LE DIFFÉREND ANGLO-ESPAGNOL
L'amiral Langara à Vamiral Hood
(Traduction.)
On board the ship MexicanOj at Tolon, 23*^* October 1793.
MOST EXCELLE?IT SiR,
In conséquence of Ihe valour and skill with wbich rear admirai don Federico dravina conducted the combined forces in the allack and recovery of Ihe important post of La Malgue, in which he was so gloriousiy wounded, and of the good mllilàry conduct which he has shewu evcr since our eutrance into this port, Ihe kiug has been pleased to promote hîm to tbe rank of lieutenant gênerai of bis fleel, and to confirm him in the gênerai command of Ihe allied forces in the possession of which hehas been, by Ihe agreenicnt between your Kxcellency and me. And by the same royal order, major gênerai don Raphaël Valdès is to remaia wilh the command of the spanish troops.
God préserve your Exccllency many years.
Vamiral Hood à ramiral Langara
Viclory, Toulon road, ai"» October 1793.
Sir,
I hâve been honoured with your Excellency's letter of last night, informing me Ihal, on accounl of Ihe valour and good conduct of admirai Gravina, His Calholic Majesly had promoted him to the rank of lieutenant gênerai, and commander in chief of the combined forces at Toulon.
No one can more sincerely rcjoice than myself at my much esleenied friend's promotion, but, His Sardioian andSicilian Majesly having been graciously pleased to confide their respective troops entirely to my disposai, or to act under such british offlcer as 1 may judge fit to put Ihem, I am very much at a loss to conceive 4jpon whal ground admirai Gravina can take upon him the title of
tjoulon et les anglais 433
commander in chief of the combined forces ai Toulon ; more especially as the town and ils dépendant forts were yieided up to the brilish troops alone, and laken possession of by me. I shall there* fore feel it my duty to put the sardinian and sicilian troops, together with the british, under the command of major gênerai O'Hara, the moment he arrives (who is now off the port), eventually subject to such orders as I may see fit to give.
At the same lime, I entreat your Excellency will give me crédit for the most sincère wish and inclination to cooperate with your Excellency, and every servant and subject of His Gatholic Majesty, in the most cordial and friendly manner, for supportiog the common cause in which our sovereigns are united, not only for the defence of Toulon and security to the persons and property of its inhabitants, but for rcstoring good order and a permanent government to the distracted kingdom of France, to which happy end the coalesced troops will, I hope and trust, ever act in perfect harmony together; nothing shall be wanting, on my part, to contribute to it; and Ido most readily admit thaï, whenever the whole or a part of the combined forces go out upon any service, the sole and absolule command must be in in the senior offîcer présent of whatever nation; but I cannot admit that admirai Gravina bas authority over any other troops but the Spanish in garrison where undoubtedly governor Goodall commands, and must continue so to do, untill I hâve orders from my sovereign to withdraw him.
L'amiral Langara à Vamiral Hood
(Traduction.)
On board the ship Mexico no in ihe roadof Toulon, 25*\Octobern93.
MosT Excellent Sir,
From the very day that I had the honour to combine wilh your Excellency the expédition of Toulon, we agreed upon the absolute cqualily of command to be held by the subalterns whora woshould name for the defence and préservation of the place. On thèse principles, the constilutcd aulhorities and the gênerai GomniiUeeacled from the time of our entrance into the port, reposing the mililary command in both admirais, and acknowledging with ail solen;-
nity, on Ihe 2«* of september, rear admirai don Federico Gravina as commandant gênerai of the troops, and rcar admirai Goodallas governor of Ihe lown of Toulon, Ihe keys of which they ppesenled, at the same lime, to your Excellency and to me, on our landing. Your Excellency knows that Ihe formidable seaand land force wilh which I joiucd your Excellency, and which arrivcd so speecliiy, demandtîd thaï equalily in right which was agroed upou, and coosequenlly my reports to Ihe king my master were conformable to that agrecmenl. The royal order which T hâve had the honour to communicate to Your Excellency for confirming lieutenant gênerai don Federico Gravina in the command of the combined forces at Toulon is a conséquence of what was seltled, the said 2-'« day of september, in your Excellency's and my présence, and in Ihat of ail Ihe chiefs and authorities at Toulon^ to whom he was made known as such by rear admirai Parker. This need be no obstacle to the parlicular command of the english as well as ofthe neapolitan and sardinian troops devolving on major gênerai O'Hara, or any olher english gênerai whom your Excellency may name, in the same manner as that of the Spanish has on major gênerai don Raphaël Valdes, nor doesit prevent, inlhe case of any expédition, the command being given to the ofncer of highesl rank or grealer scniorily, let him be of what nation he may.
Your Excellency bas found me, and will always find me very much disposed to concur in every thing that can conlribule lo the good of Ihe common cause, nor hâve I bcen backward hitherto in acting wilh good fuith, and wilh that frankness and sincerity which il appeared to me that I oughtlo use with respect toyour Excellency, and also from the présent circumstauces, under which I cannot depart from an equality in evciy thing relalive lo the enterprize, conformably to the alliance between our respective sovereigns. It is not in my power to vary from what was agreed upon and solemnly pubiished on the said 2"* day of september, and I do not doubt but that, as hitherto there bas been no doubt aboulthe reco* gnilion of the authority of don Federico Gravina by thç allied troops, nor of that of admirai Goodall by the Spanish, there neither will be any in future, but that we shall ail unanimously and with the best harmony, apply ourselvcs to obtain the desired end.
God préserve your Excellency many years.
V amiral Hood à V amiral Langara
Viclory, Toulon road, 25'*' October 1793.
MOST EXGKLLEM AdVIRAL,
Ihave been honored wilh your Kxcellency's lelter of yesterday's date, aDd, although my duly to my sovereign may occasion a différence of opinion beiween us upon points of public service, nolhing can weaken the respect and esteem I am proud to entertain for your Excellency. I am nol aware of any agreement whaiever beyond tbat of most cordially cooperating for the support of Ihe cominon cause in which our sovereigns are so cordially united.
Tbe circumstances to which your Excellency alludes to hâve takea place on the 2' September, was four days afler the honorable George Keith Elphinstone had, by my order, taken possession of the towQ and arsenal of Toulon, and the dépendant forts, as governor. Rut» on his representing to me that it was totally impossible for one man to discharge tbe varions complicated duties, I appointed rear admirai Goodali to be governor of Toulon, and re-appoinled the honorable caplain Elphinstone to be governor of La Malgue. My sole business on shore, on the 2** september (and I made no objection to your Excellency's proposai of going wilh me) was to introduce governor Goodali, and to express to the Gommittees Ihen présent that, if they meant to rely upon me for protection to thpir persons, and security to Iheir property, they must submit to my giving it in tbat mode and maaner I should judge bcst, and I farther added that, upon this point, your Excellency and I were perfectly of the same opinion. I am totally ignorant of any other agreement.
Indeed, some days after, your Excellency talked of a convention to be signed beiween us, which I objected to as totally unnecessary; but, at the same lime, expresscd the most perfect readiness to sanction, and not interfère in the catholic religion, or impede the priesls in their funclions, and that their places of worshlp should be respected, and their persons protected. This was one of the articles your Excellency proposed, to which I assented.
With respect to the keys of the town being presented, your Excellency bas been misinformed; they were thekeys only of their bureau and the places of the archives, tlie keys of the town being then in possession of governor Elphinstone.
Varîous reports hâve been daily made to me of encroacbmenU for power by officers uader your Excellency's command, which I refrained takiog aay notice of from an unwillingness to lay ll:e foundation for any differenceb eLween us, having always had, and shall slill continue to bave the most sincère désire of cooperaling with your Excellency upon fair and équitable ground. But when your Excellency announced to me two such very extraordinary appointments, first that of don Vaidès, and, two days aflcr, tbat of admirai Gravina to be commander in chief of the coalcsced forces at Toulon, my duty to my sovereign would not allow me to be longer silenl. Had your Excellency Ihought yourself at liberlj to hâve complied with the first request I had the honour to make for your assistance, we should then bave been joint in taking possession of Toulon, but, your Excellency informing me in your letter of the 24*^ August, that your was tied down by your instructions to the coast of Roussillon,! was left to do the bestl could by myself, and consequently took possession of Toulon, the arsenal, and forts without that aid I so strongly pressed for, and coveted from your lîxcellency.
Le marquis del Campo, ambassadeur d'Angleterre à Londres, à lord Grenville *
Mï Lord
... Il me serait difficile d'exprimer à V. E. quellea étélasurprise et rétonnement de ma Cour en apprenant le différend dont il s'agit, et qu'un général de la sagesse et de la prudence reconnue de mylord Hood se soit persuadé, pour un moment, qu'il y pouroit avoiriieu à établir le moindre doute, moins encore une oposition, à laisser subsister le commandement général des troupes combiuécs sous M. de Gravina, qui s'en étoit acquitté jusqu'alors avec une conduite louée et applaudie des généraux, des officiers et de toute sorte de personnes..,
[Ici, le mar([uis del Campe rétablit les circonstances, dénaturées par l'amiral Ilood, de rentrée de la flotte anglo-espagnole dans le port de
Toulon.]
Ces faits incontestables étant posés, l'on doit trouver fort extraordinaire que l'aniiral Hood ait proposé des doutes était fait opposition à regarder M. de Gravina comme commandant des troupes combinées, comme s'il fût question d'un arrangement tout nouveau,
' Le texte original en français.
d*une mesure purement arbitraire de la part des Espagnols, ou d'une chose irrégulière et inattendue.
Les raisons sur lesquelles le lord Hood veut appuyer sa prétension (toute nouvelle) sont encore bien propres à étonner les personnes impartiales : il allègue Tarrivée des troupes d*autres natidus, lesquelles lui sont eiclusivement confiées par leurs souve* rains respectifs.
Quand même l'iaterprétation que mylord se croit autorisé à donner aux intentions et aux sentiments des dits souverains sur la destination conditionnelle de leurs troupes fût exactement conforme, cela n'aboutirait, tout au plus, qu*à les mettre sous le pied des troupes angloises mêmes, lesquelles, indubitablement, ont toujours été sous le commandement immédiat de leurs propres officiers. Mais si M. de Gravina, depuis le premier moment, étoit nommé par les deux amiraux commandant général des troupes combinées, et comme tel il avoit agi en toute occasion, il sera difficile de comprendre quel rapport il y a entre l'arrivéede quelques nouveaux régiments pour servir à la cause commune et de vouloir tout subitement priver le général espagnol du commandement dont il s'acquitoit avec tant d'honneur et de gloire. Il avoit l'honneur de commander les troupes angloises ; croit-on que les piémootoises et les napolitaines s'y refuseroient à faire autant ? A-t-on pu s'imaginer que Texistance des Espagnols à Toulon soit celle des simples auxiliaires?...
Je commence par rendre à mylord Hood, que j'ai l'honneur de connollre personnellement et que je respecte pour ses qualités supérieures, la justice de croire qu'après avoir considéré mûrement et avec calme l'aiïaire en question, sous tous ses rapports, il aura de luî-môme laissé les choses sur le pied qu'exigent la justice et réquité. Mais, en m'adressant à V. E., il m'est indispensable d'ajouter légèrement quelques réflexions.
La moindre mésintelligence, l'aparence mr^me.de manque d'accord entre nos deux nations seroit un coup mortel pour la cause commune et pour le grand objet que nos deux Souverains se sont proposés. L'Europe seroit étonnée. Les Alliés se Irouveroient dans l'incertitude et l'indécision. Le Gouvernement françois en profiteroit: La partie loyale des François tomberoitdans un profond abalement. de sorte que tous nos plans, toutes nos entreprises manqueroient.
Le roi catholique d'un côté et S. M.Briltanique d'un autre, ont eu grand soin de faire voir à l'Europe entière, et à la nation françoise en particulier, quels sont leurs sentiments, leurs vues et leurs souhaits, au sujet des troubles qui agitent et détruisent le beau royaume de France. La justice et la magnanimité de leurs principes ont été reconnues jusqu'à présent. Quel malheur si, par des mésin-
telligenccs, des nialentendus ou des marques eitéricures de peu d'accord, l'on venoit à donner lieu à des inquiétudes, ou des soupçons sur ia probabilité d'autres vues dilîérentes! Nos deux souverains, animés de sentiments purs, nobles et généreux, n'oublieront rien, sans doute, pour éloigner un tel danger sur cet objet délicat.*
Lord GrenvUle à lord Saint-Helens
W'hitehall, Nov»»" 30»" 1793.
My Lord,
Your Excellenc/s dispatch on the subject of the late transactions at Toulon, togelher with the correspondence wlvch bas taken place there on Ihe same business, and a note frora M. del Campo, relative to it, a copy olwhich I now inclosc lo your Excellency, bave been under the serious considération of His Majesty's confidential Servants.
With respect (o the grounds on which the question turns between lord Hood and admirai Langara, it appears unquestionable:
1*' That Ihe surrcnder of Toulon was made to the king's officer only, the spanish admirai having expressly declined to coucur in the original enterprize.
2*^'? Thata joint mililary government to be exercised by the offlcers of two distinct nations in a place besieged by an army from without, and liable to daily insurrections from within, would inevitably endanger the possession of Ihe place itself.
3^'y That the mililary command being thereforeof necessity to be vested in one po\ser can belong only lo thaï power to whom the surrender was actually mado, but that even if there were any doubt in Diat respect, His Majesty's claim would be equally indisputable on the ground of the much greater force which bas been collecled at Toulon by His eiïorls and the much greater expence incurred by him for maintaining the possession ofthat place.
4^^'y That the king bas not even the right lo transfer under the command of anolher power Ihe Iroops of those sovereigns who hâve entrusted Iheir forces lo his officers and appointed Ihem to be under his direction.
On ail Ihese grounds it is manifest that the commission fciven by His Majcsty lo gênerai O'Hara to be governor of the lown and garrison of Toulon, with the cntire command of that place and il's dependencies, as usually vested in mililary govcrnors, musl of necessity be mainlained, and Ibat no person can be permilleJ to
exercise mililary command over Ihe combined Iroopsserving Ihere, cxcept under hîs superior orders as goveroor.
Lord Hood's conduct during the time Ihal the place continued ^nder the provisional command of naval orficers, assisted by such land officers only as acled under Ihem and wilhoul direct aulhorUy from Iheir sovereigns, was perfectly well judged, and conformable to his général instruclions for maintaining concert and cordiaiity between the two nations ; and Ihere being then in (he place no british military officer of rank equal to that of admirai Gravina, no difiiculty could, in that state of things, arise from his taking, as senior officer, the command of the combined Iroops, vhiie admirai Goodall and caplain Elphinstone acted as governors, in His Majesty's name, of the place and of the adjoining fort.
It would certainly bave been very much to be desired that any subséquent discussion of questions of command could bave been avoided, and His Majesty's Servants had entertained a slrong hope, from Ihe lemper and conciliating disposition of admirai Gravina, that the A^hole service might bave been conducted by a tacit understandingbetween the commanders of the two nations, wilhout invalidating or even calling in question the rights which his Majesty had acquired. This would still be to His Majesty the most satisfactory mode of arranging the présent différences, and I cannot help hoping, from the expressions in admirai Langara*s letter of the 25*'» October, that the principles on which the court of Madrid are inclined to act, are not, in fact, différent from those adopted by His Majesty. It would be perfectly conformable to the expressions of that letter to eslablish, as His Majesty wishes and expects, first that the Commission of gênerai 0*Hara as governor of Toulon, and consequently as the person entrusted lo exercise there the suprême mililary command, should continue to hâve its full force and effect; but, secondly, that in ail other questions of command not inlerfering with the absolute control and direction enjoyed by every governor witbin his garrison and its dependencies, seniority of rank alone should be the criterion of command between the oflicers of difTerent nations, as between those of the same service. The first of thèse is a point from which His Majesty cannot départ, and in which, in case of a différence of opinion, your Excellency must insist with firmness...
If it can be no otherwise arranged, the King would prefer the spanish troops being wholly w^ithdrawn from Toulon, to their being l'fl thôre under circumstances which might create misuuderstanding and ill will between the respective services of two nations whom the King is always anxious to unité as much as possible.
TOULON EN NOYEMBRE 1793
Gilbert Elliot à Henry Dundas
Toulon, the 23^ November 1793.
Sir,
... I am convinced thaï the Déclaration wiil do much good, both al Toulon and elsewhere; il was peculiariy seasonable hère, as I undcrsiand some pains had been laken to create suspicions of His Majosly's intentions wilh regard to Ihe possession oflhe place, and I fear our allies the Spaniards are nol quite free from Ihe imputation of attcmpling Ihat sort of misrepresenlalion. AU such atlempt niust however now be defealed and il is wilh great plcasure thaï I observe, in Ihe inhabilants of ail ranks, what appcars to me, a cordial confidence in His Majesly's known generosity and honor, and in the brilish characler.
Il is also wilh the highesl satisfaction that, so far as il îs possible lo judgc on a very short acquaintaoce wilh them, I perçoive much less soliciludeâboul the Constitution of 1789, Ihanlexpecled, and I flatter niyself wilh Ihe hope of finding lillle opposition on that score, lo any mcasures we may hâve lo propose.
The white cockade is universal, mon Roy is in every mouth, and if any Ihing Ihere appcars lo me rather an affectation of pure royalism Ihan of adhérence lo any parficular points of what is called the Gonslîlulion.
The few emigrants thaï hâve found Iheirway hère, bave been well -received, and even wilh some disliiiclion.
A new corps raised in Ihc lown and in brilish pay, is called ie Rof/al- Louis, and were not salisficd 'lill they had commissions from Monsieur, as Regenl.
Il has been hinted to me, that the sections bave deliberated lalely on the proprlety of inviling Monsieur to Toulon, and that they were inclined to that mcasure. I suspect in fact,' that throughout France, wherever the peopler break from the Convenlion, they wiil bc found lo resorl simply lo the restoration of the king, and thaï the royal standard, wherever il is fairly sel up, wiil draw to il ail persons of whalever descriptions or parties, who are dissalisfied wilh the présent state of Ihings. They are, in fact, so terrified Ihat they care not what refuge they come to, provided it be slrong, and the more powerfull the protection is, the more il is likely lo attract them.
I shall not act, however, on this priacîple, to any extent Ihat may be hazardous, unlill I hâve a more certain knowledge o( Ihe disposîtioQ ^hich prevails hère ; but what I bave already observed, bas encouraged me to propose an experiment, wbich other considérations of a more urgent nature seem to call for.
You are not ignorant of tbe disappointment wbîch bas been sustain'd bere,rcspecting reinforcemenls, and of tbe littie probability tbere now is of considérable aid arriving soon ; you are aiso apprized of tbe urgent occasion gênerai O'Hara bas for addilional force.
Tbere are, in this town, many thousands of young men consuming provisiops, wilbout any advantage to tbe common cause, al- Ibough perfectly capable of service. A few of thèse bave been formed into corps, and bave already been found useful.
II is thought they would be more so, if Ibeir oflicers had more military expérience; and itis conceived that it will be easy to obtain tbe services of a much greater number, than those already enlisted.
The expence of thèse corps must, it is true, be borne by England in tbe flrsl instance ; but if they prove useful, they will certainly be tbe cheapest troops His Majesty can employ at Toulon. The charge of raising them will be very inconsiderable, tbere will be no expence for transportingthem fromdistrfnt places, andtherewill beneither balf pay nor subsidy.
On thèse accounls, gênerai 0*Hara and lord Hood bave approved of my sending immediately for about twenly or tbirty emigrant officers of known merit, who are now in Italy, and ready to embark on tbe first summons. Thèse may raise a small body of troops in Toulon, with very littie delay, and, with such officers, I bavenodoubt oftheir provlng good soldiers.
This littie experiment may also serve to feel tbe political puise of tbe 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 exlent, hereafter.
I am exlremely sorry that Ihe accounls which you will receive from gênerai O'Hara, are so discouraging. Having no degree of military knowledge, my opinion can be of lillle 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 professionallights. I cannot heip, therefore, confessirig that the possession of this place seems to me precarious, and that every day is crilical.
The quality of a great majority of tbe troops is such, that they
cannot possibly be depended on ; and yet, (he most imporlanl posls musl, of necessily, be enlrusled, in a great measure,lolhem. No serious or regular altack bas yet beea made on anyoflhe posls, and the enemy scems lo reserve ilself for a powerfull exertlon, whenever Ihey are preparcd. Thaï their numbersareencreasing, and their préparations of every itind advancing, we hâve çvery reaàon to be assured ; and if our force should Dot encrease proporlionably in much less lime Ihan at présent seems possible, the event cannot be answered for.
General 0*Hara thinks il his indispensable duty, lo give you correct information, even when it is of a disagreable nature, but l can venlure lo assure you Ihal nolhing will be omilted by lord Hood, or him, or any person honour'd with His Majesty's confidence hère, lo slruggle wilh every difficully which may happen lo allend ihe service.
A great part of our disappoinlroenls, I know, are nol less unexpected lo you, Ihan to ourselves, and you had reason to imagine thaï the full nuraber of Neapolitans, a nialerial reinforcemeol from Gibraltar, and 5.000 auslrian troops were already hère ; you could not possibly foresee thatlhc whole body of spanish Iroops employed hère, should be perhaps worse Ihan useless. If noneof thèse disappoiutmenls had happened, or, I may perhaps say, if Ihey had not ail happened, 1 conceive that our possession of Toulon might ha\e been secured for a sufficient lime, lo hâve enabled you to réalise the formidable force which I know is deslined for Ihis service, and which, I présume, is in a stale of considérable" forwardness.
In the mcan while, nolhing shall be neglecled Ihat can enable us to keep our footing, lill the british Iroops from Gibraltar aud Ireland, and Ihe Hessians from Flanders, can arrive. I fear there is no prospect of Ihe auslrian troops promised us from the MUanese. With regard lo the Iroops ordered from Gibraltar, we learut two days ago, that sir Robert Boyd had determined not to sern them, on a supposition (founded, we are told, on an article in newspaper) that they are not wanted...
In addition to the matler alluded lo in that lelter, 1 hâve 1 inform you Ihat the court of Spain bas Ihought proper to appoint commission similar, as I undersland, to Ihat which we bear, ai the civil minister M. Ocariz, is expected hère every hour.
Tbis constant aping of Ihe brilish measures would be ridiculoi if it were nol mischievous ; but it shall be our business, by temi and forbearance, as far as is consistent wilh our trust, lo dimin' evils, which thèse cross claims might be expecled lo produce.
This maller can be Ireated successfully and peihaps saft only at Madrid, or London ; but il is of real moment, for besi
the présent embarrassment in the service, a period may arrive, when thèse prelenlionsmay produce very serious conséquences. Our force, naval and mililary, at Toulon, is înferior to that of Spain, and if, in Ihe case of some unloward cvenl, we were to propose to remove or otherwise to dispose ofthc french ships, I am satisfîed we should be opposed by the spanish forces.
I hâve been much engaged, since my arrivai, in col'ecting information on the internai aiïairs of the lown. 1 fiud ail parties extre- . mely ready to communicate what they know, and equally so to acquiesce in any measure I may propose.
Their finances are the most presdng object; thèse are withiii a few days of being tolally e.\hausled, and ît is not surprising that it should be so, since, besides their own civil and raiiitary establishment, they bave fumished the combined forces with almosl every articles ol supply.
I flatter myself that considérable improvements may soon ho made in thèse arrangements; but I must take the liberly of saying that the appointment of a commissary gênerai for the Brilish forces, will extremely facilitate the introduction of somc order, both in the supply of the army, and in the finances of Toulon.
I am glad to find that the dilficulties whirh were to be apprehended from the sudden stop in the circulation of assignats, are not likely to be immedialely very pressing.
Thereis, in Toulon, a very large sum in assignats ; not less than tweloe millions of livres, but they are forlunately not in thehands 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 assignats, will howcver be very great : as many who were in a confortable and respectable way of life, bave their whole fortunes, or rather ihe whole wreck of their fortunes, in that discredited paper...
