 In 1809, he was despatched to Vienna as an envoy by his relative Henry Bathurst, pro tempore Secretary for Foreign Affairs.His mission was to assist in the reconstruction of Britain and Austria's alliance and to try to encourage Austrian Emperor Francis I to declare war on France, which the Emperor did in April.However, the Austrians were forced to abandon Vienna to the French forces and eventually sued for peace after they were badly defeated by the French at the Battle of Wagram in July 1809.