Charles Audley Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 The letter was written in a strong, elegant, slightly sloping hand, in black ink on fine quality paper. It was accompanied by four quail and two bottles of Chatham's favourite Rhenish wine. After the requisite salutations and courtesies it read: Quote Your Highness, I am aware that you are, even at the best of times, a man burdened with many cares and responsibilities, with a great many calls on your time and attention, and that a court season at Windsor is far from the best of times in this regard. I shall therefore first beg your indulgence and forgiveness for the unsolicited nature of this missive, and then come straight to the point, the better to avoid wasting your valuable time. For some months now, an idea has been germinating in my mind, an idea as to how to secure and increase our access to gunpowder. It is my belief this idea, properly implemented, would be of great benefit to the security and power of his Majesty's Realms. I worry, however, that having cherished this notion for so long, I may not be best placed to objectively assess its merits and the practicality of its execution. Your Highness is uniquely qualified, as both a man of science and a man of arms, to perform such an assessment, and so I write to ask if it would be possible for me to meet your Highness to present this idea in detail, and for your Highness to offer your opinion as to its feasibility and any benefit it might offer to Crown and State. Your Servant, Chatham. Charles was not exactly best pleased with the missive, but he had vacillated more than enough on this matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackguard Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 Lord Chatham, Thank you for your missive. I shall have an hour immediately after lunch. I shall take my lunch at noon and be available half an hour later. Otherwise, we can discuss after the Christening Sunday morning. Please advise the page carrying this note if you wish the Satuday time. Cumberland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Audley Posted October 28 Author Share Posted October 28 Charles could not help the delighted grin that all but split his face as he read Cumberland's reply, and took a moment to compose himself back to proper dignity before looking up at the page who had brought the note. "Please convey my thanks to his Highness for both his prompt reply and for making time to see me so soon and on such short notice. I will be delighted to meet him after lunch," Charles said, flipping a shilling to the boy as a tip. "Oh, wait a moment." He turned and picked up a slim leather case from his desk. "Give this to his Highness, would you? His hands directly, mind." Cumberland might not have time to read it but a written summation of the idea could only be useful, to his thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackguard Posted October 29 Share Posted October 29 The boy was happy for the tip and thanked the Earl, scampering off with the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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