Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 42. (1992)

BLACK, Jeremy: British policy towards Austria, 1780–1793

Jeremy Black

of snobbery, had Joseph declare „I prefer the sons of virtue to the sons of Princes14).“ However, relations between Austria and Hanover deteriorated in the 1770s and this was reported in the British press, one newspaper declaring in 1774 that the Austrian envoy ‘expressed himself to this effect: „If the Ring of Great Britain avowed the language lately held by his Electoral minister, he must expect the Emperor to oppose him in every step he took in the Empire.“ Hanover opposed what it saw as Joseph’s dictatorial attitude in the Empire, while Joseph was angered by Hanoverian independence. In 1774 the Austrian envoy in London threatened to suspend all good relations with Hanover, while in Vienna they were regarded as broken. The Hanoverian minister attached to George III in London, Johann Friedrich Carl von Alvensleben, declared that Joseph was the chief, but not the master of the Empire15). Antagonism between Austria and Hanover led the latter towards Prussia and it is not surprising that during the War of the Bavarian Succession George III, as Elector of Hanover, adopted a pro-Prussian position. Hugh Elliot, envoy in Berlin, wrote to Keith, his Viennese counterpart, in 1778, ‘The King of Prussia is sensible of the Ring’s friendly conduct in his Electoral capacity, and expresses his satisfaction at it. I imagine the Hanoverian measures will be seen with less favourable eyes where you are.’ However, neither Keith, nor his counterpart in The Hague, Joseph Yorké, were happy about the effect of Hanoverian influences. Yorké compared Austria with Prussia in 1778, ‘In this American quarrel the former has undoubtedly been more friendly that the latter. The King however in the Bavarian quarrel has publickly avowed the latter. To be sure Hanover is in the right, is England so too, that is the first question? The next is whether Austria is or can be French and how matters stand between them... It is plain to me Prussia is not English, our conduct may be virtue, but is it wise too in a worldly sense?’ Keith was more damning the following year. Writing to Stormont, a committed supporter of better relations with Vienna, where he had served as envoy from 1763 to 1772, Keith complained,

14) Stormont to Rochford, 28 Dec. 1774: PRO London State Papers 78/294 fol. 208-9; Westminster Journal 24 Sept. 1774.

15) Westminster Journal 3, 17 Sept., 1 Oct. 1774; Haslang to Beckers, 14 June, 19 Aug. 1774, Ritter, Wittelsbach envoy in Vienna, to Beckers, 27 Ap., 3, 24, 31 Aug., 7 Sept., 5, 26 Oct. 1774: HStA Munich Ges. London 252, Wien 702; Derek Beales Joseph II. I. In the shadow of Maria Theresa 1741-1780 (Cambridge 1987) 276, 304, 396. There are brief introductions to Hanoverian policy in Sigisbert Conrady Die Wirksamkeit König Georgs III fur die hannoverschen Kurlande in Niedersachsisches Jahrbuch fur Landesgeschichte 39 (1969) 150-91; Volker Press Kurhannover im System des alten Reiches 1692-180) in England und Hannover, ed. Adolf Birke and Kurt Kluxen (Munich 1986) 53-79.

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