54 THE INFLUENCE OF GRENVILLE ON PITT’S FOREIGN POLICY. 
although this greatly irritated Grenville,* * * § the latter was anxious to 
keep the discourtesy of Austria from the public and to uphold Austria’s 
honor for future use. He urged this upon Woronzow, the Russian 
ambassador in England, writing also : 
“ Quelle que soit la paix qu’on a faite, notre union n’en deviendra 
que plus necessaire. II faudra bien nous attendre pour empecher 
que les principes Revolutionnaires ne deviennent le droit public de 
PEurope. C’est pourquoi je desire de menager l’honneur de la Cour 
de Vienne meme au moment ou elle parait avoir le plus oublie ce 
qu’elle doit a nous et a elle-ineme.” f 
In this connection Grenville now feared the effect upon Austria of 
Hammond’s secondary instructions for the Prussian court. Even in 
the despatch outlining the acceptance of the Prussian offer of mediation 
Hammond had been directed to emphasize in his communications to 
Russia the desire of England to maintain the system of alliance with that 
country and with Austria “ for future security against France suppos¬ 
ing it should be found that the Court of Vienna remains disposed to act 
on that principle. ’ ’ X Hammond himself expressed doubts of the advis¬ 
ability of carrying out his instructions at Berlin and decided not to open 
the matter there until he received further orders from England.§ Gren¬ 
ville thoroughly approved this violation of previous instructions, and May 
26 Hammond was directed to ‘ * avoid [at Berlin] any particular discourse 
or communication of the sentiments or views of His Majesty’s Govern¬ 
ment but only express in general terms the King’s continued readiness 
to lend Himself to Negotiations for general Peace in any proper manner 
and on such grounds as may be consistent with His Dignity and the 
Honour and Interests of His Crown. * * * ’ As the greatest indus¬ 
try will probably be used at Berlin to discover the footing on which His 
Majesty stands as with respect to the House of Austria you will be 
particularly careful not to let any expression fall from you which may 
tend to commit His Majesty’s Government in that respect.” || Thus 
Grenville, struggling against peace, was attempting to preserve the 
conditions essential to a possible future renewal of the coalition. 
* George III to Grenville, May 5, 1797. Dropraore, III, 318. 
|May5, 1797. Ibid., 320. 
j Despatch to Hammond, April 18, 1797. Records, Austria, 49. 
§ Hammond to Grenville, May 13, 1797. Dropmore, III, 326. 
|| Despatch No. 8 to Hammond, May 26, 1797. Records, Austria, 49. 
