(The title of this probably refers to the use of “frogs” to mean Frenchmen and “lobsters” to mean British Army men undoubtedly because of the latter’s red uniforms. Ira Riklis remembers “the redcoats” from the American Revolution.)

Well anyway, Hornblower found himself back in Plymouth where the British Navy acted at this time as troop transport facilitators. On shore Hornblower and his buddies viewed the parading British Army with remarks that indicated some inter-service rivalry. Also these seamen saw some evidence of “purchased” commissions in the British Army where wealthy and titled officers might be very young and somewhat inexperienced for their military positions.

In addition to transporting British troops, the navy was also tasked with transporting French forces whose loyalties were pledged to the French royalty against the French revolutionary movement. As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower was key in this task because he was fluent in French and used by the navy to interpret and issue orders in French to the non-English-speaking French military. Hornblower told them which ships would transport gear and horses etc. and was quite surprised to see a guillotine among the French equipment. He questioned a French officer in this counter-revolutionary unit and was told that these Frenchmen hoped to give the revolutionists “a taste of their own medicine”.

Hornblower did not have time to comment on his observation because his senior officer was reprimanding him for the lack of speed in loading the French and their goods on to the ships.