Wellesley and Lord Grenville, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, exchanged glances. The latter immediately echoed:
"At present, the course most beneficial to our country is to end all land wars as quickly as possible.
"After that, our primary objective should be to do everything in our power to bring about the unity of the German States. Once they have regained their strength, we can plan a siege of France."
Pitt the Younger rubbed his forehead wearily and looked out the window with bloodshot eyes. "That would amount to admitting that our country has been defeated..."
Admiral Jervis, chairman of the Naval Warfare Committee, said:
"No, Prime Minister. It is only Prussia and Austria that have been defeated.
"Our country can use its naval advantage to continue the trade blockade along France's coast. That way, the war will continue indefinitely."
Pitt the Younger drew a deep breath. Just as he was about to struggle once more, Duke of Portland, the Minister of the Interior, said:
"Prime Minister, our country's finances can no longer support a large-scale war."
Pitt the Younger looked at him. "You know that we have already opened extensive Sugar Cane plantations from Indian Punjab to Bengal, while Prussia is also experimenting with Sugar Beet cultivation. The financial problem will soon be eased."
Yes, with the price of Cane Sugar soaring into the heavens, Sugar Cane farming had become enormously profitable. Great numbers of British people who had once grown Sugar Cane in the Caribbean had flocked to India to return to their old trade.
Northern India's climate was extremely suitable for growing Sugar Cane; it simply had not yet been developed. In truth, even without the Cane Sugar crisis, India would become one of the world's most important sugar-producing regions within another twenty or thirty years.
As for