44 THE INFLUENCE OF GRENVILLE ON PITT’S FOREIGN POLICY. 
seems to have exercised considerable influence in determining Gren¬ 
ville to attempt a new Prussian arrangement and who was in fact act¬ 
ing as an unofficial English agent, reported that the Prussian ministers 
were by no means disinclined to listen to overtures, and believed a new 
combination perfectly possible. Before all of this information reached 
London it had finally been determined to send Hammond, an under 
secretary of state, to Berlin to outline the proposed exchanges and to 
offer a definite alliance.* George III was still bitterly opposed to the 
project, and unwillingly yielded to Grenville’s argument that France 
could in no other way be deprived of the Netherlands than by giving 
them to Prussia, and that this necessarily involved compensating Aus¬ 
tria with Bavaria.y Meanwhile Austria was not informed of what was 
taking place, and when Thugut at a later date learned of the proposal 
he was highly indignant, J though it is unlikely that Grenville would 
have followed Morris’s suggestion of coming to terms wfith Prussia 
without waiting for Austria’s consent.§ 
Morris left Berlin a few days before Hammond arrived, believing 
that he had paved the way for a successful negotiation ; but when on 
August 17 Hammond had a long interview with Haugwitz, he was 
convinced that the veiled proposals he was instructed to make were a 
complete surprise to the Prussian minister, while the embarrassed re¬ 
ply given him equally convinced him that nothing was to be expected 
s from the Prussian court. || Haugwitz might well be surprised and em¬ 
barrassed, for on August 5, less than a fortnight before Hammond’s 
interview, Prussia and France had signed a secret treaty committing 
Prussia to a system of neutrality. The English offer received no 
encouragement whatever,H and upon the receipt of Hammond’s report 
Grenville set aside for the time being all thought of a new combination 
that should include Prussia. 
* Grenville to George III, July 29, 1796. Dropmore, III, 227. Nominally this 
proposal outlined the exchanges preparatory to a general peace ; in reality it 
meant an alliance to force France to accept the terms agreed on. 
f Grenville to George III, July 31, 1796. Ibid., 228. 
fSybel, IV, 318. Morton Eden to Auckland, Dec. 9, 1796. Auckland, III, 368. 
# Morris to Grenville, Aug. 10, 1796. Dropmore, III, 563. 
|| Hammond to Grenville, Aug. 17, 1796. Ibid., 235. 
ft Elgin to Grenville, Aug. 23, 1796. Ibid., 238 ; Pitt to Chatham, Sept. 4, 1796. 
Stanhope, IT, 381. 
