‘Here we are, sir.’The orderly stood aside at a doorway and bowed as Arthur passed inside. He rang a bell further down the corridor and then left Arthur alone.The anteroom was the same small room where he had met Nelson nearly two years before. As he recalled the moment and vividly pictured the admiral sitting there that day, Arthur felt a sudden sense of what the man’s loss meant to those who had met him, however briefly, and to the nation as a whole. King George and all his subjects had slept more easily since Trafalgar.While that great battle had not won the war, it had made Britain’s defeat unlikely. As the thought came to him,Arthur wondered on whose shoulders it would fall to complete the great project that Nelson had given his life for.
‘Sir? If you would come in.’
Arthur looked up and saw a thin-faced young man in a neat dark coat standing in the doorway to Castlereagh’s office.
‘I’m twenty minutes early.’
‘The minister wishes to see you at once, sir.’
‘Very well, then.’ Arthur strode across the room and followed the man inside. Castlereagh rose and stretched out a hand as soon as he saw Arthur. The young man settled himself at the side of the table and picked up a pencil and notebook.
‘Good to see you again,Wellesley!’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Arthur replied as he took the man’s hand and gave it a firm shake.
‘Sit you down, man!’ Castlereagh smiled.‘How are things in Ireland?’
‘I am sure you have seen my reports, sir. I believe I have been thorough enough in those documents.’
‘I’m sure you have.They are models of clarity and conciseness. And like any such things, they lack the personal perception that the reader so often craves. So I ask you again.’
Arthur smiled back, pleased by the minister’s candour.Yet he knew that whatever admirable qualities Castlereagh possessed, he was still a politician and needed to be spoken to in a circumspect manner. For a moment he wondered if he should speak frankly in front of the third man, whom he assumed to be the minister’s personal secretary. But if Castlereagh asked such frank questions in front of the younger man, then Arthur should answer them in a similar fashion. He cleared his throat.
‘Sir, we hold Ireland, as a strong man holds a weaker one - by the throat. We can keep Ireland under control as long as we don’t grow weary of the strength it takes to subdue the natives. Unless we can make Englishmen of them there will never be peace there, except under the muzzles of British guns.’
Castlereagh was still for a moment as he stared directly at Arthur. Then he nodded. ‘I see. No peace, then.’
‘No peace, but order. And that can be maintained as long as we have the will to do it, however forcefully it needs to be carried through.’
‘Spoken like a soldier.’ Castlereagh smiled. ‘Alas.’
‘Alas?’
‘If you should cleave to a political career you will find such candour a considerable burden. Then again, you did not come here to pursue a political career. Carstairs, the letter if you please.’ Castlereagh held out his hand and his secretary quickly flipped open a file in front of him and flicked through a couple of pages before he found what he was looking for and proffered it to the minister. Castlereagh held it up for Arthur to see. ‘Your letter of the first of June.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Castlereagh examined it briefly. ‘You say that you cannot tolerate being in Ireland when an operation on the continent is being planned.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You still hold to that view?’
‘That is why I am here, sir,’ Arthur replied evenly.
‘Yes,’ Castlereagh lowered the letter and tapped his finger on the final paragraph. ‘You say you would be willing to give up your post as Chief Secretary in order to have a military command. May I ask why?’
‘For the reasons you have stated, sir. I am more a soldier than a politician. At a time of war I believe it is every man’s duty to serve his country in whichever capacity best utilises his proven abilities.’
‘A sound enough principle,’ Castlereagh conceded. ‘Yet the Duke of Richmond assures me that he could have picked no finer man for your current post than yourself. Do you doubt his word?’
‘It is kind of him to say that,’ Arthur replied cautiously. ‘And I could quite easily continue serving his grace from here in London, until such time as my appointment in the expeditionary force is confirmed or denied. If I am denied then I could return to my duties in Dublin.’
Castlereagh considered the suggestion for a moment and then frowned. ‘That is a highly irregular suggestion, Wellesley. I am not convinced that it would work.’
‘I disagree, sir. I believe that I could conduct the business of government from a distance. Besides, I believe the true path of service to my country lies in being a soldier.’
‘It is true that the late William Pitt regarded you highly in that capacity, and there are plenty of other men of influence who would agree that you are an officer of unusual ability and promise.’ Castlereagh paused to collect his thoughts, and then nodded. ‘Very well, I shall do my best to see that you are included amongst the general officers picked for the expeditionary force.’
Arthur felt a rush of relief sweep through his chest and tried to control the smile that was keen to play on his lips. ‘Thank you, sir.You won’t regret it, I swear.’
‘See that I don’t. Now then, is there anything else?’
‘Yes, sir.’ Arthur nodded. ‘I am given to understand that Bonaparte has forced the Russians to come to terms.’
The minister exchanged a quick glance with Carstairs before he responded. ‘Good God, that news has only just reached London this morning! Are there no secrets in this damned country? Where did you hear that?’
Arthur had no desire to have the orderly and his friend held responsible for slackness higher up the chain of command. So he shrugged. ‘A chance comment overheard as I made my way to this meeting, sir.’
Castlereagh stared closely at him.‘I see. Fair enough. It seems certain that it will be only a matter of days before we hear that the latest coalition against France has collapsed. I sometimes wonder if that bloody frog is invincible.’
‘Bonaparte can and will be defeated, sir,’Arthur replied firmly.‘Given the chance I shall prove it.’
Castlereagh smiled. ‘I believe you would. You see, Carstairs, the fighting spirit of our commanders burns as bright as ever.’