In March 1784 at a time when most of the fleet was laid up His Majesty's frigate Undine weighed anchor at Spithead to begin a voyage to India & far beyond. As her new captain Richard Bolitho was glad to go despite the nature of his orders & the immensity of the voyage
- for he was leaving an England still suffering from the aftermath of war. But he was to learn that signatures on proud documents did not necessarily make a lasting peace & found himself involved in a conflict as ruthless as the one which had given him his first command during the war with France. In an uneasy peace the expansion of trade & colonial development in little-known areas of the East Indies soon pushed aside the pretence & brought the guns' fury into the open. There was no set line of battle or declared cause to rally Undine's small company. But the dangers & the endless demands had to be faced by the man who commanded the only King's ship available.