The Shadow of Great Britain

Therefore, it is really difficult for him to criticize Arthur for those ”reckless” youthful days in Russia.

Dalhousie’s previously suppressed anger suddenly flowed out: ”Sit down, Arthur, don’t stand there like a martyred Saint.”

Arthur sat down as Dalhousie indicated, but his posture was not entirely relaxed.

He took the hot towel brought by the servant and wiped his hands, but his peripheral vision instinctively drifted to the documents spread out by the fireplace.

The documents were full of creases, clearly having been read numerous times, with some sections bearing fresh ink and several lines heavily crossed out.

Arthur knew in his heart that with Dalhousie’s character, he couldn’t possibly stay quiet even after returning to the country.

Even if Viscount Melbourne wanted to silence him, issuing a gag order to ”Radical Jack” was impossible.

He would eventually publish articles criticizing the Cabinet, but to prevent Earl Dalhousie from early sabotaging his political future like Lord Brougham did, Arthur had to first understand his thoughts, so that he could assist him in the public sphere and at Buckingham Palace in the future.

Arthur seemed to accidentally catch sight of the documents on the table: ”The situation in Canada... is worse than Whitehall is willing to admit, right?”

”Worse?” Dalhousie seemed to be ignited by this word: ”Arthur, the word ’worse’ is an insult of gentleness regarding the current state of Canada. It isn’t just worse, it’s a political landslide deliberately delayed by the Home Office, covered up by the War and Colonial Affairs Department, and pushed to the brink by Papino and his accomplices.”

He leaned forward and tossed the documents on the table aside, as if visibly irritated by them: ”Whitehall claims it’s minor conflicts, but in reality, it’s a powder keg ready to explode. The French-speaking regions distrust British officials, and the English-speaking regions hate the French-speaking regions. The colonial government has authority but dares not enforce it, and Canada’s Lower House is controlled by the Radical Party, while the Upper House clings to privileges. All these fools expect me to unite English-Canadians and French Canadians and produce a constitutional scheme satisfying all factions within three months! And the result? I followed their demands, yet the Cabinet was dissatisfied with my proposal!”

Dalhousie slammed the sofa’s armrest: ”Papino has been pounding the table in Parliament and shouting for Canada’s independence for quite some time, I’ve met everyone I’m supposed to meet, said everything I need to say, but as for Whitehall? That bunch of idiots wouldn’t even give me a clear mandate! Melbourne wants me to succeed, but not too much. Russell wants me to fail, but not too drastically. As for Grant, that self-important fool, he doesn’t want me to accomplish anything at all!”

At this point, he seemed to remember something suddenly and let out a cold laugh: ”Worse... Arthur, do you know what ’worse’ really means? Worse is when you don’t know how to solve a math problem. But when I’ve clearly grasped the correct answer, yet everyone behind me is dragging me down, that’s not just worse, that’s regular British political maneuvering!”

Hearing this, Arthur couldn’t help but murmur: ”No wonder... no wonder Lord Russell looked so awkward that day.”

”Awkward?” Dalhousie frowned as he sipped his tea: ”What kind of awkward?”

Arthur deliberately delayed the conversation: ”A few days ago in the Lower House, it was Mr. Vickley’s interrogation scene. You were probably out at sea at the time and might not have seen the reports, right?”

”Lower House interrogation? Isn’t it November now? Hasn’t Parliament convened in November?”

Arthur smiled and nodded: ”Didn’t a new monarch ascend this year? Many issues needed urgent resolution. So, the new session of Parliament opened in early November, without waiting for spring next year.”

”Enough.” Dalhousie waved his hand: ”Let’s get back to Russell and Vickley, what’s up with them?”

Arthur put down his teacup, gently sighed as if organizing his thoughts: ”Vickley’s question was simple. He asked Lord Russell whether the Cabinet fully supports the institutional reforms in Canada and fully backs the responsible government proposal put forward by Earl Dalhousie?”

”And what was Russell’s answer?”

”Lord Russell’s face changed right then and there. You also know, these are the questions they fear the most now. Russell didn’t dare say he supported the reforms, nor did he dare say he opposed them. The Whig Party’s advantage in the Lower House has shrunk significantly after this election, so they’re worried about offending any faction.”

”So, what did he actually say then?”

Arthur cleared his throat, recalling the image of Lord Russell of the Home Office, sweating profusely that day: ”The situation in Lower Canada is complex and ever-changing. The government will, of course, take appropriate measures to defend Her Majesty the Queen’s authority while trying to satisfy the legitimate expectations of the colonial people to the best of its ability. Then, Vickley pressed further, asking what the government considered legitimate expectations? Russell responded, saying which expectations are legitimate should be determined after comprehensive consideration by the government. Of course, we’re open to opinions from the Canadian public, but until the situation becomes fully clear, I cannot and should not make any specific commitments here.”

Even though Dalhousie wasn’t present, he could well imagine the scene in the Lower House from Arthur’s description alone.

Yet, despite feeling disgusted, Dalhousie couldn’t help but continue to ask: ”And then? Was Vickley just randomly brushed off?”

”Brushed off? That was, of course, impossible.” Arthur replied: ”Vickley was infuriated by Lord Russell’s answer and demanded that Russell give him a clear answer on the next question. He asked Russell whether Earl Dalhousie’s departure from the Governor of Lower Canada position meant he had lost government support, and whether this also implied the Cabinet’s complete rejection of the Canadian autonomy plan.”