Chapter 27: The Beagle
Chapter 27 The Beagle
Eldad led Arthur to stand by the embankment of the Thames.
He pointed across the river to an old wooden two-masted sail battleship that was pulling into the ship repair yard dock.
“See that ship? That’s the Beagle, which will soon be on a scientific mission.
Ninety feet long, 25 feet wide, with a draught of 12 feet, armed with ten short 12-pounder guns, capable of carrying a crew of 120, launched in 1820 at a total cost of £7,800.
It was no match for the tonnage and firepower of the naval warships in service, and was not even as good as the second-most inferior class VI warships. But no matter what, it is always considered to be a bit of combat self-defense capability, and it should be enough to fight general pirates.”
Arthur looked at the Beagle which was traveling slowly on the Thames, and suddenly realized, “No wonder the Thames was so jammed this morning, so it’s because of it ah? What’s wrong with this boat, why is it slowing down like this?”
Elder said helplessly, “What else can it be, of course it’s wrecked. To tell you the truth, this research voyage of ours is to carry out the Beagle’s second round-the-world research mission.
The first time it just sailed to the sea near South America and returned, I heard that it seemed to have encountered a storm, coupled with unfamiliarity with the local sea conditions, so it nearly hit the reef several times, the crew almost didn’t make it back, even the original captain committed suicide because of the mental stress.
In view of the last unsuccessful voyage, the Navy Department made up its mind to bring the Beagle over for comprehensive repairs and upgrades.
Four guns were removed, an extra mast was added, the bottom of the ship was wrapped in copper skin according to warship standards, brushed with a bit of tung oil, and finally reinforced with iron nails and copper rivets.”
Speaking of this, Elder also couldn’t help but gulp in worry: “After making so many preparations, the next voyage should be fine, right?”
Arthur asked, “If you’re so scared, why do you still have to follow?”
“Arthur, you don’t understand.”
Elder wagged his finger in a serious manner, “The Admiralty has always believed in one thing – calm seas do not train skilled sailors.
Therefore, high risk also means high reward. As long as we can complete this round-the-world science voyage, all the crew members on board, one and all, will be promoted.
In that case, my uncle will be able to logically transfer me to the headquarters of the Ministry of Navy, and maybe even get me a post.
Arthur, if it were not for such a good thing, could I have sought you out before?”
Arthur said calmly, “I think you want to find a friend on the ship to talk to. After all, this is a round-the-world voyage, how can you say that you have to go for three to five years. That character of yours, if you can’t find a decent friend to keep you company, it’s estimated that you can suffocate like crazy.”
“Alas ……,” Elder didn’t hide it, “So you’ve seen through it all.”
Arthur stared at the Beagle in the distance and asked, “But why doesn’t the Ministry of Navy give you a bigger ship? Like get a warship converted, like that what’s-his-name class six battleship you were just talking about?”
Hearing this, Elder couldn’t help but launch into a whine, “That’s what I was thinking too. But it can’t be helped, even the smallest class 6 warship is almost twice the size of the Beagle. If we sail that kind of ship to the Americas, it would be easy to create friction when those people in the North American colonies see it.”
Arthur asked, “A sixth class battleship is that big, what about a first class battleship?”
Elder returned, “Let’s take the flagship ‘HMS Victory’ that was once Admiral Nelson’s flagship as an example.
The Victory was still just an old ship launched in 1778, but it already had a displacement of 3,500 tons.
It was capable of carrying 108 guns, a crew of 850, and storing 35 tons of gunpowder and 120 tons of shells.
In order to build it, a total of more than 2,000 oak trees and 38 tons of iron, the total cost of more than 100,000 pounds, while the national revenue at that time was only 10 million pounds.
But the money spent is also worthwhile, like this first-class battleship, usually can continuously at sea for six months, uninterrupted fighting for several days.
If the Victory was sent to the Americas, the rebels in the North American colonies would have made diplomatic representations. If they were to send those new first class battleships that have been launched in the last few years with a displacement close to 4,000 tons, I guess that gang of uneducated Yankees would have to start picking up their guns to prepare for the Third War of Independence.
By the way, speaking of battleships and Victory, do you know who the last person who gave the order to Captain Fitzroy not to hire you was?”
“Who?”
Elder mysteriously came up to Arthur, “The First Sea Lord, Admiral Thomas Hardy.”
“Is he good?”
“Wow! My God! He’s more than awesome!”
Elder said with excitement, “He was the very captain who commanded Admiral Nelson’s flagship ‘HMS Victory’ in the Battle of Trafalgar that year!
And when Nelson’s remains were brought back home for burial, he was one of the four men who carried the coffin for Nelson.
Arthur, don’t you know, he’s a superb figure in our Admiralty, the highest military commander in the entire Royal Navy right now!
Colonel Fitzroy said the other day that my uncle wouldn’t dare to make demands on him, and that was really true, because even the Secretary of the Admiralty wouldn’t dare to screw him directly. In military matters, the Royal Navy actually still listens to him, the First Sea Lord.”
Just as Elder was colorfully introducing Thomas Hardy’s glorious deeds, a young priest with a round face wearing a black robe suddenly walked over.
He waved the cross in his hand in front of the two of them, “I apologize for disturbing you two, but may I ask if any of you have the name Elder Carter?”
Arthur took a look at the priest, as he looked at the other’s looks, he always felt that he looked somewhat familiar, but he didn’t know where he had seen him before.
After thinking for half a day, he then suddenly slapped his thigh and pointed at the other party, “Rooney from Manchester United?”
“Rooney?” The youth pastor was baffled by Arthur: “Sir, I think you might have mistaken me for someone else, my name is Charles.”
“Your name is also Charles?” Arthur snickered, “I just made a new friend two days ago, he’s also called Charles, Charles Dickens, he’s a big deal.”
Elder couldn’t help but snort when he heard this, “What’s a court clerk a big shot? Thomas Hardy is the real big shot!”
Arthur laughed and didn’t directly retort, he just said, “Even if he isn’t now, he will be in the future.”
At that, he pointed at the priest again and pointed at Elder beside him, “You’re probably the priest who graduated from Cambridge, aren’t you? Coming to the Beagle to work as a naturalist?
You’re looking for the one next to me, Elder Carter, cartographer on the Beagle, senior in Classics, and nephew of the Rear Admiral of the Royal Navy.”
Hearing this, Elder spoke up in dissatisfaction, “Arthur! How did you get all the bottom out of me?”
Arthur shrugged, “You’re going to spend three to five years together on the ship in the future, with that mouth of yours, even if I don’t say it, you’ll say it yourself sooner or later.”
The priest didn’t care about this little episode, he very kindly extended his hand towards Elder.
“Mr. Carter, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Although you should already know, I’ll introduce myself out of politeness.
My name is Charles Darwin, the Beagle’s naturalist, and I graduated from the Theology Department of Cambridge University.”
(End of chapter)