I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 48 Preparations for the Proposal

For the next two weeks, the two armed merchant ships continued to sail northeast. During this time, they only encountered one Portuguese merchant ship sailing south. However, the two sides only fired salutes at each other from a distance and then gradually moved away without making contact.

Even though Portugal and Britain were traditional allies (in reality vassals), they still needed to remain vigilant in the vast Atlantic Ocean, otherwise they could easily become prey for others.

The Diana and Providence were medium-sized merchant ships with standard armament, including 14 nine-pounder cannons and 6 rotary cannons on their sides. They were adequate against small pirates and privateers, but they would be hard-pressed to escape if they encountered a large pirate fleet supported by a state.

Fortunately, the Seven Years' War had only recently ended, and the French and Spanish were still licking their wounds. The British Navy had gained maritime supremacy and was constantly fighting pirates in the Atlantic. Therefore, the fleet did not encounter any real danger along the way.

February 2, 1764, afternoon.

The Atlantic sky was overcast and rainy, and the lookouts on the Providence were the first to spot the winding cliff coastline to the east.

Everyone on both ships cheered. After drifting at sea for fifty-one days, they finally saw land again!

Of course, this coastline was not England, but Ireland, and the fleet had to sail east for another two to three days to reach the British port of Bristol.

Because of Diana's pregnancy, Chen Wenbin had to move out of the cabin where the two of them lived and into a small room to continue writing "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations," but so far he has only completed the first two chapters.

Including "On the Causes of the Increase in the Productivity of Labor and the Order in which the Products of Labor Are Distributed to the Classes of People" and "On the Nature, Savings and Uses of Wealth," these works expounded on economic concepts such as the theory of the division of labor, the nature and role of money, the relationship between value and price, and the sources of wealth.

As for the theory of free trade, which might provoke a fierce reaction from mercantilists and the East India Company, he heeded the advice of Samuel Adams and others and did not write it down.

That same afternoon, Henry Hopkins, then 42 years old, knocked on Chen Wenbin's cabin door. Mary, whose face was flushed, opened the door.

"...Director Hopkins! Are you looking for Mr. [Name]?"

He glanced at Mary, frowned slightly, but nodded gently. "Is Robin inside?"

Mary quickly said, "Yes, sir, please come in!"

Henry Hopkins stepped into the cabin and, sure enough, saw Chen Wenbin sitting in a chair, wearing only a shirt.

"Ah! Henry!" Chen Wenbin stood up and greeted him, "Have you come to discuss marriage with me?"

"Yes!"

Henry Hopkins said earnestly, "Robin, we'll be docking in Bristol in two days."

Once ashore, I will represent you to Elthorpe Manor in Northamptonshire, the ancestral home of the Spencer family. You may have your butler carry the property, land and share certificates, as well as the necessary gifts, and accompany me there for a visit.

The previous Baron Spencer lent a considerable sum of money to the second Duke of Marlborough, but was unable to recover it, causing some financial strain on the family. Therefore, with your wealth and honor, it would be easy to persuade the Baron to agree to your marriage with Diana.

The only problem is…

Seeing the conflicted look on his face, Chen Wenbin spoke up for him, "The only problem is, Diana is pregnant, right?"

Henry Hopkins said helplessly, "This is not a respectable matter after all. Even if Diana doesn't have a noble title, the moral pressure will still cause more obstacles to your marriage... So my suggestion is to keep this a secret for now, then negotiate with the Spencer family and reach an agreement to complete the engagement and marriage procedures as soon as possible!"

"Okay! Thank you, Henry! Let's do as you suggest!"

Chen Wenbin earnestly thanked the nephew of the Governor of Hopkins, and then said, "If you need money, just take it from Chris. I gave him and Shelby two thousand pounds!"

Furthermore, if the Baron disagrees with our marriage, don't worry. I suspect Mr. Franklin has already recommended me to the Royal Society, and I think a member of the Royal Society should be qualified to have Diana marry me.

"Of course!"

Henry looked at Chen Wenbin with envy, "The number of members of the Royal Society is even smaller than that of nobles! Moreover, His Majesty the King is also an important patron and supporter of the Royal Society. Once you become a member of the Royal Society, the Spencer family will definitely support your marriage to Diana immediately!"

I will explain this to them as well.

"Then there's no problem!"

His theory of oxidation alone in chemistry would have been more than enough to earn him a Fellowship of the Royal Society, not to mention his publications on allicin and electromagnetism.

These papers must have been transmitted to Britain by Benjamin Franklin by now, and have probably already attracted attention in the British and even European scientific communities.

I wonder if the French will join in this fun. After all, their chemists are also conducting research in this area, and they must be very unwilling to be beaten to it.

He then finalized some specific details of the marriage proposal with Henry Hopkins, and summoned Chris to prepare to take some gifts to Northamptonshire after landing.

Before leaving, Henry Hopkins couldn't help but remind him, "...Robin! Now that you've won Diana's love, don't break her heart!"

I was the one who escorted her from England to North America. I'm very grateful to you for saving her life, but…”

Chen Wenbin blushed, a rare occurrence for him, and quickly said, "Henry! I understand what you mean! I promise Diana won't be sad!"

As for Mary and me…it’s a complicated matter!”

What's so complicated about it?

Isn't it just that you couldn't resist and slept with a pretty maid?

Henry Hopkins pursed his lips but said nothing. This was all too common; he himself had several illegitimate children. So he simply patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.

"...What kind of mess is this?!"

Chen Wenbin watched his retreating figure, feeling a sense of helplessness.

No one would believe it if I told you, but he did sleep with Mary, but it was actually Diana who asked him to do it!

Her reason was simple: she was pregnant and could not satisfy Chen Wenbin, and she did not want Chen Wenbin to have affairs with those rich women in England and then contract syphilis and infect her!

Given the decadent atmosphere of the British aristocracy and Chen Wenbin's handsome appearance, Diana felt that such a thing was simply unavoidable. So she simply thought of asking Betty, her personal maid, for help, since she couldn't let those British bastards get away with it!

But Chen Wenbin knew that Betty was only sixteen years old and insisted on disagreeing, so Mary became the substitute... Of course, Mary herself was very happy to agree, and she nodded in agreement almost as soon as Diana finished speaking!

As for what Chen Wenbin himself thinks... well, as long as his first wife doesn't mind, he'll just enjoy it.

He felt a little wronged by being accused by that guy Henry Hopkins for no reason.