January 1st, 1836
Cabinet Meeting Room, Whitehall
The Prime Minster, Viscount Melbourne strode into the meeting room of the Cabinet of the British Empire. Around the table set the members of his cabinet. The room was richly appointed in the style of the time with everyone sitting in comfortable plush leather chairs. A fire was roaring in the background to keep the cold air of an London winter away.
Prime Minster Viscount Melbourne’s Cabinet:
Lord Melbourne - First Lord of the Treasury
Lord Lansdowne - Lord President of the Council
Lord Duncannon - Lord Privy Seal and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests
Lord John Russell - Secretary of State for the Home Department
Lord Palmerston - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Lord Glenelg - Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Lord Auckland - First Lord of the Admiralty
Thomas Spring-Rice - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Charles Poulett Thomson - President of the Board of Trade
Sir John Cam Hobhouse - President of the Board of Control
Lord Holland - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Lord Howick - Secretary at War
This body contained several ceremonial and unimportant positions so frequently it was rare for it to meet as a whole. The Prime Minster would hold weekly meeting with what was known as the Inner Cabinet of the more important positions.
The Inner Cabinet that met more often:
Lord Melbourne
Lord John Russell - Secretary of State for the Home Department
Lord Palmerston - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Lord Glenelg - Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Lord Auckland - First Lord of the Admiralty
Thomas Spring-Rice - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord Howick - Secretary at War
Sir John Cam Hobhouse - President of the Board of Control
It was the Inner Cabinet that was meeting on January 1st to discuss the course of the Empire.
“Lords and Gentlemen we are gathered here today to hear your reports on you area of responsibilities. At the end of the formal reports from each department we will have a more fluid debate about the policy of the government. We will then draw up the various bills and the Budget to be submitted to the House of Commons to further our aims. Lord John Russell please give your report for the Home Department.” Began Melbourne
“ Thank you Prime Minister. My report will consist of the state of industry and transportation in the home islands. We have numerous factories scattered across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These factories are the future of our economy and we must expand them and build new ones. As soon as my ministry receives and figures out what the most profitable items are and what other sectors of the government, primarily the Army and Navy need we will return with plans for the expansion of the sector. Factories producing steel, lumber, furniture, clothes and other basic nesscities will be among our first built and or expanded.
We must also increase our infrastructure to help our factories grow. Doing so will give us benefits twofold. One the amount of goods a factory can produce and then send to distant markets will increase and the factories will increase in profits. Second railways will allow our men to move around the country faster. At our next meeting I will return with in depth reports on these two vital sectors of the economy. I thank you gentle men for your time” Lord Russell sat down and nodded at the Prime Minster.
Blue indicates planned railroads/
“ Thank you Lord Russell, will the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord Palmerston please give a report on the state of our foreign affairs and the conditions of Europe right now?” asked Melbourne.
“ Prime Minster, members of the cabinet. Let us begin with the state of Hanover, they are tied to our crown as long as a male rules. With the likelihood that Victoria will succeed to our throne the union will be broken. However that is not important and I believe good relations will continue.
Moving onto Europe, a civil war rages in Spain, this has little importance to us and we should not consider it our problem. France is stable for the time being and we will likely face competition from them in colonizing various regions around the world. I advise that we try and maintain good relations with them. Germany is hodgepodge of statelets and minor Kingdoms. The two most powerful are Bavaria and Prussia. Things may come to blow as Prussia seeks to unite Germany. This could cause issues with Austria. The Ottoman Empire may go to war over the Egyptians holding provinces they consider theirs. I advise the HM government support the Ottomans as a defeat may weaken them and make Russia attack. We must contain Russia form expanding into the Ottoman Empire and into Central Asia as they could threaten India. The United States is neutral towards us but we could improve relations with them, the disputed lands of Oregon may prove a problem in the future. South America is of little importance. That is all Prime Minister” Lord Palmerston sat down and waited for the PM to speak.
“ Thank you, and now Lord Glenelg, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies on our colonies” Said Melbourne
“ Thank you Prime Minster, members of the cabinet. I will speak primarily about our colonies. Since we are not engaged in warfare I have little to speak of there. It is my belief that we need colonies. For the following reasons, they give us bases to station the RN and Army, they are a source of raw materials for our factories which the Home Secretary remarked were so vital to us. Africa is virtually unconquered or uncolonized so opportunities abound. I have prepared a map to illustrate where my ministry believes we should concerate. These areas contain vital raw materials and will act as good ports for our Royal Navy.” Lord Glenelg sat down and waited for the next speaker.
Yellow is existing claims, blue is first prioirity, red second.
“ With your permission Prime Minster, I would like to report on the status of the Royal Navy” Asked Lord Auckland.
“ Go on” replied Melbourne.
“ The Royal Navy is currently the largest in the world and bigger then the next by a large margin. I would not advocate building any more ships. Instead we must concerate on increasing our naval technology to increase the skill of these ships. Our new steam powered Raiders show promise and it is my belief that we should try and develop new and better steam ships. The Royal Navy can blockade any country and is ready for war if you need it Prime Minister.” Lord Auckland sat back down.
“ Next Thomas Spring-Rice Chancellor of the Exchequer on the state of our budget and where we should spend money” read Melbourne off the agenda.
“ Thank you, the Exchequer has heard all of your statements and sadly must report we cannot fully fund a massive naval improvement program, colonizing and improving factories and railroads. I will try and give you as much pounds to work with as possible. We will institute small tariffs and increase our tax levels. This should increase our money supply. I also submit a suggestion that we cut Royal Navy funding by 20% to save money, it a time of war we can reincrease it and return the ships to full effectiveness, total defence spending will have to low as well. Thank you for listening”
Sir John Cam Hobhouse, President of the Board of Control rose to speak. He was the last to. “ Thank you members of the cabinet, my post is to oversea the British East India company and therefore the jewel in our crown, India. Matters are stable but on the North Western Frontier, the states not influnced by us or controlled by us pose a risk. The state of Panjab being the most risky. We advocate moving the Bombay and Dehli army to our border with Panjab and bringing it under our control.” Thank You.
“ Alright Gentlemen it has been a long day and we will retire and discuss what new policys and new bills tomorrow” and with that Melbourne rose and left to his residence and the rest of the cabinet did the same.