The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1639: Chapter 39: The Duchess’s Unreasonable Request

The Duchess of Kent seemed very familiar with Arthur: ”I have heard more than once people praising Sir Arthur’s achievements in natural philosophy. The learned women of the Bluestocking Society, Lady Somerville, Lady Milbank, and Lady Codrington, all speak highly of him. And I find that Royal Navy officers like you also appreciate Sir Arthur. I remember that General Codrington mentioned privately that he had planned to hire Sir Arthur as his science secretary, but the Home Office insisted on not letting him go, and the Navy Department did not cooperate in the personnel transfer, so in the end, nothing came of it.”

Cochrane laughed upon hearing this: ”Come now, what on earth was General Codrington thinking? The position of science secretary is not suitable for Arthur. He witnessed Arthur take out more than a dozen Barbary Pirates during a boarding battle. Not drafting such a talent into the Marine Corps is a waste.”

The Duchess of Kent initially offered praise out of politeness, but hearing Cochrane’s implication, it seemed that the Royal Navy generals’ admiration for Arthur was indeed more than mere courtesy.

This must be said to be quite an anomaly, because, traditionally, the Royal Navy always had a Whig leaning, while the Army leaned toward the Tory. Although Scotland Yard does not belong to the Army system, its personnel composition makes it hard not to consider Scotland Yard as a government department affiliated with the Army.

Of course, differing stances between the Army and the Royal Navy do not mean they are necessarily at odds, but to gain the other’s recognition requires substantial achievements.

The Royal Navy’s Nelson is respected by the Army, and the Army’s Duke of Wellington is still regarded as a national hero by the Royal Navy.

The Duchess of Kent suddenly thought of Arthur’s most famous nickname within the police system, the ”Wellington of Scotland Yard.” Even though his position within the police system might not compare to the Duke of Wellington’s in the Army, it wasn’t far off.

Moreover, in terms of personal experience, he indeed bears some resemblance to both Wellington and Nelson.

As is well known, the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon alive in the Battle of Waterloo, while Lord Nelson died on the eve of victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

As for Sir Arthur Hastings?

He barely completed the stabilization work on the eve of parliamentary reform.

Half Nelson, half Wellington, it seems not difficult to understand why such a person is respected.

Moreover, apart from these army and navy officers, Sir Arthur is also highly esteemed in the ladies’ social circles.

The women of the Bluestocking Society support him due to his achievements in natural philosophy, while the ladies of the Almack’s Club have a positive view of this London Philharmonic Association’s third orchestra pianist and conductor.

Those ladies who enjoy reading care more about Mr. Arthur Sigma’s literary reputation and are convinced by the praise for Arthur in the works of Heine, Dickens, and the Great Dumas.

If you don’t know what to read during afternoon tea, pick up a book by Arthur Sigma. It’s not just an empty talk among ladies.

Even a few days ago, the Duchess of Kent personally heard mathematics teacher Thomas Stewart praise Arthur’s use of statistical methods during the Liverpool cholera investigation in her daughter’s math class.

You should know, this teacher from Westminster School rarely jokes, and apart from teaching, seldom chit-chats. However, even he had to mention Arthur Hastings when discussing statistical issues, what does this indicate?

How the Duchess of Kent views this phenomenon, I am not sure.

But some people believe this indicates Mr. Stewart, apart from teaching at Westminster, might also be a member of the Westminster Constituency Association, and that Sir Arthur Hastings might have recently invited him for a meal, or had a casual chat.

Of course, all these speculations are baseless, and I’ve found no credible sources in the relevant documents.

Therefore, this might only be malicious attacks from a small group of people who harbor ill intentions towards Sir Arthur Hastings out of jealousy or hatred. Or, this group might have received dubious special funds from Palmerston’s Foreign Office.

As the saying goes, no matter how others slander him, it won’t change Arthur’s good reputation in the London social circles.

Thinking of this, the Duchess of Kent habitually wanted to introduce her daughter to this social celebrity.

In over ten years of widowhood, the prolonged neglect by Parliament and internal hostility from the royal family fueled this Saxony-Coburg Princess’s insecurity and she always hoped her daughter could interact with influential figures as much as possible and try to leave a good impression.

These prominent figures are sometimes not aristocrats, nor necessarily of high power: abolition movement leader Wilberforce, Irish Home Rule leader O’Connell, and Eld Carter’s predecessor, ”The King of Historical Novels,” Sir Walter Scott, all belonged to the object of solicitation.

Even in the Duchess of Kent’s plans, such people were more important than major nobles because although they might not have significant power, the public discourse they create is louder than that of major nobles.