I just read the comment from Nicolas regarding Nelson skimming his shot to cause more damage. I have no idea if that works with naval cannon, but as a correction officer I was taught to “skip shoot” the shotgun so that rather than receive a direct blast inmates would be hit in the lower extremities as the pellets rose up off the ground. Of course this was only used in serious situations such as a prison riot. I don’t know if the same theory would apply to naval engagements. Also, I asked once before if you had given any thought to having Sharpe and Harper’s decedents carry on together in conflicts occurring after the Napoleonic Wars? Michael A Clar