The Shadow of Great Britain

684: Chapter 333 Britain’s Diplomatic Resolution 684: Chapter 333 Britain’s Diplomatic Resolution London, Westminster, 85 Downing Street, Foreign Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The exquisitely carved exterior, the grand colonnades, and the majestic doors spoke volumes of its opulence from just the façade alone.

However, this was merely the tip of the iceberg, as the true breathtakingly intricate design and grand style were hidden beneath its already extraordinary exterior, much like the two words the British gentry favored most—”understated” and “luxurious.”

Exquisite murals, gilded ceilings, and floors paved with pure marble from Greece and the coasts of Sicily.

The sunlight shot through the lattice of the domed ceiling, gleaming on the ebony handrail of the grand staircase, where a somewhat dry palm rested, its ring’s sapphire sparkling brilliantly.

Viscount Palmerston walked alongside an elderly gentleman a few years his senior, draped in a deep red buckskin cloak and treading in riding boots.

From the slight brownish-yellow clay on the old gentleman’s boots, he had likely just enjoyed a morning of pleasant country hunting.

Although Viscount Palmerston was known for his pride and could be quite stern with his subordinates, his demeanor toward the elderly gentleman by his side was nothing short of polite today.

The reasons for this were as follows.

Firstly, the elderly gentleman came from a noble family; his father and uncle were both renowned generals in the British Army.

Moreover, his uncle had even served as the Governor of Virginia and British North America before the American independence.

With such inherent advantages, the elderly gentleman naturally won some inborn privileges in British politics.

But what was even more commendable was how well he utilized these advantages.

Although he did not share his family’s passion for the military, he displayed extraordinary talent in networking.

In the early stages of his political career, the elderly gentleman served as a chamberlain for nine years, earning the royal family’s trust through his impeccable management of court affairs.

As a close confidant of the royalty, the British court often sent him to handle many pending state matters.

For instance, during the height of the Napoleonic Wars, he was sent as the Ambassador to Naples to deal with Napoleon’s brother-in-law, the King of Naples, Mourel.

Or when he was selected as a Counselor in the Privy Council, Britain’s highest governing body.

Of course, what was most talked about was his story as a special envoy to the Qing Dynasty in 1816.

Although the results of that visit were not favorable, it won him a reputation as an expert on Eastern affairs in British politics.

Thus, after Marquis Hastings was recalled home for a corruption scandal, the trusted elderly gentleman was naturally appointed to reform the administration in India.

During his tenure as Governor of India, although the colonial government did not perform ideally in the Anglo-Burmese War, incurring costs of thirteen million pounds and over ten thousand casualties to subdue this Southeast Asian state,

generally speaking, there were no significant issues in India during his term, and he even helped Britain further fortify its rule in northern India.

Therefore, upon ending his tenure as Governor, he was formally honored as the first Earl of Ametstead.

However, although Earl Ametstead was now semi-retired and not in great health, he maintained strong friendships with key members of the Tory Party, such as Duke Wellington and Sir Peel,

and being a senior diplomat still holding the title of chamberlain, his connections with the royal family remained very close.

Therefore, Viscount Palmerston was at least obligated to show due respect to his senior in matters of protocol.

Not to mention, Earl Ametstead’s visit to the Foreign Office today was at the invitation of Palmerston himself.

Palmerston, walking beside Ametstead, leaned in slightly and inquired softly,

“Since you stepped down as Governor of India in 1828, the position has been succeeded by Lord William Bentinck.

From various files and statistical reports coming back from India, it appears that Lord Bentinck has been performing his duties exceptionally well, and our commercial profits in India have also increased with local governance improvements.

However, I just learned from the Colonial Office that Lord Bentinck seems to have recently launched his radical reforms in India again.

While abolishing barbaric practices such as the suttee of widows is indeed a civilizational advancement,

considering his earlier tenure as Governor of Madras when he banned Indian soldiers from keeping beards and wearing turbans, which almost led to a mutiny, I can’t help but feel somewhat worried.

At that time, if his father, the Duke of Portland, hadn’t been serving as Prime Minister and called him back for a cooling-off period promptly, Bentinck’s political career might have ended right there.

Though many years have passed, the stubbornness inherent in Bentinck has clearly not changed.

It now appears that his thoughts, poisoned by utilitarians like Bentham, are even deeper than we anticipated.”

Hearing this, Earl Ametstead tapped his cane a bit forcefully on the floor and without turning his head, said blandly, “Perhaps you should go and speak with our esteemed High Chancellor Lord Brougham about this, for when it comes to supporters of Bentham, probably no one has greater authority than he.”