BOOK I. The court of London, about the same time, published the following declaration, stating to the CHAP. V. World at large, and particularly to the people of France, the views of his Britannic majesty:

1793.

His majesty by no means disputes the right of France to reform its laws. It never would have been his wish to employ the influence of external force with respect to the particular form of government to be established in an independent country. Neither has he now that wish, except in so far as such interference has become essential to the security and repose of other powers. Under these circumstances he demands from France, and he demands with justice, the termination of a system of anarchy which has no force but for the purposes of mischief. The king demands that some legitimate and stable government should be established, founded on the acknowledged principles of universal justice, and capable of maintaining, with other powers, the accustomed relations of union and peace. It is for these objects that he calls upon the people to join the standard of an hereditary monarchy; not for the purpose of deciding, in this moment of disorder, calamity, and public danger, on all the modifications of which this form of government may hereafter be susceptible, but in order to unite themselves once more under the empire of law, of morality, and religion."

No sooner had the French armies experienced a series of disasters, than the faction which had overturned the throne of France and put the unfortunate king to death, began to assume a sanguinary appearance. A terrible contest took place, when Danton, Marat, Collot d'Herbois, and Robespierre, were destined to overcome Roland, Brissot, Vergniaud, and Gensonné. A new revolution was achieved on the 31st of May. At three o'clock in the morning, the alarm-bell was rung, the barriers were shut, and the capital appeared in confusion. Henriot, the commander of the national guard, instead of taking the proper measures for the protection of the convention, was a party in the plot against it, being entirely devoted to Robespierre, a man of infamous character. After the tumult had continued a considerable time, a deputation from the revolutionary committees appeared at the bar of the convention, and demanded the immediate suppression of the commission of twelve, which had been nominated for the purpose of restraining anarchy; a revolutionary army of sans culottes; a decree of accusation against twenty-two legislators, and a diminution of the price of bread. They likewise insisted, that certain deputies should be dispatched to the south, in order to terminate a counter-revolution that prevailed there: at the same time they suggested the arrest of Claviere, the minister of public contributions, and le Brun, the minister for foreign affairs. Their enmity was particularly

directed against the Giondists, who still endeavored to keep their ground. The convention refused to comply, but finding itself besieged and imprisoned in its own hall, the members were at length intimidated into compliance. They not only decreed the arrest of all the obnoxious deputies, but proscribed those who endeavored to escape by flight.

In order to overthrow the Girondists, these deputies were brought to trial before the revolutionary tribunal, October 24. The persons accused were twenty-two in number; the most distinguished of whom were Brissot, Vergniaud, Valazé, Sillery, Fauchet, Gensonné, Ducos, Lacaze, and fourteen others. The procuring a declaration of war against Austria, Britain, and Holland, was one of the crimes laid to their charge. These deputies were convicted for having conspired against the unity and indivisibility of the republic, and for provoking a rebellion in the departments of the south, and in that of Calvados. Valaze stabbed himself the moment the sentence was pronounced, but the remaining twenty-one were conveyed to the Place de la Revolution, October 30, and publicly executed. They met their fate with uncommon fortitude, and some exclaimed, “ Vive la Republique," under the bloody axe of the guillotine.

66

At this time, the members of the convention displayed the most shocking impiety. The churches were shut by order of the commune of Paris. The year was divided into twelve months of thirty days each, and the months into three decades; a respite from labor was allowed on the tenth day, the observance of a sabbath being entirely demolished. Cruelty was another characteristic; an insurrection having taken place in Lyons, which was consequently besieged, the deputy, Freron, entering this devoted town, ordered a number of guillotines to be erected, and announced, that " Terror was the order of the day." But he was surpassed in ferocity by Collot d'Herbois, whose proconsulship in the south was one continued series of bloodshed. A chosen band of Parisian jacobins and a column of the revolutionary army marched into Lyons, as the precursors of his barbarity. The guillotine was deemed too slow for his insatiable vengeance; therefore the bayonets of the infantry, the sabres of the cavalry, grape-shot and artillery were occasionally recurred to, in order to accelerate his sanguinary deeds.

The situation of France, at this time, was desperate. By a decree of August 8, all Frenchmen were declared to be at the service of their country until her enemies should be driven from the territories of the republic. territories of the republic. "The young men shall march to the combat; the married ones shall forge arms and transport the provisions; the women shall fabricate tents and clothes, and attend the military hospitals; the children shall make lint

to serve as dressings for the wounds of the patriots; while the old men shall cause themselves to be carried to the public squares to excite the courage of the warriors, to preach the unity of the republic, and inspire hatred against kings." New and extraordinary measures were adopted to supply the wants of the immense armies now about to be collected from all quarters. Assignats were not only circulated in large quantities, but their value maintained for some time, at a rate nearly equivalent to gold; and when this resource began to fail, revolutionary taxes were imposed. Equality being a doctrine which prevailed, the wealth of the opuent was seized upon in the name of the republic for the support of the poor; great cities were crowded with manufactures of salt-petre;, the towns changed into founderies, and the houses into arsenals, in order to supply the troops with arms and gunpowder.

Eleven distinct armies, which seemed to form a chain around the frontiers of France, were provided at a time when all Europe ridiculed the idea of a nation's rising in mass. Bachelors from eighteen to forty years of age were put in permanent requisition, and a draft of three hundred thousand made at once. By these means they were able to strengthen and new model the army of the north, extending from Dunkirk to Maubeuge; that of the Ardennes reaching from Maubeuge to Longwy; that of the Moselle, from Longwy to Bitche; that of the Rhine, from Bitche to Porentrui; that of the Alps, from the Aisne to the borders of the Var; that of Italy, from the Maritime Alps to

1793.

the mouth of the Rhone; that of the Oriental Py- BOOK I. renées, from the mouth of the Rhone to the Garonne; that of the Western Pyrenées, from the CHAP. V. department of the Upper Pyrenées, to the mouth of the Gironde; that of the coast of Rochelle, from the mouth of the Gironde to that of the Loire; that of the coasts of Brest, from the mouth of the Loire to St. Maloes; and that of the coasts of Cherbourg, from St. Maloes to the northern department.

In the mean time, the allied courts agreed to divide their forces, and while the Austrians undertook the siege of Quesnoy, his royal highness the Duke of York, at the head of the English troops, and a body of Dutch and Hanoverians, advanced and occupied a camp in the neighbourhood of Menin. As soon as the French understood that the combined forces intended to separate, they determined once more to resume offensive operations, and overcome those warriors, now divided, whom they were unable to conquer when united. Advantage was taken of the inactivity of the Prussians after the conquest of Mentz, and drafts were immediately made from the armies of the Rhine and the Moselle, while the new levies were clothed and disciplined. Houchard, now celebrated by his achievements in Germany, and who had ascended from all the various military gradations, from the station of a trooper to the chief command; after possessing, in succession, the command of the forces stationed on the banks of the Rhine and Moselle, was placed at the head of the army of the north.

THE French, as it had been determined, became the aggressors, and having attacked Lincelles, a post lately taken and occupied by command of the hereditary Prince of Orange, Major-general Lake, with three battalions, consisting of the first, the coldstream, and the third regiment of guards, was sent to the assistance of the Dutch forces, who had unfortunately retreated by a different road. Notwithstanding this discouraging event, and the evident superiority of the enemy, an immediate attack was resolved upon. The English, who were accordingly formed on the 18th of August, advanced under a heavy fire against a redoubt of uncommon size and strength, erected upon a height in front of Lincelles. Having fired three

or four rounds, they charged with bayonets, stormed the works, drove out the enemy, dispersed them after they had rallied, and took about fifty prisoners and eleven pieces of cannon. From the concurring testimony of the prisoners, it appeared that the French had twelve battalions at the post, and must have been upwards of 5,000 men. Lieutenant-colonel Boswell of the coldstream, and Lieutenant de Peyster of the royal artillery, were killed.

About the same time the French were defeated at Oost Capelle, Rexpede, and Hoenchoote, by Field-marshal Freytag, at the head of the Hanoverians, who took 200 prisoners and 11 pieces of cannon, while the Duke of York advanced with

1793.

BOOK I. the besieging army in three columns from Furnes, in order to attack the camp of Ghivelde. The CHAP. VI. enemy abandoned this position during the night, and a redoubt in the course of the following day. In the mean time, Field-marshal Freytag seized on the ports of Warmarthe and Eckelsbeck, and the bridge of Lefferink's Hock. The English, also, after repulsing a sally and experiencing some loss in approaching the place, obtained possession of the ground of Dunkirk, which was immediately summoned in the name of the King of Great Britain. The most effectual measures had been taken by the committee of public safety for the defence of that place. General Souham, who had risen from the ranks, was ordered to march, with a chosen body of troops, to the defence of the garrison; these soon after entered the town, under the command of Hoche, an adjutant-general, but formerly a private in the French guards, it being the boast of France, at this time, that merit, and not birth, should be the chief recommendation. O'Moran, a native of Ireland, who commanded at Cassel, being suspected of treachery by Hoche, was seized, conducted to Paris, and, having been brought to trial and condemned by the revolutionary tribunal, was guillotined. Houchard having arrived with a great body of troops on the 6th of September, the French, in order to relieve the place by general and frequent attacks, marched out from the camp of Cassel, as well as from the towns of Bergues and Dunkirk, for the purpose of assaulting the whole of Field-marshal Freytag's posts. The French, though they met with a gallant resistance, not only obtained possession of Bambecke, Rousebrugghe, and Poperhinge, but obliged part of the enemy to retreat to Hoenchoote. On the 7th of September, the field-marshal was attacked again; and, on the succeeding morning, the centre of the line was forced, and General Walmoden driven behind a canal, with the loss of about 300 men and three pieces of cannon. In the course of this action, Field-marshal Freytag and Prince Adolphus were both wounded, and for some time prisoners. His royal highness, the commander-in-chief, was obliged to abandon his position, and leave behind him thirty-two heavy cannon, much baggage, and many of the military stores. Thus the siege of Dunkirk was relinquished; but the general, Sir William Erskine, conducted the retreat with equal ability and success.

Notwithstanding this victory, and the subsequent capture of Furnes and Menin, Houchard was immediately arrested. The four following charges, drawn up by Barrere, and preferred against him, afforded no proof of guilt, and were undoubtedly exaggerated accusations.

1. That after defeating the English, he did not drive them into the sea.

2. That when he had surrounded the Dutch, he did not cut them to pieces.

3. That he sent no succour to the troops butchered at Cambray.

4. That he abandoned Menin, and in his retreat exposed his army to considerable danger. Houchard suffered by the guillotine at Paris, November 15, 1793.

Care was taken to reward such officers as had distinguished themselves. Jourdan, who had attacked the right and centre of the camp at Hoenchoote; and Hoche, who had charged the left wing, were both promoted. A decree passed at the same time, declaring, "That the army of the North had deserved well of the country.' The Austrians had been more fortunate than the English: Quesnoy was taken, and the garrison made prisoners of war. The French were also defeated at Villers en Couchée; and the Prince de Cobourg, having passed the Sambre, drove all the detached bodies of the enemy into the intrenched camp of Maubeuge, and actually invested both it and the fortress; while Fieldmarshal Clairfayt threatened both Cambray and Bouchain.

A formidable train of heavy artillery having been brought into the field, and numerous bodies of troops assembled, the representatives of the people not only harangued the army, but placed themselves at the head of the columns, while another plebeian leader was found in the person of Jourdan. As soon as this general was invested with the chief command, he resolved to have recourse 'to the same system which had proved so fortunate at Hoenchoote. An attack was immediately made on the troops posted near the village of Wattignes, which having proved ineffectual, was repeated the next morning with success. The communication with the army of observation being now cut off, and the Prince de Cobourg beaten in an action that lasted two successive days, it was deemed prudent to repass the Sambre. Jourdan was the only French general, since the commencement of the campaign, who had defeated Cobourg in a pitched battle.

The French soon afterwards seized on Werwick and Furnes; they also obtained possession of Menin, and were only prevented from occupying Nieuport by the gallant defence of Colonel de Wurmb; in consequence of which, time was given for the arrival of Generals Grey and Dundas, who secured the possession of that place by means of the same troops with which they afterwards achieved so many conquests in the West Indies. Major-general Kray, under the direction of the Duke of York, made a successful attack upon Marchiennes, which cost the enemy about 2,000 troops, including killed and wounded, and twelve pieces of cannon.

While terror and insurrection alternately

BOOK I. escape in his boat; but afterwards surrendered himself to the Spanish admiral, who sent him a CHAP. VI. prisoner to Barcelona.

1793.

Fifteen hundred men having been landed from the English fleet, took, by means of a detachment under Captain Elphinstone, immediate possession of fort Malgue, and of the batteries at the mouth of the harbour. On the 28th of August, the French ships were warped into the inner road, according to agreement; and the Spanish admiral having joined on the 29th, the combined squadrons anchored in the outer road, and 1000 Spaniards were sent on shore to augment the English garrison. Rear-admiral Goodall was appointed governor, and Rear-admiral Gravina commander of the troops. Trogoff, who had.repaired to the combined fleet, remained on board the Commerce de Marseilles; and numbers of the French sailors having continued refractory, were sent to a French port.

In the interim, Marseilles was taken by General Carteaux; and the wreck of the departmental army, accompanied by numbers of both sexes, sought the protection of the English in Toulon. Barras and Freron, the two national commissioners at Marseilles, mortified at the success of the combined squadrons, made extraordinary exertions for the recovery of this valuable sea-port. They pressed the siege of Lyons, in order that the troops employed in the conquest of that city should give their assistance on this occasion; and forced a loan of four millions of livres from the ́merchants of Marseilles. Supplies, both in men and assignats, were also granted by the convention, for the accomplishment of this re-capture.

The English and Spanish had only taken possession of Toulon for a few hours, when General Carteaux approaching, took post at a small distance from it, while the army destined for his assistance were collecting. On the 31st of August, Captain Elphinstone marched out with a body of troops, consisting of 600 men, half English and half Spanish, and found the French force to consist of about 700 men, with 10 pieces of cannon and a few cavalry. They were stationed in the village of Ollouilles, upon the side of a steep hill, having a deep ravine in front, with a stone bridge over it, defended with two pieces of artillery. The windows of the adjoining houses were filled with musquetry; and at a ruinous castle, about 200 yards further up the eminence, were posted a couple of cannon, the walls of the adjacent vineyards being lined with troops.

Captain Elphinstone determined on an immediate attack, though it was now near seven o'clock in the evening, and the French royalists and cannon expected from Toulon had not arrived. He accordingly kept up an incessant fire on the artillery stationed at the bridge, and advancing in column, rushed forward on the enemy; who in

stantly abandoned all their posts, and left the victors in possession of their horses, cannon, ammunition, and two stand of colours.

The French general, however, having collected a body of 5000 men, not only harassed the garrison on the 8th of September, but obtained possession of the gorges of Ollouilles, and occupied one of the advanced posts. On this occasion the Spaniards, being 400, and the national guards, 150, who had been left there, suffered considerably; whereupon the combined powers deemed it prudent to concentrate their forces within the forts that protected the place.

The zeal and industry of the English, now commanded by Lord Mulgrave, in the capacity of brigadier-general, had rendered Toulon impregnable. As the forts Faron, Balaguier, La Malgue, and L'Equillete, were overlooked and commanded by the adjacent hills, these eminences were judiciously crowned with redoubts. A new fort was also constructed at Malbousquet; encampments were formed at St. Roch, Equillete, and Balaguier; the last of which was the grand camp of the English, and Little Gibraltar of the French. All the redoubts were defended by heavy artillery, taken from the lower decks of the French line of battle ships. Moreover, at this period, a body of infantry from the Spanish army in the Roussilon entered the place; 2000 of his Sicilian majesty's best soldiers, under the command of the brigadier-general Pignatelli, arrived on board a small squadron, and more were daily expected; and a considerable detachment from the army of the King of Sardinia, consisting entirely of grenadiers and chasseurs, was sent to the succour of the garrison.

In the mean time the besieging army was supplied with an immense quantity of artillery, and became indefatigable in making preparations for the attack, while the other side was equally vigorous in defending detached posts. The French having opened two masked batteries at La Petite Garenne; and a third at Les Gaux on the following day, Sept. 18,) sunk one of the gun-boats employed against them. Lord Mulgrave, on the 21st of September, sent a detachment to occupy the heights of La Grasse, which commanded a full view of all the enemy's position to the eastward of Toulon; and this important post, which completely covered the outward roadsted, was put in a complete state of defence, heavy cannon having been dragged up a very steep ascent by the British seamen, with infinite labour and extraordinary expedition.

A plan, however, had been conceived and executed by the enemy, which rendered the possession of Toulon, even at this early period of the siege, precarious. Various bodies of men having been detached in different directions, in order to attract the attention of the garrison, a bold attack