Nelson & His World

I think most of us know that the route from Falmouth to London that Lt Lapenotiere took with the Trafalgar Dispatch was formally named in 2005 The Trafalgar Way. It has its own wiki entry now, with a picture of one of the commemorative plaques that mark the stages along the route where the horses were changed:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trafalgar_Way

Anna,

Thanks for reminding us of that. It would seem to be reasonably full and accurate for Wikipedia!

I have sometimes wondered at the strange action of Sykes, in so blatantly abandoning his position in order to 'escort the Pickle for her safety.' I rather think the situation was that Sykes was hoping to get to the Admiralty first, before Lapenotiere, to get all the glory – and the promotion! It's a pity that the drawing of the post chaise is not of the one that Lt Lapenotiere used; it doesn't even have four wheels and only one horse!

- not forgetting the traditional cash reward - Lapenotiere received £500.

There is an interesting article which supports your view from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall on the race between the two men and two ships here: http://nationalmaritimemuseumcornwall.c ... 20Dash.pdf

I wonder what would have happened if Lapenotiere had arrived 10 minutes too late? As he was bearing Collingwood's dispatches and Sykes was not, I find it hard to believe Lapenotiere would have received nothing. Perhaps the rewards might have been shared?

Tony,

Thanks for posting that and agreed, not forgetting the cash reward!

I guess we can always speculate, but I would have thought that if Sykes arrived at the Admiralty with news of such import, then surely it would have been expected, and probably demanded, that he turn over the all-important orders and despatches from Collingwood, else why was he there? (Seeing he didn't have them, it would probably then have taken him more than ten minutes to explain himself, perhaps even to to a dubious First Lord, Middleton, and more specifically give the reasons for taking himself off his station with out orders from his Admiral. In the time frame you give, Lapenotiere would then have arrived all in a lather and the full story would surely have come out. I think in that situation Sykes would have gotten short shrift, and nothing at all for his troubles apart from a sharp reprimand, if not worse.

Since Sykes seems to have also gone to taverns etc. with his news, it would seem that he didn't expect much support from their Lordships, except censure. I suppose you then have to ask yourself why he did it, for the kudos? He obviously hadn't thought it all through, and was seemingly just speculating - possibly helped by the fact that he may have wished for some of the glory of Trafalgar and perhaps a change from the, presumably, boring activity in which he had been engaged.

I'm speculating here of course and don't actually know what happened to him. Perhaps you know Tony? Or is it in the article you posted, but which I haven't read fully yet?!