Rear Admiral Medicus liked to challenge his Captains to think. If they could out guess him or at least consider other options they would be better prepared when they met the enemy. Three frigates verses a ship of the line; specifically three British 32’s verses a French 74. Crew quality and maneuverability went with the smaller vessels. Firepower and being able to absorb punishment went to the larger vessel. An interesting point to ponder…

As always, the sun went down as though someone had turned down the wick of a lamp. One moment, the entire harbour was visible from the stern gallery of the frigate Watcher, the next it was as if black velvet had been thrown across the sky, pierced here and there by twinkling light of stars. The air was still relatively fresh after the storm the previous day and, out here in the harbour, it was only the boldest mosquitos that had made the long voyage from the land to annoy the captain and crew of the frigate.

Captain the Honourable Sir Willoughby Ponsonby-Smythe made his way down the side of the ship into his barge and ordered his cox’n to make for the flagship. As the lean, languid officer made his way up the side of the Buffonia, he noticed, with some distaste, that the white gloves belonging to the ship’s boys manning the side ropes looked as though they had not been washed in a week. By God, if it had been on his own ship, the young lads would have had a painful interview with the gunner’s daughter if they had allowed their own gloves to be in such a state. Their momentary physical distress would have been as nothing to the officer of the watch who had allowed such a state of affairs to happen on a flagship under Sir Willoughby’s command, however. Shrugging his shoulders, he made his way aft towards the sound of laughter and general conversation coming from the admiral’s cabin.

Some time later, as the admiral’s just-acceptable port made its way round the table, Willoughby listened in silence to the theories and arguments proposed by the other officers in answer to the admiral’s question. Suppressing a sneer at the lunatic idea to attempt to attack and board the 74, Willoughby listens, with some interest to the proposal of Capt. Vickery eventually adding his own thoughts.

“Capital plan, Captain Vickery, and I take a glass of wine with you. However, if I might suggest one small amendment to your excellent proposal, it would be that two of the frigates are used to bottle up Johnny Frenchman in the dago port, leaving the remaining ship to act as escort to the convoys. It would only take a heavy blow from the tramontana and your single frigate could easily be blown off-station allowing Monsieur Crapaud the opportunity of sallying forth and playing Old Harry with our merchantmen. But otherwise, sir, an excellent proposal.”

Gentlemen I invite your opinions...." {Captain Percival Livingstone}

After the other Captains had offered their opinions, Percy proceeded to give the Admiral his own.

"I would have to agree that the aim of the mission is the protection of the merchant vessels. To lose any of the few available vessels through an assault would limit future mercantile activity in the area. Therefore I would be agreeable to Captain Vickery's suggestion. I would use a frigate to monitor the activity at Cadiz but I would use the other two frigates to escort the vessels individually. This will ensure that the ships are not made redundant while the single enemy vessel is already being monitored."

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Commander Ian West reclined in his chair, idly swirling the remainder of his
glass of wine in nervous fingers as he considered the admiral's problem.
Respectfully, fully cognizant of his station as one of the more junior
officers in Medicus' command, he waited until all those senior to him had
offered a solution before stating his own opinion:

"By your leave, sir...I should agree that escorting the merchantmen
individually is by far the best solution, and the one which I would employ.
I would hesitate to take on an enemy that so heavily outguns my entire
force. Speed must be my greatest weapon, the one which I must employ to my
advantage. I would remain within the bounds of my orders, which are to
assure the safe arrival of the merchantmen, not to go looking for a battle.
If circumstances dictate escorting the merchants with my full force, I would
consider so doing, but would prefer escort by individual ship."

The cabin fell silent as Rear Admiral Medicus considered the opinions expressed. All very good points gentlemen; as you are most likely aware there is no right or wrong answer. Circumstances often dictate a course of action we don’t for see. I thank you for your company.