From Col. Edward Mustard’s Correspondence File
25: Lieutenant-Colonel Pepper upon on the Recruitment of Golems
Horse Guards, London
1st March, 1769
My Dear Colonel Mustard – or should that be Brigadier Mustard, which I believe is the Rank of a Command comprising two Regiments. May I offer you my Hearty Congratulations and assure you of my continued Support in the role of Lieutenant-Colonel of Mustard’s Dragoons.
You asked that I give some Consideration to the sort of Fellow who might be a suitable Volunteer to become a Golem in the Service of the Realm.
- I suppose they must be Strong and Capable in the Mind. Their physical Attributes are guaranteed but I think you wish them to become conversant with Enochian Techniques.
- They must have the Moral Endurance not only to withstand the excruciating Pain of their Transition, but also the Ennui of Long Life without the Emolument of Personal Attachments. Indeed, those who have strong Personal Attachments to Spouse or to Offspring, are probably not suitable to this Role.
- They must not be of Dissolute Disposition. I would be wary of Those who have turned in their Desperation (for most will be desperate) to Alcohol or Opium.
- They must certainly possess the utmost Honour, Integrity and Loyalty to the Realm.
- Their Physique alone is irrelevant. Indeed, I find it difficult to conceive of any likely Volunteer who does not find Incentive for such Drastic Change of Circumstance in some Physical Affliction, that makes their current Existence Infelicitous, or that threatens their Life.
As a Military Man my Thoughts, naturally, fell to the very many Unfortunate Soldiers who suffer Terrible Mutilations in the defence of their King and Country. However, it did occur to me that perhaps I should be looking more towards the Navy. For, let us face it, a keen Intellect is not a Pre-requisite for a Soldier – though I am sure we would both contend that it does not exclude such. However, a Naval Officer must have a strong Grasp of Mathematicks. It is also a Fact of their Service both that Severe Injuries are common, but also that they are more like to survive them aboard Ships with Surgeons than upon a Battlefield.
Captain James (Jack) Hobbs RN, is a retired Naval Officer, invalided out of Service some Ten Years ago after losing both Legs above the Knee to Chain Shot. He took his Loss phlegmatically and retired to a Cottage by the Sea in Deal where he was much supported and sustained by his Wife. He had some Store of Prize Money and he amused himself by working on Clocks and Mechanisms and even tinkered a little with Enochian Devices. Sadly, when Smallpox struck the Town, he and his Wife both contracted the Disease. She died and he survived. Meanwhile some Unlucky Investments saw his Financial Fortunes dwindle. He is increasingly finding himself cast upon the Kindnesses of Others. This he finds Irksome, but he has not entirely lost the Zest for Life. Some discreet Enquiries suggest that he might indeed be interested your Proposal.
It did eventually occur to me that there are those outside the Military Field who are subject to the outrageous Slings and Arrows of Misfortune. This caused me to have a Conversation with your good Friend, Dr Whiteman. He told me of the Case of an Eminent Lawyer of early middle years, based in St Albans, by the name of Herbert Sutcliffe — originally from York. He has been struck down by a strange Wasting Sickness, that progressively spreads across his body — while leaving his Mind all too Aware of his Reduced State. This Malady is invariably fatal. It will eventually spread to some Faculty the Loss of which will make Survival impossible. In the Case of Sutcliffe it has progressed to the Extent that it makes walking all but impossible, writing difficult and begins to affect his Speech. It is thus now beyond him to earn his living. He is a self-made man with no Independent Means. He is a Single Man, devoted to his Profession, although in his younger days he has been active in the Yeomanry, so knows something of Military Discipline. Apparently, he originally come from your part of the World — somewhere near York — but had gone down to Cambridge to study, where it was said he excelled. He too is interested in your Proposition.
These are but Two promising Candidates obtained from relatively little Effort on my Part. I should acknowledge the Role of young Wainthrop in all this. Not only has he carried out the Bulk of the Research, but he has shown a rare Delicacy and Sensitivity in Interviewing the Subjects. I confess that I have rather despaired of making a Dragoon out of him, so I am glad to find some Talent in the Lad. Perhaps it might be best for you to Consider offering him a Commission as an Aide in your new Regiment — though perhaps not in Combat Role.
On a Parting Note, may I say how Charmed I was by your Account of the Ghostly Library — for all that it had to be reached by excavating and entering a Grave at Midnight. The Prospect of such a Place of Peaceful Erudition and Contemplation between Worlds almost brought a Tear to my Eye. A stark Contrast, if I may say, to your usual Narratives of dark, doom-laden Vistas and Monsters to be banished, summoned or slain.
Your Obedient Servant (and Friend),
Nathaniel Pepper
Lieut. Col.