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while Rogers hinted tactfully that he lacked the funds to expedite matters, that there were few seamen available for such an unimportant vessel and those drafted to them were the cast-offs from elsewhere. Drinkwater was dominated by the two problems of want of cash and men. He had already spent more of his precious capital than he intended and as yet obtained little more than a smartened first lieutenant, a few documents necessary to commission his ship, only obtained by bribing the issuing clerks, and victuals enough for the cabin for a week. Apart from the imposition of further bribing dockyard officials for the common necessities needed by a man of war, he had yet to purchase proper slops for his men, just a little paint that his command might not entirely disgrace him, a quantity of powder for practice, and a few comforts for his own consumption: a dozen live pullets, a laying hen, a case or two of blackstrap. He sighed, listening again to Rogers and his catalogue of a first lieutenant’s woes. As he finished Drinkwater poured him a glass of the cheap port sold in Chatham as blackstrap.
    ‘Press on Samuel, we do make progress.’ He indicated the litter of papers on the table. Rogers nodded then, in a low voice and leaning forward confidentially he said, ‘I, er, have found a little out about our friend Jex.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘More of his wife actually. It seems that after the last war Jex went off slaving. As purser he made a deal of money and accustomed himself to a fine time.’ There was a touch of malice in Rogers as he sipped the wine, he was contemplating the fate of another brought low by excess. ‘I gather he invested a good bit of it unwisely and lost heavily. Now, after some time in straightened circumstances, he is attempting to recoup his finances from the perquisites of a purser’s berth and marriage to his lady wife.’ Rogers managed a sneer. ‘Though not precisely a trollop she did run a discreet little house off Dock Road. Quite a remunerative place, I am led to believe.’
    ‘And a berth in a King’s ship purchases Madame Jex a measure of respectability. Yes, I had noticed an assumption of airs by her ladyship,’ concluded Drinkwater, grinning as an idea occurred to him. Making up his mind he slapped his hand on the table. ‘Yes, I have it, it will do very nicely. Be so good as to ask Mr Jex to step this way.’
    Jex arrived and was asked to sit. His air of confidence had sagged a little and was replaced by pugnacity. The purser’s arms were crossed over his belly and he peered at his commander through narrowed eyes.
    ‘I have come to a decision regarding you and your future.’ Drinkwater spoke clearly, aware of the silence from the adjoining cabin. Mrs Jex would hear with ease through the thin bulkhead.
    ‘Your influence with the dockyard does you credit, Mr Jex. I would be foolish not to take advantage of your skill and interest in that direction
    ‘ Drinkwater noted with satisfaction that Jex was relaxing. ‘I require that you do not sleep out of the ship until you have completed victualling for eighty souls for three months. Your wife may live on board with you. You will be allowed the customary eighth on your stores, but a personal profit exceeding twelve and one half per cent will not be tolerated. You will put up the usual bond with the Navy Board and receive seven pounds per month whilst on the ship’s books. Until the ship is fully manned you may claim a man’s pay for your wife but she shall keep the cabin clean until my servant arrives. You will ensure that the stores from the Victualling Yard are good, not old, nor in split casks. You may at your own expense purchase tobacco and slops for the men. You will, as part of this charge, purchase one hundred new greygoes, one hundred pairs of mittens, a quantity of woollen stockings and woollen caps, together with some cured sheepskins from any source known to you. You will in short, supply the ship with warm clothes for her entire