Taking a backdoor route to helping Napoleon, is getting a British regime that's more neutral/friendly a possibility? I recently read that there was a suprising amount of popular sympathy in England for France until Napoleon was crowned Emperor.
I am not entirely familiar with the internal situation in Great Britain. So I will try to understand the attitudes of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806, terms 1783-1801, 1804-1806) as he was the one mostly dictating the policies towards pre-Imperial France. His attitudes are described in "William Pitt and the French Revolution, 1785-1795" (1997) by Jennifer Mori. See:
http://books.google.com/books?id=XU...wAA#v=onepage&q=William Pitt "reform"&f=false
*On September 5, 1788, the British government first learns of Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General (the legislative-assembly) for the first time since 1614. The initial plan is for representatives being chosen and the first meeting to take place in May, 1789. Reactions in the British cabined are extremely favorable as they expect France to focuse on its internal situation for quite a while, playing no part in the international scene. Pitt turns his attention to the ongoing Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790). He is concerned that a Russian victory could result in the victors dominating both Sweden and the entire Baltic Sea. British mediation efforts begin, though the situation gets worst. Denmark-Norway, an ally of Russia, invades Swedish territories on September 24, 1788 and joins the War. Prussia, a British ally, stations 15,000 at its borders in case anyone gets the idea to invade them. They demand for a British fleet to be stationed guarding their coasts. Both Pitt and George III deny the request, opposed to getting their country involved in yet another war. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Swedish_War_(1788–1790) and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theater_War
*January, 1789. The British ambassador in Spain reports attempts to improve French and Spanish relations. Alarmed that a French-Spanish Alliance was in the making, Francis Carmarthen, Marquess of Carmarthen and current Foreign Secretary (1751-1799, term 1783-1791) devises a plan for a British-Spanish Alliance instead. On 17 April, 1789, Carmarthen abandons his plan. He has just learned that Spain is sympathetic to France but unwilling to actually assist it in case of a new war. The other potential French Ally, the Archduchy of Austria, is preoccupied with fighting in the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791). They have no interest in getting involved in French affairs and certainly not in opening a western front to their war. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Turkish_War_(1787–1791)
*June, 1789. Anglo-Prussian efforts at mediation result in Denmark-Norway ending its war effort. However Sweden still refuses to accept any peace terms, unless they not only end the Russo-Swedish War but also the ongoing Russo-Turkish War (1787-1792). Sweden makes a show of its loyalty to their ally, the Ottoman Empire. However, the British notice that the Prussian "peace terms" seem to serve the causes of 1) having the Austrians evacuate Galicia, 2) gain new Polish lands for Prussia itself. On 24 June, 1789, Carmarthen sents a message clearly stating that the Anglo-Prussian Alliance is supposed to be defensive in nature, not offensive. Diplomatic relations with Prussia cool for a while. The National Constituent Assembly in France forms on 9 July. The French revolution has begun but Pitt sees no need to interfere. He believes that its internal strife simply weakens France without threatening Britain. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1787–1792)
*August-September, 1789. As France is weakened by its internal strife, Spain makes the first tentative attempt to start trade relations with the United Kingdom. The British government is concerned for a while that the ongoing Brabant Revolution (1789-1790) in the Austrian Netherlands is the result of a french Plot, aiming at a "French Netherlands". But information points to these rebels being led by the local clergy and aristocracy, opposed to the Enlightened absolutism of the Austrian court. A potential co-operation between them and the French revolutionaries is deemed unlikely. As far as Pitt is concerned: "Everything seems to be going on very well for Us at Home and Abroad". Before the month ends, it becomes clear that the Habsburgs distrust the French rebels and are concerned about the fate of the French royal family. Franco-Austrian relations are cooling down. The British are pleased that france is increasingly isolated by its closest allies. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brabant_Revolution
*December, 1789. Charles, Count of Artois (1757-1836), later Charles X of France, arrives in London. He acts as a representative of the France Royal family and royalists in general. Requesting British assistance in re-establishing the Ancien Régime. In exchange several french colonies could be ceded to the British Empire. It is unclear if Charles is acting on his own in this case. The response is delayed for several months. By March, 1790, George III and Pitt have settled on making a rather vague promise. That the British would not be prevent a full restoration of the age-old French system. But they do not promise to aid any particular royalist or republican cause. They are content to just observe. Pitt seems to have personally favored the idea of a constitutional monarchy in France. But is unwilling to actually get Britain involved in the French mess.
*January-October, 1790. British relations with France remain neutral, but there is an increasing apprehension that the two countries will go to war against each other. The cause is the Nootka Crisis. In 1789, Spain claimed control over Nootka Sound, an inlet right next to the west coast of Vancouver Island. British trading ships, mostly involved in the fur trade, attempting to use the inlet as a port were seized by the Spanish authorities. With the captains or the entire crew arrested. American ships were similarly treated. News did not arrive to London until January. Pitt soon declared that Spanish territory or not, British ships still had porting and trading rights. Throughout the year, Spanish and British sent part of the ships to North America as a show of force. The Dutch Republic, a British ally, offered to provide assistance in case a war erupted.See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootka_Crisis
**The role of France became extremely significant in deciding whether a war was to start or not. Under the terms of the Pacte de Famille (Family Pact) of 1761, the Bourbon monarchs of France and Spain were obliged to assist each other in case of a War. A combined French and Spanish fleet could pose a serious threat to the Royal Navy, as the French fleet was still in good condition. The matter was hotly debated within France itself. Royalists and certain factions of the Convention were eager to honor the Pact and go fight England. Other factions of the Convention insisted that dynastic policies should not determine foreign affairs. In any case, France starts making military preparations. Something noticed by both the Spanish and the British. By October, France has yet to give a definite answer. But War seems certain and British cabinet already discusses potential targets for a winter campaign. The island of Trinidad and the city of New Orleans, both Spanish, were the most likely targets. Unexpectedly, a new French government decides against honoring the Pact. Spain is unwilling to fight alone against Britain and negotiations begin in earnest.
*October 26, 1790. During the Autumn of 1790, diplomat Hugh Elliot (1752-1830) had been sent in France to investigate current attitudes towards the British Empire. His answer came as a surprise to Pitt. According to it, two influential politicians and their supporters were favorable to the idea of an alliance between France and the United kingdom. The two were Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791) and Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834). Both of them favored the idea of establishing a constitutional monarchy in France, modeled on the British system. Both viewed Britain itself as the most likely ally to a regime change. Pitt however declined to contact any French politician. Jacques Necker (1732-1804), once a darling of the Revolution, had just fallen from power. Indicating that the political system in France was still unstable. from Pitt's perspective, Mirabeau and Lafayette were equally likely to vanish from the political scene. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Elliot and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honoré_Gabriel_Riqueti,_comte_de_Mirabeau and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_marquis_de_Lafayette and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Necker
*14-17 July, 1791. The so-called Priestley Riots take place in Birminghan. Since 1789, a "pamphlet war" was raging in Great Britain. Intellectuals were disagreeing on how to view the French Revolution. Some heralded it as new move towards democratic reformation, others as a step towards complete anarchy. The debate was naturally influenced by the ongoing political disputes within Britain itself. Primarily on three subjects: 1) The need of Parliamentary Reforms within Britain itself, 2) the expansion of the voting right to include more people (" less than 10% of the adult male population had the right to vote"), 3) the treatment of religious minorities and whether they get political rights. Pitt payed little attention to the debates, convinced that few British would find anything to emulate in the French Revolution.
**On July 14, about 90 sympathizers of the French Revolution organize a Bastille Day celebration at Birmingham. The banquet takes place with no incident. But when the guests tried to exit, they are confronted by a rioting crowd. Three days of riots followed. The rioters destroyed the house and church of leading Dissenter Joseph Priestley (1733-1804). Then proceeded in attacking or burning down "four Dissenting chapels, twenty-seven houses, and several businesses. Many of them became intoxicated by liquor that they found while looting, or with which they were bribed to stop burning homes. A small core could not be bribed, however, and remained sober. The rioters burned not only the homes and chapels of Dissenters, but also the homes of people they associated with Dissenters, such as members of the scientific Lunar Society." There an indications the riots were organized by local magistrates of Birmingham, eager to get rid of "potential revolutionaries". Few people were arrested for the trials. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestley_Riots and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Priestley#Birmingham_Riots_of_1791
**For Pitt this is arguably the first indication that the French revolution and its spirited ideological debates can seriously effect the internal situation in Great Britain.
*27 August, 1791. Declaration of Pillnitz by the recently-allied Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (1747-1792, reigned 1790-1792) and Frederick William II, King of Prussia (1744-1797, reigned 1786-1797). They threaten France with military intervention in case the rights and safety of Louis XVI were threatened. "Which declared the interest of the monarchs of Europe in the well-being of Louis and his family, and threatened vague but severe consequences if anything should befall them. Although Leopold saw the Pillnitz Declaration as an easy way to appear concerned about the developments in France without committing any soldiers or finances to change them, the revolutionary leaders in Paris viewed it fearfully as a dangerous foreign attempt to undermine France's sovereignty." Pitt is initially concerned that war is imminent. But his diplomatic contacts soon inform him that there are no concrete plans of an invasion of France. For the time being, Great Britain is distancing itself from the affairs of the Continent.
*3 September, 1791. The French Constitution of 1791 is ratified and French officially becomes a constitutional monarchy. On 14 October, 1791, Great Britain offers diplomatic recognition to the new regime. Pitt still sees developments in France as reasonable enough. See: See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Constitution_of_1791
*March, 1792 - Relations between France on one side and the rulers of Austria and Prussia have continued to deteriorate. The main issue is the mutual distrust of the two sides. The pretexts so far include: 1) French protests about the presence of Royalist émigrés in the Rhineland area, 2) the Austro-Prussian protests about the abolition of feudal rights in the Alsace region of France. Where most nobles were Germans. 3)the Austro-Prussian protests about the recent annexation of the Comtat Venaissin to France. The Comtat was an enclave of the Papal States surrounded by France. It was created in the 1270s and included several cities, most notably Avignon.
**On 10, Austria and Prussia declare themselves allied against France. The Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Electorate of Saxony, and the Dutch Republic are officially invited to join their cause. The foundations of the First Coalition have been set. A bit earlier, the Feuillant faction of France, moderates who have gained governmental seats, had also sought an alliance with Great Britain. The British cabinet is taken by surprise. They weren't expecting a war and had not decided on any particular course of action. Foreign secretary William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834, term 1791-1801) improvises. He expects a French proposal for "British mediation to stave off war or arrange a peace". He was apparently counting on the Feulliants. Actually the approaching conflict undermines support for the Feulliants within France itself. Before the end of March the Feuillants have lost their politicar power. The hawkish girondins largely replace them. Fundamentally opposed to monarchy, radical republicans, and defiant towards the European powers. They are quite ready to declare war. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feuillant_(political_group) and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girondin
*20 April, 1792. France officially declares war on Austria. They are preparing to invade the Austrian Netherlands. Pitt was expecting that France would be swept up by a combined Austro-Prussian invasion and that a regime unsympathetic to British interests would emerge. He wanted to keep Britain out of this war. British diplomats were officially informed that their country "has little concern in what is going forward on the Continent". Instructed to simply observe events and not interfere in them. The British Parliament was preoccupied at the time with the question of a new law, suggesting "gradual abolition of the slave trade". Something of a hot potato with several politicians, including Pitt, having different ideas on the subject. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism#Growth_of_the_movement
**On 30 April, Pitt who nominally supported the proposed reforms, suddenly switches sides on the matter. He publically declares that British Reformers had adopted France as their model. And that the impractical principles of the French Revolution can only lead to "a wild state of nature". The government officially takes a stance against any reforms. This is followed in May with the first measures against "the seditious and wicked publications" which spread French Revolutionary and Reformer ideas. The Rights of Man (1791) by Thomas Paine (1737-1809) is the first book to be specifically targeted. Paine himself is chased out of Great Britain. Then sentenced to execution while in absentia (!). Pitt sets Great Britain as an ideological opponent to the French Revolution. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rights_of_Man and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine