Sève, Sept. 27th, 1787.
My dear Brother,
I had scarce time to put down three lines to you by the last
messenger; but you will have seen from them that our business
here bears a favourable aspect. I have this morning received
your letter of the 23rd, and can with truth assure you that I
feel in the strongest manner the kindness and affection which
give rise to the anxiety you express.
I have not yet seen any of the French Ministers, and am not to
do so till to-morrow. But the opportunities which I have of
knowing their sentiments, enable me to judge that it is not
probable that I shall enter into negotiation with them. Their
inclination certainly is very strongly to abandon the business,
and to withdraw themselves entirely from it. In this opinion
they will of course be desirous of doing this silently; and by a
sort of tacit acquiescence, rather than by any agreement or
treaty on the subject. The only thing that appears likely to
alter this, is the manner in which what has passed in Holland is
received in Paris. The indignation on the subject is almost
general; and the Ministers are universally condemned as having
been cajoled or bullied by us into the loss of their object. The
imputation is, in my opinion, very unjust. I do not believe that
they have been for a moment deceived as to our intentions, nor
have we taken any pains to deceive them. But I think that they
weighed the merits of the question itself, and decided upon it
like wise men. It is, however, impossible to say, in a country
where so much depends on public opinion, what effect may be
produced by this sort of clamour; and whether that may not drive
them, against their wishes, into measures of violence.
In this case, it is easy to see that they must act with
precipitation, and even with the appearance of passion, so that
either way, it is probable that I shall be at liberty to return
in a week or ten days' time. I shall certainly do it with much
pleasure; for though I felt I could not in honour decline the
commission; I accepted it, as you know, with little
satisfaction.
The Parliament of Paris is returned, having made a most
disgraceful compromise, of registering an edict for continuing
the two new Vingtièmes, without any exceptions or privileges of
exemption. By this mode, the Court get the money they want, but
in a manner more oppressive and ruinous to the country than that
of the taxes they had proposed. I suppose the example will, as
is generally the case, be followed by the provincial
Parliaments.
Adieu, my dear brother.
Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.
The successes of the Prince of Orange had relieved France of a
difficulty; for, notwithstanding that she secretly regarded these
successes with dissatisfaction, her finances were in such a condition of
derangement, that she was glad enough of an excuse for avoiding the
expenditure of a war. Nevertheless, up to the 1st of October, Mr.
Grenville did not feel quite sure of the issue. "Things," he observes,
"remain here still in a very undecided state. They are making vigorous
preparations, and holding very high language. At the same time, I still
think that they will not be disinclined to listen to proposals for
disarming."
Similar preparations were making in England; and in this unsettled and
rather menacing condition the negotiation remained, when Mr. Grenville
returned to England. In the course of the month, however, the Duke of
Dorset, who was the English Ambassador at Paris, brought the question to
a conclusion in a formal shape.