The Shadow of Great Britain

685: Chapter 333: Britain’s Diplomatic Decision_2 685: Chapter 333: Britain’s Diplomatic Decision_2 Viscount Palmerston also detected the gunpowder in the other’s words, and he said soothingly with a smile.

“Of course, not everything in Bentham’s thought is bad.

For instance, the idea that a person should have the innate right to his finances, free trade, freedom of speech and publication, and many of these ideas have already been accepted by the government.

However, in my view, many of Bentham’s proposals still seem too radical, such as the immediate abolition of slavery, the prohibition of corporal punishment in the military, the separation of church and state, and the legalization of homosexuality, among others.

But overall, I still have a great deal of respect for him.

Although he was once a supporter of the Great Revolution in France and was even granted the status of a French honorary citizen.

But undoubtedly, he truly wanted to consider the world and think about the society of Britain, it was just that there were some deviations in his way of thinking.”

Earl Ametstead chuckled softly, “It seems we do have some rare common ground between us.

I also admire Mr.

Bentham, but the difference is, I don’t admire Bentham’s views; I admire his character.

Bentham is naive in both speech and action, but he lives openly, his views and actions are consistent and traceable.”

Others might not understand this, but Viscount Palmerston understood all too well what the old earl implied.As a follower of the former Prime Minister George Canning, when Viscount Palmerston first entered Parliament, the job he obtained was that of a junior officer under the Navy Department, where he daringly devised the plan to bombard Copenhagen and annihilate the Danish navy according to Canning’s wishes.

If one meticulously analyzed Palmerston’s political career, one could find that it was rife with the influence of his guide, Canning.

They both hopped between the Tory Party and Whig Party with equal ease, with Canning befriending several leaders of the Whig Party through his uncle’s introduction during his school days.

However, after graduating, he chose to join the then-dominant Tory Party.

As for Palmerston, he had always presented himself as firmly monarchist, insisting on handling both domestic and foreign affairs with an iron fist.

Yet when he became marginalized within the Tory Party, he transformed into a Whig Party supporter of parliamentary reform.

Moreover, both men were notorious womanizers, with three of the seven most revered ladies of Almack’s Club taking a particular liking to Palmerston’s humor and wit.

Canning, on the other hand, played even bigger games; he had once had an ambiguous personal relationship with Caroline, Queen of George IV, who hailed from Brunswick.

Both were equally adept at debate and speech, often offending people by forcing their opponents into submission with an aggressive attitude.

Even their lineages were similar.

Viscount Palmerston was an authentic Irish aristocrat, and Canning’s parents were also Irish.

Because they were so alike, friends’ descriptions of Canning and Palmerston were often interchangeable in many situations.

—He treated politics as child’s play, he entirely disregarded principles if those principles hindered his pursuit of power.

Viscount Palmerston was well aware of the terrible impression his defection from the Tory Party had made in the hearts of the old and pure Tories.

But he always had reasons to defend himself.

“Your Excellency, if you insist on using Sir Canning as an example.

Yes, I am a free idealist, fervently believing that Great Britain’s historical mission is to spread democratic values around the world, and in necessary circumstances, I do not exclude the possibility of using force.

Just like that famous quote from Sir Canning — ‘I will create a new world to change the old with its own power dynamics.’

Unfortunately, Earl Ametstead was not buying Palmerston’s pitch.

“Really?

If that’s the case, it should have been you going to Liverpool, not Officer Hastings who took a bullet.

You should have been standing on the deck of a battleship at the old dock of Liverpool, pointing the cannon at those slave-trading merchants, forcing them to spit out their blood-stained money.

And if you truly are a free idealist, then you shouldn’t have had any critique of Lord Bentinck’s work in India.

Don’t they rather approve of his reforms there in India?

I’ve read the past few issues of ‘The Westminster Review;’ they were singing praises for Bentinck on there.”

Palmerston responded earnestly, “Of course, Your Excellency, as I said from the start, I very much recognize the work of Lord Bentinck.

However, on some specific details, I still wish to consult your opinion, as an expert with extensive administrative experience in India.”

Earl Ametstead, however, was not planning to corner Palmerston on his own turf.

The old earl took out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and blew his nose, “I suppose you’re referring to his plans to abolish the right of the governors of Madras and Mumbai to issue laws independently?”