He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 3

Toc. Toc.

“Whoa there, whoa-”

About an hour after departing, the carriage came to a halt, and the coachman announced their arrival at the Intelligence Club.

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

Checking the time, it was 7:20 PM.

Though somewhat late, arriving at this hour, when everyone was gathered, seemed ideal to truly experience the club’s atmosphere.

As Tae-oh stepped down from the carriage and approached the entrance, a sturdy middle-aged man approached him.

“Excuse me, but what brings you here?”

His eyes were wary, but he spoke politely and respectfully, noting Tae-oh’s luxurious attire.

Tae-oh wordlessly presented his letter of recommendation.

Upon receiving the letter, the man smiled, recognizing Admiral Matthew Bentham’s signature.

“Ah, you’ve come with Admiral Bentham’s recommendation. Then you may enter for now. The final approval will be decided after consulting with the other members.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. Thank you.”

Tae-oh followed his guidance and entered the club.

The club’s interior exuded a solemn and quiet atmosphere, matching its subdued decor.

Members were scattered about, freely seated, sipping tea and listening to someone’s story.

“…As I said, the colonists are still strongly protesting the various tax levies, and in Boston, hundreds of tea crates were thrown into the sea by citizens’ attacks [referring to the Boston Tea Party, a protest against British taxation]. However, I don’t think these radical actions will lead to betrayal against England. No matter how angry they are, how could they aim their guns at their homeland?”

“Indeed, they are still part of the British people after all.”

Then someone asked,

“Mr. Smith, what do you think?”

At his question, the club’s attention turned to one man.

The man had a small build, wore a dark gray suit, and possessed a round face and a pointed chin. His gaze was fixed in one direction, and he held the tips of his fingers together in a steeple shape.

People unconsciously express many things with their hands, and the hand gesture he was showing was a ‘steeple,’ a common gesture among group leaders, indicating confidence and control.

‘The leader of this club… and if his last name is Smith… Adam Smith?’

Following the gazes of the people, Tae-oh intuitively knew that he was Adam Smith, the author of ‘The Wealth of Nations,’ a foundational text in economics.

“I agree with that opinion. It is true that the feelings of the North American colonists have become intense, but I do not think that it will develop into any other special situation.”

A worried voice was heard from the opposite side in response to Adam Smith’s answer.

“However, the atmosphere in North America, according to the letters I have received, is much worse than we think. Many, including Congressman Benjamin Franklin, are urging restraint, but it seems it will not subside easily.”

At his words, a gentleman expressed his dissatisfaction.

“Goodness – it’s been quite unpleasant to listen to since earlier. Are you suggesting that the North American residents will shoot at the British army and start a war?”

“Of course, it’s not like that, but, like the Boston Tea Party… isn’t it true that things could escalate due to a few radicals?”

Tae-oh could immediately recognize that this heated debate was related to the looming American Revolutionary War.

‘Benjamin Franklin? And if it’s the Boston Tea Party, then the argument they’re having is whether North America, currently a British colony, will wage war against Britain?’

Tae-oh recalled the historical events in his head.

‘The United States will issue the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. So, the American Revolutionary War will break out in 1775, the year before that. Wait… this year is 1775? So, America is starting a war of independence against Britain this year?’

Tae-oh didn’t remember exactly which month the American Revolutionary War started.

However, he was certain that the United States proclaimed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and he knew that the Revolutionary War broke out the year before.

In fact, the American Revolutionary War would begin next month, on April 19, 1775.

Today, March 28, 1775, when Tae-oh arrived at the club, was only about 20 days away.

‘Listening to the debate, the war hasn’t started yet. Anyway, it’s definitely an event that will happen this year.’

While Tae-oh was lost in thought, a tall gentleman stood up and tried to lighten the atmosphere.

“Now, now. Everyone, calm down. After hearing various opinions, I think everyone has their own basis, but I guarantee that such a tragic event will never happen in British North America.

Do you think the North American residents, who know the terrible military power of our British army better than anyone else, would rashly rush into war? Haha.”

But then it happened.

“No, the war will happen soon!”

All the club members’ gazes turned to the source of the sound.

It was Tae-oh.

“The backlash from the North American colonists will intensify and worsen. If we don’t appease them quickly, they will soon start engaging in combat with the British army and declare a full-scale war.”

Tae-oh’s outspoken remarks instantly turned the atmosphere, which had been trying to calm down, into a hostile one. Shouts erupted from members here and there.

“What are you talking about? Start a war! How dare you say such a thing in a colony belonging to England?”

“Who are you? Who are you to so easily utter such nonsense!”

However, Tae-oh, who knew the future history that would unfold, was overflowing with confidence.

“After the various tax resistance movements and the Boston Tea Party, as Britain closed the ports and enacted a series of retaliatory laws, the residents of the thirteen American colonies began to strongly resist.

So, the American militia, centered around the Minutemen [colonial militia members ready for battle at a moment’s notice], confronted the British garrison.

Then, the British army will naturally try to disband the militia, right? They will desperately try to prevent weapons from the armory from falling into the hands of the militia.

In that kind of atmosphere, a battle between the British army and the militia is inevitable. No, it would be stranger if a battle didn’t break out. Especially the Massachusetts militia…”

As Tae-oh’s concrete and detailed analysis continued, everyone closed their mouths and began to listen.

“…And once a major battle breaks out, unlike what we think, the British army may not be able to exert its power as much as we expect.”

“Why can’t they exert their power?”

“The thirteen North American colonies are in a state where their organizational power has become quite strong through the long war of the past ten years. If a war breaks out, they will have the experience and confidence to achieve much more thorough planning and cooperation than before, so our British army will have a hard time.”

Then someone stood up from their seat and raised their voice.

“Nonsense! Didn’t our British army drive out the French ten years ago, so the current North American country is still standing? Is it even possible to point a gun at the army that protected them?”

Tae-oh shook his head.

“Well. The North American residents think completely differently now. During the seven years of war [likely referring to the French and Indian War, the North American theater of the Seven Years’ War], they despised the British army, who ignored them and even took away military command, calling them ‘Redcoats’ or ‘devils.’ To them, England is considered no different from an enemy country.”

“Consider England an enemy country? No, that’s absurd…”

Then someone asked Tae-oh,

“Who are you? Are you perhaps from the North American colonies?”

It was Adam Smith.

“No. I am British. I have never been to North America.”

“But how do you know the situation there in such detail?”

“That’s… I have information.”

“Where did you get the information?”

He couldn’t say that he got the information from a history book.

“It’s hard to say. It’s a conclusion I came to through my own information network.”

Adam Smith, who had been carefully examining Tae-oh, asked again.

“Then let me ask you one more thing. The colonists may have a small hope, but the British army with strong naval power will arrive soon. Can North America really stand up with its own forces alone?”

“Yes, of course it will be difficult. But if another country participates, the story will be completely different.”

“Another… country?”

The club buzzed.

“If the war starts, it is predicted that at first, the situation will be repeated with each side winning and losing, and then France and other countries will help the American colonies and confront the British army in the form of allied forces.”

The club was thrown into chaos at the mention of France’s participation.

“No, join hands with France? What is the basis for claiming such an absurd story of cooperating with the enemy country, France?”

“Do you think it is a reasonable prediction that the colonists will bring in the enemy country, France, and wage war against their mother country, England, just because they imposed a small tax on the documents?”

Tae-oh answered each of the furious members’ questions.

“North America is a country with greater symbolism of ‘freedom and independence’ than any other country in the world. It is not a matter of whether the amount of tax is large or small, but the fact that the freedom and independence of the citizens who breathe and live in it are being restricted and brutally trampled on by the arbitrary laws of the British Parliament is what they are greatly angry about now.”

The club was once again enveloped in silence.

“And I believe that this anger will eventually lead to a conflict between the militia and the British army, leading to a war of independence.”

Then someone shouted as if to argue.

“War of Independence? Who are you anyway? I’ve never seen such a person in our club before?”

“That’s right. I’m seeing him for the first time too. How dare you come into a membership club and cause such a commotion?”

“Shouldn’t you reveal your identity properly before speaking? Are you really from mainland Britain? No matter how I look at it, you look like someone who immigrated to the North American colonies?”

Tae-oh took off his hat and bowed politely to the people.

“I apologize. I’m very late with my greetings. My name is Theo Sanderson, and I came to the club for the first time today at the introduction of Admiral Matthew Bentham. I should have gotten approval from the other members first, but I couldn’t help but join in the heated discussion. I was presumptuous. I’m really sorry.”

“…Admiral Bentham?”

The hostile atmosphere quickly subsided as Matthew Bentham’s name came out of Tae-oh’s mouth.

“Did you really come with Admiral Bentham’s recommendation?”

“Yes, here is the Admiral’s letter of recommendation. Please check it.”

Then an elderly man with a small, heavy build, thick eyebrows, and large nostrils stood up from his seat and accepted the letter of recommendation.

The elderly man, who had confirmed the letter of recommendation, nodded.

“Hmm… Admiral Bentham’s signature is certain. Then, well, there seems to be no need for a special approval process. If you have that level of insight and even have Admiral Bentham’s letter of recommendation.”

Later, he would find out that this man was Samuel Johnson, a renowned writer and lexicographer.

As Tae-oh’s approval process ended anticlimactically, a member shyly approached and extended his hand.

“I’m sorry for shouting earlier. I got a little emotional. My name is William Roland. I’m a businessman. I’m not an aristocrat, but if I had to say, I belong to the yeoman [a class of small landowners] class.”

“Yes, I’m Theo Sanderson. I’m just a businessman who has recently made some money from the sugar trade.”

The chaotic surroundings were cleared up, and the conversation about North America resumed.

However, opinions were still divided.

Then Samuel Johnson stepped in and made an interesting suggestion.

“Then how about this? Let’s write down the contents of the fight in the betting book and wager on it.”

There was a positive response from here and there to his suggestion.

“Ah, that’s a good idea.”

“Yes, instead of arguing about who is right or wrong, let’s bet on whether the war will happen this year and see who has the insight, haha.”

In 18th-century English clubs, it was very common to bet on various social issues or current situations and check the results.

“Then, I’ll bring the betting book and bet, so members, please write down the amount you want to bet on the side you support.”

Tae-oh, who was seeing the betting book for the first time, had a bewildered expression.

However, Tae-oh also wrote his name in the betting book and bet as much money as possible.

However, Tae-oh was the only one who bet that the war would occur within this year.

The rest all bet that the war would not happen this year.

Adam Smith and Samuel Johnson also bet that the war would not happen.

‘I thought there were a few people who agreed with my opinion, but everyone seems skeptical that the war will actually happen.’

Perhaps because they were upper-class aristocrats, wealthy businessmen, or intellectuals, the amount they had written down seemed to be roughly thousands of pounds.

A faint smile appeared on Tae-oh’s lips.

‘Hehe. At this amount, I’ll more than make up for the cost of the carriage.’

For Tae-oh, who knew about the upcoming American Revolutionary War, it was an easier bet than eating a cold porridge [a very easy task].

And above all, he was inwardly looking forward to it because he thought it would be an opportunity to show his presence for sure.