TOULON EN NOVEMBRE

Gilbert Elliot à Henry Dundas

Toulon, the 23'1 November 1793.

Sir,

... I am convinced that the Déclaration will do much good, both al Toulon and elsewhere; it was peculiarly seasonable hère, as I understand some pains had been taken lo crvale suspicions of His Mnjesty's intentions with regard to the possession of the place, and I f'ear our allies the Spaniards are not quite free from the imputation of altempting that sort of misrepresentalion. Ail such altempt must liowever now be defeated and it is with great plcasure that I observe, in Ihe inhabitants of ail ranks, what appears to me, a cordial confidence in His Majesty's known generosily and honor, and in the brilish character.

Il is also with the highest satisfaction that, so far as it is possible lo judge on a very short acquaintance with them, I perçoive much less solicitudeabout the Constitution of 1789, thanl expected, and I flatter myself with the hope of finding little opposition on that score, to any measures we may hâve to propose.

The while cockade is universal, mon Roy is in every mouth, and if any thing there appears to me rather an affectation of pure royalism than of adhérence to any parlicular points of what is called the Constitution.

The few emigrants that hâve found theirway hère, hâve been well received, and even with some distinction.

A new corps raised in the town and in brilish pay, is called le Royal-Louis, and were not satisfied 'till they had commissions from Monsieur, as Régent.

Il has been hinted to me, that the sections hâve deliberaled lately on the prjpriety of inviting Monsieur to Toulon, and that they were inclined to that measure. I suspect in fact, that throughout France, wherever the peopler break from the Convention, they will be found to resort simply to Ihe restoration of the king, and that the royal standard, wherever it is fairly set up, will draw to it ail persons of whatever descriptions or parties, who are dissatisfied with the présent slale of things. They are, in fact, so terrified that they care not what refuge they corne to, provided it be strong, and the more powerfull the protection is, the more it is likely to atlract them.

TOULOiN ET LES ANGLAIS 441

I shall not act, however, on this principle, to any extent lhat may be hazardous, untill I hâve a more certain knowledge of the disposition which prevails hère ; but what I hâve already observed, has encouraged me to propose an experiment, which other considérations ot* a more urgent nature seem to call for.

You are not ignorant of the disappointment which has been sustain'd hère, respecting reinforcements, and of the little probabilily there now is of considérable aid arriving soon ; you are also apprized of the urgent occasion gênerai O'Hara has for additional force.

There are, in this town, many thousands of young men consuming provisions, without any advantage to the common cause, although perfectly capable of service. A few of thèse hâve been formed into corps, and hâve already been found useful.

IL is thought they would be more so, if their ofticers had more military expérience; and itis conceived that it will be easy to obtain the services of a much greater number, than those already enlisted.

The expence of thèse corps must, it is true, be borne by England in the'first instance ; but if they prove useful, they will certainly be the cheapesl troops HisMajesty can employ at Toulon. The charge of raising them will be very inconsiderable, there will be no expence for transportinglhem fromdislant places, andtherewill be neither half pay nor subsidy.

. On thèse accounls, gênerai O'Haraand lord Hood hâve approved ofmysending immediately for about twenty or thirty emigrant officers of known merit, who are now in Italy, and ready to embark on the first summons. Thèse may raise a smalt body of troops in Toulon, witta very little delay, and, with such officers, I hâve no doubt of their proving good soldiers.

This little experiment may also serve to feel the political puise of the town, on the réception aidemployment of emigrant gentlemen. If this plan is found useful, and free from any considérable objections, it will be easy to adopt it in a greater extent, hereafter.

I am extremely sorry that the accounts which you will receive from gênerai O'Hara, are so discouraging. Having no degree of military knowledge, my opiuion can be of little value; but it seems due to gênerai O'Hara, that I should say what appears to me the resuit of our présent situation, as far as it may be judged of, without professionallighls. I cannot help, therefore, confessing that the possession of this place seems to me precarious, and that every day is crilical.

The quality of a great majority of the troops is such, lhat they

cannot possibly be depended on ; and yet, the most important posts must, of necessity, be enlrusted, in a great measure, to them. No serious or regular attack has yet been made on any of the posts, and tbe enemy seems to reserve ilself for a powerfull exertion, whenever they are preparcd. That their numbersareencreasing, and their préparations of every kind advancing, we hâve every reason to be assured; and if our force should not encrease proportionably in much less time than at présent seems possible, the event cannot be answered for.

General O'Hara thinks it his indispensable duty, to give you correct information, evcn vvhen it is of a disagreable nature, but I can venture to assure you that nothing will be omitted by lord Hood, or him, or any person honour'd withHis Majesty's confidence hère, to struggle with every difficulty which may happen to attend the service.

A great part of our disappointments, I know, are not less unexpected to you, than to ourselves, and you had reason to imagine that the full number of Neapolitans, a material reinforcement from Gibraltar, and 5.000 auslrian troops were already hère ; you could not possibly foresee that the whole body ofspanish troops employed hère, should be perhaps worse than useless. If none of thèse disappointments had happened, or, I may perhaps say, if they had not ail happened, 1 conceive that our possession of Toulon might hâve been secured for a sufficient time, to bave enabled you to realise the formidable force which I know is deslined for this service, and which, I présume, is in a state of considérable forwardness.

In the mean while, nothing shall be neglected that can enable us to keep our footing, till the british troops from Gibraltar and Ireland, and the Hessians from Flanders, can arrive. I fear there is no prospect of the auslrian troops promised us from the Milanese. With regard to the troops ordered from Gibraltar, we learnt, two days ago, that sir Robert Boyd had determined not to send them, on a. supposition (founded, we are told, on an article in a newspaper) that they are not. wanled...

In addition to the matter alluded to in that letter, 1 hâve to inform you that the court of Spain has thought proper to appoint a commission similar, as I understand, to that which we bear, and the civil minister M. Ocariz, is expected hère every hour.

This constant aping oî the british measures would be ridiculous, if it were not mischievous ; but it shall be our business, by temper and forbearance, as far as is consistent with our trust, to diminish evils, which thèse cross claims might be expected to produce.

This matter can be treated successfully and perhaps safely, only at Madrid, or London ; but it is of real moment, for besides

the présent embarrassment in Ihe service, a period may arrive, when thèse prétentions may produce very serious conséquences. Our force, naval and military, at Toulon, is inlerior to that of Spain, and if, in the case of some unloward event, we were to propose to remove or otherwise to dispose of the french ships, I am satisfied we should be opposed by the spanish forces.

I hâve been much engaged, since my arrivai, in col'ecting information on the internai affairs of the town. I fmd ail parties extremely ready to communicate what they know, and equally so to acquiesce in any measure I may propose.

Their finances are the most pressing object; thèse are within a few days of being tolally exhausted, and it is not sûrprising that it should be so, since, besides their own civil and military establishment, they hâve furnished the combined forces with almost every articles ol supply.

I flatter myself that considérable improvements may soon be made in thèse arrangements; but I must take the liberty of saying that the appointaient of a commissary gênerai for the Brilish forces, will extremely facilitate the introduction of some order, both in the supply of the army, and in the finances of Toulon.

I am glad to find that the difficulties which were to be apprehended from the sudden stop in the circulation of assignats, are not likely to be immediately very pressing.

Thereis, in Toulon, a very large sum in assignats ; not less than twelve millions of livres, but they are fortunately not in the hands of the lower class of people, who hâve, in gênerai, silver, and who are in the way of earning enough for their subsistence.

The distress of those who possess assignais, willhowever be very great : as many who were in a confortable and respectable way of life, hâve their whole fortunes, or rather Ihe whole wreck of their fortunes, in that discredited paper...