The Shadow of Great Britain

232: Chapter 157: The Pendulum of Fate 232: Chapter 157: The Pendulum of Fate On the second floor of Almack’s Club, several independent small rooms were arrayed, directly opposite the spiral staircase.

Through the rose-colored curtains and window glass, one could take in the situation on the first floor at a glance.

In one of the rooms, Viscount Palmerston and Viscount Melbourne each held a stemmed glass, containing a quarter of a light red wine liquid.

Looking at the label on the wine bottle beside his hand, they appeared to be drinking a bottle of Romanee-Conti, produced in the Burgundy region of France in the year 1820.

Viscount Melbourne gently swirled his glass, absentmindedly taking a sip.

Seeing his preoccupied look, Viscount Palmerston just smiled, wrapping his arm around his shoulder, and ushered him to sit on the sofa, “William, there’s no need to be so troubled.

Although the judicial position is difficult to resolve, there will always be a solution.”

Looking up, Melbourne asked, “Do you have news of the candidates for the new High Chancellor?”

Palmerston pondered for a while, “The candidates for the High Chancellor are unclear within the party; perhaps only our new Prime Minister, Earl Grey himself knows who he will appoint.”

William, as you know, the history of Britain’s appointment of a High Chancellor predates even that of the Prime Minister.

It’s a position of great stature and power.

The High Chancellor acts as His Majesty the King’s Privy Council Legal Advisor, holds the authority to appoint His Majesty the King’s legal representatives, Counsel for Domestic Affairs, Solicitor General of England, and also presides over the Court of Chancery, the ultimate authority in British law.

He leads the work of the Lord Chancellor’s office, the Great Britain’s senior courts and the appointment authority for the Chief Justices of the appellate courts.

And by tradition, the High Chancellor also enjoys the honor of the Speaker of the House of Lords.

Oh, and of course, as the most just, incorruptible, selfless, and knowledgeable representative of the entire Britain, His Lordship the High Chancellor also has the burdensome task of overseeing the Anglican Church’s ecclesiastical property.

Besides that, he also substitutes for His Majesty the King in supervising education, charity, and medical matters, holding the position of Inspector of the Royal Public Hospitals of Britain and overseeing all the universities in the England region to ensure the two universities that represent our beautiful England reach the highest education standards in the world.”

Upon hearing this, Viscount Melbourne couldn’t help but relax his furrowed brow and asked, “Two universities?

Are you kicking out London University, King’s College, and these other schools also located in England?”

Palmerston put down his wine glass and said, “William, the primary mission of a university is to nurture talent.

Has the University of London or King’s College produced any significant talent?

The title of ‘university’ is not something that can be just applied to any school.

Even if I were to expand the search to the entire Britain, at most I would include Edinburgh University and Glasgow University in Scotland.

Yes, I believe that currently, Britain only has four decent universities.”

Hearing this, Viscount Melbourne joked, “Your criteria for selection hardly seem fair to new universities like the University of London, King’s College, and Heriot-Watt University.

After all, by duration, the longer-established Heriot-Watt University is just nine years old, London University four years, and King’s College only started enrolling students last year.”

Seeing that Melbourne had finally relaxed, Palmerston smiled and patted his shoulder, “That’s more like it, William.

Although I do not know who the next Royal High Chancellor of the Kingdom will be, I am aware that our new Prime Minister has already drafted the latest candidate for the Lord Chamberlain.”

“The Lord Chamberlain?”

Upon hearing these words, Melbourne perked up immediately.

Those unfamiliar with British politics might not understand what the Lord Chamberlain signifies, but Viscount Melbourne was very clear on the matter.

The Lord Chamberlain, as the name suggests, has a very straightforward duty, which is to safeguard the Imperial Jade Seals of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales on behalf of the King.

At face value, this is merely a ceremonial role.

Thus, not every Cabinet appoints a Lord Chamberlain, and in the absence of such an appointment, the responsibilities typically fall to the High Chancellor.

If a Cabinet announces the appointment of a Lord Chamberlain, it usually sends a signal to the outside world that the new Lord Chamberlain will soon assume the position of High Chancellor of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

This maneuver usually happens when the Prime Minister wants to appoint a civilian as the High Chancellor.

As the Royal High Chancellor must also serve as the Speaker of the House of Lords and therefore must possess a noble rank—at least that of a Baron or a higher title of Lord—the position of the Lord Chamberlain, this sinecure, is typically held by a commoner.

However, due to office relations, the Lord Chamberlain, a relic left from the Middle Ages, is actually the King’s Lord Chamberlain, colloquially known as a Chamberlain, distinguished from the traditional Ministers who are considered external.

Because of the proximity to the King, most Lord Chamberlains, even if not nobility, soon receive a noble title and join the House of Lords.

Hence, over the years, the appointment process for a civilian High Chancellor in Britain has evolved into a three-step procedure:

1.

The Prime Minister appoints him as the Lord Chamberlain

2.

The King acknowledges the cue, ennobles him as a Lord, and whether this lordship is a Baron or a higher title depends purely on the King’s mood and their relations

3.

The Prime Minister announces a Cabinet reshuffle, with the Lord Chamberlain also taking on the role of the Royal High Chancellor

Although Viscount Melbourne often preferred to sleep in Parliament, he diligently sat in the House of Commons for 25 years before inheriting his father’s title and entering the House of Lords, naturally becoming well versed in all the intricacies therein.