William Finch 1720–1724

Extract

On Carteret's departure from Stockholm his secretary William Finch, second son of that man of weight in home politics, Daniel Earl of Nottingham, replaced him with the character of envoy extraordinary. His principal business in the years 1720 and 1721 was to bring the Swedes to accept from Peter the Great any terms that he would grant. For again in these years Sir John Norris failed in his mission to destroy the Russian naval power; as in 1719 he could neither reach the tsar's fleet in its harbours nor prevent the landing of troops on galleys to ravage the Swedish coasts. George I had to realise that his enemy could not be coerced. Disappointed of that inclusion in the treaty of Nystad, on which he had insisted and of which he had been assured, George professed to take little further interest in Swedish affairs until in 1723 negotiation opened for a new treaty between Sweden and Russia. In this again Peter refused to associate him. When in February 1724 it was concluded without him and apparently in hostility towards him, and when there followed report of intention on the part of Frederick I to abdicate, it was decided to replace Finch, who had failed to prevent these developments, by a stronger man. To avoid offence to his father he was transferred to the Hague, a post more honourable, but which the intimate personal relations of Lord Townshend with the leading Dutch ministers rendered less onerous.