The Shadow of Great Britain

148: Chapter 106 Another New Invention?

148: Chapter 106 Another New Invention?

Goulburn wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief he pulled from his coat pocket while listening to Faraday and Arthur explain the working principle of the “Faraday Cage.”

Goulburn asked incredulously, “So the excess charge on a charged conductor exists only on its surface and does not affect anything enclosed within it?

Are you saying that Faraday wasn’t electrocuted because all the extra charges were distributed on the outer surface of the cage?”

Faraday nodded slightly, “Your understanding is correct.”

Goulburn finally stabilized his emotions and asked, “Is there any practical application of this principle?”

Arthur, smiling, responded, “With this knowledge, you won’t have to worry about lightning strikes from God.

I guarantee that if you walk outdoors with such a cage on a rainy day, neither Thor, the God of Thunder from the Nordic countries nor Zeus from Greece would be able to touch you.”

After much deliberation, Goulburn finally nodded slowly, “It sounds somewhat reasonable, and indeed, the principle does prove the safety of electric current… Well then, Mr.

Faraday, your new findings have garnered the approval of the Treasury.

We will allocate an additional research fund of about 3000 pounds to further your studies in electromagnetism.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur was about to question whether the amount was too little.

However, he reconsidered, recalling that the ‘Rocket’ steam locomotive, which tragically killed Hesketh, cost only 789 pounds.

In comparison, 3000 pounds seemed quite substantial.

Indeed, Arthur noticed that Faraday’s expression brightened considerably with the injection of these 3000 pounds into his research fund.

Faraday bowed slightly, “Your Excellency, I assure you the Treasury will never regret this investment.

When electromagnetism technology matures, the whole of Britain will benefit from it, and the Treasury recovering its costs is just a matter of time.”

Arthur, hearing this, looked up again at Henry Goulburn’s expression, which held back words but eventually only offered a smile.

Arthur understood that Goulburn’s Treasury was not after a win in the future, but a win now.

If the scientists of the Royal Society could openly support the Tory Party, it would definitely help stabilize Wellington’s Cabinet.

Seeing Goulburn hesitant to speak, Arthur gently prompted beside Faraday, “Compared to investing in electromagnetism, I think the Treasury is more investing in you.

The money is placed on your project, which might be more important than anything else.”

Goulburn laughed in agreement, “Exactly, Mr.

Faraday.

More than the project, the Treasury trusts your solid research reputation.

Of course, that includes acknowledging Mr.

Hastings, the finest electromagnetism expert in Great Britain after you.

Investing in your electromagnetism project surely brings more peace of mind than investing in Mr.

Babbage’s difference engine…”

Goulburn stopped abruptly, then as if remembering something, the previously talkative Chancellor of the Exchequer suddenly excused himself to Faraday, “Well, Mr.

Faraday, I have other official duties today, so I can’t stay any longer.

I wish you a pleasant afternoon.”

With those words, Goulburn left the laboratory limping with his cane, his walking posture suggesting that his fall earlier had been quite harsh.

As Arthur watched him walk away, he turned to Faraday and asked, “What is Babbage’s difference engine?”

Faraday, as the head of the Royal Society Laboratory, exhibited a pained expression similar to Goulburn’s.

“It’s a calculator driven by steam power.

I’ve seen Babbage’s design plans; I must say, its structure is far more complex than a locomotive.

If he ever manages to build it, it’s going to be a massive apparatus that would occupy several rooms.

So, Arthur, you see, the more such a device exists, the more money it burns.

Duke Wellington was very optimistic about this device; he believed that if the difference engine could be made, it would significantly boost the calculating power of military staff.

Therefore, the Treasury had previously approved a special research fund of up to ten thousand pounds for the making of the difference engine.

However, from Mr.

Babbage’s reaction, it seems that ten thousand pounds might barely cover the cost of ordering the needed parts, which could exceed twenty thousand.

Today, Babbage has been pressuring the Treasury for additional investment.

You can tell from Lord Goulburn’s expression, unless Duke Wellington personally orders it, the Treasury is unlikely to give even a penny more for this seemingly bottomless investment.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur felt slightly amused.

He knew about computers, undoubtedly a groundbreaking invention, without any objections.

But a steam-driven computer…

Arthur imagined, if Mr.

Babbage really created such a thing, would the future of gaming involve draping a towel around one’s neck, going shirtless, and running to the boiler room?

What, a sauna-themed internet cafe?

A fusion of steampunk and cyberpunk?

Just as Arthur reached this point in his thoughts, Faraday suddenly asked, “Arthur, did you come to see me today because you encountered some problem?”

“Ah…

no, not really.

I was just wondering if you have any simple and easy experiments that can be demonstrated at a banquet for educational purposes.”

“A banquet?” Faraday caught on immediately, “Has the Bluestocking Society invited you?”

Arthur nodded, recounting the reasons Cordington had invited him.

After listening, Faraday helplessly shook his head, “Actually, I have no prejudice against the Bluestocking Society.

If it could carry out its original intentions, I would certainly be willing to explain scientific principles to the ladies there.

After all, the Bluestocking Society was one of the first upper-class groups to embrace us impoverished scientists.

Speaking of its name, you might not know this, but it’s called the ‘Bluestocking Society’ because the first scholar they invited to speak, Benjamin Stillingfleet, lived in poverty and couldn’t afford the black and white silk stockings that were commonly worn at banquets by high society, so he had to wear a pair of blue stockings to the event.

But those ladies didn’t care about that, and now…

well…

Arthur, please forgive me for speaking frankly, the current Bluestocking Society has almost no difference from a general social group.

However, this is quite normal, just like chemical substances, anything that is exposed to air is mostly likely to dry out and oxidize.”

“So, instead of wasting your energy on them, you might as well handle more cases, or come and explore the field of electromagnetism with me.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur generally understood what was going on.

No wonder General Cordington became uneasy at the mention of Faraday’s name; it seems he had previously invited Faraday on behalf of his wife, but the events at the banquet greatly disappointed this star of British science.

Faraday did not want to discuss further, and Arthur did not want to press.

He instead shifted the topic to Charles Wheatstone, whom he had seen earlier at the entrance of the academy.

“By the way, Mr.

Faraday, could you arrange a meeting for me with Mr.

Wheatstone?

I’m somewhat interested in his ‘polyphonic tube’.”

Faraday couldn’t help but express surprise, “Have you recently started studying acoustics?

Even Wheatstone himself is moving towards electromagnetism.

Why would you choose to step outside of electromagnetism?”

Arthur responded with a smile, “It’s not really stepping outside, just a bit of personal interest.

But hearing you describe it like that, my interest in acoustics and Mr.

Wheatstone’s shift towards electromagnetism might lead to many mutual interests between us.”

Faraday laughed and shook his head, “Well, meet him if you must.

I remember the last time he told me he also wanted to meet you.

But be careful, don’t let him run off.

Otherwise, neither of us will be able to explain it to the Duke of Sussex.”