William Pitt and the Great War Part 7

Pitt cannot have heard of the French Cabinet's decision of 5th December, but he must have read of the ambiguous treatment of the Belgians at the bar of the Convention the day previously. It had long been a maxim at Whitehall that the Pays Bas must never go to France. To prevent such a disaster England had poured forth blood and treasure for more than a century. Pitt's resolve two years before, to maintain Austrian authority in those provinces, had deeply offended Prussia. Now he and Grenville turned to the Court of Vienna, and on 7th December made friendly overtures to Stadion, Austrian amba.s.sador at London.[135] Thus, the French menace ended the long period of estrangement between Great Britain and Austria, though, as will duly appear, mutual confidence took root very slowly.

On 9th December Lebrun sent off an important despatch to Chauvelin. With respect to the decree of 19th November, it stated that France would never demean herself by a.s.sisting rioters, but would respond to the "general will" of a people that desired to break its chains. Further, France could not reverse her decision concerning the Scheldt. She would not revolutionize Holland, but she expected Great Britain not to intervene in support of a const.i.tution which the Dutch considered "vicious and destructive of their interests." Finally, the French Government could not recognize the guarantees of the Dutch const.i.tution undertaken by England and Prussia in 1788.[136] On the same day Lebrun sent a message to Maret, who was still in London, adverting in ironical terms to the military preparations in England, at which the French would feel no alarm, and insinuating that the doctrines of liberty were making rapid progress there. As to negotiations, the only bases on which they could proceed were the recognition of the Republic, and the refusal of the French Cabinet to treat except by a fully accredited envoy.

On receipt of this letter on the 14th, Maret at once showed it to Miles, who urged him to request an immediate interview with the Prime Minister.

This was accorded, and at 8 p.m. of that day, Maret met Pitt again. I have found no account of this interview. All we know is that it was short and depressing. Maret had to impart the unwelcome news that all the communications to the French Government must pa.s.s through the hands of Chauvelin--a personal triumph for that envoy. Pitt on his side declined to give any answer on the subject of Maret's communication, or on that of receiving Chauvelin.[137] We can imagine that under that stiff and cold exterior the Prime Minister concealed deep agitation; for the determination of the French rigidly to adhere to their decrees, to force Chauvelin upon the British Government, and to require the recognition of the French Republic, meant war.

FOOTNOTES:

[83] Aulard, "La Rev. Franc.," 270-2.

[84] "Dropmore P.," ii, 291.

[85] "Bland Burges P.," 207, 211.

[86] Dumont, "Souvenirs"; Bulwer Lytton, "Hist. Characters"

(Talleyrand).

[87] W. A. Miles, "Corresp.," i, 349-51; Sorel, iii, 18-20.

[88] Burke, "Corresp.," iv, 7.

[89] Sorel, iii, 139.

[90] Carlyle, "Fr. Rev.," iii, bk. i, ch. vi.

[91] "Mems. of Romilly," i, 351, 352.

[92] "Dropmore P.," ii, 318.

[93] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 19, 20.

[94] _Ibid._ In all, 3,772 French refugees landed in September 1792 ("Ann. Reg." 39). The first subscription for them realized 1,468. Burke gave 20.

[95] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21; Twiss, "Life of Lord Eldon," i, 218; "Bland Burges P.," 203. Our agent, Munro, on 17th December 1792 reported from Paris: "Dr. Maxwell has at last obtained a company in the French service, and I understand is soon to leave this to join the army"

(Gower's "Despatches," 260). Mr. Elgar has not been able to trace him afterwards.

[96] Ma.s.sey, iv, 45. This was said to be spoken to Bland Burges; but the papers of the latter (p. 204) contain no reference to it.

[97] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21.

[98] _Ibid._

[99] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 21.

[100] Miles ("Corresp.," 333) states that the editors of the "Argus" and "Morning Chronicle" were regularly paid by the French Emba.s.sy and were often there.

[101] "Bland Burges P.," 227-9.

[102] Virgil, "Georgics," i, 463-5. "Who would dare call the sun a liar?

In truth, he often warns of the approach of hidden seditions and of the swellings of treachery and strifes yet unseen."

[103] "F. O.," France, 40.

[104] "H. O.," Geo. III (Domestic), 22.

[105] "Dropmore P.," ii, 322.

[106] "Auckland Journals," ii, 449, 455; "Dropmore P.," ii, 324.

[107] Sorel, iii, 143.

[108] "Auckland Journals," ii, 465.

[109] On 24th November Noel wrote from London to Lebrun: "Tous les symptomes annoncent que les mouvements revolutionnaires ne peuvent etre eloignes." Quoted by Sorel, iii, 214. See, too, Ernouf's "Maret," p. 84.

[110] "Auckland Journals," ii, 481. Tomline, iii, 458, 459. Burke's unfortunate phrase in the "Reflections": "Learning will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish mult.i.tude."

[111] B.M. Place MSS., vol. ent.i.tled "Libel, Sedition, Treason, Persecution."

[112] "Moniteur," 29th November 1792.

[113] "Residence in France in 1792-5," by an English Lady, i, 190-2.

[114] Auckland says ("Journals," ii, 473) he has seen Paris bulletins and letters which counted absolutely on a revolt in England.

[115] "Dropmore P.," ii, 344. Grenville to Auckland, 27th November.

[116] _Ibid._, 351-2.

[117] Salomon, "Pitt," 599.

[118] Rojas, "Miranda dans la Rev. Franc.," 3-4.

[119] "Dropmore P.," ii, 339, 341, 343; "Auckland Journals," ii, 471; Lecky, vi, 70-4.

[120] "F. O.," Holland, 20.

[121] "F. O.," Austria, 31, 32. See, too, Vivenot, ii, 446, 447.

[122] "Malmesbury Diaries," ii, 89, 90.

[123] "Malmesbury Diaries," ii, 89, 90. This despatch, and the letter of the Prince of Orange referred to above, correct the statement of Mr.

Browning ("Varennes," etc., 191) and Mr. Hammond ("Fox," 257), that the Dutch did not call upon us for help. This was a.s.serted by Lord Lansdowne on 21st December, but his information was unofficial and is refuted by that given above.

[124] Marsh, "Politics of Great Britain and France," i, 260-2. The militia were not called out in Surrey, Herts, Berks, and Bucks ("Dropmore P.," ii, 348).

[125] Pretyman MSS.

[126] Pitt to Westmorland, 14th October and 18th November 1792, in Salomon, "Pitt" (App.); "Dropmore P.," ii, 318, 320-3, 328, 330, 333, 336; "Mems. of Lord Ed. Fitzgerald," 155-60.