INTRODUCTION                      cxxxvii
became increasingly impatient at Viry's laconic phrases.1 Only on June 28 did Viry dispatch the English reply with the full story of what he had discreetly concealed, that for three weeks the dove of peace had vainly sought in the English ministry a place where her foot might rest.2
Even Bute had had misgivings about Choiseul's proposals; his advisers and friends were more outspoken. Viry only cut short the torrent of Egremont's indignation by the tactful hint that it was getting late! George Grenville, even more discontented, he thought would not depart till the morrow! The secretaries, Henley, Halifax, even Bute's intimate Lord Melcombe told Bute that the French offers were impossible. The secretaries protested it would be hard enough to defend the peace even on the basis of Egremont's offer of May 1. They seriously proposed that that offer should be withdrawn. Finally the council of June 21 agreed to leave it open. But Egremont drew a reply dated June 26 which insisted on every jot and tittle of the English demands of May. In it the Earl laid aside the tone of stately courtesy that had hitherto characterized the negotiation and shrilled, scolded, and threatened in his natural peevishness.
Viry however had not relaxed his pressure; day in and day out he had been placidly telling angry ministers he could not see what there was in the French memoir to vex them; day by day he had been lecturing on the theme that historically England's northern policy had best succeeded when it had French support; day by day politely but firmly he had reiterated that France would not make peace without St. Lucia. Finally by sheer weight of quiet persistence he overbore the resistance of ministers who realized they were now politically committed to obtaining peace from the French negotiation if at all. On June 22, the day after the council, Egremont told him that if France would acquiesce in
1 Solar to Viry, June 24, 27, 1762.   Shelburne MSS., 10:25-28, 29-30.
'Viry's account is in a long letter of June 27. Shelburne MSS., 10: 61-92. Bute's note to Viry is in Shelburne MSS., 10:184-189; the note on St. Lucia is in Shelburne MSS., 10:192-194. Viry's account of the council's attitude is substantiated in some particulars by an account Mansfield gave Newcastle; Mansfield thought that there was not the least probability of peace.   Newcastle to Hardwicke, June 28, 1762.   Add. MSS., 32,940:112.
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