The fourth volume of M. de Wit’s Letters and Negotiations concludes with the correspondence of Peter Grotius with the Grand Pensionary during his embassy at Stockholm.  The Dutch Minister discovers in it great knowledge of mankind.  “The more I reflect, says he to M. de Wit, Dec. 8, 1668, on the regency of Sweden, the more clearly I discover that the most important affairs are not regulated agreeable to the public interest, but according to that of the principal Ministers; and the surest and easiest way to succeed, is to gain him who has the King’s ear rather than the King himself; because what is done for the good of the nation obliges no one in particular, and procures glory, but no acknowledgments.  When I passed through Denmark, I perceived that more might be done by means of M.G. with a hundred thousand crowns, than can be done with the King with five times that sum.”

The negotiations of Peter Grotius were in a promising way at the death of William Borell the Dutch Ambassador at Paris.  Grotius was nominated by the States of Holland to succeed him, and at the same time the town of Rotterdam chose him for their Pensionary.  M. de Wit was of opinion that Grotius ought to prefer the place of Pensionary:  he wrote to his friend, May 14, 1669, “Messieurs the Burgomasters and Counsellors of the town of Rotterdam have unanimously made choice of you to be their Counsellor Pensionary.  I believe your nomination to the French embassy will be set aside, if the Gentlemen of Rotterdam apply for that purpose to their Noble and Great Mightinesses; and I imagine you will prefer this honourable establishment in a post your father was undeservedly turned out of, to a gilded exile, for such an embassy may be styled.  Other reasons will occur for your taking this step, without its being necessary for me to mention them.”

Grotius was greatly embarrassed:  he writes to M. de Wit, May 22, 1669, that his situation would not suffer him to give a positive answer; that he had written to the Gentlemen of Rotterdam, acknowledging their great civility and goodness in thinking of him; but that he had not declared himself with regard to the accepting of the place.

Holland had occasion at this time for the ablest of her Ministers at the Court of Lewis XIV. and Peter Grotius could not refuse to serve his Country in such critical circumstances.  The point was to bring about a reconciliation between the United Provinces and the King, who resolved to declare war against them, imagining he had great reason to complain of their behaviour.  Grotius was the only Minister who could succeed in this negotiation, had a reconciliation been practicable, says Wicquefort.  The King, though highly incensed against Holland, shewed the greatest respect to her Ambassador.  War being declared in 1672, Peter Grotius was again sent to the King, to try if an accommodation could be accomplished:  but the King had made too great preparations for war to conclude a peace so soon.