The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1645: Chapter 41: Arthur Hastings in Victoria’s Eyes (Part 2)

The atmosphere in the box suddenly cooled down. Victoria realized that her earlier words seemed a bit harsh, so she took the initiative to start the conversation again and asked Caroline, who seemed the most carefree, ”You mentioned ’Turandot’ earlier? Is that opera really as good as you said?”

When Caroline heard someone affirming her opinion, she nodded her head like a chick pecking at rice: ” ’Turandot’ is the best opera in the world. That’s what my mom says.”

Victoria had planned to chat a bit more, but upon hearing Caroline’s response, she immediately became somewhat displeased: ”Caroline, your mom’s opinion may not necessarily be correct. My mom is particularly fond of Tamburini’s ’The Puritans’ too. But in my view, that’s the worst opera Tamburini has ever sung.”

Caroline didn’t expect Victoria to respond this way. She wanted to retort but suddenly remembered her mom had told her never to upset the princess.

Caroline, who had never encountered such a situation, was suddenly dumbfounded. She stammered: ”But... but...”

Victoria frowned: ”But what? Caroline, I hope you can tell me your own thoughts. If you can say why you like ’Turandot,’ I will agree that ’Turandot’ is the best opera.”

Caroline racked her brains, a flash of inspiration appeared in her little mind, and she blurted out like grasping a lifeline: ” ’Turandot’ has Sir Arthur Hastings in it. I like Sir Arthur Hastings!”

”Sir Arthur Hastings?” Victoria thought the name sounded somewhat familiar: ”Hmm... I suppose that counts as a reason.”

”Dear God!” Sister Adelaide held her forehead: ”Princess, I think you should ask her more about the reason she likes Sir Arthur Hastings.”

Victoria was puzzled: ”Isn’t it because he’s an outstanding singer or musician or something?”

The always silent elder sister Gabrielle, holding her tea cup, spoke: ”I think... that’s probably not the reason.”

Victoria was perplexed: ”Not because of that? Then why?”

Little Caroline spoke excitedly: ”Because when I mentioned to Grandpa that Sir Arthur Hastings was in ’Turandot,’ Grandpa was surprised and said with a puff of his beard: ’My heavens! I didn’t expect he knew music composition besides electromagnetism!’”

Victoria was confused by Caroline’s illogical answer: ”Can someone tell me what’s going on here?”

Big sis Gabrielle explained from the side: ”Sir Arthur Hastings is a very outstanding scientist, and he has a good relationship with our great-uncle. Caroline is usually closest to Grandpa and Great-uncle, she probably uses this as a basis to feel she really likes Sir Arthur Hastings.”

Miss Gabrielle’s words were not fabricated, because Arthur indeed had a close friendship with their great-uncle.

As for who their great-uncle was...

Of course, it was Mr. Alexander von Humboldt, who led the team to attend the Gottingen Electromagnetism Conference and was the president of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.

And their grandfather was none other than Humboldt’s brother, the former Kingdom of Prussia Minister of Education, world-renowned educator and linguist, and Berlin University founder Mr. William von Humboldt.

It’s well known that Arthur loves making friends. Since he met Alexander von Humboldt at the All-Europe Electromagnetism Conference, there’s naturally no reason to miss out on his brother.

Moreover, Arthur also holds the position of Göttingen University Supervisor, so writing to discuss education with him makes perfect sense.

As to why the Humboldt brothers think highly of Arthur, it’s naturally because Arthur casually helped Mr. Alexander von Humboldt with a small favor.

The ins and outs of this matter are indeed complex, but in summary, Mr. Alexander von Humboldt hoped at the 1828 Berlin Science Conference that European countries could establish a geomagnetic observation station domestically, and preferably establish a research society comprising Europe’s top geomagnetic scholars.

Arthur helped him achieve these two ideals to a certain extent.

Firstly, after the conclusion of the All-Europe Electromagnetism Conference, the Gottingen Electromagnetic Society, led by Gauss and Humboldt, was officially announced.

Secondly, Arthur personally presented Humboldt’s letter to the President of the Royal Society, the Duke of Sussex, during the conference, persuading him to agree to set up a British geomagnetic station.

An enthusiast of scientific endeavors like Arthur, who doesn’t concern himself with personal gains, is surely respected within the circle as a natural philosophy researcher, isn’t he?

Unfortunately, no matter how famous Arthur is, his fame hasn’t reached Victoria’s ears long residing in Kensington.

However, this wasn’t due to her ignorance, but because under the Kensington system, the information Victoria could receive was extremely limited.

Before the Duchess of Kent decided to hire Arthur as the natural philosophy teacher, the main people responsible for teaching her scientific knowledge were Bishop George Davis of Chester and Priest Thomas Russell of Kensington Palace.

Perhaps in the eyes of later generations, such arrangements seem somewhat ludicrous, but in the times when natural philosophy hadn’t officially been termed science, it was quite normal for priests to teach natural philosophy knowledge.