for another struggle. The seeds of inextinguishable discord prevailed
between them, and this promised a future outbreak. Charette, indeed,
seemed, after he had signed the treaty, to be living the life of
a country gentleman; but all the while he was carrying on a secret
correspondence with the Bourbon princes, and receiving supplies from
England to aid him in his future operations. It would have been well
for Charette if money had been all that he obtained from England; but,
unfortunately, a number of emigrants crossed the Channel, and led
him and the rest of the Vendean chiefs on to their ruin. The English
ministry, indeed, embarked 6000 of these exiles in our pay, and a
regiment of artillery from Toulon, as well as arms and accoutrements
for 80,000 men. These were separated into two divisions; and a third,
composed of British troops, was destined to support the whole when they
had landed on the coast of France. The chief command of the expedition
was given to the Count d'Artois, and great hopes were entertained of
success, as the Chouans and Vendeans had engaged, on his landing, to
place 80,000 men at his disposal. Subsequently, however, the Count
d'Artois gave up the command to Puissaye, together with some L10,000
in gold, and several millions of livres in assignats. In expectation
of being joined by numerous bands of royalists, Puissaye took with him
27,000 muskets, powder in abundance, and complete uniforms for more than
20,000 soldiers. All obstacles in the way of transporting his troops to
France were removed by the defeat of the French fleet, from Brest, by
the Channel fleet under Lord Bridport, in which the French lost three
ships of the line, and were obliged to seek shelter with those
that remained in the harbour of L'Orient. Under these auspicious
circumstances, the expedition set sail; and on the 27th of June appeared
in Quiberon Bay, where the troops immediately landed, and took Fort
Penthievre, situated on a small peninsula, or promontory, which
encloses Quiberon Bay on one side, and which is joined to the main
land by a low sandy isthmus, called La Falaise. The news of the
disembarkation of these troops caused great sensation through all
France; the bravery of the Vendean peasants in their recent conflicts
had been deeply remembered. But by the time they had landed, the whole
of Brittany was enveloped by three or four armies under the command of
Hoche, while General Canclaux, who had collected a large forc