Chapter 583: The Carrot Dangled Before the British
"This gentleman is the founder of the 'Society of Friends of the Blacks'," Talleyrand explained, a hint of helplessness in his expression. "You can tell what he does just by the name.
He even traveled to America, intending to lead the movement to liberate enslaved people there. Of course, he returned unsuccessful, under the watchful eyes of American militias, having only written a book titled 'Notes on the Blacks of the American South.'
I believe no one is more suitable to carry out the mission in Saint-Domingue than him."
...
The next day.
Joseph enjoyed a relaxed breakfast, then prepared to set off for Brittany.
Yesterday afternoon, he had summoned Brissot. It was safe to say that sending this man to Saint-Domingue would significantly increase the chances of success.
As Talleyrand had mentioned, he was an extremely passionate abolitionist. After hearing Joseph's plan, he was so moved that tears streamed down his face and offered to personally contribute 30,000 francs to support this great endeavor.
Keep in mind, he was currently unemployed, so this money basically represented his entire savings.
However, to be on the safe side, Joseph still instructed the Intelligence Bureau to dispatch two agents to accompany him to Saint-Domingue.
As Joseph's motorcade arrived in Alençon, the Intelligence Bureau reported that Brissot and his companions had already boarded a ship and sailed into the Atlantic Ocean.
...
London.
As the last sliver of twilight faded, several figures dressed in black uniforms and felt hats raised long wooden poles tipped with flames, reaching into the glass domes at the top of the streetlights.
In less than ten minutes, dazzling white light illuminated the area around London's City Hall, making it shine like a ballroom.
The hundreds of onlookers immediately erupted in cheers. "Oh, it's almost as bright as day, it's marvelous!"
"I truly hope all of London can have these streetlights."
"It will happen. The newspapers have reported it; the gas streetlight project will be fully completed by the end of this year at the latest."
"Good heavens, that's wonderful!"
Soon after, Herbert, the Mayor of London, stepped forward to address the crowd, delivering an impassioned speech under the glow of the gas streetlights.
Behind him, Steller, the manager of the Lightning Company, frowned and whispered to an old nobleman beside him: "To be honest, Mr. Pierce, this is quite different from what His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, originally instructed. He wanted us to spend as little as possible..."
"This is a necessary expenditure." Beneath the black top hat was the face of Viscount Calonne, who was now using the name Pierce. "If you want a donkey to keep moving forward, you have to let it see a carrot."
He gestured towards the gas streetlights around City Hall: "And this is that carrot. Besides, weren't these all set up by the subcontractors? We didn't spend much."
Steller remained dissatisfied: "But we bought the equipment at the other end of the pipes."
"Only 50,000 francs," Pierce said with a slight smile. "It will soon help us earn back millions of francs."
The Mayor of London continued his speech, and the crowd cheered intermittently. But what they didn't know was that the retorts and other equipment in the Lightning Company's enormous distillation workshop were merely empty shells made of sheet metal.
The fuel for these 30 streetlights was actually provided by glass vessels and conduits located in a small room beside the workshop, purchased from the University of Paris laboratory.
This experimental setup was connected to the gas streetlights underground, and 30 streetlights were its maximum supply limit. Furthermore, unlike industrially produced coal gas, these experimental devices could only distill purified refined coal, making the cost more than ten times higher than industrial production.
But it was more than enough to deceive the citizens of London.
From the outside, the distillation workshop was brightly lit, with thick smoke billowing from its funnels, leading everyone to believe that it was constantly producing gas.
Steller shrugged: "Actually, this is also good; otherwise, I wouldn't know what excuses to invent to delay the construction."
According to the agreement signed earlier, the London gas streetlight project should have been delivered a month ago.
However, both Parliament and London City Hall grudgingly accepted the situation. The Lightning Company had been plagued by misfortune since the first day of construction, and the completion date had been pushed back to December of this year.
Of course, the Lightning Company would have to pay hefty penalties for this—deducted from the project funds after completion.
Nevertheless, news of the successful illumination of the first batch of streetlights still attracted considerable attention in London.
Major newspapers widely reported on it, even including illustrations of City Hall brilliantly lit up.
Conversations about gas streetlights filled the streets and alleys. Citizens knew which streets would get lights first and which later, recounting the details as if enumerating family treasures.
Even housing prices in London began to rise in response.
In reality, more than half of this was due to the hype orchestrated by Calonne. Newspaper reporters received benefits and published prepared press releases directly. And at balls and salons, someone would always take the lead in bringing up the topic of gas streetlights.
Just as the popularity of gas streetlights was soaring, the Lightning Company suddenly announced that gas lamps for individual household use had been developed. Once the streetlights were fully operational, citizens could apply to have gas pipelines connected to their homes as well.
Jim Hayman had just returned home and hadn't even had time to hang his coat when his wife excitedly greeted him, thrusting a piece of paper into his hand.
"Darling, this is such a bargain; quickly, take a look!"
"What is this?" Hayman looked down, realizing it was an advertisement from the Lightning Company, and couldn't help but frown at his wife. "Did you buy a newspaper?"
"It was free," the woman said triumphantly. Paper wasn't cheap in this era, and no one ever gave out flyers for free. The Lightning Company was setting a precedent.
Hayman looked at the contents of the flyer with surprise. It first introduced the many advantages of gas lamps, then mentioned that once gas was connected to the house, it could not only be used for lighting but also for cooking, heating bathwater, and warming the house. It sounded simply wonderful.
He immediately became interested: "That's so convenient! How much does it cost?"
His wife quickly flipped the flyer over: "Look, it's right here.
The Lightning Company says there's a special offer now. If you buy a gas lamp, you can get free gas pipeline installation for your home, and you'll be able to use a gas stove later too."
"Buy a gas lamp?" Hayman eagerly scrutinized the price list, his eyelids twitching—one gas lamp cost 8 pounds sterling!
His monthly salary was only 2 pounds 5 shillings.
For one lamp, his entire family would have to save for three and a half months without eating or drinking.
"No, no, that's too expensive!"
His wife immediately complained loudly: "I heard Mr. Brooke say that installing gas pipelines might cost 10 pounds sterling later. If we miss this opportunity, we might never be able to use gas lamps in our lives!"
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