Wir . _ bistorteal chronicle. 
deed reported that the French fleet, consisting of 33 sail of the line, is im th 
channel; but no person has yet seen them. The nation in general do not}? 
Jook upon Lord Howe’s conduct at present with a favourable eye. Time will | 
discover if he has had sufficient reason for this scrupulous caution. From 
the representations that are given to the convention of the State of Brest, it 
woud seem that they are under great apprehensions that neither the officers 
of the navy, nor the people of that place, are tofbe depended upon; and 
‘fhould it happen that the insurgents in Vendée in imitation of those of Tous 
Jon, fhould apply for the aid of Britain in support of Louis xv11, and fhould 
@ navy appear before Brest of superior force, and a negociation be conduc. 
ted with equal moderation as that entered into by lord Hood, it does not 
seem beyond the bounds of pofsibrlity that Brest might be delivered up on 
nearly the same terms with Toulon. But so long as Gaston, whose views 
seem to be at least doubtful, fhall have the principal sway im those parts, a 
steady unanimity on this head needs perhaps not be expected. 3 
As a strong detachment from lord Hood’s squadron may be soon expected 
home, it may be reasonably thought that fhould the present tempest be 
weathered without.any material damage, the operations in the channel will 
be carried on with greater vigour than heretofore. Britain has derived hi- 
therto scarcely any aisistance in her naval operations either from the Ruf- 
sians or Dutch, and none irom the Portuguese ;—and though the Spaniards 
haye a numerous squadron in the Mediterranean, we have heard of nothing | 
they have done. Lord Hood commands on that station no lefs than 20 Bri- 
tifh fhips of the line; besides the Romney of 50, and Dolphin of 44 guns, 
16 frigates and sloops of war, and 2 firefhips; in all 40 fhips of war; a 
force that one would think, even independent of the Spanifh fleet, much more 
‘than could be wanted in those seas. 
TLe following is the declaration of the inhabitants of Toulon, and ise con~ 
ditions on which they agreed to put lord Hood in pofsefsion of that place. ' 
Declaration made to Adm. Lord Hood. 
The General Committee of the Sections of Toulon having read the procla- 
mation of Admirai Lord Hood, Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty’s 
squadron, together with his primary declaration; and, after having commu- 
nicated these two papers to all the citizens of the town of Toulon, united in 
sections. 
Considering that France is torn by anarchy, and that it is impofsible to 
exist longer a prey to the factions with which the country is agitated, with- 
out its total destruction: 
Considering that the southern departments, after having made foag ef- 
forts to resist the op prefsion of a party of factious men, who have conspired 
to ruin them, find themselves drained and deprived of all resources to anni- 
hilate this coalition of the evil- disposed : ; 
Considering, in thort, that determined not to submit to the tyranny of a 
Convention that has sworn to ruin the nation, the people of Toulon, ard 
those oY Marseilles, would rather have recourse to the ea of a ‘loyal 
4 
