OCCASIONAL INFLUENCE. 
5 
agent than as an intermediary in the discussions between Pitt and 
Temple upon the policy of the prospective government and the make-up 
of the Cabinet.* * * § Under Pitt’s government as organized in December, 
1783, Grenville filled the position of Paymaster General, while other 
minor offices were held in succeeding years. The correspondence for 
this period as given in the Dropmore manuscripts shows very clearly 
that while Grenville was aiding his kinsman Pitt in every way, he was 
as yet essentially a subordinate. 
Grenville’s first service seems to have been the smoothing of diffi¬ 
culties between Pitt and Temple, who had now become Marquis of 
Buckingham. His importance was, however, rapidly increasing, for 
the steadiness and caution of his judgment, the coolness of temper that 
marked his decisions, combined with a conciliatory manner, made him 
a valuable ally in the daily Parliamentary battle. By 1786, though not 
a member of the Cabinet, he actually wielded an influence on the con¬ 
duct of public affairs greater than that of ostensibly more important 
members of the government, f 
It was as an interlude in the routine of customary official duties that 
Grenville first undertook a diplomatic mission. In the spring of 1787 
affairs in Holland had reached a stage where it finally became necessary 
for Pitt to determine whether or not England should unite with Prussia 
in repelling the aggressive interference of France. Harris, the English 
diplomat at The Hague, had been insistent upon more forcible measures 
by England and more open assistance to the Stadtholder, but Pitt was 
as yet undecided. In his perplexity he determined to send Grenville as 
a trusted friend and adviser to report upon the situation in Holland. J 
That Pitt felt the utmost confidence in Grenville’s judgment is evinced 
by the letters passing between them at this juncture,§ while the recog¬ 
nition in other quarters of the extent of Grenville’s influence is shown 
by the correspondence of Harris and others interested in upholding the 
Stadtholder. 11 
Pitt gave Grenville a free hand in managing the details of the enter¬ 
prise. “ If,” he wrote in forwarding the draft of a memorial to Hol¬ 
land, “you find anything objectionable as it now stands, have no 
* A series of letters between Pitt, Grenville, and Temple. Dropmore, I, 214-220. 
t Burges, 68. 
X Malmesbury, II, 302-307, and Keith, II, 208-218. Grenville’s mission was also 
undertaken for the effect it was likely to have in consolidating the party of the Stadt¬ 
holder in Holland. At the time it was considered that the strongest proof of the 
intention of the British government to act with vigor was “the mission of Mr. 
Grenville, who was supposed to possess, and was known to deserve, the entire con¬ 
fidence of Mr. Pitt.” History of the Late Revolution in the Dutch Republic, 193. 
§ Dropmore, III, 408^. 
|| Letters between Grenville, Harris, and Bentinck. Ibid., 415, 416, 417, 422, 423. 
