shadow of britain

Chapter 726: The Learned Man
To tell you the truth, I have always noticed that two things go hand in hand: lofty thoughts and vulgar behavior.

—Michel de Montaigne

Mrs. Leven had just left, and before Arthur could catch his breath, he caught a glimpse of an old acquaintance wandering in front of him.

That was none other than General Thomas Cochrane, the bomb ship madman who had served as the first naval commander of South American countries such as Brazil and Chile, and the "Sea Wolf" as Napoleon called him.

Speaking of General Cochrane, he has been living a pretty good life in recent years.

Not only did he inherit his father's title and become the tenth Earl of Dundonald in Scotland, but he was also promoted to rear admiral by the Whig-dominated Admiralty after the parliamentary reforms.

From then on, Cochrane finally became a legitimate British general, and no longer had to use his titles of admiral in Brazil and vice admiral in Chile to support himself on his business cards.

In fact, according to reason, with Cochrane's qualifications and impressive achievements, he should have been promoted to the rank of rear admiral in the Royal Navy long ago.

However, this guy doesn't quite understand, nor is he willing to understand, the ways of the Navy Department.

Moreover, it would have been fine if he didn't understand, but after he entered politics in 1806, he often criticized foreign wars for their wasteful spending and exposed the corruption and incompetent commanders within the Royal Navy in the House of Commons, thus offending a large number of people in the Royal Navy.

Among Cochrane's criticisms, his most intense was against Royal Navy Marshal Gambill.

Yes, Marshal Gambier's military record was mediocre, and he spent most of his time in the Royal Navy sitting in an office in London, but you, Cochrane, should consider that even if Marshal Gambier had no merit, at least he had worked hard.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Gambier served in the naval battle of "Glorious June 1807st" and then served as naval commander in the Second Copenhagen Operation in .

At this point, I know you, Cochrane, will definitely argue again: "Gambill was basically a figurehead in the Second Copenhagen Operation, and only made decisions on some major matters. The on-site commander of the naval operation was mainly Rear Admiral Samuel Hood Jr. Moreover, when Gambill was the commander of the Channel Fleet in 1808, he missed the opportunity to annihilate the French Brest Fleet because of the missed opportunity in the Battle of the Basque Channel."

But if you say that, then the Admiralty has to ask questions. In the Second Copenhagen Operation, although Marshal Gambier was in nominal command, this did not prevent General Samuel Hood Jr., who was responsible for specific operations and strategies, from completing the mission.

How come during the Battle of the Basque Channel, the Channel Fleet led by Marshal Gambier made mistakes such as missing the opportunity to fight?
Who was in charge of the specific strategy in the Channel Fleet at that time?

Oh! It's you, Thomas Cochrane!

Dear Thomas, it is not that we, the Royal Navy Committee, are biased, but when something goes wrong, you have to look for your own faults.

Judging from the subsequent development of the story, Cochrane should have really listened to the words of the Naval Committee. He carefully reflected on his own problems and finally came to the conclusion that parliamentary reform was absolutely necessary!
Cochrane was such a bad person and had such a bad temper that it didn't take long for him to be caught.

He first gathered his naval subordinates to help his friend Francis Burdett, a member of the House of Commons, resist arrest at home, and killed or seriously injured several arresting officers. Fortunately, Burdett saw that the situation was out of control and quickly pleaded guilty, so his friend Cochrane was not implicated.

Later, Cochrane was accused of stock market fraud and made a profit of 13.9 pounds in a month. As a result, he was expelled from the House of Commons and the Royal Navy, and even his Knighthood of the Bath was confiscated.

But just a few days later, Cochrane won again in the Westminster constituency in London, so the verdict against Cochrane became invalid based on the MP's immunity rights.

That’s right, before he inherited the earldom and entered the House of Lords, Cochrane had long held the Westminster seat in the House of Commons. What is Westminster?
It was the preserve of Jeremy Bentham's supporters, the largest source of sponsorship for the University of London.

Thomas Cochrane's victory in Westminster meant that he was actually on the same side as Lord Brougham and Earl Daramore.

To round it off, he was certainly one of Sir Arthur Hastings's companions.

At the same time, his liberal radical identity represents both that he can be classified as one of the Duchess of Kent's political allies and that he admires Arthur's recent behavior.

Cochrane walked over to Arthur, holding a glass of wine. As soon as he saw Arthur, he teased him, "Oh, Sir Arthur, I heard that the Foreign Office did not agree with your proposal to "use a fleet of ships filled with explosives to carry out suicide attacks on the ports along the Caucasus coast of Russia"? "

Arthur stared at the general who was obsessed with "suicide attacks" with annoyance: "Your Excellency, I can't come up with such a creative idea. Besides, this sounds more like a suggestion you made to the Admiralty."

Cochrane laughed when he heard this: "It is more effective to give advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs than to the Ministry of the Navy. As long as Palmerston gives an order, the Mediterranean Fleet will have no choice but to execute it, even if the Ministry of the Navy has objections."

At this point, Cochrane did not forget to joke: "Young man, don't be too discouraged. When I was young, I encountered much more trouble than you. At least you don't have to hide in South American countries like Brazil and Chile now. It's much more comfortable to attend the banquet at Kensington Palace than to go to the sea and fight the Spanish and Portuguese fleets."

Arthur also teased after hearing this: "I may not feel so comfortable in South America, but you are the founding father of Chile and Brazil, and you are also the Marquis of Manilao conferred by the Brazilian Emperor Pedro I. Before the Brazilian War of Independence, their navy could not find even a battleship, and even with various auxiliary ships, their naval ships were only 38. But when the war was over? Brazil's navy has become the first in South America, with 96 warships of various types and 690 naval cannons, at least more than half of which are the credit of you, the commander of the Brazilian Navy. Although I have no prejudice against our Navy Department, from the standpoint of an outsider, I still have to say fairly that they really don't respect a brave and combative naval commander like you."

Arthur's flattery obviously made Cochrane very happy. He smiled and replied: "I agree with you, and I also feel that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not respect talented young people like you. By the way, I just heard Mrs. Leven say that the Tsar originally wanted to keep you in Russia? Did they offer you any high-ranking position and generous salary?"

Arthur waved his hand slightly and said: "Sir, this has nothing to do with high positions and generous salaries. I cannot say that I am the kind of person who is not moved by personal gain at all. The aristocratic life in Russia is indeed very attractive, and the grace of His Majesty the Tsar to me is equally moving. However, when I heard from him the words 'What I need is not a learned man, but a loyal minister', I thought my relationship with Russia was over. I don't know if I can be considered a learned man, but if I change my allegiance and go to Russia, then I certainly cannot be considered a loyal minister." Although Arthur talked a lot about loyalty, those who knew him knew that for a Talleyrand-style diplomat.

The oath of allegiance is binding only on conduct, not on belief, and is like a return ticket in a theatre, which one acquires in order to be able to return at any time after leaving the theatre.

The most absurd people in the world are those who never change.

Is correcting a mistake a betrayal?

Don't be silly, the same flower cannot bloom on the same branch.

Of course, these words could not be said in front of Cochrane, because the stubborn Cochrane was not like the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel who knew when to advance and when to retreat, nor was he a master of balance like Talleyrand who knew when to advance and when to retreat.

As expected, Cochrane quite appreciated Arthur's answer.

Because at least on the surface, the external image that Arthur now displays is indeed in line with the current public's aesthetic of the image of a gentleman.

This new gentleman is different from the traditional aristocrats who are extravagant, licentious and domineering. According to the standards of magazines such as Gentleman's Magazine and Tatler, a true British gentleman should be firm and fearless, without any chaotic passion. His heart is full of tenderness, passion and kindness. Therefore, when everyone examines the behavior of an excellent gentleman, he should be modest but not artificial, straightforward but not arrogant, and diligent and helpful but not flattering.

Of course, newspapers and magazines that uphold traditional positions have also satirized business owners who want to take advantage of their growing wealth to seize the title of "gentleman."

Popular magazines such as "The Tatler" and "The Leisure Man" often portray wealthy businessmen as nouveau riche who are obsessed with money and pretentiousness. These nouveau riche buy real estate and mansions everywhere, buy fine clothes, and imitate the behavior and speech of aristocratic gentlemen. They are bent on destroying the original class order and thus causing the collapse of social etiquette and music.

What is rare is that Arthur not only meets the standards of a "new gentleman", but also somehow avoids the characteristics of a nouveau riche.

He laughed out loud, and the former Brazilian naval commander began to tell Arthur the story of the past - how he used two frigates and a dozen auxiliary ships to fight a decisive battle with the Portuguese Navy's huge fleet of 2 transport ships and 60 frigates in the waters near Salvador, and finally won the "Battle of May 30" and forced the Portuguese to accept his surrender and incorporation at the Maraham Barracks.

However, Arthur is apparently not the only guest who wants to hear this story.

Arthur was listening to the story intently when he suddenly heard a gentle female voice in his ears.

Sir John Conroy, who was busy dealing with the guests, had somehow freed himself. He brought the hostess of the banquet, the Duchess of Kent, to the two guests and, as per custom, introduced Arthur, who was of lower status, to the Duchess.

"Your Highness, this is Sir Arthur Hastings. As for the Earl of Dundonald, I'm sure you are already very familiar with him."

The Duchess of Kent smiled and nodded slightly to the two gentlemen. She joked with Cochrane, "Fortunately, Queen Maria of Portugal is no longer a guest in Kensington. Otherwise, you would have saddened her by talking about the victory over Portugal."

Cochrane smiled and replied, "That's not a big deal, after all, I was serving her father, Pedro I, the Emperor of Brazil. But I admit that I may have been a little harsh on her grandfather, John VI of Portugal."

Conroy smiled and asked, "But I don't understand why it was General Charles Napier who was sent to Portugal to command the constitutionalist army two years ago. Judging from your resume, it is obvious that you are the most suitable person to be sent to Portugal. Although judging from the current record, General Napier's record in Portugal is also outstanding. But I personally think that if you were sent to Portugal, the war might have ended a few months earlier."

As soon as Conroy said this, Arthur felt that the atmosphere around him had become much colder.

Why not send Cochrane to support the constitutionalists in Portugal?

That was of course because this guy had long since fallen out with Queen Maria's father, Pedro I. When Cochrane left the Brazilian Navy, the two sides did not part ways peacefully. Cochrane was proud of his victory over Portugal and asked Pedro I for a large sum of money as a reward for him and his naval subordinates, but was rejected.

In a rage, Cochrane not only embezzled government funds to reward his officers and soldiers, but also looted several merchant ships near São Louis. He later refused Pedro I's order to return to Rio, and captured a Brazilian frigate at sea and towed it away to sell.

When Pedro I visited Britain to seek help for his daughter, Queen Maria of Portugal, he was showing consideration for his friendly country by not listing Cochrane as a wanted criminal in Brazil. How could he allow him to command the Portuguese fleet?

Arthur spoke up at the right time to help Cochrane out: "As far as I know, General Cochrane must have been invited by the Admiralty to command the front-line fleet, but he refused. After all, he is not only a naval admiral, but also a member of the House of Lords. If General Napier were allowed to go to Portugal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could use the retired general's personal behavior to show that Britain did not interfere in the Portuguese civil war. But if a genuine aristocrat like General Cochrane were allowed to go to Portugal, it would be difficult for us to clarify in a diplomatic setting. Therefore, I think that General Cochrane's idea of ​​refusing to go to Portugal was obviously more thoughtful than the Admiralty."

Although Arthur's statement did not make sense upon closer inspection, at least he managed to circumvent the problem on the surface.

Cochrane was impressed by Arthur's progressive behavior and returned the favor by secretly helping Arthur.

"Your Highness, we will have many opportunities to talk about war stories in the future. There are many generals in London, but few learned people. I remember you complained before that as a lady who supports natural philosophy, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet Michael Faraday. Now that young Faraday is standing in front of you, why don't you seize this opportunity in time?"

(End of this chapter)