ain that, even if Toulon had been
held harmoniously by all the troops which the imagination of Pitt and
Dundas conjured up, nevertheless the genius and daring of the little
Corsican would have prevailed. This view is tenable; but the prosaic
mind, which notes the venturesome extension of Bonaparte's batteries in
November-December, until they presented their right flanks to the cliffs
and their rear to the open sea, though at too high a level to be
cannonaded, will probably conclude that, if Hood and Langara had had a
force of 20,000 men, they could have driven the French from those works.
As it was, the Allies, not having enough men, stood on the defensive all
along their very extensive front, and were overpowered at Fort Mulgrave,
which was some miles away from the city. Its garrison of 700 men
(British, Spanish, and a few Neapolitans) was assailed in the stormy
night of 16th-17th December by 7,000 of the best of the Republican
troops. The ensuing conflict will best be understood from the hitherto
unpublished account given by the commander-in-chief. After describing
the heavy cannonade from three French batteries against Fort Mulgrave,
he continues thus:

H.M.S. "Victory," Hieres Bay, _Dec. 21, 1793_.[269]

... The works suffered much. The number of men killed and
wounded was considerable. The weather was rainy and the
consequent fatigue great. At 2 a.m. of the 17th, the enemy, who
had every advantage in assembling and suddenly advancing,
attacked the fort in great force. Although no part of this
temporary post was such as could well resist determined troops,
yet for a considerable time it was defended; but, on the enemy
entering on the Spanish side, the British quarter, commanded by
Captain Conolly of the 18th regiment, could not be much longer
maintained, notwithstanding several gallant efforts were made
for that purpose. It was therefore at last carried, and the
remains of the garrison of 700 men retired towards the shore of
Balaguier, under the protection of the other posts established
on those heights, and which continued to be faintly attacked by
the enemy. As this position of Balaguier was a most essential
one for the preservation of the harbour, and as we had no
communication with it but by water, 2,200 men had been placed
there for some time past. On the night preceding the attack, 300
more men had been sent over, and o