(Private.) Whitehall, Tuesday, Sept. 18th, 1787.
My dear Brother,
The storm is at last burst upon us. Montmorin has communicated
to Eden an application from Holland to the French Court for
assistance against the Prussian army, and the determination of
France to comply with this request. The answer will be, that we
cannot in any case be quiet spectators of the operations of a
French force in the Republic, and that we have consequently
given orders for arming our fleet. The press warrants will be
out on Thursday, and every other step of the same sort is taking
with the utmost expedition.
The Prussian army had got to Arnheim on Friday, and I trust will
have been able to act with effect before France can give them
any interruption. If this should be the case, I think there is
still a possibility of settling the business without coming to
blows, but the chances are infinitely against it.
The circumstance is certainly an unpleasant one, and the crisis
in some respects hazardous; but I trust that we meet it with as
much advantage, all things considered, as ever this country had
when she embarked in a war. We must therefore go to it with
resolution, and I wish I could say with unanimity, for that
appears to me to be the one thing most wanted. The absence of so
many people from town, makes it impossible as yet to do more
than speculate on that subject, which is open to very great
difficulties. I need not say that you may rely on hearing from
me upon it as soon as there is anything to say, and above all,
that nothing will be wanting on my part to forward your wishes
to the utmost, as far as I know and understand them.
Believe me ever most truly and affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
Mr. Eden was at that time negotiating the matter in Paris; and although
the Government may have reposed implicit confidence in his discretion,
they appear to have felt that he did not possess a sufficiently accurate
knowledge of the complicated questions out of which this difficult
position had arisen, to enable him to act with the requisite caution and
promptitude. In order, therefore, to assist him through the
negotiations, in the hope of bringing about an honourable and
satisfactory peace, Mr. Grenville was requested to proceed to Paris.