The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1542: Chapter 263: London Incident_2

However, it was such an enlightened monarch who repeatedly faced pressure from Count Grey during the period of parliamentary reform.

At that time, the vote on parliamentary reform was stuck and unable to pass the House of Lords. Count Grey then asked King William IV to temporarily appoint over a hundred reformist nobles to the House of Lords to ensure the passing of the Reform Bill.

As a traditional Englishman, King William IV found Grey’s request excessively outrageous.

Nevertheless, considering the bigger picture, he reluctantly agreed to expand the House of Lords. However, to avoid creating a bloated chamber, King William IV made a demand that the newly titled nobles must be direct or indirect heirs of existing nobility.

Who would have thought that upon learning this requirement, Grey openly and subtly threatened, saying: The demand may be agreed upon, but if the King delays the appointments, the Whig Party will respond with a general resignation of the Cabinet.

Such a reply naturally angered King William IV. Although he was a constitutional monarch and nowhere near the authority of the Tsar, it did not mean he lacked a temper.

Ultimately, King William IV decisively rejected the request of Count Grey and the Whigs, accepted their resignation, and in turn ordered the Duke of Wellington to form a cabinet.

As for what happened later, everyone is already aware.

King William IV, having endured so much displeasure from Count Grey and the Whigs, was naturally unlikely to give them any favorable treatment: ”Grey is inherently rebellious, but there is one thing about him that is praiseworthy. He is not the kind of person who willingly struggles in the political mire. He maintained his aristocratic dignity and pride, and after his ideas were thwarted, he did not covet power but chose to step down gracefully.”

”Your Majesty,” the Duke of Wellington said slowly, ”if Grey resigns, your government will inevitably need reorganization. Pardon me, has he recommended a successor to you?”

King William IV furrowed his brow, sat back down, and crossed his hands on his lap, evidently realizing this issue: ”What about Peel? Can he lead the Tory Party?”

The Duke of Wellington shook his head lightly: ”Having worked with Peel for many years, I deeply understand his character and abilities. He is certainly an excellent candidate. However, though Peel is talented, the timing is not yet ripe. His position within the party still needs consolidation, and the Tory Party currently cannot hold a decisive majority in the Lower House. Even if you appoint him to form a cabinet, he would merely be a lame Prime Minister—just sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair, yet unable to do anything.”

Upon hearing this, King William IV’s gaze flickered slightly, as if weighing Peel’s stature.

He certainly was not a strong-willed king, but seeing the Whigs regard his crown as a mere trifle still left him somewhat displeased.

If possible, he would by all means prefer not to appoint another Whig Prime Minister.

Yet, on the other hand, personal likes and dislikes cannot ultimately override overall stability, especially as the wave of parliamentary reform in 1832 made King William IV considerably more prudent.

He sighed softly and said: ”Is there no compromise? I am unwilling to appoint a Prime Minister like Grey, a radical, but at the same time, I do not wish to see the government paralyzed. Grey has messed up Ireland terribly, and at this moment, the nation needs stabilizing forces.”

The Duke of Wellington, of course, understood what the King was worried about. The old Duke pondered for a moment and finally spoke: ”Your Majesty, perhaps there is a temporary solution at hand. How about appointing a moderate Whig Party member to form a transitional government and maintain political stability for the time being, and then hand over the helm to Peel when the time is right?”

”Hmm... Sounds somewhat reasonable.” King William IV stroked his chin thoughtfully: ”Who do you think can shoulder this responsibility?”

It was apparent that compared to the few candidates submitted by Count Grey upon his resignation, King William IV evidently trusted the Duke of Wellington’s judgment more.

The Duke of Wellington immediately provided his recommendation without hesitation: ”Would you consider Viscount Melbourne?”

”William Lamb?” King William IV blurted out: ”That old sleepyhead?”

King William IV furrowed his brow, clearly surprised by the Duke of Wellington’s recommendation.

William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne, was always famous in politics for his moderate stance and laissez-faire personal style. As a backbench MP who served for 25 years in the Lower House, aside from the scandal involving his wife and Lord Byron, he was chiefly known for often falling asleep during parliamentary debates.

King William IV questioned: ”In times like these, appointing such a person to oversee the government—isn’t it a ridiculous choice?”

The Duke of Wellington’s expression did not change; he stood straight, hands lightly overlapped in front, and explained steadfastly: ”Your Majesty, although Viscount Melbourne is not known for being forceful, this is precisely his advantage. He’s neither a radical reformer like Grey nor a progressive pragmatist like Peel. He’s someone who can maintain the status quo and keep parliament balanced. At this moment, he’s precisely the kind of Prime Minister you need.”

King William IV pursed his lips, half suspicious, half contemplative: ”But I heard he’s quite indulgent, and his wife—Caroline Lamb—is simply a lunatic.”

”Caroline Lamb has already passed away,” the Duke of Wellington reminded: ”Viscount Melbourne himself may not be particularly meticulous in private matters, but his political attitude is quite pragmatic. He does not possess Grey’s fervor nor the stubbornness of some in the Tory Party. Most importantly, he can gain the support of the majority within the Whig Party, without angering the nobility of the House of Lords, and won’t make Your Majesty feel threatened.”