L'ENTREE DES ALLIES

L'amiral Hood à Philip Stephens, premier secrétaire de V Amirauté, à Londres

Victory, off the islands of Hyères, 25lh of August 1793.

Sir,

Be pleased to acquaint the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that on the 23d, commissioners from Marseilles came with fui 1 powers from the Sections ofthe Mouths of the Rhône, to treat for peace. They expected to be met by commissioners having ciearly and explicitly declared their views to be in favour of monarchy. I sent on shore to Toulon and Marseilles the proclamation and preliminary déclaration, I hâve now the honour to enclose copies of. The former was intented to make an impression on the minds of the populace who are the governmentof France.

The Toulon commissioners are no onw board and hâve offered to put the harbour and forts in my possession, but at présent I hâve not Iroops sufficient to défend the works, and there is a strong division in the fleet. I am, however, about to anchor in the bay of Hyères, as the batteries upon thèse islands are secured. This will enable me to be at hand to assist the royalists. Had I 5 or 6000 good troops with me, the war would soon be at the end.

The day previous to the arrivai of the commissioners from Marseilles, I had written to don Borja, who I had been told was off cape Cruese, acquainting him that want of water would oblige me to go into port the end of this month, and hoped to hâve the honor of seing him in a few days, to guard Toulon. But it seems don Langara commands the fleet of Spain in thèse seas, who has told me, in a letter I hâve, within this hour, received from him, that his instructions will not allow him to leave the service he is upon. I hâve, however, sent the frigate back to him, requesting, in the most pressing manner, that, in the présent situation of things (which I hâve fully stated to him), he will be pleased to send Ihe squadron of his fleet under the command of admirai Gravina to me, with as many troops he can spare.

I hâve also written to sir William Hamilton, asking the neapolitan ships and troops, and likewise to M. Trevor at Turin (under whose cover I send this to be forwarded) for the information of the king of Sardinia, as I hâve been informed a great party of the army that was in Savoy is now marching against Toulon.

L'amiral Langara à V amiral Hood

(Traduction.)