shadow of britain

Chapter 706 I am a principled person
Lord Brougham snorted, with a hint of sarcasm in his words: "Your character is indeed not liked by old-school bureaucrats like Palmerston. They like the kind of guy who never steps out of line but never does anything. But I wonder why you seem to get along so well with the Duke of Wellington."

Arthur had asked himself the same question as Lord Brougham a long time ago, but the answer was unbelievable to him.

Arthur was silent for a moment, then he said, "This is not a campaign speech, so I don't want to brag. But I think if I have to find a reason, it's probably because I'm a principled person."

Lord Brougham put down his teacup and carefully studied Arthur's expression. "You have principles, but the means you use can be very flexible? Just like the Duke of Wellington's inconsistent stance on the Catholic Emancipation Act?"

Arthur nodded slightly. "Just like the Duke of Wellington's repeated changes in his position on the Catholic Emancipation Act, his purpose was only for the peace and stability of Britain."

Lord Brougham finally smiled when he heard this. "I don't want to hide it, Arthur. When I first met you, I actually felt that I didn't get along with you. At that time, you had just come to London from York, and you looked taciturn and inconspicuous. But one time, Mr. Bentham asked me, have you noticed the guy named Arthur Hastings in the history department? I asked Mr. Bentham, is there anything special about this guy? Guess what Mr. Bentham said to me?"

Arthur recalled the fragment of that year and suddenly shook his head: "Based on Mr. Bentham's style, it is estimated that it would not be a compliment. When he evaluates a person, he always appears to be very strict."

Lord Brougham chuckled when he heard this, as if he recalled the old man frowning and thinking: "He is not that mean. Mr. Bentham said to me at the time: 'This boy may not have the most agile thinking, but he is very principled when judging issues. He often makes judgments slowly, but once he makes up his mind, he rarely changes his position. Do you know? He has been arguing with me about Kant's philosophy for a whole month.'"

Arthur looked down at his tea and asked softly, "Is this a compliment?"

"Of course." Brougham crossed his legs and leaned against the cushions in the carriage, his expression relaxed a little. "Mr. Bentham never praises others easily, especially young people. What he is most interested in about you is not your understanding of utilitarianism, nor your ability to recite the entire passage of Leviathan, but your moral intuition on key issues. He said that you are always looking for an order and norms that society can obey."

Arthur said in a slightly bitter tone: "Aren't all young people like this? Young people like to argue with others, but it's not because they are right, but because most young people are insignificant, so they will do their best to attract attention and gain attention."

Lord Brougham waved his hand and said, "Those young people who are seeking to attract attention would not dare to throw themselves into the eye of the storm casually. Even if they have the courage, it is mostly because they are just too excited. You are different. You have been sober from beginning to end. Arthur, now think about it, Scotland Yard was lucky to have you on the night before the parliamentary reform."

Arthur was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "It's my duty, sir. Given the situation at the time, if even I don't try, who else can I expect to do it?"

"Very typical Arthur Hastings style." Lord Brougham took a sip of his teacup. "Now I can fully understand why the old Tory Duke of Wellington thinks so highly of you. By the way, I don't hate a principled guy. Fortunately, Earl Daramore shares my opinion and he has forgiven you."

When Arthur heard this, his eyebrows barely moved, but the corners of his lips slightly raised slightly.

It was neither relief nor joy, but more like relaxation after long-term vigilance.

"Count Daramo..." He repeated the name softly, his eyes cast at the gradually dense crowds and coal smoke outside the car window, "I was worried that he would ask for a thorough investigation of my actions in the Caucasus... But even if he did so, I would have nothing to say. After all, I did not seek his consent at the time and used the embassy's channels without authorization."

Brougham shook his head and smiled. "He was very unhappy at first. You have to know that although the Earl is a member of the reformists, he attaches great importance to procedures and decency. He doesn't like to be put on the fire, even if the fire is finally started by his own people."

Arthur took a sip of his tea in silence and whispered, "I understand. If it were me, I wouldn't like to share a ship with a man like David Urquhart."

"You are quite right, the Urquhart is an unpredictable ship, and she is loaded with gunpowder."

Brougham shrugged. "But at least Downing Street didn't get blown up this time."

Arthur took off his hat and apologized to his mentor: "That being said, sir, I am willing to take all the responsibilities for this Caucasus incident, just like the incident under the Tower of London."

Lord Brougham looked at Arthur deeply when he heard this, but his tone softened: "Arthur, to be honest, I am actually quite pleased that you are still willing to take responsibility for the beliefs you uphold. In our circle, there are many people who are willing to stand up and admit their mistakes, but very few are willing to pay the price for their mistakes. As for those who are willing to pay the price for sticking to their principles? They are extremely rare! Do you know why?"

Arthur smiled bitterly: "Because for politicians, principles are a luxury."

Lord Brougham sighed, "But unfortunately, you have had this luxury twice."

Arthur did not protest at all. He slowly said, "I understand this. In politics, no one will applaud a person for his motives. They will only hold him accountable after the results come out. Moreover, I did make a wrong move in this matter. So no matter what the motive is, I am willing to bear the corresponding consequences."

Brougham raised his eyebrows and looked at him, a little surprised: "You mean... you plan to retire from politics?"

"To be precise, it's not intended, but it has already been done." Arthur said calmly: "I'm sorry for not informing you earlier. I personally resigned to Viscount Palmerston last week and assured the Foreign Office that I would not speak out during the parliamentary investigation. I don't want this matter to affect Earl Darramore, nor do I want anyone on Urquhart's side to take advantage of it."

"This decision...is somewhat beyond my expectations."

Brougham was silent for a long time. He had only wanted Arthur to reflect on himself, but he had not expected his student to be so stubborn. However, it was too late to ask Arthur to bow to Palmerston and retain him. Brougham asked, "What are you going to do next? I guess you will not be idle."

When talking about the new life ahead, Arthur finally showed some of the youthful vigor that young people should have: "Of course not. I still have to support a group of talented but terribly lazy writers. At the publishing house, Sparks has just been launched, and Brit is also going to start preparing for the next phase of revision. The new sales system has just started, advertising contacts, printing royalties, distribution to various places... all of them are troublesome, but also full of opportunities."

When Brougham heard this, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise. His expression was like that of an old blacksmith who saw that the sword he had been forging for months had finally become a finished product.

"Yes, I have long felt that you are more talented in publishing than in making proposals..."

Suddenly, Lord Brougham changed the subject and looked at Arthur thoughtfully: "Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered something. The University of London Management Committee just held a meeting the day before yesterday, and we are looking for a new Dean of Academic Affairs. The former Dean of Academic Affairs took the initiative to resign due to illness. Several senior professors on the committee heard that you returned to London and had experience as a proctor, so they mentioned your name. I wonder if you are interested in returning to your alma mater and doing a part-time job?"

Arthur was slightly startled when he heard this: "Me?"

"Who else could it be?"

Brougham nodded firmly. "Don't be surprised. You've done a good job at the University of Göttingen. The European Electromagnetic Conference has a star-studded lineup of participants that is not something that ordinary people can gather... You were able to invite representatives from the French Academy of Sciences, the Berlin Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Societies of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and you also created a scientific journal, Nature. This is not something that can be accomplished by just picking up an old doctor from any prestigious university as the dean. You understand what cross-border governance is. You understand both politics and publishing. More importantly, you are now in a period of 'needing a period of sedimentation'. You are not a person exiled by the times, Arthur. You were just pushed by fate to a mountain path leading to a higher position. You need to learn to stand firm first, and then continue to climb up. After this trip, I'm not worried whether you can return to politics. I'm more curious about whether you will be more than just Sir Arthur Hastings when you come back next time."

At this point, Lord Brougham continued, "You have a good relationship with Faraday. If you become the Dean of Academic Affairs, you must do everything you can to recruit him to be the director of our laboratory. Tell Faraday that if he is willing, we are willing to increase his salary by 20% to 1,200 pounds a year, and the first year's salary can be paid in one lump sum."

When Arthur heard this, he quickly stopped talking: "Based on my understanding of Mr. Faraday, this is not a matter of money. We have tried to recruit him many times but were always rejected."

"Wait, you just said, we?" Lord Brougham repeated slowly, with a smile on his lips full of ridicule: "You said it as if you were already one of us. What, my dear Arthur, do you tacitly accept the position of Dean?"

Arthur gave a helpless smile and said, "I am a student at the University of London, Your Excellency. Strictly speaking, I have never left. The first book I read in London was borrowed from the school library, and at that time, you had to register in person. My first formal speech was in the Hackney Lecture Hall, and I was so nervous that my palms were sweating. The first article I published in my life was published in the Journal of the University of London, using an abbreviated pen name, just because I was not very confident. Your Excellency, I hope you can understand that I am always a member of the University of London, and it has nothing to do with whether I am the Provost of the University of London."

Brougham looked at him with a look of relief and pride in his eyes.

He suddenly smiled and said jokingly, "Arthur, there's no need to think so badly of your first time. When I was young, I gave my first public speech at the University of Edinburgh. My fingers were shaking so much that I couldn't even hold the speech. I also thought I was a nobody and no one would listen to what I said... As a result, that night, I won not applause, but a hot water bottle handed to me by an old lecturer. He said: 'Young man, you spoke well, but remember not to get cold next time.'"

Arthur could not help laughing at Lord Brougham's sudden humour.

Brougham looked at him, then smiled and held out his hand. "So, are you coming back to be the provost?"

Arthur could not think of any reason to refuse Brougham's invitation.

Although he knew that the position would most likely be very busy, the title of Dean of Academics would not only bring him a fixed income, but would also allow him to move up the list of candidates for the Kensington Palace tutor position.

The most important point was that this was an invitation from the University of London. Arthur had no choice but to accept it, and had no reason to refuse.

He nodded gently: "Your Excellency, I understand the importance of this. Since 'we' have become accustomed to it, I will not refuse. I am willing to accept this appointment. I am willing to devote everything I have to the University of London and this era."

Lord Brougham smiled with satisfaction after hearing this. "Very good, Arthur. In that case, your first task is to tell Faraday that our conditions are never too many. As long as he is willing to join, everything can be discussed. Nothing else matters."

Seeing that Brougham still had no intention of giving up on Faraday, Arthur had no choice but to agree: "I can go talk to Mr. Faraday. He is certainly hard to shake, but I believe that as long as we have enough sincerity and patience, maybe one day he will consider it."

Brougham put on his hat and said, "This sentence also applies to you, Arthur. As long as you have enough sincerity and patience, maybe one day you will return to the center of the stage again. Whether this day comes sooner or later depends entirely on your ability to act."

At this point, Lord Brougham knocked lightly on the carriage wall, signaling the driver to stop, then turned around with a half-smile on his face: "Today's carriage trip is not just to take you home, Arthur. Originally, this should have been done by me, but since you have agreed to serve as the Dean of the University of London, let's start the handover today."

He pointed out the window and said, "The Royal Society is right in front of us. Faraday is doing experiments in the laboratory today. I have already inquired about it in advance."

Arthur turned his head and looked at the familiar scenery outside the window. Gresham College, the home of the Royal Society, has not changed at all in recent years. "Sir, I have just agreed to take the position for less than ten minutes, and you are about to start persuading Britain's most stubborn natural philosopher? You are a little too impatient."

"Because you just agreed, I want to strike while the iron is hot." Brougham smiled and said, "Didn't you just say that you are willing to devote everything to this era? Then let's start with a cup of electrolyzed water."

(End of this chapter)