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rf2 slight notices of Toulon. Sept. 18. 
, SLIGHT NOTICES OF TOULON. © 
oe OULON is the finest naval arsenal in France ; and perhaps the’ most 
Boxiptete one in the universe: its fortifications towards the sea are so 
__ Strong, and the accefs into the harbour so narrow, and so well defen- 
ded by batteries of heavy cannon, as to make it be deemed-neariy im- 
pregnable on that side. Towards the land the fortifications, ti.0” not so 
formidable, ate strong, and capable of withstanding a powerful attack, 
But-the greatest strength of the place - consists in the nature of the 
ground that surrounds it ;. whichis every “where so difficult as to rén- 
der any approach to it acrinely hazardous. 
It is situated in a valley surrounded by high’ grounds on the west, 
north, and partly on the east; which are at such a distance as, one ex- 
cepted, not tocommand the town. The only accefs to this valley from 
the westward is by two narrow defiles, through one of which pafses the 
road to, Marseilles, and the other to-Aix. These defiles are com= 
manded by high ground strongly fortified, which may be easily defen- 
ded’against a much superior force. ‘ 
Supposing these pafses to be carried; the plain in which the ap- 
ptoaches to the town must be macée, is open on the south to an arm of 
the sea which forms what they call the outer harbour, Where the wa- 
ter is so deep that ships of war can lay their sides close to the fhore $ 
and itis commanded on the north by some strong batteries erected up- 
on the face of the northern hills, so that the afsailants must be flanked 
both onthe right and onthe left until these batteries be silenced, 
and the hips commanded by a superior force. 
Towards the east the valley is more open. ‘Throughit pafses the 
Yoad to Nice; and- though the ground is there in some places swam- 
.py and unfavourable for military approaches, yet in the year 1747 
when it WaSlast besieged, this appeared to be its weakest side, on 
which account a strong regular fort has been erected upon an emi+ 
nence that commands at the same time the entrance to the towa, and 
éven the town itself, whose naval arsenal is within the range of its 
guns, and ape to them, so that till that fort be taken no.approach 
ean be made’to the town on that side; and as the saiety of that town 
depends on the pofsefsion of that fort, every device has been adopted 
to render itimpregnable. This is the fort AZa/gve mentioned in Lord 
Hood’s dipatches as being put under the command of the gallant cap- 
tain Elphinston. On this side too the town has the additional detence of 
mines, which extend to the distance of more than a mile from its walls. 
ERRATUM. 
In page 41 introduction near the bottom some words have been ac- 
eidentally misplaced ; it ought to be read “ Tsaritsa, the technical 
word denoting the Isar’s wife, as well as a female excercising roygl- 
ty, and Tsarevitch, &e. , ’ 
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