most of his life on the waves, had distinguished himself by his
seamanship, had had opportunities of showing his valour in action
with the French, and had retired on a competence. No man knew the
Eastern seas better. He was perfectly acquainted with all the
haunts of the pirates who prowled between the Cape of Good Hope
and the Straits of Malacca; and he would undertake, if he were
entrusted with a single ship of thirty or forty guns, to clear
the Indian Ocean of the whole race. The brigantines of the rovers
were numerous, no doubt; but none of them was large; one man of
war, which in the royal navy would hardly rank as a fourth rate,
would easily deal with them all in succession; and the lawful
spoils of the enemies of mankind would much more than defray the
charges of the expedition. Bellamont was charmed with this plan,
and recommended it to the King. The King referred it to the
Admiralty. The Admiralty raised difficulties, such as are
perpetually raised by public boards when any deviation, whether
for the better or for the worse, from the established course of
proceeding is proposed. It then occurred to Bellamont that his
favourite scheme might be carried into effect without any cost to
the state. A few public spirited men might easily fit out a
privateer which would soon make the Arabian Gulph and the Bay of
Bengal secure highways for trade. He wrote to his friends in
England imploring, remonstrating, complaining of their lamentable
want of public spirit. Six thousand pounds would be enough. That
sum would be repaid, and repaid with large interest, from the
sale of prizes; and an inestimable benefit would be conferred on
the kingdom and on the world. His urgency succeeded. Shrewsbury
and Romney contributed. Orford, though, as first Lord of the
Admiralty, he had been unwilling to send Kidd to the Indian ocean
with a king's ship, consented to subscribe a thousand pounds.