric king was another matter.

‘Then I’ll have you give full particulars to my flag-lieutenant while I ponder what you’ve just told me.’

‘I’d think it a grievous blow, sir.’

‘Quite. And perfectly unaccountable in such a martial race. How we’re to respond is the question, of course.’

‘Finland lost to them.’

‘I was more thinking of the higher Baltic lost to us. Sveaborg just twenty leagues opposite Reval, the Russian main fleet in Kronstadt not two days distant – I fear they will now be emboldened beyond our means to stop them.’

‘Advance our base to block their ambitions?’

Saumarez frowned. ‘Thank you, Sir Thomas, but you may safely leave such matters to me.’

‘Sir.’

‘Besides which there is the higher call on my services.’

‘Sir?’

‘That which is always to the fore, the greater cause I’m charged with.’

‘The Baltic trade.’

‘Quite so – which I’m grieved to say, even with our presence, stands in disarray and confusion. As one of my frigate captains, it’s as well you’re acquainted with it.’

He sat heavily, unconsciously wiping his brow. ‘I will be brief. The prime cause is that of privateers. The entire western end of the Baltic is infested with the vermin. To their number must now be added the Danes, who not only crew foreign vessels but have the gall to plant privateer nests in the lesser islands.’

‘What of our escorts?’

‘That is not where the difficulty lies. We have enough to see off any attempt on our convoys. This is not in question. But consider this – we safely conduct merchant vessels in great numbers all the way from England. What happens to them then? They leave our protection bound in every direction for the port of their destination and thus fall prey to waiting scavengers.’

‘To the ruination of our commerce.’

‘The Baltic Fleet has secured passage in and out of the Baltic but cannot provide for them to finish their voyage. Our only defence is for English cargoes to be landed in a neutral port and taken up again under a neutral flag for onward delivery. At this time there are now precious few neutrals, and even fewer who wish to take the chance under penalty of defying Bonaparte’s blockade. So does this mean we must fall back on subterfuge, contemptible smuggling and false papers?’

Kydd knew Saumarez to hold his moral principles dear: he would be affronted at being involved in deception and trickery. There must be another way. ‘Make escort to the port itself?’

‘Sir Thomas, your suggestion is well meant but quite without merit. The main trading ports lie in sovereign lands, it is true, but these are all either French-occupied or under Bonaparte’s subjection by other means. The appearance of a British man-o’-war off their ports will be understood by all as an act of hostility upon the territorial rights of the nation concerned and the tyrant will make much of it. No, this is a vexing and frustrating problem – that you will be faced with at source.’

‘Myself, sir?’

‘Indeed. Much as I’d desire to grant you rest after your ordeal I cannot. The situation now is too grave – I’m sending every vessel I can spare, especially frigates, to the southern Baltic, with a view to hunting down these vile privateers. This is now your prime duty, sir.’