Prelude
The town of Queensborough on Goree Island, center of Brittish slave trade
Queensborough, December 19, 1767
It seems the autumn stoms finaly came to an end. This morning the HMS Antelope arrived in the harbour, wrecked by yesterday's thunderstorm. Captain Graves said he had lost 22 crewmembers, and several cannons. Two hours later two Dutch slave traders poured in. They reported no damage, except for 25 dead slaves that were unloaded here and shall be thrown off. The harbourmaster said there was no risk of disease, but that the slaves were simply too weak. The Dutch captain felt somewhat aggrigated when he heard he was ripped off, and it took the harbourmaster some effort to keep the good man from drowning his first mate. At times like that, it's good to know we have a full garrison on the island. The past year, Dutch and Portugese sailors are increasingly unruly. Hadn't the slave houses been the reason Queensborough existed, they would have closed the island for Portugese and Dutchmen years ago. Alas. The HMS Antelope brought some interresting news from Europe. It seems Spain stopped sending treasureships to the homeland, as there simply isn't any treasure left in their colonies. The news reminded me about two years ago, when we fought the pirates of Jamaica. The Admirality had ordered us to set sail to Cumberland Bay, as the Danes had blockaded Haiti and outnumbered us three to one. When we supplied, I travelled to Guantanamo, which turned out to be no more than a couple of sheds. That week I learned that Cuba was not quite as rich and prosperous as those Spaniards claimed. Even the sugar fields looked unkept and run-down. When we left for Haiti the next week, it turned out a fever had whiped out much of southern Cuba. That same week our garrison on Cumberland Bay died of that same fever.
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Queensborough, December 20, 1767
We are done waiting. An express ship from Southampton reported that Commodore Wells is on his way with four ships, and that he brings important news. The messenger claimed he had no further information, but after persuaing him he said he believed there was something going on in the East. Several years ago there had been a crisis within the East India Company when several Chinese cities boycotted English ships, and forced them out. Back then, the Company could do nothing but complain, but some fellow captains believed that either the Company or the Navy would act to break the boycot. According to the messenger, that was what Wells was going to do. Meanwhile, the crew seems to enjoy themselves. The weather has improved, and most men seem to hang around the harbour or the Admirality Inn. Last week the Admirality bought a dozen weak female slaves to keep the men occupied, and it seems the old trick is still working.
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Queensborough, December 22, 1767
The HMS Albion arrived in Queensborough from Saint Lucia. It seems much more individual warships are gathering here. Commodore Wells should arrive later today, and we heard that Vice Admiral Hawke is on his way here from Bordeaux, commanding the Blue Squadron. Lord Hawke's flagship, the HMS Britannia, is a bright new first-rate ship-of-the-line. I would love to see that boat!
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Queensborough, December 23, 1767
Still no trace from either Commodore Wells or Vice Admiral Hawke. The HMS Antelope left for a short trip. I believe Graves is even more impatient than I am. The good news is that we can celebrate Chrismas on shore.
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Queensborough, December 24, 1767
Commodore Wells arrived on Goree Island yesterday evening, and all senior captains were to assemble in the Admirality House. It turned out I was right. Sir Charles Saunders, Lord of the Admirality, had ordered Wells and Vice Admiral Hawke to assemble a fleet and sail to Calcutta, from where we shall operate against the Chinese. The HMS Vanguard is supposed to sail ahead together with the Antelope and the Hawke's own flagship, the Britannia. According to Wells, Hawke is planning on establishing a permanent force in Bengal. So far, only Calcutta is property of the East India Company, and it is surrounded by an unruly gang of violent musselmen from the Bengal sultanate. Wells told me Hawke, Saunders and Company director Hastings seek to overthrow the sultan and bring the whole area under Brittish protection! Apart from the fact that Bengal is a rich area, it's also strategicly important if we are to strike the Chinese factories on Malakka and Sumatra. The Portugese have quite some interrests in the East. I wouldn't be surprised if we have to deal with those damn Portuese...
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Queensborough, December 27, 1767
The HMS Britannia and her escort, fourth-rate HMS Anson, arrived at Queensborough. The rest of the fleet had assembled at Praia, on the Cape Verdian Islands. I met Vice Admiral Hawke. Hawke is a quiet, rather selfcentered man, and in general unpleasant company. Luckily I am tasked under Commodore Wells, who his less stuck-up and actually has a sense of humour. Wells shall take command of the HMS Antelope, and we shall escort the Britannia together with the HMS Anson and the HMS Arrogante
commanded by captain Whitshed. I was surprised at first when Wells choose the Antelope over the Vanguard, even though the Vanguard is significantly bigger, but I'm happy he did so. According to Wells, we are to set sail for Capetown and than Lindi, where we meet up with the African Squadron. From Lindi we shall escort several indiamen with the Royal Hussars on board, who will meet up with Hastings army in Madras.
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Queensborough, December 28, 1767
Commodore Wells told me to keep an eye out on Hawke. The Vice Admiral has send out messengers without informing the governor nor Wells. Although he has the full right to do so, Wells believe Hawke is being careless and he noted that the Chinese trading post on the Azores could be a good place for pirates to operate. If they intercept Hawke's messages back to London, we could have trouble. I personally find it revolting that the Commodore doesn't trust his ranking admiral, but I know Wells long enough to know he wouldn't do such a thing without a reason.
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Queensborough, December 31, 1767
The final supplied have arrived from the mainland. Once the Arrogante and Anson are resupplied and repairs on the Antelope are finished, we are ready to set sail. Fishermen from the mainland have reported to the governor that there are some Chinese boats spotted north. Ever since China bought the Azore island of Pico from Portugal in 1621, very few Chinese ships actually reached the island. The Chinese simply don't have ships capable of reaching Europe without docking in Portugese ports. And as the Portugese denied the Chinese access to their ports after the boycot, it's unlikely for Chinese to reach the Azores. Unless... unless they sail the other way around. Could it be possible that the Spaniards helped them reach Pico? I shall ask Hawke if he knows more about these sightings tonight.
Commodore Wells (left) and Vice Admiral Hawke (right)
These are excepts from the personal log of David Stornoway, Post Captain of the 70 gun third-rate ship-of-the-line HMS Vanguard. The Vanguard is a historical ship built in 1748, and in the real timeline played a major role in the Seven Years War. Captain Stornoway will be one of my main characters, as will Wells and Hawke.
Queensbrough is my colony on Goree Island. It's my only serious settlement in Western Africa (also have two tradeposts) and it has carried a CoT for most of its existence.
STOP! COOKIE TIME