The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1778 - 91: Talents Abound in the Hastings Family

For a noble family, rejuvenating or declining usually only takes a generation.

The decline of the Hastings family in the second generation can actually be attributed to the first Marquis of Hastings.

The first Marquis of Hastings was definitely an outstanding figure with exceptional capabilities, having achieved remarkable accomplishments throughout his life. During the American War of Independence, he started as a Grenadier Lieutenant and eventually became a significant figure in the British North American garrison.

This Irish nobleman was also a well-known Irish patriot. After returning from the United States, he continued to serve in the Ireland Parliament.

On the eve of the 1798 Irish Uprising, the first Marquis of Hastings, realizing the critical situation, publicly called for parliamentary reform in the House of Lords. He advocated for the abolition of corrupt Irish constituencies controlled by the Dublin Government and proposed amending the Act of Supremacy to allow Catholics to be elected as members of Parliament.

He met with representatives of the Irish Catholic Committee in London overnight and, acting as an intermediary, arranged for these Irish compatriots to meet with the King to express their demands face-to-face.

Regrettably, despite the efforts of the Marquis of Hastings, the mediation was unsuccessful.

To ease the tension, he publicly criticized the British Government’s oppressive policies in Ireland.

He submitted evidence provided by Dr. Whitley Stokes and William Sampson, lawyer, to the King, attempting to prove the various atrocities committed by the army against Irish farmers in their efforts to quash the uprising and disarmament.

However, the government’s blunt response to the Irish issue enraged this Irish patriot, leading the Marquis of Hastings to vote against the Anglo-Irish Union Act in Parliament and break ties with Prime Minister Little William Pitt, leaving the Tory Party to join the Whig Party instead.

As a result, the first Marquis of Hastings held a highly esteemed status in Ireland, with many Irish even referring to him as the "Lafayette of Ireland."

This was during the time of the French Directory, when France was troubled by pressure from across the sea. Consequently, they contemplated planning for Irish independence to weaken Britain’s power.

Paul Barras, the Chief Executive of the French Republic, once consulted the Irish groups in France: if Ireland were to become independent, considering the general ignorance among the Irish, establishing a monarchy might be the only option. If a king were to be chosen for Ireland, who would be a suitable recommendation?

On the matter of who should be king, the answer from the Irish groups almost unanimously pointed to the first Marquis of Hastings, with everyone seemingly considering him the only candidate acceptable to the various factions in Ireland. However, because the Marquis of Hastings held an anti-French stance and had participated in the Ostend expedition led by the Duke of York as a Lieutenant General, the matter eventually dissipated.

Meanwhile, outside of Ireland, such as in India, the first Marquis of Hastings’ work was equally outstanding.

During his tenure, the British East India Company conquered Nepal through the Gurkha War and annexed the Maratha States through the Third Maratha War. Although he was not particularly notable in terms of foreign warfare compared to other Governors of India, his level of internal governance was certainly among the best.

Under his administration, British India restored Delhi’s Mughal Canal System, implemented a series of educational and administrative reforms, and encouraged freedom of the press. In 1819, he even peacefully and financially acquired Singapore from the Yogyakarta Sultan.

Nevertheless, his ten-year tenure in India was not entirely pleasant, as his departure was somewhat unseemly.

His problem lay with money.

At first, it was just ordinary financial difficulties. The military expenses for conquering Maratha were enormous, and the cost of canal repairs, school establishments, and postal system setups were all expenditures. The East India Company, although a commercial institution, had to bear the administrative functions of governing half of India, while London was notoriously stingy with its allocations, usually preferring not to ask India for more money.

Thus, the cash-strapped Governor’s Office naturally began seeking "more flexible" financial measures.

At this point, the William Palmer Bank in Calcutta emerged. On the surface, it was a well-operated local commercial bank trusted by Bengali merchants. In reality, it had close ties with the Governor’s Office, providing numerous loans for military supplies and troop salaries, handling the issuance of bonds for the British Indian Colony, and even holding mortgage rights on some lands.

London initially turned a blind eye. After all, the Marquis of Hastings was a close friend of George IV, and he was capable of stabilizing India.

But inevitably, whether in the Irish issue or on the matter of administrative reforms in India, the Marquis of Hastings offended too many people.

Moreover, the truth cannot be hidden, so it wasn’t long before a lawsuit was filed in London.

Although the report contained no concrete evidence, consisting mostly of hearsay and speculation, as well as questioning and insinuations about the Marquis of Hastings’ character.

Nevertheless, no matter how unreliable the letter was, its purpose was indeed achieved. The scandal brewed furiously, forcing the Marquis of Hastings to submit his resignation to the Indian Management Committee and set sail for home to stand trial. The investigation dragged on for several years, ultimately resulting in no charges due to lack of evidence.