Chapter 211: The United Kingdom Leads the World in Science and Technology
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Chapter 211: The United Kingdom Leads the World in Science and Technology
While France was going through political upheaval and Napoleon was assuming the role of First Consul, the political landscape in the United Kingdom was also experiencing intense turbulence.
The Whigs launched a fierce attack on the Tory government, with most of their criticism directed at Prime Minister William Pitt. They blamed him for Britain's failures on the European continent. Furthermore, Pitt's stance on religious policies in Ireland and his disputes with King George III added to the controversy.
During this time, the British monarch still wielded considerable authority and power, unlike the purely symbolic role they would assume later. King George III, in particular, was a staunch supporter of Pitt. It was this royal support that enabled William Pitt, at just over twenty years old, to rise to the position of Prime Minister. It was a partnership with the King that allowed Pitt and the Tories to maintain control over the government, effectively pushing the Whigs into the background. However, it's worth noting that Pitt referred to himself as a "Whig" throughout, even though neither the Whigs nor the Tories acknowledged this.
King George III had a deep appreciation for Pitt, but their views on religious matters were a major point of contention between them. In an attempt to placate the Irish, Pitt proposed allowing legal Catholic activity in Ireland. This policy was meant to divide the Irish, but it angered the King.
In the United Kingdom, the Church of England had been the King's staunchest supporter ever since the days of Oliver Cromwell's revolution. Although the Church of England was considered part of the Protestant tradition, it shared more similarities with Catholicism than with continental Protestant denominations like Lutheranism or Calvinism. Aside from rejecting the Pope in favor of the British monarch, their doctrines, rituals, and even attire bore a striking resemblance to Catholicism.
As a rule of thumb, when two religions have significant differences, they may coexist in relative peace. However, when their differences are minimal, conflicts tend to intensify. It was often said that heretics, who deviated slightly from an established faith, were more detestable than outright infidels, as they were seen as a greater threat to the faithful.
For the Church of England, acknowledging legal Catholic activity, even if limited to Ireland, posed a significant threat. By this time, the Church of England had become the bedrock of political support for the British monarch. Though King George III suffered from porphyria and, during severe episodes, experienced mental disturbances, such as the bizarre incident in 1788 when he mistook a large oak tree for the King of Prussia and engaged in a two-hour debate with it on important matters, he remained clear-headed when not afflicted by the disease.
Despite the King's enduring support for Pitt, he would never entertain the idea of allowing him to proceed with this policy, as long as he was in his right mind. Thus, the Prime Minister lost his most critical ally at this perilous juncture.
In the end, to maintain Tory rule, at this critical moment, they had no choice but to sacrifice William Pitt and let him shoulder the blame. So, after Napoleon took Hanover, Pitt resigned from his post.
It's said that when his successor, Henry Addington, entered Pitt's office, the former Prime Minister was directing his servants to pack up his belongings for departure. One of the servants rolled up a large map of Europe that hung on the wall, intending to pack it, which caught Pitt's eye. The former Prime Minister exclaimed, "Leave that map for Henry!"
The servant hurried to hang the map back up, but Pitt gave a bitter smile and said, "Never mind, since you've already rolled it up, leave it that way. After all, I don't think any British Prime Minister will need to look at a map of Europe in the next decade."
"But things have changed now. With this new ship, we can not only catch up to the enemy in terms of speed but also carry large cannons to engage in combat." The naval officer continued to explain.
"Is this ship capable of catching up with the French smuggling vessels?" Addington inquired.
"It's not certain," the officer shook his head. "The fastest French clippers can reach about 15 knots, while our ship can reach a maximum speed of eleven knots."
"How can that work?" Prime Minister Addington asked.
"Prime Minister, this is still an experimental vessel, with room for improvement. Moreover, the clippers can't always reach fifteen knots; in calm weather, their speed is also limited. Our ship is less affected by wind conditions, and it can travel in a straight line. So, while our ship may have a lower top speed in terms of numbers, it might still be able to catch up with them in a real chase at sea."
"Are there any issues with our ship at the moment?"
"Prime Minister, our ship relies on a steam engine, which requires us to carry coal. If the coal bunker is too large, it slows down the vessel, but if it's too small, it affects the voyage. Additionally, our ship has poor performance in high seas, far worse than the clippers."
"What? It has worse performance in high seas than the clippers? Then how can we use these large cannons on it?" Prime Minister Addington was taken aback.
"Prime Minister, in high seas, the ship's rocking will cause the paddle wheels to surface, drastically reducing propulsion efficiency. It's not because of any other reason, so under normal sea conditions, our ship can still use the cannons without any issues. It's just that due to the arrangement of the steam engine and paddle wheels, the number of cannons we can carry is relatively fewer."
Prime Minister Addington listened and nodded. "When can these official warships be put into use? It's time to teach those French a lesson and show them that the United Kingdom's technology is truly world-leading!"
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Chapter 211: The United Kingdom Leads the World in Science and Technology
While France was going through political upheaval and Napoleon was assuming the role of First Consul, the political landscape in the United Kingdom was also experiencing intense turbulence.
The Whigs launched a fierce attack on the Tory government, with most of their criticism directed at Prime Minister William Pitt. They blamed him for Britain's failures on the European continent. Furthermore, Pitt's stance on religious policies in Ireland and his disputes with King George III added to the controversy.
During this time, the British monarch still wielded considerable authority and power, unlike the purely symbolic role they would assume later. King George III, in particular, was a staunch supporter of Pitt. It was this royal support that enabled William Pitt, at just over twenty years old, to rise to the position of Prime Minister. It was a partnership with the King that allowed Pitt and the Tories to maintain control over the government, effectively pushing the Whigs into the background. However, it's worth noting that Pitt referred to himself as a "Whig" throughout, even though neither the Whigs nor the Tories acknowledged this.
King George III had a deep appreciation for Pitt, but their views on religious matters were a major point of contention between them. In an attempt to placate the Irish, Pitt proposed allowing legal Catholic activity in Ireland. This policy was meant to divide the Irish, but it angered the King.
In the United Kingdom, the Church of England had been the King's staunchest supporter ever since the days of Oliver Cromwell's revolution. Although the Church of England was considered part of the Protestant tradition, it shared more similarities with Catholicism than with continental Protestant denominations like Lutheranism or Calvinism. Aside from rejecting the Pope in favor of the British monarch, their doctrines, rituals, and even attire bore a striking resemblance to Catholicism.
As a rule of thumb, when two religions have significant differences, they may coexist in relative peace. However, when their differences are minimal, conflicts tend to intensify. It was often said that heretics, who deviated slightly from an established faith, were more detestable than outright infidels, as they were seen as a greater threat to the faithful.
For the Church of England, acknowledging legal Catholic activity, even if limited to Ireland, posed a significant threat. By this time, the Church of England had become the bedrock of political support for the British monarch. Though King George III suffered from porphyria and, during severe episodes, experienced mental disturbances, such as the bizarre incident in 1788 when he mistook a large oak tree for the King of Prussia and engaged in a two-hour debate with it on important matters, he remained clear-headed when not afflicted by the disease.
Despite the King's enduring support for Pitt, he would never entertain the idea of allowing him to proceed with this policy, as long as he was in his right mind. Thus, the Prime Minister lost his most critical ally at this perilous juncture.
In the end, to maintain Tory rule, at this critical moment, they had no choice but to sacrifice William Pitt and let him shoulder the blame. So, after Napoleon took Hanover, Pitt resigned from his post.
It's said that when his successor, Henry Addington, entered Pitt's office, the former Prime Minister was directing his servants to pack up his belongings for departure. One of the servants rolled up a large map of Europe that hung on the wall, intending to pack it, which caught Pitt's eye. The former Prime Minister exclaimed, "Leave that map for Henry!"
The servant hurried to hang the map back up, but Pitt gave a bitter smile and said, "Never mind, since you've already rolled it up, leave it that way. After all, I don't think any British Prime Minister will need to look at a map of Europe in the next decade."
"But things have changed now. With this new ship, we can not only catch up to the enemy in terms of speed but also carry large cannons to engage in combat." The naval officer continued to explain.
"Is this ship capable of catching up with the French smuggling vessels?" Addington inquired.
"It's not certain," the officer shook his head. "The fastest French clippers can reach about 15 knots, while our ship can reach a maximum speed of eleven knots."
"How can that work?" Prime Minister Addington asked.
"Prime Minister, this is still an experimental vessel, with room for improvement. Moreover, the clippers can't always reach fifteen knots; in calm weather, their speed is also limited. Our ship is less affected by wind conditions, and it can travel in a straight line. So, while our ship may have a lower top speed in terms of numbers, it might still be able to catch up with them in a real chase at sea."
"Are there any issues with our ship at the moment?"
"Prime Minister, our ship relies on a steam engine, which requires us to carry coal. If the coal bunker is too large, it slows down the vessel, but if it's too small, it affects the voyage. Additionally, our ship has poor performance in high seas, far worse than the clippers."
"What? It has worse performance in high seas than the clippers? Then how can we use these large cannons on it?" Prime Minister Addington was taken aback.
"Prime Minister, in high seas, the ship's rocking will cause the paddle wheels to surface, drastically reducing propulsion efficiency. It's not because of any other reason, so under normal sea conditions, our ship can still use the cannons without any issues. It's just that due to the arrangement of the steam engine and paddle wheels, the number of cannons we can carry is relatively fewer."
Prime Minister Addington listened and nodded. "When can these official warships be put into use? It's time to teach those French a lesson and show them that the United Kingdom's technology is truly world-leading!"
Unlock exclusive early access to The Complete Novel (All the chapters) before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.
Chapter 211: The United Kingdom Leads the World in Science and TechnologyWhile France was going through political upheaval and Napoleon was assuming the role of First Consul, the political landscape in the United Kingdom was also experiencing intense turbulence.The Whigs launched a fierce attack on the Tory government, with most of their criticism directed at Prime Minister William Pitt. They blamed him for Britain's failures on the European continent. Furthermore, Pitt's stance on religious policies in Ireland and his disputes with King George III added to the controversy.During this time, the British monarch still wielded considerable authority and power, unlike the purely symbolic role they would assume later. King George III, in particular, was a staunch supporter of Pitt. It was this royal support that enabled William Pitt, at just over twenty years old, to rise to the position of Prime Minister. It was a partnership with the King that allowed Pitt and the Tories to maintain control over the government, effectively pushing the Whigs into the background. However, it's worth noting that Pitt referred to himself as a "Whig" throughout, even though neither the Whigs nor the Tories acknowledged this.King George III had a deep appreciation for Pitt, but their views on religious matters were a major point of contention between them. In an attempt to placate the Irish, Pitt proposed allowing legal Catholic activity in Ireland. This policy was meant to divide the Irish, but it angered the King.In the United Kingdom, the Church of England had been the King's staunchest supporter ever since the days of Oliver Cromwell's revolution. Although the Church of England was considered part of the Protestant tradition, it shared more similarities with Catholicism than with continental Protestant denominations like Lutheranism or Calvinism. Aside from rejecting the Pope in favor of the British monarch, their doctrines, rituals, and even attire bore a striking resemblance to Catholicism.As a rule of thumb, when two religions have significant differences, they may coexist in relative peace. However, when their differences are minimal, conflicts tend to intensify. It was often said that heretics, who deviated slightly from an established faith, were more detestable than outright infidels, as they were seen as a greater threat to the faithful.For the Church of England, acknowledging legal Catholic activity, even if limited to Ireland, posed a significant threat. By this time, the Church of England had become the bedrock of political support for the British monarch. Though King George III suffered from porphyria and, during severe episodes, experienced mental disturbances, such as the bizarre incident in 1788 when he mistook a large oak tree for the King of Prussia and engaged in a two-hour debate with it on important matters, he remained clear-headed when not afflicted by the disease.Despite the King's enduring support for Pitt, he would never entertain the idea of allowing him to proceed with this policy, as long as he was in his right mind. Thus, the Prime Minister lost his most critical ally at this perilous juncture.In the end, to maintain Tory rule, at this critical moment, they had no choice but to sacrifice William Pitt and let him shoulder the blame. So, after Napoleon took Hanover, Pitt resigned from his post.It's said that when his successor, Henry Addington, entered Pitt's office, the former Prime Minister was directing his servants to pack up his belongings for departure. One of the servants rolled up a large map of Europe that hung on the wall, intending to pack it, which caught Pitt's eye. The former Prime Minister exclaimed, "Leave that map for Henry!"The servant hurried to hang the map back up, but Pitt gave a bitter smile and said, "Never mind, since you've already rolled it up, leave it that way. After all, I don't think any British Prime Minister will need to look at a map of Europe in the next decade.""But things have changed now. With this new ship, we can not only catch up to the enemy in terms of speed but also carry large cannons to engage in combat." The naval officer continued to explain."Is this ship capable of catching up with the French smuggling vessels?" Addington inquired."It's not certain," the officer shook his head. "The fastest French clippers can reach about 15 knots, while our ship can reach a maximum speed of eleven knots.""How can that work?" Prime Minister Addington asked."Prime Minister, this is still an experimental vessel, with room for improvement. Moreover, the clippers can't always reach fifteen knots; in calm weather, their speed is also limited. Our ship is less affected by wind conditions, and it can travel in a straight line. So, while our ship may have a lower top speed in terms of numbers, it might still be able to catch up with them in a real chase at sea.""Are there any issues with our ship at the moment?""Prime Minister, our ship relies on a steam engine, which requires us to carry coal. If the coal bunker is too large, it slows down the vessel, but if it's too small, it affects the voyage. Additionally, our ship has poor performance in high seas, far worse than the clippers.""What? It has worse performance in high seas than the clippers? Then how can we use these large cannons on it?" Prime Minister Addington was taken aback."Prime Minister, in high seas, the ship's rocking will cause the paddle wheels to surface, drastically reducing propulsion efficiency. It's not because of any other reason, so under normal sea conditions, our ship can still use the cannons without any issues. It's just that due to the arrangement of the steam engine and paddle wheels, the number of cannons we can carry is relatively fewer."Prime Minister Addington listened and nodded. "When can these official warships be put into use? It's time to teach those French a lesson and show them that the United Kingdom's technology is truly world-leading!"Unlock exclusive early access to The Complete Novel All the chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.
