The opposition of George III.

to the proposals for Catholic Emancipation, to which Pitt believed himself in honour bound, led to the resignation in February, 1801, of that able Minister.

In the following month Addington, the Speaker of the House of Commons, with the complacence born of bland obtuseness, undertook to fill his place.

At first, the Ministry was treated with the tolerance due to the new Premier's urbanity, but it gradually faded away into contempt for his pitiful weakness in face of the dangers that threatened the realm.
Certain unofficial efforts in the cause of peace had been made during the year 1800, by a Frenchman, M.Otto, who had been charged to proceed to London to treat with the British Government for the exchange of prisoners.

For various reasons his tentative proposals as to an accommodation between the belligerents had had no issue: but he continued to reside in London, and quietly sought to bring about a good understanding.