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It was during this visit to Marseilles, that he became acquainted with the family of M. Clary, a rich banker. His brother Joseph married, a few months after, one of the daughters, and he himself seems to have paid rather flattering attentions to the other, who subsequently became the wife of Bernadotte, and is now the queen of Sweden (8).

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VOL. 1.

CHAPTER III.

From August 1793, to March 1794.

Siege of Toulon-That place betrayed to lord Hood-Situation of ToulonStrength of the allied garrison-Measures of the committee of public safety-Their plan for the siege — Bonaparte chief of battalion — Appointed to command the artillery of the siege-General Cartaux - Bonaparte's plan- Rejected by Cartaux-Folly of that general-Vigour and activity of Bonaparte-Council of war-Bonaparte's plan adopted-Its execution commenced-Little Gibraltar-Battery of the conventionMischievous interference of the deputies-Sally and capture of General O'Hara - General Doppet-His cowardice and incapacity-General Dugommier-His courage and experience-Discouragement of the besiegers— Confidence of Bonaparte - His batteries play on little Gibraltar-Advises the storming that place―Little Gibraltar carried by assault-Bravery of the garrison-Swaggering of the deputies-The allied squadrons weigh anchor-The town, forts, and harbour plundered and evacuated — The French fleet, arsenal, and magazines set on fire-Dreadful conflagration -Distress of the Toulonese-Anecdotes -Junot-Humanity of Bonaparte -Duroc-Affection and admiration of Dugommier for Bonaparte-Bonaparte brigadier general-Is ordered to join the army of Italy-Prescribes a system of fortifications for the coast-His horror of the cruelty of a mob-His respect for the memory of Gasparin, and of Dugommier.

HITHERTO, the genius of Bonaparte had been manifested chiefly in the shade of schools, the confidence of friendship, or the circles of society, by brilliant but aimless flashes, which disappeared like meteors bursting in the air. An event now occurred, which was to be the occasion of elevating him permanently to public view, and of displaying the strength and lustre of his mind, while dealing a decisive blow in his country's defence.

The overthrow and arrest of the Girondists in the convention, events which, as was before observed, took place on the 31st May and the 2nd June, 1793, were the occasion of popular disturb

ances in the south of France. Lyons and Marseilles became the seats of open insurrection, which spreading to the neighbouring towns, resulted in the treason of Toulon, and in the delivery of that superb naval station, with its forts, fleets, crews, arsenals, magazines, and stores, to a combined English and Spanish squadron then blockading it, under lord Hood. Having negotiated successfully with the malcontents, and effected an understanding with the naval officer in command of the port, this Admiral took possession of Toulon on the 29th of August, in the name and on behalf of Louis XVII (1).

This disaster was felt by the French nation, as the most severe and shameful calamity of the war. Their chief naval force and finest station on the Mediterranean, were delivered up to their most powerful maritime foe. To England and her allies, was surrendered by French citizens, with an immense squadron, an apparently inexpugnable position, in the heart of a strong and populous country, deeply infected by a rebellious spirit, and partially in arms against the national government. The flag of France it was naturally apprehended, would be exiled from the Mediterranean, and her extensive coast on that sea, exposed to all the evils which the arms and intrigues of her inveterate enemies and emigrant princes could inflict, by civil war or foreign invasion. The pride and the safety of the nation both required instantaneous and strenuous exertions for the recovery of Toulon. On this occasion the government could but feel like the people; and the deputies composing the committee of public safety, which had not as yet failed in daring plans and energetic measures, bent the whole force of their means and counsels to the important task. But their preparations however prompt, and their efforts however earnest, seemed not commensurate with the difficulties of the crisis.

General Cartaux, having succeeded in suppressing the insurrection of Marseilles, was ordered to advance with a column of eight thousand men from that side against Toulon, whilst general La Poype with six thousand drawn from the army of Italy, was directed to approach it from the east. The former general was attended by the deputies Albite, Salicetti, and Gasparin; the latter by Fréron and Barras, who having escaped from the malcontents of Toulon, had taken refuge with the army of Italy. With these were speedily associated Ricord and the younger Robespierre,

who had been attached to the army of the Alps. These preliminary measures could only be expected to annoy the enemy, and straiten their communications with the surrounding country, until vigorous and decisive operations could be undertaken.

Toulon is situated at the head of a capacious harbour, stretching in a southern direction, to the sea; and at the foot of the mountains of Pharon, which recede in successive ridges to the north. It formed thus the middle point of an extensive barrier, which separated the two divisions of the French army, rendering their communication difficult, and cooperation precarious.

The allies on the other hand held their force collected, possessed the power of directing it entire against either division of the besiegers, occupied the fortifications of the town, the line of forts on both sides of the harbour, and the works and passes in the adjacent mountains. Their fleet, which covered the harbour, commanded the Mediterranean, and enabled them to collect reenforcements and supplies from all quarters. Detachments of Spanish, Sardinian, and Neapolitan troops were speedily brought to their aid; and lieutenant-general O'Hara, an officer who had been distinguished under lord Cornwallis in the American war, and was at the time governor of Gibraltar, arrived with a reenforcement of British troops, and took command of the allied forces, amounting, exclusively of a formidable fleet, a population of twenty thousand inhabitants, and bodies of insurgents from Marseilles and other disaffected towns, to fourteen thousand men (2).

A garrison thus strong, supported and supplied, felt little apprehension from the divided and inconsiderable forces of Cartaux and La Poype. Accordingly, lord Hood, after disarming the French fleet, manning the fortifications of the town, and occupying the forts which protected the harbour, as well as the various mountain passes contiguous to Toulon, employed himself in fitting out a squadron of four French ships of the line, with French crews and royalist commanders, which he sent round to Brest and Rochefort, with the double object of reducing the strength of the French force in Toulon, and of spreading treason and exciting revolt along the Atlantic frontier of France(3).

But the committee of public safety, were busy in concerting preparations, on a scale of adequate extent and vigour. By their direction, general D'Arçon, an engineer of high reputation, in conjunction with the board of ordnance at Paris, drew up a

plan for the conduct of the siege, which prescribed a series of regular approaches against the town, a succession of attacks against the surrounding forts, and the erection of works of protection, against the broadsides of the fleet. It also required the formation and supply of an army of sixty thousand men, at a time when men and money were of difficult collection, and in the midst of a disaffected and exhausted country. Thus operose, regular, and progressive, the plan of the government promised success, only at the expense of much time and toil, and proceeded on the direct and obvious system of warfare; that of employing a greater portion of physical force in the attack of a given position, than can be exerted in its defence. However unexceptionable it might be, therefore, in a technical point of view, this ministerial plan for the siege of Toulon, was not adapted to the critical nature of the operation, nor to the urgency of public affairs. But the choice of a commander for the artillery of the siege, though a matter, doubtless, of secondary importance in the eyes of the functionaries who made it, was destined to supply the defects, and compensate the errors, of their means and calculations.

Shortly after his successful negotiation with the insurgents of Marseilles, Bonaparte had been promoted to the rank of chief of battalion (4); and some occasion requiring such a mission, he was sent by general Brunet, the commander of the army of Italy, with written despatches, and verbal communications, to Paris. The committee of public safety was employed, in organizing a force for reducing Toulon, and had required of the committee of ordnance the designation of a regular officer, well qualified for commanding the artillery of the siege. It was the humour of the time to overlook age and rank, in search of zeal and talent, as in the cases of Hoche and Marceau. The decided patriotism of Bonaparte was evinced by his writings, and signalised by his firm opposition to Paoli. Of his professional abilities and personal merit, the files of the war-office, furnished ample testimony, which his reputation in the garrisons and corps he had served with, completely sustained. These facts, enforced by the pressure of public danger, arrested the attention of the committees, and determined their choice in his favour. Neither interest, patronage, intrigue, nor solicitation, was employed. His own merit was his sole recommendation to a post, in which that merit was to become conspicuous.

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