Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Generational Change
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As the results of the 1841 election were announced, all sorts of predictions began to fly.
It wasn't just any party; significant changes were anticipated in the power structure of the Tory Party, which had been entrenched for decades, naturally drawing considerable attention.
[The Tories Win Again! No Surprises]
[Will a Prime Minister in His 30s Lead Parliament Once More? The Rise of Charles Wellesley]
It was the first time since William Pitt the Younger that such a young man had risen to the forefront of the party.
Had he been merely young, there might have been a sense of unease, but Charles Wellesley had served as a Member of Parliament several times and, as the son of the Duke of Wellington, held a favorable image even among the old guard.
In fact, the House of Lords, in line with its earlier stance of waiting for the election results, had already agreed to actively support Wellesley.
"So, are we all in agreement to entrust the next government to Wellesley's hands?"
"Can Wellesley effectively withstand the pressure from the Whigs?"
"He's the man who possesses the skill to completely dismantle and oust Robert Peel. I have no concerns about his political prowess."
"Then there should be no problem, should there? Let's just watch and see how he does."
Of course, the Whig Party was not wallowing in defeat either.
"We had 292 seats in the last general election, but this time we have 297. In effect, we've gained five seats."
"The fact that our opposition seats have increased, even after a victory in the war with the Qing Dynasty, is certainly encouraging."
"The Tories are ahead of us right now because of their ability to preemptively seize topics that affect the daily lives of citizens. We, too, need to move more nimbly in this area from now on."
While both parties were assessing the current situation and sketching out their grand strategies for the future, the senior members of the Tory Party had a meeting with the Queen.
The purpose was to finalize the selection of the Prime Minister and the formation of the Cabinet before Parliament convened.
Although largely a formality, the Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch, so winning a majority in Parliament doesn't automatically grant the position.
"Then, is it safe to assume it is the will of the Tory Party that I appoint Member of Parliament Charles Wellesley as Prime Minister?"
"Yes. That is correct. We, the Tory Party, plan for Charles Wellesley to be at the center of forming the next government."
"I see. The Tory Party has secured a comfortable majority, and MP Wellesley is a central figure in the current party, so there should be no issue. By any chance, has the selection of ministers to lead the cabinet also been completed?"
"About that... I believe we still need a bit more discussion."
As Wellesley showed a slightly troubled reaction, Victoria asked with a puzzled expression.
"Don't tell me the cabinet formation isn't complete yet? The Opening of Parliament will be held soon."
British law dictates that when a new Parliament is formed, the monarch presides over an opening ceremony to mark its commencement.
Therefore, the Prime Minister and key members of the government must all be appointed before the ceremony takes place.
While the Speaker of the House of Commons traditionally tends to be a wealthy and experienced multi-term MP who continues in the role, meaning a new appointment is often unnecessary, ministers are a different story.
The Cabinet must be composed of individuals who align with the Prime Minister, so the appointment process must begin immediately after the election.
"If the appointment of ministers is delayed, it will inevitably cast a shadow of concern over Mr. Wellesley, who is just beginning his tenure as Prime Minister. You are aware of this, I trust?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. It is not a major issue, merely a matter that requires a little more discussion, so you need not worry. We will submit the list of ministers for your approval as early as tomorrow."
"Very well. Then I shall wait without concern."
Just a few days ago, he had felt as if he owned the world with the premiership confirmed, but now, with the Opening of Parliament fast approaching, the responsibility of being Prime Minister weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Wellesley, feeling the true weight of power anew, successfully completed his first official greeting to the Queen as Prime Minister of the British Empire.
***
"Killian, it seems we must finalize the list of ministers today. Any further delay might lead Her Majesty to doubt my capabilities as a novice Prime Minister."
"Weren't you the one who enthusiastically declared you would form the Cabinet on your own, Mr. Wellesley? Had you asked for help, I would have offered it sooner."
"No, I did draw up a list. But things went awry when you said you wouldn't accept the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer."
"Of course. There's no reason for me to take that position. I'm more interested in securing practical benefits than the honor such a title brings."
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for the economic affairs of the British Empire, has historically been considered one of the most important posts in the Cabinet.
It is an unchanging law of the world, then and now, that the head of the organization managing the money holds immense power.
Even now, if one were to rank the ministers of the British Empire, most people would naturally name the Chancellor of the Exchequer first.
Wellesley's decision to install me, his closest associate, as Chancellor was by no means a strange one, a reward for my services.
It was just that I had no interest in the position yet.
"Still, you were the Foreign Secretary before, and to be the Foreign Secretary again... doesn't it seem a bit off? I feel I should give you something more to show that I value you."
"Then we can simply create a suitable new position. Before that, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the most crucial post, so we must quickly select a suitable candidate."
"If you won't take it, should I appoint Disraeli?"
"MP Disraeli wouldn't be a bad choice, but in my opinion, it would be better to wait until the next election."
Although slightly older than Charles Wellesley, Disraeli still had the strong image of a young politician in his thirties.
It was one thing for a Prime Minister in his thirties to lead the country with youthful vigor. But what would be the impression if the top cabinet minister was also a very young politician?
The more conservative elements might perceive it as a lack of stability.
Furthermore, it could give the impression that he was immediately surrounding himself with his own people and monopolizing high offices right after the election.
"Disraeli himself did say he'd rather gain more experience as Home Secretary for now than take the Exchequer... but then again, he might have stepped back thinking you would take the post."
"Then I will speak to him directly. In any case, it seems best to entrust the Chancellorship to a long-proven figure, at least for symbolic reasons."
"Then who might that be..."
"No need to look far. Simply reappoint the previous Chancellor, Minister Goulburn."
"You mean to retain a minister from the former Prime Minister's cabinet?"
Goulburn was a veteran politician, nearly sixty years old, who would be in three years. As Wellesley noted, he had been a minister in the previous administration.
However, he was also one of those who had switched sides as soon as it became clear Robert Peel was on his way out.
To avoid giving the impression of favoring only our own faction, we needed to show that we could utilize someone like him.
"Strictly speaking, Minister Goulburn also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Duke of Wellington was Prime Minister. He then served as Home Secretary under the previous Prime Minister before becoming Chancellor again, so his practical abilities are certainly proven. More importantly, he is an appointment that can properly show the old guard that you, Mr. Wellesley, are not just a radical."
"I see. Since the Prime Minister is still young, appointing an experienced Chancellor will create an image of stability, and it would likely quell any voices of concern within the party."
"Not only that, but the public will also be greatly relieved, thinking the new Prime Minister is a balanced individual. I'll have the *Morning Post* praise your balanced appointments, and the effect will be immediate."
"I see. The more I think about it, the better it sounds. I really should have listened to your thoughts from the beginning instead of stubbornly insisting on doing it myself."
"No. The desire to do things yourself is very important. Listening to the opinions of advisors when you hit a wall will be more beneficial for your own development as Prime Minister. After all, I can't be in London 365 days a year."
Once the crucial post of Chancellor of the Exchequer was decided, the other positions were filled in rapid succession.
Furthermore, at Wellesley's strong insistence, I was given not only the post of Foreign Secretary but also another, temporarily created title.
In truth, I needed a plausible position to carry out my plans for Canadian immigration and future operations in the New World, so I feigned reluctance before stating my desire.
"If you insist on giving me another position, I would like a role that grants me the authority to handle not only the administration but also the diplomacy of Canada for the sake of its immigration and development."
"You want to be the Governor-General of British North America? That's not difficult."
"No. As Governor-General, I would have to be responsible for almost all of the administration. Realistically, I neither have the time nor the inclination to stay there permanently. To be precise, I need a position that can control the Governor-General."
Recently, for the efficient management of Canada, the various dispersed regions had been unified, and the system was revised so that the Governor-General of British North America would also serve as the Governor-General of Canada.
However, the Governor-General of Canada still had to perform his duties within the framework of colonial governance laws and the British government, so his authority was not as absolute as one might think.
Such a level of power would not be sufficient to properly implement my vision.
"Indeed, the position of Foreign Secretary alone wouldn't allow you to interfere in Canada's internal administration. To send over the Irish and oversee development, you would need considerable authority..."
"Going through the process of forming a committee and sending people back to the mother country for confirmation each time would be too time-consuming. A certain degree of work must be pushed forward with local discretion, and for that, we need to create a position, even a temporary one, that holds such authority."
"Alright. Since we need to carry out a large-scale immigration and settlement project, we have a good pretext. As soon as Her Majesty opens Parliament, I will move the party to create a suitable position. We'll set a term of about five years, granting you full authority over Canada until the immigration work is complete."
"Thank you! It's great to have a Prime Minister who understands me so well. It makes communication so much easier."
"Hahaha! Your success is my success, and my success is yours. I must support you unstintingly. I'll be eagerly waiting to see what amazing results you'll bring to make me happy this time."
With the new government's structure perfectly laid out, Wellesley, his expression much lighter, smiled and sipped his whiskey.
I, too, had been pondering how to expand my official influence in Canada, and with the best possible outcome achieved, my spirits were lifted.
We continued to discuss the upcoming agenda, going over the important tasks that needed to be handled in the early days of the administration.
***
-The British Empire Pushes for a Large-Scale Irish Immigration Policy!
-Millions of Irish Are Coming! How Will the Border Dispute with Canada Be Resolved?
-What is the Government's Response? The President's Diplomatic Skills Put to the Test.
"What's gotten into them?"
"Didn't the English always look down on the Irish? Are they trying to dump them in Canada because they're an eyesore? I don't understand the reason for this policy."
"I heard something about a great famine, but I'm not sure. I don't know if this is genuine or if there's some other motive."
"What is our ambassador doing? With a major event like this, he should be providing an immediate summary of the situation!"
As the Irish immigration policy got into full swing, there was one nation that could not help but react sensitively.
It was a nascent country, not even seventy years since its founding, yet it believed that governing the New World was its manifest destiny: the United States of America.
"First, shouldn't we find out what scheme Britain is plotting? What did the President have to say?"
"He agreed that we must send someone over as quickly as possible."
"Then leave it to me. I've been wanting to go there to look into something anyway. If I use that as a pretext for my visit, they won't realize our true intentions."
As a gray-haired old man raised his hand and stepped forward, the other congressmen nodded without much dissent.
"Congressman Adams, you intend to go yourself? Are you well enough for the journey?"
"Of course. I have long thought that I must visit the British Empire at least once."
John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States and a Whig congressman who remained politically active in the House of Representatives even after his presidency.
Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, he rose from his seat, his old body spurred into action.
Whatever schemes the British Empire was plotting, the leadership of this New World would never be surrendered.
On that day, in a rare moment of unity, both parties, without any argument, unanimously approved John Quincy Adams's dispatch to Great Britain.