How a bunch of fat guys falling off horses wrecked the British Empire
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
I agree but this colony would only have about 1000 to 2000 people and most would be farmers on the outskirts. This would not be a comparison to his plans to rebuild Paris.
This is Maria Theresa II, daughter of Joseph II and granddaughter of Maria Theresa I. In OTL, she died at the age of 8.
Chapter 187
November, 1819
London
Regent William was receiving increasing numbers of inquiries as to when or if his niece, Queen Frederica, would formally take office. Now seventeen, Frederica was approaching her majority and would, legally, be allowed to be crowned and assume all responsibilities of the monarchy. In truth, William was quite proud of his niece's progress in her education and her character.
There were already whispered that William should not step down at all, at least for a few more years. Maybe after Frederica hit her mid-twenties...or had a few children, then she may take up the throne. William bitterly retorted he would have none of this. Frederica would decide when she was ready and, to make a point, the Regent started bringing the young Queen to Privy Council meetings. It was a bit awkward as Her Majesty's presence required an additional bit of formality but Frederica agreed that she would open the meetings but defer all questions to the Regent on political matters and then officially close them herself. The teenage Queen would provide a list of clarifications for William and any specific Ministers regarding policy to be reviewed at a later point. This would eventually evolve as the Queen began speaking with more authority over the next two years in Cabinet meetings and demanding explanations then and there (in a polite and formal manner of Royalty). She still deferred the decisions to the Regent, never openly contradicting him, but made plain her desire never to leave a meeting until her knowledge of the subject matter was met to her satisfaction.
Some of the ministers were uncomfortable with this arrangement but the Regent basically told them that the Queen would assume greater responsibilities than they soon enough and what greater duty than to help prepare her for that day?
In truth, William and Frederica usually met privately before and after every Privy Council meeting of importance and the Regent would usually have the Queen well informed ahead of time of the goings-ons or expectations of that meeting. The two grew quite close. With the girl's father having never been part of her life, her Grandmother now dead and her mother effectively an empty-headed foreigner with no political inclinations whatsoever in Britain, William became father figure and mentor to the Queen.
Indeed, the Queen and her sisters were all reaching the age where marriages may be considered, if not agreed. Charlotte was near identical to Frederica, though with a minor mark on her cheek to differentiate the two since birth. Elizabeth was fraternal and a bit sickly, though she was growing into her body and there were high hopes that she may put her illness-marked past behind her. The Doctors could not come up with any reason why she may not marry and produce children.
And there were plenty of other heirs to the House of Hanover now spread throughout Europe. Over half of King George III's fifteen children had married and most produced heirs themselves including Frederick of Sweden-Norway-etc, Edward Duke of Kent, Alfred of Courland (now on his second child), etc, etc, etc.
If the three daughters of Prince George of Wales failed to deliver heirs, there were no shortfall of successors. The House of Hanover was quite good at breeding.
William promised not to influence the Queen over her selection of consort but did lay down the rules for her eventual courtship. The Duke of Clarence hoped that the Queen may marry for love but explained perhaps no one in Britain had more restrictions than her. She could not simply marry a handsome court official or a particularly partisan member of the House of Lords. Indeed, it would be best to avoid any form of British subject even a cousin like Gloucester's son. Obviously, the consort would have to be a Protestant.
William had taken the opinion that dynastic unions typically did not bring any of the perceived benefits as politics always trumped blood. And forming a union of two nations, like Portugal and Spain, could lead to disastrous results. As always, the Queen took her uncle's advice in the spirit it was intended and promised to think carefully upon the matter before coming to any decisions. William recommended she take all the time she needed, even if she didn't marry until her mid-twenties. Soon enough, she would have a nation to run and producing a family while learning the intricacies of governance would be a tough task.
Philadelphia
The leaders of the Centralist Party wondered why the hell they were having so much trouble coming up with a decent candidate that could be pushed through next April's Convention for the election in twelve months. It seemed that there simply were no great leaders available. Too many of the victorious Generals from the Spanish War were either foreign-born or Federationist (including those selected by Jay before his defeat to Madison). Younger men like Winfield Scott, Alexander Macomb and Philip Hamilton remained abroad on military assignments and were no really household names.
Similarly, there just were no imperious figures like Adams or Jay or Hamilton ready to take the helm. The Federationist Party was weakened by the bad harvests, the debts of the war and the impending debts of the slave manumission and the recent financial problems. They were vulnerable but the Centralists simply could not come up with viable opposition candidates. The best they could think of was Rufus King, the man who had been beaten by Burr.
The Maratha Empire
After years of resentment, various peoples of the Maratha Empire finally snapped after the failed monsoon. With millions starving, the Tamil peoples of the south were but the first and most prominent to rebel. Their insurrection was political. Their local Kings had once happily acceded to join the Maratha Confederacy and pledge loyalty to the Emperor but the requisitions were growing out of hand as were the new directives for language and governance. With the Empire in disarray as harvests failed (the sky would not clear enough for a good harvest until 1820), the once-dominant Maratha Empire suddenly looked vulnerable.
November, 1819
London
Regent William was receiving increasing numbers of inquiries as to when or if his niece, Queen Frederica, would formally take office. Now seventeen, Frederica was approaching her majority and would, legally, be allowed to be crowned and assume all responsibilities of the monarchy. In truth, William was quite proud of his niece's progress in her education and her character.
There were already whispered that William should not step down at all, at least for a few more years. Maybe after Frederica hit her mid-twenties...or had a few children, then she may take up the throne. William bitterly retorted he would have none of this. Frederica would decide when she was ready and, to make a point, the Regent started bringing the young Queen to Privy Council meetings. It was a bit awkward as Her Majesty's presence required an additional bit of formality but Frederica agreed that she would open the meetings but defer all questions to the Regent on political matters and then officially close them herself. The teenage Queen would provide a list of clarifications for William and any specific Ministers regarding policy to be reviewed at a later point. This would eventually evolve as the Queen began speaking with more authority over the next two years in Cabinet meetings and demanding explanations then and there (in a polite and formal manner of Royalty). She still deferred the decisions to the Regent, never openly contradicting him, but made plain her desire never to leave a meeting until her knowledge of the subject matter was met to her satisfaction.
Some of the ministers were uncomfortable with this arrangement but the Regent basically told them that the Queen would assume greater responsibilities than they soon enough and what greater duty than to help prepare her for that day?
In truth, William and Frederica usually met privately before and after every Privy Council meeting of importance and the Regent would usually have the Queen well informed ahead of time of the goings-ons or expectations of that meeting. The two grew quite close. With the girl's father having never been part of her life, her Grandmother now dead and her mother effectively an empty-headed foreigner with no political inclinations whatsoever in Britain, William became father figure and mentor to the Queen.
Indeed, the Queen and her sisters were all reaching the age where marriages may be considered, if not agreed. Charlotte was near identical to Frederica, though with a minor mark on her cheek to differentiate the two since birth. Elizabeth was fraternal and a bit sickly, though she was growing into her body and there were high hopes that she may put her illness-marked past behind her. The Doctors could not come up with any reason why she may not marry and produce children.
And there were plenty of other heirs to the House of Hanover now spread throughout Europe. Over half of King George III's fifteen children had married and most produced heirs themselves including Frederick of Sweden-Norway-etc, Edward Duke of Kent, Alfred of Courland (now on his second child), etc, etc, etc.
If the three daughters of Prince George of Wales failed to deliver heirs, there were no shortfall of successors. The House of Hanover was quite good at breeding.
William promised not to influence the Queen over her selection of consort but did lay down the rules for her eventual courtship. The Duke of Clarence hoped that the Queen may marry for love but explained perhaps no one in Britain had more restrictions than her. She could not simply marry a handsome court official or a particularly partisan member of the House of Lords. Indeed, it would be best to avoid any form of British subject even a cousin like Gloucester's son. Obviously, the consort would have to be a Protestant.
William had taken the opinion that dynastic unions typically did not bring any of the perceived benefits as politics always trumped blood. And forming a union of two nations, like Portugal and Spain, could lead to disastrous results. As always, the Queen took her uncle's advice in the spirit it was intended and promised to think carefully upon the matter before coming to any decisions. William recommended she take all the time she needed, even if she didn't marry until her mid-twenties. Soon enough, she would have a nation to run and producing a family while learning the intricacies of governance would be a tough task.
Philadelphia
The leaders of the Centralist Party wondered why the hell they were having so much trouble coming up with a decent candidate that could be pushed through next April's Convention for the election in twelve months. It seemed that there simply were no great leaders available. Too many of the victorious Generals from the Spanish War were either foreign-born or Federationist (including those selected by Jay before his defeat to Madison). Younger men like Winfield Scott, Alexander Macomb and Philip Hamilton remained abroad on military assignments and were no really household names.
Similarly, there just were no imperious figures like Adams or Jay or Hamilton ready to take the helm. The Federationist Party was weakened by the bad harvests, the debts of the war and the impending debts of the slave manumission and the recent financial problems. They were vulnerable but the Centralists simply could not come up with viable opposition candidates. The best they could think of was Rufus King, the man who had been beaten by Burr.
The Maratha Empire
After years of resentment, various peoples of the Maratha Empire finally snapped after the failed monsoon. With millions starving, the Tamil peoples of the south were but the first and most prominent to rebel. Their insurrection was political. Their local Kings had once happily acceded to join the Maratha Confederacy and pledge loyalty to the Emperor but the requisitions were growing out of hand as were the new directives for language and governance. With the Empire in disarray as harvests failed (the sky would not clear enough for a good harvest until 1820), the once-dominant Maratha Empire suddenly looked vulnerable.
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Chapter 188
April, 1820
Philadelphia
The bitterly contested Federationist Convention of 1820 would be among the most hard-fought in history. At least ten men cast their hats into the ring, many feeling they had a strong chance at the Presidential nomination. Naturally, few attended in person, leaving the negotiating to proxies as was the tradition. Only the young and cunning Clay would negotiate on his own behalf. One by one, they began to fall off. Vice-President Simon Snyder of Pennsylvania would soon realize he had little support and decided to start negotiating with the various leaders - Clay, Adams and Crawford - for a position in the new government in exchange for his endorsement. In the end, he received nothing but a vague offer from Adams' faction to support Snyder to retain the vice-Presidential office in the upcoming Vice-Presidential ballot.
Soon, the first ballots were passed and the three expected frontrunners took the lead. The remainders, like Snyder, fell into line with their preferred candidates or whomever offered them a position. Smith Thompson was offered a role in the Clay Administration while Adams offered him the next available Supreme Court Justice slot. Thompson went with Adams.
The first twelve ballots eliminated all but the top three. Adams was the largest vote-getter but not by much. Crawford and Clay battled it out for second, the Georgian eventually taking the lead over the Ohioan as the Massachusetts-man's prime challenger. Here Clay made a decision. Adams was the older and perhaps Clay could be made his successor. Meanwhile, Crawford was more Jeffersonian than Clay's tastes ran. Clay's forces approached Adams and demanded the preeminent position in politics beneath the President: the Secretary of State position. Seeing a stalemate, Adams consented. Indeed, the current Secretary of State considered this a boon as it got his greatest internal challenger out of the position of Speaker of the House. Yes, he was sure Clay would be a pain in the ass but it would be restricted to Foreign Affairs, making Clay less of a threat to his own power. The man used his position in the House to bully any that opposed him and he would be less capable to oppose Adams in the future. In the end, what power did the Secretary of State have as the President and Congress both had to approve what he did? Worst came to worse, Adams could fire him and be rid of the man until the next Congressional election.
On the whole, it was a Benign Bargain and one Adams was quite willing to strike.
On the fourteenth ballot, Adams was selected as the Federationist candidate. His father, whom had largely retired from politics when he ascended to the Supreme Court, sent a note of congratulations and the two had dinner together. Any kind of approbation from the senior man was rare, even in these days. A keen Centralist, like much of the Supreme Court (John Marshall and Bushrod Washington to name a few), the elder Adams had quietly tolerated his son's defection to the Federationists years ago.
The Centralist Convention was, in its own way, equally raucous. With fewer prominent candidates, the Convention looked likely to select the second tier (but trusted) Rufus King again. But other men came to the fore, including the dynamic lawyer John Copley, son of the recently deceased John Singleton Copley of Boston. While only serving as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and Attorney General before, the forty-seven years old man had made waves in his single term in Congress. As he married into the wealthy Otis family of Massachusetts, he had the ear of the elitists, including the young New Hampshire Senator Daniel Webster, whom most emphatically had aspirations of his own some day (though he had yet to turn forty was would not be eligible to seek the presidency for another five years.).
In the end, Copley was chosen as the Candidate with Rufus King of New York his Vice-Presidential Candidate.
April, 1820
Philadelphia
The bitterly contested Federationist Convention of 1820 would be among the most hard-fought in history. At least ten men cast their hats into the ring, many feeling they had a strong chance at the Presidential nomination. Naturally, few attended in person, leaving the negotiating to proxies as was the tradition. Only the young and cunning Clay would negotiate on his own behalf. One by one, they began to fall off. Vice-President Simon Snyder of Pennsylvania would soon realize he had little support and decided to start negotiating with the various leaders - Clay, Adams and Crawford - for a position in the new government in exchange for his endorsement. In the end, he received nothing but a vague offer from Adams' faction to support Snyder to retain the vice-Presidential office in the upcoming Vice-Presidential ballot.
Soon, the first ballots were passed and the three expected frontrunners took the lead. The remainders, like Snyder, fell into line with their preferred candidates or whomever offered them a position. Smith Thompson was offered a role in the Clay Administration while Adams offered him the next available Supreme Court Justice slot. Thompson went with Adams.
The first twelve ballots eliminated all but the top three. Adams was the largest vote-getter but not by much. Crawford and Clay battled it out for second, the Georgian eventually taking the lead over the Ohioan as the Massachusetts-man's prime challenger. Here Clay made a decision. Adams was the older and perhaps Clay could be made his successor. Meanwhile, Crawford was more Jeffersonian than Clay's tastes ran. Clay's forces approached Adams and demanded the preeminent position in politics beneath the President: the Secretary of State position. Seeing a stalemate, Adams consented. Indeed, the current Secretary of State considered this a boon as it got his greatest internal challenger out of the position of Speaker of the House. Yes, he was sure Clay would be a pain in the ass but it would be restricted to Foreign Affairs, making Clay less of a threat to his own power. The man used his position in the House to bully any that opposed him and he would be less capable to oppose Adams in the future. In the end, what power did the Secretary of State have as the President and Congress both had to approve what he did? Worst came to worse, Adams could fire him and be rid of the man until the next Congressional election.
On the whole, it was a Benign Bargain and one Adams was quite willing to strike.
On the fourteenth ballot, Adams was selected as the Federationist candidate. His father, whom had largely retired from politics when he ascended to the Supreme Court, sent a note of congratulations and the two had dinner together. Any kind of approbation from the senior man was rare, even in these days. A keen Centralist, like much of the Supreme Court (John Marshall and Bushrod Washington to name a few), the elder Adams had quietly tolerated his son's defection to the Federationists years ago.
The Centralist Convention was, in its own way, equally raucous. With fewer prominent candidates, the Convention looked likely to select the second tier (but trusted) Rufus King again. But other men came to the fore, including the dynamic lawyer John Copley, son of the recently deceased John Singleton Copley of Boston. While only serving as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and Attorney General before, the forty-seven years old man had made waves in his single term in Congress. As he married into the wealthy Otis family of Massachusetts, he had the ear of the elitists, including the young New Hampshire Senator Daniel Webster, whom most emphatically had aspirations of his own some day (though he had yet to turn forty was would not be eligible to seek the presidency for another five years.).
In the end, Copley was chosen as the Candidate with Rufus King of New York his Vice-Presidential Candidate.
Chapter 189
November, 1820
Philadelphia
Never before had the nation faced such an election. Indeed, even the Jay-Madison contest of 1810 was not so severely fought. Both parties mobilized their bases in a manner previously unseen. While both candidates legitimately desired a clean election, their respective allies fought dirty.
However, it was the fading economy that failed the Federationists. Only a few years before, there was talk that the Centralist Party was finished. Now, they controlled the Presidency and razor-thin margins in both Houses of Congress.
President-elect John Copley hadn't really expected to win. Only Jay had failed to win a contested election and that was on his controversial third attempt. Belatedly, Copley realized that he hadn't really given much thought as to his cabinet.
John Eager Howard of Maryland was made Secretary of War. Philip Hamilton of New York was recalled from Bahia to assume control of the Secretary of State office. The aging Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, still popular in Congress, was to take up the Secretary of the Navy office. Jared Ingersoll of Pennsylvania was to be Attorney General. Dewitt Clinton of New York was Secretary of Treasury.
With the Centralists in command of Congress, they managed to evict Henry Clay from the Speaker position in favor of New Hampshire's Daniel Webster while the Senate was led by Copley's in-law, Harrison Otis of Massachusetts.
London
The Queen, approaching her eighteenth birthday, pronounced that the Regency would end on that day. This brought London's political classes into a titter. An eighteen year old girl in command of the nation? Absurd, some claimed.
Several of her ministers (well, the Regent's) attempted to encourage Queen Frederica to wait a few more years but the strong-willed young woman patently refused. It was her right...and her duty. She would reign as of the day she was eligible.
The ministers flocked to the Regent, hoping he may change his niece's mind. But William, Duke of Clarence, flatly refused to press Frederica at all. He had raised his niece to reign, he retorted, and would not refuse her the right when it came.
Perhaps, he joked, this would end the constant whispers he intended to usurp her throne.
Still, corners of the establishment fretted about the matter, some even openly offering the idea that Parliament may change the succession in some manner, maybe giving William the throne for his lifetime. He was a healthy man. He may rule for another decade and then the Queen may take over. As William had rejected the idea, this was a weak proposal.
Others suggested changing the succession age to reign from eighteen to, say, twenty-one. This was rejected as well.
Irritated, William recommended that all this talk be dropped. The Queen would remember who challenged her right to reign and would not likely forgive those who crossed her.
The following year, Queen Frederica was formally crowned (though she had technically been Queen since the age of three) and assumed all regal duties. William remained her closest advisor but was content remain in the background. He was there to advise Her Majesty but would reject any entreaties by office-seekers whom sought to use him to influence the Queen.
Given the almost genetic mutual loathing that many of the House of Hanover felt for those heir to their power, this was the smoothest transition in over a century in Great Britain.
Queen Frederica would not forget her Uncle. William's eldest son, William Courtenay, his bastard sired before his relationship with Mrs. Jordan, was named Baron while the younger Fitzclarence's by Mrs. Jordon were given minor titles (her eldest son George was made a Baron in 1825) or knighthoods over the years. She offered sinecures in the gift of the crown to ensure her illegitimate cousins' well-being (not that this was always appreciated by the grasping sons of the former Regent).
In the end, the Queen would prove an ardent worker and maintained a "regal" distance from her ministers (per her uncle's recommendations) in order to ensure they did not take advantage of her youth and sex.
November, 1820
Philadelphia
Never before had the nation faced such an election. Indeed, even the Jay-Madison contest of 1810 was not so severely fought. Both parties mobilized their bases in a manner previously unseen. While both candidates legitimately desired a clean election, their respective allies fought dirty.
However, it was the fading economy that failed the Federationists. Only a few years before, there was talk that the Centralist Party was finished. Now, they controlled the Presidency and razor-thin margins in both Houses of Congress.
President-elect John Copley hadn't really expected to win. Only Jay had failed to win a contested election and that was on his controversial third attempt. Belatedly, Copley realized that he hadn't really given much thought as to his cabinet.
John Eager Howard of Maryland was made Secretary of War. Philip Hamilton of New York was recalled from Bahia to assume control of the Secretary of State office. The aging Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, still popular in Congress, was to take up the Secretary of the Navy office. Jared Ingersoll of Pennsylvania was to be Attorney General. Dewitt Clinton of New York was Secretary of Treasury.
With the Centralists in command of Congress, they managed to evict Henry Clay from the Speaker position in favor of New Hampshire's Daniel Webster while the Senate was led by Copley's in-law, Harrison Otis of Massachusetts.
London
The Queen, approaching her eighteenth birthday, pronounced that the Regency would end on that day. This brought London's political classes into a titter. An eighteen year old girl in command of the nation? Absurd, some claimed.
Several of her ministers (well, the Regent's) attempted to encourage Queen Frederica to wait a few more years but the strong-willed young woman patently refused. It was her right...and her duty. She would reign as of the day she was eligible.
The ministers flocked to the Regent, hoping he may change his niece's mind. But William, Duke of Clarence, flatly refused to press Frederica at all. He had raised his niece to reign, he retorted, and would not refuse her the right when it came.
Perhaps, he joked, this would end the constant whispers he intended to usurp her throne.
Still, corners of the establishment fretted about the matter, some even openly offering the idea that Parliament may change the succession in some manner, maybe giving William the throne for his lifetime. He was a healthy man. He may rule for another decade and then the Queen may take over. As William had rejected the idea, this was a weak proposal.
Others suggested changing the succession age to reign from eighteen to, say, twenty-one. This was rejected as well.
Irritated, William recommended that all this talk be dropped. The Queen would remember who challenged her right to reign and would not likely forgive those who crossed her.
The following year, Queen Frederica was formally crowned (though she had technically been Queen since the age of three) and assumed all regal duties. William remained her closest advisor but was content remain in the background. He was there to advise Her Majesty but would reject any entreaties by office-seekers whom sought to use him to influence the Queen.
Given the almost genetic mutual loathing that many of the House of Hanover felt for those heir to their power, this was the smoothest transition in over a century in Great Britain.
Queen Frederica would not forget her Uncle. William's eldest son, William Courtenay, his bastard sired before his relationship with Mrs. Jordan, was named Baron while the younger Fitzclarence's by Mrs. Jordon were given minor titles (her eldest son George was made a Baron in 1825) or knighthoods over the years. She offered sinecures in the gift of the crown to ensure her illegitimate cousins' well-being (not that this was always appreciated by the grasping sons of the former Regent).
In the end, the Queen would prove an ardent worker and maintained a "regal" distance from her ministers (per her uncle's recommendations) in order to ensure they did not take advantage of her youth and sex.
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Chapter 190
April, 1821
London
Though the young Queen had effectively reigned for several months, Queen Frederica decided to wait until warmer weather to be formally crowned in Westminster. She also wanted her family, namely her aunts and uncles from around Europe, to attend.
Naturally, Uncle William (the former Regent), Duke of Clarence was there as were her two other uncles resident in Britain, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex.
From Sweden came King Frederick (Duke of York), Queen Louise and her cousins (and their wives, the Granddaughters of Czar Paul). From Hanover came Uncle Edward, Duke of Kent, where he governed as Viceroy for Uncle Frederick. Similarly, Uncle Octavius, Duke of Suffolk, arrived from Pomerania and Uncle Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge from Finland (his assignment from Frederick when Alfred, Duke of Richmond, was given Courland). Rumor had it that uncle Ernst of Cumberland wanted one of Frederick's nations to govern but Frederick refused.
Eventually, Ernst would be given an honorable posting in Havana, where he would be out of the way.
The handful of married aunts would soon return as well. Sadly, none of them beyond the late Aunt Amelia of Denmark would have children due to Queen Charlotte's resistance to giving up her daughters.
Various heads of state arrived, including the King of France, Philippe. The King and Queen of Ireland were invited but politely declined with the excuse that the Queen (a daughter of King Philippe) was heavily pregnant and could not travel. It saved embarrassment on both sides should the reigning House of Stuart set foot upon British soil again (as they did by accident over a decade prior).
At least dozen royal family's of Germany arrived, including the Dukes of Mecklenburg and the Royal Houses of Brunswick, Lippe and Waldeck. These last two would prove quite important.
While Queen Frederica had not mentioned marriage any time soon, her sisters, with nothing in particular to look forward to, were seeking their futures. Neither desired remaining maids kept by their sister's allowance. While they were close, both Charlotte and Elizabeth wanted to set their own path.
Among the visitors were the eldest son of the Prince of Lippe, Leopold, and the Prince of Waldeck, George. Both were young, not yet to thirty, and unmarried. Realizing that a dynastic alliance with Britain may work out in their favor (if only for the potential to borrow money), both Princes tarried with the attractive eighteen year old Princesses. Within the year, Princess Charlotte married Leopold (they remained for two years in Britain until Leopold was called back to Lippe) and Elizabeth (still the sickly one of the trio) married the reigning Prince of Waldeck. Neither line was particularly closely related to the House of Hanover and it was considered a good thing for the bloodlines. George and Elizabeth returned immediately to Waldeck.
The public welcomed these marriages as they met all expectations: foreign (meaning having no domestic political affiliations) protestants of Princely blood whom obviously did not intend to leach off of the public exchequer. Charlotte and Elizabeth were 1st and 2nd, respectively, in line for the thrones and it was always a good idea to have a direct succession. Granted, this would not likely be required as Queen Frederica parents came from families with a strong history of reproduction and the Queen was likely to be fertile herself. But backups were always nice. The next in line, King Frederick of Sweden-Norway-Finland-Hanover-Pomerania, had been pressed to abdicate his rights to the British throne to prevent any merger of Kingdoms. Britain had no desire for such an alliance. Frederick refused, of course, but the prospect was not nil. Many Britons were relieved that the King's two sons were married to the Granddaughters of the Czar (the daughter of Prince Alexander and his sister, the Duchess of Mecklenburg).
Next in line was Edward, Duke of Kent, and he was something of a dunce in some ways (though one with four children already).
The public would definitely prefer that Frederica spawned. Failing that, it would be for her sisters to produce a viable line without significant foreign interference (theoretically, their children would also be heirs to the little states of Lippe and Waldeck).
Everyone assumed that Her Majesty would select among the various princes present, most younger sons without any realistic chance for a throne themselves. Others whispered that the Duke of Gloucester's son may be the candidate or even one of the exiled Dutch Princes from the House of Orange. In the end, the Queen was in no hurry.
Philadelphia
President John Copley walked the length of the Presidential Mansion, recently completed by Mr. Brunel, and noted the sheer quantity of his father's paintings. The most illustrious painter in American history, John Singleton Copley (well, the President had the same name but dropped the Singleton to be differentiated from his father) had painted virtually every American politician of note from 1770 to the time of his death in 1815. He saw the portraits by his father of Franklin, Washington, Jay and Madison. Unfortunately, father died before painting Madison in the Presidential mansion but had painted Madison before as Governor of Virginia.
There were also paintings of American heroes like General O'Hara, General Arnold, even General Gage from his colonial days. Copies of portraits of Jefferson, Monroe, Adams, etc were common throughout the nation.
Once again, many people were shocked (especially abroad) that a political figure would voluntarily give up power just because he lost an election. Just in the last two months, two of the successor states of New Spain, Hidalgo and Nuevo Viscaya, had commenced civil war when the incumbent lost an election. Another nation avoided that problem when their "President" pronounced himself President for life and that there would be no more elections. That didn't look like it was going over any better than the other nations.
But Aaron Burr, whom was from the "Centralist-leaning" part of the Federationist Party admitted that Copley was probably closer to his own politics than many of the main contenders in the Federationist Primary like Simon Snyder or William Crawford. There would be no problems with the handover. He ordered his own Secretaries and department heads to meet with their successors in order to smooth the transition.
For this, President Copley would be forever grateful. Indeed, Burr even made several speeches (though not at the inauguration) congratulating his successor on his victory. Federationist candidate John Quincy Adams wrote a politely worded note, resigned as Secretary of State, and returned to Massachusetts to sulk in defeat.
Copley vowed to make no alterations to the Emancipation Act. Most of the slaves of South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland had already been freed. The rest would be freed without compensation by Christmas of this year.
April, 1821
London
Though the young Queen had effectively reigned for several months, Queen Frederica decided to wait until warmer weather to be formally crowned in Westminster. She also wanted her family, namely her aunts and uncles from around Europe, to attend.
Naturally, Uncle William (the former Regent), Duke of Clarence was there as were her two other uncles resident in Britain, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex.
From Sweden came King Frederick (Duke of York), Queen Louise and her cousins (and their wives, the Granddaughters of Czar Paul). From Hanover came Uncle Edward, Duke of Kent, where he governed as Viceroy for Uncle Frederick. Similarly, Uncle Octavius, Duke of Suffolk, arrived from Pomerania and Uncle Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge from Finland (his assignment from Frederick when Alfred, Duke of Richmond, was given Courland). Rumor had it that uncle Ernst of Cumberland wanted one of Frederick's nations to govern but Frederick refused.
Eventually, Ernst would be given an honorable posting in Havana, where he would be out of the way.
The handful of married aunts would soon return as well. Sadly, none of them beyond the late Aunt Amelia of Denmark would have children due to Queen Charlotte's resistance to giving up her daughters.
Various heads of state arrived, including the King of France, Philippe. The King and Queen of Ireland were invited but politely declined with the excuse that the Queen (a daughter of King Philippe) was heavily pregnant and could not travel. It saved embarrassment on both sides should the reigning House of Stuart set foot upon British soil again (as they did by accident over a decade prior).
At least dozen royal family's of Germany arrived, including the Dukes of Mecklenburg and the Royal Houses of Brunswick, Lippe and Waldeck. These last two would prove quite important.
While Queen Frederica had not mentioned marriage any time soon, her sisters, with nothing in particular to look forward to, were seeking their futures. Neither desired remaining maids kept by their sister's allowance. While they were close, both Charlotte and Elizabeth wanted to set their own path.
Among the visitors were the eldest son of the Prince of Lippe, Leopold, and the Prince of Waldeck, George. Both were young, not yet to thirty, and unmarried. Realizing that a dynastic alliance with Britain may work out in their favor (if only for the potential to borrow money), both Princes tarried with the attractive eighteen year old Princesses. Within the year, Princess Charlotte married Leopold (they remained for two years in Britain until Leopold was called back to Lippe) and Elizabeth (still the sickly one of the trio) married the reigning Prince of Waldeck. Neither line was particularly closely related to the House of Hanover and it was considered a good thing for the bloodlines. George and Elizabeth returned immediately to Waldeck.
The public welcomed these marriages as they met all expectations: foreign (meaning having no domestic political affiliations) protestants of Princely blood whom obviously did not intend to leach off of the public exchequer. Charlotte and Elizabeth were 1st and 2nd, respectively, in line for the thrones and it was always a good idea to have a direct succession. Granted, this would not likely be required as Queen Frederica parents came from families with a strong history of reproduction and the Queen was likely to be fertile herself. But backups were always nice. The next in line, King Frederick of Sweden-Norway-Finland-Hanover-Pomerania, had been pressed to abdicate his rights to the British throne to prevent any merger of Kingdoms. Britain had no desire for such an alliance. Frederick refused, of course, but the prospect was not nil. Many Britons were relieved that the King's two sons were married to the Granddaughters of the Czar (the daughter of Prince Alexander and his sister, the Duchess of Mecklenburg).
Next in line was Edward, Duke of Kent, and he was something of a dunce in some ways (though one with four children already).
The public would definitely prefer that Frederica spawned. Failing that, it would be for her sisters to produce a viable line without significant foreign interference (theoretically, their children would also be heirs to the little states of Lippe and Waldeck).
Everyone assumed that Her Majesty would select among the various princes present, most younger sons without any realistic chance for a throne themselves. Others whispered that the Duke of Gloucester's son may be the candidate or even one of the exiled Dutch Princes from the House of Orange. In the end, the Queen was in no hurry.
Philadelphia
President John Copley walked the length of the Presidential Mansion, recently completed by Mr. Brunel, and noted the sheer quantity of his father's paintings. The most illustrious painter in American history, John Singleton Copley (well, the President had the same name but dropped the Singleton to be differentiated from his father) had painted virtually every American politician of note from 1770 to the time of his death in 1815. He saw the portraits by his father of Franklin, Washington, Jay and Madison. Unfortunately, father died before painting Madison in the Presidential mansion but had painted Madison before as Governor of Virginia.
There were also paintings of American heroes like General O'Hara, General Arnold, even General Gage from his colonial days. Copies of portraits of Jefferson, Monroe, Adams, etc were common throughout the nation.
Once again, many people were shocked (especially abroad) that a political figure would voluntarily give up power just because he lost an election. Just in the last two months, two of the successor states of New Spain, Hidalgo and Nuevo Viscaya, had commenced civil war when the incumbent lost an election. Another nation avoided that problem when their "President" pronounced himself President for life and that there would be no more elections. That didn't look like it was going over any better than the other nations.
But Aaron Burr, whom was from the "Centralist-leaning" part of the Federationist Party admitted that Copley was probably closer to his own politics than many of the main contenders in the Federationist Primary like Simon Snyder or William Crawford. There would be no problems with the handover. He ordered his own Secretaries and department heads to meet with their successors in order to smooth the transition.
For this, President Copley would be forever grateful. Indeed, Burr even made several speeches (though not at the inauguration) congratulating his successor on his victory. Federationist candidate John Quincy Adams wrote a politely worded note, resigned as Secretary of State, and returned to Massachusetts to sulk in defeat.
Copley vowed to make no alterations to the Emancipation Act. Most of the slaves of South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland had already been freed. The rest would be freed without compensation by Christmas of this year.
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Chapter 191
July, 1821
Santiago, Kingdom of Chile
General Napoleon Bonaparte spent months in the court of King Gennaro of Chile. It was the world's worst kept secret that the "Emperor" in Spain (or at least his son the Regent) was continuously dispatching arms and money to support the insurgency against the British in the Rio Plata.
Bonaparte was so tired of serving petty causes that he walked out of Santiago before the King even decided if he may be useful. Would fighting for Spain or Chile or wherever any different than fighting for America? Hell, was it any better or worse than fighting for France or Italians?
On every occasion, Bonaparte had been let down by the people he was fighting for. The French were too terrified of setting their own destiny so they crawled back to the monarchy on their hands and knees. The Italians refused to rise up en masse against the great powers. The Americans were a petty colonial people at heart with ambition only to conquer the least desirable of lands.
Now, he was left to this?!!! Begging some propped up younger son of a piss-ant colonial Kingdom to let him command a Regiment of illiterate peons?
Pathetic. He should have stayed in France and licked King Philippe's boot like his brother.
There were so few worlds left to conquer and so little time. He was exhausted with the stupidity of it all. Was there ever a time when a man could rise according to his own merits and claim his own Kingdom? He could think of no such time.
In the end, Bonaparte found another British ship, this one bound for the ass end of the world. Maybe he could find his destiny there. At the very least, he wouldn't need grovel before lesser men.
Java, Dutch East Indies
The British ships sailed into Batavia Harbor. Or at least what was left of the port city. Several of the sailors had been to the Dutch port before, usually taking on provisions to continue on to China.
Batavia was effectively gone. Even here, far away from the volcanic eruptions, grey ash still covered the landscape, either from the volcanos themselves or burning forests.
Only a few hundred souls remained in Batavia, most having only recently arrived. The Dutch had brought a small contingent of peoples from Ceylon and India to rebuild their colonial Capital. It seemed they had plenty of work to do.
The past...three years, was it?...had been poor for the pitiful locals. An entire culture had been effectively wiped out. The Dutch were reportedly taking young men and boys to the Australian continent on "indentures", defacto slavery. Resistance was light as it remained impossible to find food in Java.
The British, sickened, sailed on. They would have to find provisions in Siam. They had a delivery of opium to make. With the tragedy came opportunity. The Chinese and Indian opium traders had taken a hit due to the natural disasters and chaos in the Maratha Empire. The British looked to reestablish their near monopoly on opium to China.
July, 1821
Santiago, Kingdom of Chile
General Napoleon Bonaparte spent months in the court of King Gennaro of Chile. It was the world's worst kept secret that the "Emperor" in Spain (or at least his son the Regent) was continuously dispatching arms and money to support the insurgency against the British in the Rio Plata.
Bonaparte was so tired of serving petty causes that he walked out of Santiago before the King even decided if he may be useful. Would fighting for Spain or Chile or wherever any different than fighting for America? Hell, was it any better or worse than fighting for France or Italians?
On every occasion, Bonaparte had been let down by the people he was fighting for. The French were too terrified of setting their own destiny so they crawled back to the monarchy on their hands and knees. The Italians refused to rise up en masse against the great powers. The Americans were a petty colonial people at heart with ambition only to conquer the least desirable of lands.
Now, he was left to this?!!! Begging some propped up younger son of a piss-ant colonial Kingdom to let him command a Regiment of illiterate peons?
Pathetic. He should have stayed in France and licked King Philippe's boot like his brother.
There were so few worlds left to conquer and so little time. He was exhausted with the stupidity of it all. Was there ever a time when a man could rise according to his own merits and claim his own Kingdom? He could think of no such time.
In the end, Bonaparte found another British ship, this one bound for the ass end of the world. Maybe he could find his destiny there. At the very least, he wouldn't need grovel before lesser men.
Java, Dutch East Indies
The British ships sailed into Batavia Harbor. Or at least what was left of the port city. Several of the sailors had been to the Dutch port before, usually taking on provisions to continue on to China.
Batavia was effectively gone. Even here, far away from the volcanic eruptions, grey ash still covered the landscape, either from the volcanos themselves or burning forests.
Only a few hundred souls remained in Batavia, most having only recently arrived. The Dutch had brought a small contingent of peoples from Ceylon and India to rebuild their colonial Capital. It seemed they had plenty of work to do.
The past...three years, was it?...had been poor for the pitiful locals. An entire culture had been effectively wiped out. The Dutch were reportedly taking young men and boys to the Australian continent on "indentures", defacto slavery. Resistance was light as it remained impossible to find food in Java.
The British, sickened, sailed on. They would have to find provisions in Siam. They had a delivery of opium to make. With the tragedy came opportunity. The Chinese and Indian opium traders had taken a hit due to the natural disasters and chaos in the Maratha Empire. The British looked to reestablish their near monopoly on opium to China.
Chapter 192
December 1821
Sumatra, British Colony
General Napoleon Bonaparte, late of the American Army, passed through the colony of Sumatra en route to...wherever. The soldier could not comprehend the devastation on Sumatra.
This is the level of destruction caused by a volcano...on another island?!!!
The British told of virtual extinction of human life...and most other forms of life....on the southerly islands of Java, Sumbawa and Lombok. Evidently, it started on the island of Sumbawa with a terrible eruption, then the island of Krakatoa, then on the island of Java itself. Then, again only a few months ago, the same volcano in Java erupted yet again. Java was reportedly a large island with many millions of residents. By most accounts, crops had failed completely, most of the trees on the island were dead, the seas were litters with rotting fish as ash smothered the fisheries and the fishing settlements destroyed by tidal waves.
Mass starvation had occurred on the island and god knew how many people were dead. What a waste.
Bonaparte did not tarry. He wandered for a while westwards, finally arriving in India. The Marathas allowed many European nations trading rights in little factories (but not armies). As he was still technically a traitor to France, Bonaparte avoided the Sarkars. He sailed for Bengal. Here, again, he found death as that land was plagued by alternating drought and floods.
Eventually, he met with an Maratha official whom sounded him out as a potential advisor for their artillery and training program. Some people the Marathas called Tamils were rebelling. Lacking anything better to do, Bonaparte agreed. The Marathas at least paid well.
In the meantime, Bonaparte made the acquaintance of the Mandarin Emissary in Calcutta, whom had been trying to convince the Maratha's to ban the export of opium (without success). However, he was also on the lookout for European professionals with experience in modern arms and their manufacture. He would keep a close eye on this Corsican.
London
First Lord of the Treasury Spencer Percival gaped at the numbers presented by the Ambassador to Philadelphia and the Colonial Secretary. Over the past few years, the Americans had marched 20,000 people (!!!) across the continent into California and the Oregon Territory.
How was this even possible?!!
Percival, for over a decade, had focused British foreign policy upon eventually seizing control over the western coastline of North America. Years before, there had been a vibrant furring trade through the Hudson Bay territory to this area. This ended when the Hudson Bay was transferred to New France (Canada, now, he forced himself to recall) and the United States. This didn't seem a bad idea at the time as it seemed that shipping the light weight products around the coast by sea was a superior alternative anyway.
The British had set up shop on Vancouver Island, using it as a base. Percival had long assumed, given the huge distances involved, that the Americans would take...oh...about fifty years to even REACH the west coast in any numbers. Now, they likely outnumber the tiny British trapping and trading settlers by about 50 to 1. Reportedly, the Americans were crossing the great plains of North America, heedless of violent native tribesmen, en route for the west at an exponential rate. Some guessed that over 5000 to 10,000 Americans per year were to cross by land alone, not to mention sea, in the immediate future.
The British, on the other hand, spent nearly a year on a one-way voyage by sea, a treacherous route past thousands of miles of hostile Spanish coastline. Not very many settlers like the idea of sailing 12,000 miles to settle some remote area. There were only so many furs and it was impossible to export grain or whatever the hell people would farm in the area at such a distance.
Percival and his cabinet, all aggressive and ambitious men, discussed the idea. Britain had claims due to the Cook/Vancouver expeditions on the western coast of North America, arguably more than the Americans. However, it was almost impossible to think that they could demographically compete with the Americans in settling the area. Some gentlemen recommended threatening the new President in Philadelphia with blockading the west coast (or even the east coast) of American trade.
This seemed foolhardy and counterproductive. It would not stop the American settlers, nor would it increase British settlers. Such measures failed to keep the Americans, when they were colonies, in the original colonies. They flocked into French and Indian territory without regard to British law or treaties.
It would effectively end any semblance of alliance with America (no, the Americans would not knuckle under to Britain's will). Even if the American government yielded, it did not necessarily mean that the American PEOPLE would not continue to meander into "British" territory in the same numbers. In the end, Britain had little to no ability to enforce their will along the western coast except at sea. And even that was severely limited.
Forcing the issue would likely lead to war with America and all the economic fallout associated with that. Britain would be left friendless in the western hemisphere. With Spain continuing to harass any British control over the Rio Plata (and to a lesser extent, southern Brazil), a rematch with the Iberians seemed likely.
Was the slim chance of obtaining control over California and Oregon worth losing all this?
In all reality, Percival admitted he had a losing hand. Instead, he set about trying to make the best deal he could. But he wasn't happy about it.
Queen Frederica seemed interested in foreign affairs, though she seldom interfered with her government. Still, she required to be updated on all goings-on. The First Lord knew this would make his government look weak but could not see a superior alternative.
The First Lord reminded himself to congratulate the Queen on the news that both of her sisters were already pregnant. These children would be very close in the succession. It was also nice that they were not present in Britain to demand subsidies. Typically, when British nobles, usually Princesses marrying foreign Kings, ascended to thrones, they gave up their British allowances. However, Queen Frederica, noting the small and poor nature of Lippe and Waldeck, quietly allowed her sisters to keep their minor grants. No one really minded given their proximity to the throne and nominal value of the subsidies.
December 1821
Sumatra, British Colony
General Napoleon Bonaparte, late of the American Army, passed through the colony of Sumatra en route to...wherever. The soldier could not comprehend the devastation on Sumatra.
This is the level of destruction caused by a volcano...on another island?!!!
The British told of virtual extinction of human life...and most other forms of life....on the southerly islands of Java, Sumbawa and Lombok. Evidently, it started on the island of Sumbawa with a terrible eruption, then the island of Krakatoa, then on the island of Java itself. Then, again only a few months ago, the same volcano in Java erupted yet again. Java was reportedly a large island with many millions of residents. By most accounts, crops had failed completely, most of the trees on the island were dead, the seas were litters with rotting fish as ash smothered the fisheries and the fishing settlements destroyed by tidal waves.
Mass starvation had occurred on the island and god knew how many people were dead. What a waste.
Bonaparte did not tarry. He wandered for a while westwards, finally arriving in India. The Marathas allowed many European nations trading rights in little factories (but not armies). As he was still technically a traitor to France, Bonaparte avoided the Sarkars. He sailed for Bengal. Here, again, he found death as that land was plagued by alternating drought and floods.
Eventually, he met with an Maratha official whom sounded him out as a potential advisor for their artillery and training program. Some people the Marathas called Tamils were rebelling. Lacking anything better to do, Bonaparte agreed. The Marathas at least paid well.
In the meantime, Bonaparte made the acquaintance of the Mandarin Emissary in Calcutta, whom had been trying to convince the Maratha's to ban the export of opium (without success). However, he was also on the lookout for European professionals with experience in modern arms and their manufacture. He would keep a close eye on this Corsican.
London
First Lord of the Treasury Spencer Percival gaped at the numbers presented by the Ambassador to Philadelphia and the Colonial Secretary. Over the past few years, the Americans had marched 20,000 people (!!!) across the continent into California and the Oregon Territory.
How was this even possible?!!
Percival, for over a decade, had focused British foreign policy upon eventually seizing control over the western coastline of North America. Years before, there had been a vibrant furring trade through the Hudson Bay territory to this area. This ended when the Hudson Bay was transferred to New France (Canada, now, he forced himself to recall) and the United States. This didn't seem a bad idea at the time as it seemed that shipping the light weight products around the coast by sea was a superior alternative anyway.
The British had set up shop on Vancouver Island, using it as a base. Percival had long assumed, given the huge distances involved, that the Americans would take...oh...about fifty years to even REACH the west coast in any numbers. Now, they likely outnumber the tiny British trapping and trading settlers by about 50 to 1. Reportedly, the Americans were crossing the great plains of North America, heedless of violent native tribesmen, en route for the west at an exponential rate. Some guessed that over 5000 to 10,000 Americans per year were to cross by land alone, not to mention sea, in the immediate future.
The British, on the other hand, spent nearly a year on a one-way voyage by sea, a treacherous route past thousands of miles of hostile Spanish coastline. Not very many settlers like the idea of sailing 12,000 miles to settle some remote area. There were only so many furs and it was impossible to export grain or whatever the hell people would farm in the area at such a distance.
Percival and his cabinet, all aggressive and ambitious men, discussed the idea. Britain had claims due to the Cook/Vancouver expeditions on the western coast of North America, arguably more than the Americans. However, it was almost impossible to think that they could demographically compete with the Americans in settling the area. Some gentlemen recommended threatening the new President in Philadelphia with blockading the west coast (or even the east coast) of American trade.
This seemed foolhardy and counterproductive. It would not stop the American settlers, nor would it increase British settlers. Such measures failed to keep the Americans, when they were colonies, in the original colonies. They flocked into French and Indian territory without regard to British law or treaties.
It would effectively end any semblance of alliance with America (no, the Americans would not knuckle under to Britain's will). Even if the American government yielded, it did not necessarily mean that the American PEOPLE would not continue to meander into "British" territory in the same numbers. In the end, Britain had little to no ability to enforce their will along the western coast except at sea. And even that was severely limited.
Forcing the issue would likely lead to war with America and all the economic fallout associated with that. Britain would be left friendless in the western hemisphere. With Spain continuing to harass any British control over the Rio Plata (and to a lesser extent, southern Brazil), a rematch with the Iberians seemed likely.
Was the slim chance of obtaining control over California and Oregon worth losing all this?
In all reality, Percival admitted he had a losing hand. Instead, he set about trying to make the best deal he could. But he wasn't happy about it.
Queen Frederica seemed interested in foreign affairs, though she seldom interfered with her government. Still, she required to be updated on all goings-on. The First Lord knew this would make his government look weak but could not see a superior alternative.
The First Lord reminded himself to congratulate the Queen on the news that both of her sisters were already pregnant. These children would be very close in the succession. It was also nice that they were not present in Britain to demand subsidies. Typically, when British nobles, usually Princesses marrying foreign Kings, ascended to thrones, they gave up their British allowances. However, Queen Frederica, noting the small and poor nature of Lippe and Waldeck, quietly allowed her sisters to keep their minor grants. No one really minded given their proximity to the throne and nominal value of the subsidies.
Chapter 193
March, 1822
London
Queen Frederica finally broke down told her Uncle Sussex to shut the hell up. She would damn well marry when she was damn well ready. Not even twenty years old, she was hardly an old hag.
In the end, she had too much to do. Uncle Sussex probably was hinting that she marry one of his sons. Neither, though, was particularly handsome and elegant. Frederica liked cultured men more than rugged men.
Who knows? She may never marry at all. Queen Elizabeth declined and reigned for what? Forty something years?
Frederica, irritated with all the men who "advised" her on a daily basis, did not desire a husband who would do the same.
Whenever one of her ministers brought it up, she demanded to know why the expensive occupation of southern Brazil and Rio Plata had not been brought to a peaceful and profitable conclusion. Eventually, they figured out not to annoy her with what she considered her personal business. Once, in a fit of pique, the Queen responded with overly much detail when Canning inquired about the Queen's potential matrimonial options and she described her "woman problems" before the embarrassed Minister. The man refused to set foot in Buckingham House for weeks.
It was the most fun she'd had since assuming control of the nation from her uncle Clarence over a year prior.
South Carolina
The exodus from the plantations had been slowed for the first few months since the mass emancipation due to the onset of winter. Even in South Carolina, one did not wander far from shelter in January. This gave the plantation owners a false sense of security that the freedmen would remain upon their plantations as if nothing happened. Some offered money (occasionally fair salaries), others simply pronounced that the old costs of food, shelter and clothing should do.
By March, the freedmen started wandering away, first in ones and twos, then en mass. The federal government had warned South Carolina (and Virginia and Maryland, thought there would be few problems there due to the lesser number and percentage of slaves in those states) that attempting to forcibly or legally maintain anyone in bondage would incur the nation's wrath. More than a few plantations owners had come up with various ways to try to enforce bondage via "debts" and "loans". Within weeks, there were already lawsuits in the courts. President Copley specifically kept several American regular regiments in the state just to remind anyone what would happen if anyone were to defy the national mood.
There were still plenty of problems, ones that would take years to rectify. The most ambitious (and young and valuable) of the freedmen led their family's west. Burr had opened the west to poor blacks with land grants and other means of support. Many states preferred this as they did not desire large numbers of freedmen within their borders anyway. They were largely poorly equipped with farming implements and assorted necessaries but this did not stop the exodus. By 1823, nearly forty percent of the freedmen population would have fled north, south and west from South Carolina, leaving the state reeling with a demographic loss even they never truly anticipated. Attempts by the hard-working Senators, the Pinckney cousins, to force the nation to financially support the state via arranging for immigration or indentured servants only made up the smallest portion of the losses.
In many ways, South Carolina, the most profitable state in the union from an export perspective, would never recover and the post-war recessions that started under Burr would continue for another year under Copley as the nation's cotton mills received less South Carolina cotton and the exchange rate was hurt when the rice and indigo exports withered.
Rio Plata
"General" Simon Bolivar was getting increasingly frustrated by the rancheros of the Pampas. Good horsemen all, they had been economically destroyed by the British blockade of the Rio Plata Region (at least any trade that did not go through them). Many were forced to use middlemen whom traded with the British. What Bolivar wanted was a mass rebellion and it was not happening. No one was happy with the British occupation but few seemed inclined to do anything about it.
In the end, the Spanish colonials simply drifted in obscure poverty, what might have been a profitable colony returned to isolated squalor.
Eastern coast of New Holland
Shipload after shipload of "indentures" arrived in the sugar plantations of Eastern New Holland, the men, women and children arriving from the Pacific Islands to the east. Some islands, between the capture of human flesh and the introduces diseases, would be virtually wiped out. The men were put into the fields, the women often into the households. As Dutch settlers tended to be predominantly male, the handsome Polynesian women were often taken as mistresses. The mass abductions would continue until the 1840's.
Other laborers were brought in from Java and surrounding islands. The emaciated scarecrows were virtually to a soul young and male, often boarding the ships only for the promise of a square meal.
Aaronsville, West Africa
With the emancipation of over 200,000 slaves on such short notice, many American leaders hoped that the freedmen would return to Africa. However, that land was as alien to the American-born slaves as the dark side of the moon. Few desired to return even when offered free transportation, land grants (though local chiefs would declined to tolerate this) and even stocks of farming and building implements.
Still, nearly 10,000 American, Cuban, Brazilian freed slaves would depart for Africa (out of the nearly 1.6 million within the American/Brazilian borders) to restart their lives. Most would regret it but a small smattering of British, French, etc freedmen over the years would return to Africa, being accepted by the community of Aaronsville.
Indeed, several thousands free blacks in London would sail for Africa as well.
The new community would soon enough ascend to control the local area and eventually dominate the regional tribes as the defacto ruling class.
March, 1822
London
Queen Frederica finally broke down told her Uncle Sussex to shut the hell up. She would damn well marry when she was damn well ready. Not even twenty years old, she was hardly an old hag.
In the end, she had too much to do. Uncle Sussex probably was hinting that she marry one of his sons. Neither, though, was particularly handsome and elegant. Frederica liked cultured men more than rugged men.
Who knows? She may never marry at all. Queen Elizabeth declined and reigned for what? Forty something years?
Frederica, irritated with all the men who "advised" her on a daily basis, did not desire a husband who would do the same.
Whenever one of her ministers brought it up, she demanded to know why the expensive occupation of southern Brazil and Rio Plata had not been brought to a peaceful and profitable conclusion. Eventually, they figured out not to annoy her with what she considered her personal business. Once, in a fit of pique, the Queen responded with overly much detail when Canning inquired about the Queen's potential matrimonial options and she described her "woman problems" before the embarrassed Minister. The man refused to set foot in Buckingham House for weeks.
It was the most fun she'd had since assuming control of the nation from her uncle Clarence over a year prior.
South Carolina
The exodus from the plantations had been slowed for the first few months since the mass emancipation due to the onset of winter. Even in South Carolina, one did not wander far from shelter in January. This gave the plantation owners a false sense of security that the freedmen would remain upon their plantations as if nothing happened. Some offered money (occasionally fair salaries), others simply pronounced that the old costs of food, shelter and clothing should do.
By March, the freedmen started wandering away, first in ones and twos, then en mass. The federal government had warned South Carolina (and Virginia and Maryland, thought there would be few problems there due to the lesser number and percentage of slaves in those states) that attempting to forcibly or legally maintain anyone in bondage would incur the nation's wrath. More than a few plantations owners had come up with various ways to try to enforce bondage via "debts" and "loans". Within weeks, there were already lawsuits in the courts. President Copley specifically kept several American regular regiments in the state just to remind anyone what would happen if anyone were to defy the national mood.
There were still plenty of problems, ones that would take years to rectify. The most ambitious (and young and valuable) of the freedmen led their family's west. Burr had opened the west to poor blacks with land grants and other means of support. Many states preferred this as they did not desire large numbers of freedmen within their borders anyway. They were largely poorly equipped with farming implements and assorted necessaries but this did not stop the exodus. By 1823, nearly forty percent of the freedmen population would have fled north, south and west from South Carolina, leaving the state reeling with a demographic loss even they never truly anticipated. Attempts by the hard-working Senators, the Pinckney cousins, to force the nation to financially support the state via arranging for immigration or indentured servants only made up the smallest portion of the losses.
In many ways, South Carolina, the most profitable state in the union from an export perspective, would never recover and the post-war recessions that started under Burr would continue for another year under Copley as the nation's cotton mills received less South Carolina cotton and the exchange rate was hurt when the rice and indigo exports withered.
Rio Plata
"General" Simon Bolivar was getting increasingly frustrated by the rancheros of the Pampas. Good horsemen all, they had been economically destroyed by the British blockade of the Rio Plata Region (at least any trade that did not go through them). Many were forced to use middlemen whom traded with the British. What Bolivar wanted was a mass rebellion and it was not happening. No one was happy with the British occupation but few seemed inclined to do anything about it.
In the end, the Spanish colonials simply drifted in obscure poverty, what might have been a profitable colony returned to isolated squalor.
Eastern coast of New Holland
Shipload after shipload of "indentures" arrived in the sugar plantations of Eastern New Holland, the men, women and children arriving from the Pacific Islands to the east. Some islands, between the capture of human flesh and the introduces diseases, would be virtually wiped out. The men were put into the fields, the women often into the households. As Dutch settlers tended to be predominantly male, the handsome Polynesian women were often taken as mistresses. The mass abductions would continue until the 1840's.
Other laborers were brought in from Java and surrounding islands. The emaciated scarecrows were virtually to a soul young and male, often boarding the ships only for the promise of a square meal.
Aaronsville, West Africa
With the emancipation of over 200,000 slaves on such short notice, many American leaders hoped that the freedmen would return to Africa. However, that land was as alien to the American-born slaves as the dark side of the moon. Few desired to return even when offered free transportation, land grants (though local chiefs would declined to tolerate this) and even stocks of farming and building implements.
Still, nearly 10,000 American, Cuban, Brazilian freed slaves would depart for Africa (out of the nearly 1.6 million within the American/Brazilian borders) to restart their lives. Most would regret it but a small smattering of British, French, etc freedmen over the years would return to Africa, being accepted by the community of Aaronsville.
Indeed, several thousands free blacks in London would sail for Africa as well.
The new community would soon enough ascend to control the local area and eventually dominate the regional tribes as the defacto ruling class.
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Chapter 194
November, 1823
Philadelphia
President John Copley was astounded at the valuations his family property on Beacon Hill was getting. The 15 acre farm near the new Massachusetts capital building was going to set up the family for life. Every great family in Boston wanted to a townhouse in that neighborhood. Rumor had it had Mr. Brunel had been approached to design some rowhouses for Boston similar to the ones he designed for Philadelphia.
The "American" style was considered en vogue.
Otherwise, Copley's presidency was going like shit.
The economy sucked.
South Carolina was falling apart (with their valuable export earnings and the loss of cotton production, etc) as the slaves wandered out. The total lack of a plan on what to do with the freedmen or how to treat them was now a defining issue for the national government and the states.
The Brazilians were a bit restive regarding their situation. They wanted to know if America intended to make them states or cut them loose. Copley wished he knew.
The harvests (and exports) were only now recovering from the past few years.
The debt was barely being serviced (for the slave manumission, the Spanish war, controlling the new "territories" (i.e. colonies) and the internal improvements).
The Federationists looked to make headway in the 1824 Congressional elections.
Now Britain was whining about some place called Vancouver island off of the Oregon Territory mainland. In the end, Americans lived there. British did not. That made it American. But he could not alienate Britain either. Queen Frederica's forces remained supreme at sea and he doubted America would win a one on one reengagement with Spain without Britain's help. The diplomats were coming to an agreement on trade rights in northwest North America. Britain wanted at least Vancouver Island and free trade to the mainland. Copely didn't give a damn.
Why did he want this job again?
London
Spencer Percival's majority was shaky for a number of reasons: internal dissention among the Tory elites, a weak economy, bad harvests. But the Whigs were poorly organized and he remained in control well enough (on most days).
There was some good news. Both the Queen's sisters had given birth, though unfortunately both to girls. Still, that added a few more direct heirs to the throne.
He was beginning to wonder when Queen Frederica intended to marry. She was more than twenty now but he knew better than to ask. Her Majesty did not appreciate it when her servants inquired about such a personal matter. Not that she'd asked but Percival would have advised her to take her time in selecting a proper mate, namely one who would know his place.
But the Queen's health took a sudden turn. Percival's breakfast was disturbed with an urgent message to come to Buckingham House. The Queen was ill and the doctors feared some sort of stroke.
New Holland
The largest shipload yet of shackled Kanaks (and some Samoans) arrived off the coast of New Holland. The islanders would be shipped off to various sugar plantations to serve as labor. The good news was that few of these people would fall to introduced diseases as the populations of these islands (Kanakia, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, North and South Zealand, etc) had already suffered the poxes over the past few years and the remainder had built up some sort of immunity.
Little by little over the next few decades, the Pacific Islands would be emptied out of people, about 80% by disease and 20% by "blackbirding" as it came to be called.
South Africa
While the Dutch colonists were exploiting their new territories in New Holland with aplomb (on the plantations on the backs of the Pacific natives), the Dutch colonies on the Cape were less successful. Relatively few settlers came to South Africa compared to New Holland. Therefore, when a middle-aged Zulu leader named Shaka descended upon the scattered and dilute Dutch settlements on the Cape at the head of a 20,000 warrior army, the Dutch were unable to put up a stout defense. Only about 30,000 Dutch lived across the large area, with perhaps 15,000 local Khoikhoi and about 30,000 slaves. The local tribesmen and slaves, hoping that the Zulu would be better masters than the hated Dutch (they wouldn't be) revolted against their overlords, adding to the problem. Eventually, the Dutch would retreat to the Cape cities in great numbers.
By the end of 1823, the Dutch had retreated towards the fortified coastal cities, Zulu armies having wiped out 25% of the Dutch population. Virtually all slaves and local tribes swore allegiance to Shaka, effectively ending the plantation system of the Cape Colony.
By 1824, thousands of Dutch began to board ships bound for the Republic itself or, more commonly, New Holland in hopes of finding a new life.
November, 1823
Philadelphia
President John Copley was astounded at the valuations his family property on Beacon Hill was getting. The 15 acre farm near the new Massachusetts capital building was going to set up the family for life. Every great family in Boston wanted to a townhouse in that neighborhood. Rumor had it had Mr. Brunel had been approached to design some rowhouses for Boston similar to the ones he designed for Philadelphia.
The "American" style was considered en vogue.
Otherwise, Copley's presidency was going like shit.
The economy sucked.
South Carolina was falling apart (with their valuable export earnings and the loss of cotton production, etc) as the slaves wandered out. The total lack of a plan on what to do with the freedmen or how to treat them was now a defining issue for the national government and the states.
The Brazilians were a bit restive regarding their situation. They wanted to know if America intended to make them states or cut them loose. Copley wished he knew.
The harvests (and exports) were only now recovering from the past few years.
The debt was barely being serviced (for the slave manumission, the Spanish war, controlling the new "territories" (i.e. colonies) and the internal improvements).
The Federationists looked to make headway in the 1824 Congressional elections.
Now Britain was whining about some place called Vancouver island off of the Oregon Territory mainland. In the end, Americans lived there. British did not. That made it American. But he could not alienate Britain either. Queen Frederica's forces remained supreme at sea and he doubted America would win a one on one reengagement with Spain without Britain's help. The diplomats were coming to an agreement on trade rights in northwest North America. Britain wanted at least Vancouver Island and free trade to the mainland. Copely didn't give a damn.
Why did he want this job again?
London
Spencer Percival's majority was shaky for a number of reasons: internal dissention among the Tory elites, a weak economy, bad harvests. But the Whigs were poorly organized and he remained in control well enough (on most days).
There was some good news. Both the Queen's sisters had given birth, though unfortunately both to girls. Still, that added a few more direct heirs to the throne.
He was beginning to wonder when Queen Frederica intended to marry. She was more than twenty now but he knew better than to ask. Her Majesty did not appreciate it when her servants inquired about such a personal matter. Not that she'd asked but Percival would have advised her to take her time in selecting a proper mate, namely one who would know his place.
But the Queen's health took a sudden turn. Percival's breakfast was disturbed with an urgent message to come to Buckingham House. The Queen was ill and the doctors feared some sort of stroke.
New Holland
The largest shipload yet of shackled Kanaks (and some Samoans) arrived off the coast of New Holland. The islanders would be shipped off to various sugar plantations to serve as labor. The good news was that few of these people would fall to introduced diseases as the populations of these islands (Kanakia, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, North and South Zealand, etc) had already suffered the poxes over the past few years and the remainder had built up some sort of immunity.
Little by little over the next few decades, the Pacific Islands would be emptied out of people, about 80% by disease and 20% by "blackbirding" as it came to be called.
South Africa
While the Dutch colonists were exploiting their new territories in New Holland with aplomb (on the plantations on the backs of the Pacific natives), the Dutch colonies on the Cape were less successful. Relatively few settlers came to South Africa compared to New Holland. Therefore, when a middle-aged Zulu leader named Shaka descended upon the scattered and dilute Dutch settlements on the Cape at the head of a 20,000 warrior army, the Dutch were unable to put up a stout defense. Only about 30,000 Dutch lived across the large area, with perhaps 15,000 local Khoikhoi and about 30,000 slaves. The local tribesmen and slaves, hoping that the Zulu would be better masters than the hated Dutch (they wouldn't be) revolted against their overlords, adding to the problem. Eventually, the Dutch would retreat to the Cape cities in great numbers.
By the end of 1823, the Dutch had retreated towards the fortified coastal cities, Zulu armies having wiped out 25% of the Dutch population. Virtually all slaves and local tribes swore allegiance to Shaka, effectively ending the plantation system of the Cape Colony.
By 1824, thousands of Dutch began to board ships bound for the Republic itself or, more commonly, New Holland in hopes of finding a new life.
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Ok, so slavery is dead in America, but there is clearly a question of 'what to do' with the Freed slave populations. There is clearly a racial component to that question, but I'm not getting the vibe of the sort of raw racism that defines RL Slavery in America.
Plus you had one of the chapters with this TLs Duke of Wellington mention that a pair of Freeman sisters who could pass for white left for the west with a white guy, so it's obvious that at least SOME of the Freemen doing a version of Racial whitening, which ironically was a thing in Brazil in the 19th century.
Once that becomes more popularly known I could see a moral panic among the white populations in the 'mainland' USA over the situation.
As for Queen Frederica... Either she's actually sick or she's been indulging in some hanky-panky with a secret lover and is now pregnant.
Plus you had one of the chapters with this TLs Duke of Wellington mention that a pair of Freeman sisters who could pass for white left for the west with a white guy, so it's obvious that at least SOME of the Freemen doing a version of Racial whitening, which ironically was a thing in Brazil in the 19th century.
Once that becomes more popularly known I could see a moral panic among the white populations in the 'mainland' USA over the situation.
As for Queen Frederica... Either she's actually sick or she's been indulging in some hanky-panky with a secret lover and is now pregnant.
What about Indians (South Asians) becoming contract laborers in New Holland and the Pacific?
Chapter 195
February, 1824
London
Queen Frederica gestured for her lady-in-waiting to read the latest letters dispatched from her sisters in the Holy Roman Empire. It was silly, she knew as she'd read them all a dozen times over but she enjoyed to hear their words. Both had been kind enough to write several times a week, though often the letters were all packaged together and sent on the same day. Frederica was more than capable of reading them herself but preferred to hear the words read aloud, as if her sisters were speaking directly to her.
It had been months since the Queen's last Court appearance. Her illness had caught the nation by surprise, Frederica not the least. The good news was the illness did not seem life-threatening or contagious. The bad news was that Frederica's appearance had been affected and, to her surprise, she found her condition humiliating. She'd assumed she was beyond the vanities of the flesh but still could not stand the idea of her subjects witnessing her slur her speech, as one eyelid drooped noticeably down, the right side of her face paralyzed.
Her doctors had feared a stroke but the Queen's motor control and mental acuity remained unimpaired. However, the right side of her face, her muscles from the ear to the jaw, were non-functional. Unfortunately, they were not dead. A constant throb pulsed throughout the day and night. Her ear hurt, especially when subjected to sound. Indeed, the Queen ordered silence in Buckingham House throughout the night. Her sense of taste was damaged and hearing herself slur was humiliating. Her tongue, beyond the loss of taste, seemed functional but her jaw and cheek made it difficult to speak. Her eye leaked, perhaps due to the difficulty in blinking.
Her doctors researched the condition and found many examples though it had no official name. Eventually it would be referred to as "Douglas Palsy" after the first Britain that appeared to diagnose the problem. Other doctors had reviewed it before but no one cared about foreigners. When Frederica learned that it was to be named the "Queen's palsy", she vehemently demanded that the Doctors retract that name immediately.
Slowly, she learned to speak around one side of the mouth. Her ministers continued to arrive without hesitation and she gave them unequalled access to the Crown. She had nothing better to do. Uncle William, Duke of Clarence, visited regularly as did Uncle Sussex. Her sister Charlotte offered to visit but Frederica bade her not leave her young daughter (2nd in line to the throne, these days).
Frederica read and, when her eye caused her trouble, had her ladies in waiting read to her. She delved through every document her ministers forwarded to her and spent her days answered polite good wishes from important Britons and foreign dignitaries. However, she met few people in person, including the assorted suitors presenting themselves for her hand (by tradition, the Queen must propose, not the consort). She steadfastly refused to meet with any man that might be her husband in this dismal condition.
Her doctors assured her that many, most really, people afflicted with this condition recovered fully, often within weeks, the heavy majority within the year. It seemed the younger the patient, the easier and more complete the recovery. Frederica would just have to wait.
She spent her time writing letters to her sister Charlotte in Lippe, who returned with notes about little Princess Augusta, and Elizabeth in Waldeck, who wrote of little Princess Pauline. Elizabeth's doctors feared that the sickly woman may not be able to conceive again as Pauline's birth had been difficult. But Charlotte may produce another dozen children so far as anyone knew.
February, 1824
London
Queen Frederica gestured for her lady-in-waiting to read the latest letters dispatched from her sisters in the Holy Roman Empire. It was silly, she knew as she'd read them all a dozen times over but she enjoyed to hear their words. Both had been kind enough to write several times a week, though often the letters were all packaged together and sent on the same day. Frederica was more than capable of reading them herself but preferred to hear the words read aloud, as if her sisters were speaking directly to her.
It had been months since the Queen's last Court appearance. Her illness had caught the nation by surprise, Frederica not the least. The good news was the illness did not seem life-threatening or contagious. The bad news was that Frederica's appearance had been affected and, to her surprise, she found her condition humiliating. She'd assumed she was beyond the vanities of the flesh but still could not stand the idea of her subjects witnessing her slur her speech, as one eyelid drooped noticeably down, the right side of her face paralyzed.
Her doctors had feared a stroke but the Queen's motor control and mental acuity remained unimpaired. However, the right side of her face, her muscles from the ear to the jaw, were non-functional. Unfortunately, they were not dead. A constant throb pulsed throughout the day and night. Her ear hurt, especially when subjected to sound. Indeed, the Queen ordered silence in Buckingham House throughout the night. Her sense of taste was damaged and hearing herself slur was humiliating. Her tongue, beyond the loss of taste, seemed functional but her jaw and cheek made it difficult to speak. Her eye leaked, perhaps due to the difficulty in blinking.
Her doctors researched the condition and found many examples though it had no official name. Eventually it would be referred to as "Douglas Palsy" after the first Britain that appeared to diagnose the problem. Other doctors had reviewed it before but no one cared about foreigners. When Frederica learned that it was to be named the "Queen's palsy", she vehemently demanded that the Doctors retract that name immediately.
Slowly, she learned to speak around one side of the mouth. Her ministers continued to arrive without hesitation and she gave them unequalled access to the Crown. She had nothing better to do. Uncle William, Duke of Clarence, visited regularly as did Uncle Sussex. Her sister Charlotte offered to visit but Frederica bade her not leave her young daughter (2nd in line to the throne, these days).
Frederica read and, when her eye caused her trouble, had her ladies in waiting read to her. She delved through every document her ministers forwarded to her and spent her days answered polite good wishes from important Britons and foreign dignitaries. However, she met few people in person, including the assorted suitors presenting themselves for her hand (by tradition, the Queen must propose, not the consort). She steadfastly refused to meet with any man that might be her husband in this dismal condition.
Her doctors assured her that many, most really, people afflicted with this condition recovered fully, often within weeks, the heavy majority within the year. It seemed the younger the patient, the easier and more complete the recovery. Frederica would just have to wait.
She spent her time writing letters to her sister Charlotte in Lippe, who returned with notes about little Princess Augusta, and Elizabeth in Waldeck, who wrote of little Princess Pauline. Elizabeth's doctors feared that the sickly woman may not be able to conceive again as Pauline's birth had been difficult. But Charlotte may produce another dozen children so far as anyone knew.
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I'll get more into that but I suspect that the stronger China/India(Maratha Empire) would prevent some workers from departing their homes, either by law or less economic necessity. Unlike OTL British India, any foreign power would need local government approval to hire laborers. I will go into this later.
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