The Dutch Republic And the American Revolution

s. In the desire to be backed by one of the great European powers in the pursuance of the war, Great Britain approached Russia. Sir James Harris (later given the title of Lord Malmes- bury), a very clever diplomat, was sent to the Russian court in order to arrange, if possible, an alliance. He found two diverging political influences at work in the Russian capital, one emanating from Potemkin, who was rising in favor with Empress Catherine II, the other from Panin, the secretary of the Russian Foreign Office and also a favorite, but whose star was fading. Harris resolved to use the former statesman for his purposes, neglecting and thereby provoking against himself the other. The ambassador was soon to see his mistake in undervaluing Panin's influence. Potemkin was able to arrange for Harris two secret interviews with the empress, during which she consented to an alliance with England. Upon his report to the British government, the ambassador received full powers to negotiate the treaty. In the meantime Panin, from whom the preliminary proceedings had been concealed, became aware of what was going on and succeeded in convincing his imperial mistress of the impracticability of the proposed coalition. Consequently negotiations were formally refused to Harris. For a moment, however, it seemed that in spite of Panin's counteractions he would be able to bring the two powers nearer together, or, at least, to inflame the empress against England's foes. Two Russian v...