FIRST OVERTURES OF PEACE TO FRANCE. 
37 
eminent.* At the same time instructions were given to Morton Eden 
to try to come to some clear understanding with Austria on the subject 
of war or peace. Portland objected to this despatch, though more from 
the effect it would be likely to have on Austrian military action than 
from opposition to peace, and, whether from this reason or some other, 
Pelham was not sent.f Grenville wrote to Morton Eden on October io: 
“ In our present situation, we might possibly not find it very diffi¬ 
cult to make either war or peace with advantage, if Austria will set her 
shoulders to the work in earnest. ’’J 
A series of unexpected Austrian victories in October somewhat 
changed the situation. The King considered the action of the Cabinet 
to have been premature, for on October 27 he wrote to Grenville : 
** No attempt ought to be encouraged of opening a negotiation, which 
ever has the effect of destroying all energy in those who ought to look 
forward to the continuance of war. ’ ’ § 
And on November 30 he wrote again : 
‘ ‘ I think no problem in Euclid more true than that if the French are 
well pressed in the next year, their want of resources and other inter¬ 
nal evils must make the present shocking chaos crumble to pieces.”|| 
Nevertheless, Pitt and Grenville were still determined to draw up 
instructions to Austria on the lines already indicated, and in the King’s 
speech at the opening of the Parliamentary session on October 29 the 
statement was made that, if the changes in France brought into exist¬ 
ence a government desirous of peace, England would be willing to treat 
on terms satisfactory and honorable to herself and her allies.This 
was received with unbelieving derision by the Parliamentary opposi¬ 
tion, but on December 8 a message from the throne proposed a vote in 
favor of a negotiation for peace, and Pitt asserted his sincerity and 
expressed his belief that a satisfactory treaty was now possible.** The 
vote was given as requested and on January 30 instructions were sent 
to Morton Eden at Vienna, and to Wickham at Berne, in accordance 
with which the latter was to open communications with Barthelemy, 
the French agent in Switzerland.ff England expressed her desire for a 
general peace and asked the French government to suggest the means 
and conditions of a congress. 
* Grenville to George III, Sept 21, 1795. Dropmore, III, 134. 
t Portland to Grenville, Sept. 23, 1795. Ibid., 135. 
%Ibid., 137. 
\ Ibid., 143. 
|| Ibid., 149. Another objector was the Earl of Mornington. See letter to Gren¬ 
ville, ibid. 
Pari. Hist., XXXII, 142. 
** Ibid., 570-603. 
ft Por text of note to Barthelemy and the French answer see Debrett, IV, 254-256. 
