‘God forbid. No, we must send out for supply.’
‘The nearest friendly settlements are St Helena and Madras. I shall certainly dispatch ships there for flour and rice but, gentlemen, these are weeks distant, are they not?’
‘Simon’s Town. Isn’t it some sort of victualling post?’ Dr Munro offered.
‘It is,’ Popham said, ‘but still lies in the hands of the enemy, guarded by a ship-of-the-line no less. I’m having a frigate call but am not sanguine about the outcome.’
There was a reflective quiet, then Baird said mildly, ‘Therefore it’s in my contemplation to release the fleet immediately to proceed to India, as was planned in the event of a successful outcome to our expedition.’
‘What – now?’ Popham was dismayed. ‘David, this requires I detach escorts in the face of a French retaliation. I cannot guarantee—’
‘Noted. It’s imperative, you’ll agree, either to increase our grain stocks or substantially reduce numbers of those on government corn. Failing the first, I’m obliged to accept the latter.’
Ferguson looked up bleakly. ‘Losing troops when there’s an army at large opposing us?’
‘I’m keeping back elements of the Seventy-fourth and Eighty-third as will take the field against Janssens for an early accounting.’
‘Ah.’
‘And the India fleet sails now.’
Popham frowned, but refrained from comment.
‘Very well. The next point is security. We have Cape Town. My best information suggests there are some twenty-eight forts and batteries in the outlying districts. My intent is to severally reduce these before moving on Janssens – and, General Ferguson, you will oblige me by presenting a plan for so doing.’
He glanced at Popham and smiled. ‘The Navy is our ever-present bulwark and a comfort to all to see anchored there in the Roads. All matters marine accordingly I’m grateful to leave with the distinguished commodore.’
He sighed, fiddling with a pencil. ‘We’re beset with worriments, gentlemen, but we will prevail. The Dutch made this a green and pleasant land and I won’t see it decline. The problem I would most ask you to reflect upon therefore is that of how best we are to reconcile its inhabitants to our rule. A sullen and rebellious population, ready to rise at little provocation, will be a sore trial.’
‘Um, er . . .’
‘Yes, Colonel Tupley?’
The quartermaster general, a precise individual, whose intensity of gaze was disconcerting, came back, ‘I’ve not heard anything yet, sir, about what shall be done concerning our trading position.’
‘Trading position?’ said Baird, blankly.
‘Indeed. We lost two-thirds of our specie when Britannia went down in the Brazils. I’m expected to pay the troops with just what cast of exchange? Implicit is that we must satisfy them and local suppliers by note of hand on the British Treasury, which in course will be discounted on the local market. And for which form of return? Goods in kind? Some barbarous foreign coin?’
‘An early decision will be made, Colonel.’ Before Tupley could reply, he announced briskly, ‘The meeting reconvenes tomorrow at nine sharp. Thank you for your attendance and please do give our problems your deepest thought – I need your ideas. Good day to you all.’
Renzi remained, and when the others had left, Baird slumped in his chair. ‘By heavens, just talking about what faces us brings on the blue devils,’ he said moodily.
‘I can’t help but observe that if the people wished to rise against us, I believe they would have done so by now,’ Renzi said. ‘I’m supposing the nature of this entire settlement is as a Dutch merchant-ship victualling stop and, in a small way, a trading port. If this can be restored, then it would go well with the merchantry.’
‘Umm. Now that’s something that I can do.’
‘Sir?’
‘Make it a free port! Open to all nations – that’ll please ’em. Where before they’d only what was left of the Batavian and French trade calling here, now they’ve all of the British Empire to welcome! I’ll make a proclamation to that effect immediately.’
‘It’ll be many months before it takes effect, the word needing so long to get out.’
Baird beamed. ‘Yes, but it’s the effect on the merchants I have an eye to. Gives ’em something to thank us for.’
Renzi thought for a moment, then added, ‘But then I observe there is a further course – one that links their self-interest with our desire to govern wisely.’
‘Oh? Do go on, Renzi. I’ve a fancy this will be worth hearing.’
‘It does cross my mind that the chief objective of our being here is to deny the French the strategic advantage of holding the Cape. That being so, we have no interest in its exploitation – the planting of colonies, the establishment of manufactories and the like. In fine, we have no real wish to disturb the present order.
‘However, conceive of the consternation, the dismay, at recent events in the hearts of these folk. The merchant and honest citizens will long have accommodated to the subtleties of opportunity and advancement in society afforded by their traditional and familiar system of law and culture. Now this is taken away and they’re confronted by a situation not of their choosing or control.
‘Are the English to be a brutal conqueror, exacting tribute, imposing our language, alien forms of law, taxation? Are they to be dispossessed by arbitrary laws of their ancient lands, losing their ancestral homes, their investments against old age?
‘Everything is set on its head and they will listen to any who promises to restore the old ways. Sir – I have a proposition. Should we do as the Romans did, then we will be at considerable advantage.’
‘Pray continue . . . Mr Secretary.’
‘We keep the structure of native rule in place, complete with laws and customs, without interference, merely ensuring the ruler is complaisant. Do you declare by proclamation that this be so, that none may fear loss or seizure, that we English do hold ourselves under the same laws and that—’
‘A radical conceit, sir!’
‘– providing always that such is not in conflict with any English common law. Sir, the Dutch system is derived from the Roman tradition, as ours is. I’ll wager there are paltry differences only, and the customs are harmless. For a little given, much is gained.’
‘I’ll reserve opinion on the Romans as an exemplar, but your proposition is interesting. Damn, it, very interesting . . . It means they’ll have little to complain of, they ruling themselves, and if they wax fat on the trade we put their way, most will frown on any who seek to trouble it.’
Renzi said nothing, giving space for Baird to explore the thought.
‘Hmm. Laws ’n’ customs – I suppose this includes their currency? Then here we have a solution to our lack of specie. Let ’em keep using their old money, whatever that is. Pay our soldiers in suchlike, and the market can’t refuse our coin, it being theirs . . . Yes, it’ll raise eyebrows among my colonels but we have possibilities.’
His forehead creased in concentration. ‘Ha! Another fine thought – we treat with their old town council or whatever with a view to adopting it in its glorious entirety, lord mayor and all! This way we’ll have no need to face the tedium of forming our own with all its devising of pettifogging ordinances and drain to the Treasury. Yes, by Jove!’
He reflected for a moment, then slapped his hand down. ‘We’ll do it! Nothing to say I, as governor, can’t make it so! Um, first thing is to get it down in a form o’ words. Then we trot it by the former Dutch nabob in charge, who’ll see it in his interest to be restored to power, and we’ll then get it cast into the local lingo.’
‘Do we have any familiar with the law, sir?’