shadow of britain

Chapter 688 London Incident
Since no one is paying attention to or understanding what Russia is doing, the Russians have made extraordinary progress in all aspects. In order to curb the expansion of the Russians, we must focus on two fronts. The first is to prevent Russia's expansion in the Near East and the Middle East by maintaining the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire, so as to ensure the security of the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the land route to India through the Persian Gulf. The second front is to advance territory and power from India to the northwest and northeast, and establish a buffer zone in Afghanistan to block Russia's southward power, so as to ensure the security of India's northern border.

Based on Britain's solid national interests, it is imperative to block Russia's southward policy. To this end, we need a stable and powerful Ottoman Empire, not a sick man of West Asia. We need a strong Afghan central government, not fragmented local warlord separatism.

As for the Ottoman Empire, I know that the Ottoman Sultan is currently in a difficult situation of reform, but I believe that if it can have fifteen to twenty years of peace under the joint protection of the four major powers of Britain, France, Austria and Prussia, and these years are fully used to reorganize its internal system, there is no reason to doubt whether it will once again become a respected power.

But it is worth noting that, as the Constantinople Consul Sir Strafford Canning said: After the signing of the Anker-Skelesi Treaty, the Russian ambassador is now almost the Grand Vizier of Sultan Mahmud II. If we do not find a way to eliminate the impact of this secret treaty, put the Dardanelles under international supervision again, and win over the pro-British forces within the Ottoman Empire, then there will be no talk of internal reforms in the Ottoman Empire. Because we like to see a strong Ottoman Empire, but a weak Ottoman Empire is what the Russians need.

As for Afghanistan, I know there are different opinions in the country. Some people want to intervene directly, while others want to choose one of the three independent khanates in Afghanistan to support. But at least based on what I know so far, I support the latter. It is far better to make Afghanistan a buffer state between Russian power and British India than to engage in direct military action with the Russians.

In addition, if we seize the initiative in public opinion and expose Russia's plan, we will defeat it halfway. If we arouse public dissatisfaction with the Russians, we can double the difficulties faced by Russia's southward policy. I fully agree to create a clamor against Russia and use saliva to deter it. This is the best way to avoid direct war with Russia.

—— Letter from Sir Arthur Hastings to the Duke of Wellington, 1834

The sky of London was covered with heavy dark clouds, fine raindrops were floating on the streets, and the gray sunlight shone through the heavy curtains of St. James's Palace, casting mottled light and shadows.

William IV sat upright on a mahogany chair inlaid with gold, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the signet ring inlaid with sapphire. The old king with pure white temples had dull eyes and frowned from time to time. It was obvious at a glance that he was worried about something.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, trying to dispel the chill in the room, but the dull tension in the air made the warmth seem pale and powerless.

Suddenly, the door of the meeting hall was pushed open from both sides by court attendants. The Duke of Wellington, dressed in a dark military uniform and a cloak, took off his hat that was wet with rain and walked in slowly.

Although the old duke is over sixty years old, he still walks steadily and stands as straight as ever, just like the spirited commander of the Allied forces on the battlefield of Waterloo.

When William IV saw this minister, his lifeless eyes refocused, and even a smile appeared on his face: "Wellington, you are here?"

The Duke of Wellington bowed deeply to the king, then stood before him and said, "Your Majesty has summoned me, and I dare not neglect you."

William IV raised his eyes and gazed at the most respected general in Britain.

Although he is no longer the Prime Minister or the leader of the Tory Party, he is still an important political figure in the House of Lords.

William IV sighed, but his tone revealed a hint of joy that could not be concealed: "Grey's days are over."

The Duke of Wellington nodded slightly, without any surprise on his face. "I told Grey not to touch Ireland before, otherwise he would fall like me sooner or later. But he thought that he could force the church to submit by promoting parliamentary reform. As everyone has seen, the huge differences within the Whig Party are enough to make him anxious, and there is no need for Peel and I to oppose it."

William IV stood up and paced back and forth. He snorted and showed no sympathy for Earl Grey's current predicament.

Perhaps for the Whigs, Earl Grey, who led them to complete parliamentary reform, was a hero, but the king thought Grey was a complete bug.

He was still resentful of Earl Grey's series of forced abdications in order to complete parliamentary reforms, and he still felt very unhappy when he thought about it now.

You know, when William IV first ascended the throne, he was a supporter of parliamentary reform, and he always considered himself the most enlightened monarch in the world.

This is not entirely self-boasting, because last year he took the initiative to promulgate the most liberal constitution in the entire German region for his other fiefdom, the Kingdom of Hanover, without any internal pressure.

However, such an enlightened monarch was repeatedly pressured by Earl Grey during the parliamentary reform.

At that time, the vote on parliamentary reform was stuck in the House of Lords, so Earl Grey asked William IV to temporarily appoint more than 100 reformist nobles to the House of Lords to ensure the passage of the reform bill.

As a traditional Englishman, William IV felt that Grey's request was too much.

However, for the sake of the overall situation, he still agreed to expand the House of Lords. However, in order to avoid creating a bloated House of Lords, William IV made a requirement that the new nobles must be the direct or indirect heirs of existing nobles.

Unexpectedly, after Grey learned of this request, he threatened openly and covertly: the request can be agreed to, but if the king delays the appointment, the Whigs will respond with the resignation of the cabinet.

Such an answer naturally angered William IV. Although he was a constitutional monarch and far less powerful than the Tsar, it did not mean that he had no temper.

In the end, William IV decisively rejected the requests of Whigs such as Earl Grey, accepted their resignations, and instead ordered the Duke of Wellington to take office and form a cabinet.

As for what happened next, everyone knows it.

William IV had suffered so much from Earl Grey and the Whigs that it was impossible for him to treat them well: "Grey is a perverse man, but there is one thing that is admirable. He is not the kind of person who is willing to struggle in the political quagmire. He maintains the reserve and pride of an aristocrat. After his ideals were frustrated, he never coveted power, but would rather leave the stage with dignity."

"Your Majesty," said the Duke of Wellington slowly, "if Grey resigns, your government will have to be reorganized. Excuse me, has he recommended a successor to you?"

William IV frowned, he sat down again, folded his hands on his knees, and obviously realized the problem: "What about Peel? Can he lead the Tory Party?"

The Duke of Wellington shook his head slightly. "I have worked with Peel for many years and have a deep understanding of his character and abilities. He is certainly an excellent candidate, but although Peel is talented, the timing is not yet ripe. His position in the party still needs to be consolidated, and the Tories currently do not have an absolute majority in the House of Commons. Even if you appoint him to form a cabinet, he is just a lame prime minister - he will only sit in the prime minister's chair but can do nothing."

William IV's eyes flickered slightly when he heard this, as if he was measuring Peel's weight. Although he was not a strong king, it still made him somewhat unhappy to see that the Whigs did not take his crown seriously.

If he could help it, he would never have appointed another Whig Prime Minister.

But then again, personal likes and dislikes cannot override overall stability, especially since the wave of parliamentary reforms in 1832 made William IV much more stable.

He sighed softly and said, "Is there no compromise? I don't want to appoint a radical prime minister like Grey, but at the same time, I don't want to see the government paralyzed. Grey has messed up Ireland. At this moment, the country needs a stabilizing force."

The Duke of Wellington certainly understood what the king was worried about. The old duke pondered for a moment and finally said, "Your Majesty, there may be a temporary solution for now. It is better to appoint a moderate Whig to form a transitional government to maintain political stability for the time being, and then let Peel take the helm when the time is right."

"Hmm...it sounds good." William IV pinched his chin and thought deeply: "Then who do you think can shoulder this important task?"

It can be seen that William IV obviously trusted the judgment of the Duke of Wellington more than the several candidates recommended to him by Earl Grey when he submitted his resignation.

The Duke of Wellington promptly named his recommender: "Do you consider Viscount Melbourne?"

"William Lamb?" William IV blurted out. "The old sleepyhead?"

William IV frowned, obviously surprised by the Duke of Wellington's recommendation.

William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne, was known in politics for his moderate stance and nonchalant personal style. As a backbencher who had served in the House of Commons for 25 years, apart from his wife's affair with Lord Byron, he was only famous for being drowsy during parliamentary debates.

William IV questioned: "Isn't it an absurd choice to let such a person preside over the government at this time?"

The Duke of Wellington's expression remained unchanged. He stood straight, folded his hands lightly in front of him, and explained in a firm tone: "Your Majesty, although Viscount Melbourne is not known for his strength, this is his advantage. He is not a radical reformer like Grey, nor is he an enterprising pragmatist like Peel. He is a person who can maintain the situation and keep the political arena balanced. At this moment, you need such a prime minister."

William IV pursed his lips, half doubtful, half thoughtful: "But I heard that he is an indulgent person, and his wife at home, Caroline Lamb, is simply a lunatic."

"Caroline Lamb is dead." The Duke of Wellington reminded: "Although Viscount Melbourne may not be strict in his private life, he is quite pragmatic in his political attitude. He is not as fanatical as Grey, nor as stubborn as some Tories. Most importantly, he can gain the support of the majority of the Whig Party, while not angering the nobles in the House of Lords, and will not threaten Your Majesty."

The king tapped his knee with his fingers, still hesitant. "But can he do it? I heard that he can't even control his subordinates in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He is very weak. Arthur Hastings, do you still remember that guy? He caused a lot of trouble when he was under Melbourne. If it weren't for Director Rowan's later report, I wouldn't have known that the boy was so difficult to deal with."

"It's hard to deal with capable people. That young man is a pretty gentle type. Do you remember General Thomas Picton, who died at Waterloo? If we only talk about temper, Picton is one of the worst people I've ever seen. He is a rude, foul-mouthed devil, but this does not prevent him from being brave and good at fighting, nor does it prevent people from respecting his talent and loyalty."

Wellington smiled slightly, and a glimmer of sophistication flashed in his deep eyes: "Moreover, Your Majesty, being weak in character and unable to control subordinates is another advantage of Viscount Melbourne. Melbourne is not as aggressive as Grey. He will not force any radical reforms, nor will he stick to important issues. Compared with Grey, he is more like a manager than a leader. Moreover, he was invited to serve as the Irish Chief Secretary twice during the Canning Cabinet and Goderich Cabinet of the Tory Party, and he knows how to deal with Irish issues with caution. As Home Secretary, he accepted the advice of Peel and Hastings successively and dealt with the aftermath of the Swain Riots gently. In short, his position is not firm, his views are not prominent, his methods of action are flexible, he has no desire and ability to change the status quo, and he is willing to accept guidance, respects professionals, and likes to leave state affairs to experts..."

William IV was silent for a moment, the light and shadows of the fire dancing on his face.

He understood Wellington's subtext: Viscount Melbourne would not challenge the royal power, would not be as tough as Grey to force the emperor to abdicate, nor would he be as difficult to control as Peel.

If you think about it carefully, Melbourne doesn’t seem to be a bad choice.

The king stood up, walked to the window, looked at the gray sky outside the palace, and sighed softly: "Alas, it seems that I really have no choice."

He looked back at Wellington, and a slightly ironic smile appeared under his red nose caused by long-term alcoholism: "Did you guess that I would eventually accept this suggestion?"

The Duke of Wellington smiled calmly and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, I am only providing the most appropriate advice for the current situation. The decision-making power is always in your hands."

William IV couldn't help but snorted and waved his hands, as if to dispel his unhappiness: "Okay, I will summon Viscount Melbourne to see if he can take on this important task."

His eyes fell on Wellington, and he half-jokingly said, "But you have to promise me that if this old sleepyhead really can't do it, you can't refuse. You still have to cover the back."

The Duke of Wellington paused for a moment, then bowed deeply to the king and said, "I will live up to your trust."

The old duke was about to bid farewell to the king, but William IV suddenly stood up and said, "Wait a minute, Wellington, there is one more thing I forgot to ask you."

The Duke of Wellington stopped and said, "I am happy to share your Majesty's worries."

William IV raised his hand to signal his attendant to pour a glass of sherry for the old duke: "By the way, do you know my sister-in-law, Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld?"

The old duke's heart sank: "Has anything happened to the Duchess of Kent?"

William IV snorted, and the old king said angrily: "That woman! How dare she stop me from meeting my heir to the throne, my dear little niece Victoria!"

(End of this chapter)