London, December 12th, 1815 · The Shattered Congress
The Times
By Sir Bodiwick
As the year draws to a close, there is little cheer to be found among His Majesty's subjects regarding the war in Europe. Dispatches from the Rhine and Poland describe armies mired in mud and frost, dug in against each other without being able to make significant gains. What was supposed to be a swift campaign is now sure to extend past what many thought would be the first truly peaceful Christmas since 1792.
The cost is being felt keenly across Britain. The national debt continues to grow, and the war taxes are more unpopular than ever, especially in light of the financial assistance provided to Austria and France. Meanwhile, despite the constant expansion of the war, which now includes Nordic and Italian states, the lines drawn today are mostly the same as they have been since February, barring the gains in Norway.
Today, the British people are asking themselves why they must freeze over yet another Christmas. For Poland? For Saxony?
Within Parliament, a growing number of MPs have been calling for peace.