on the west side; and the ships in ordinary or fitting, lie with their bowsprits or their sterns over the wharf; the storehouses, containing the various articles of equipment, are within fifteen yards of them; the rope-house, sail-loft, bakehouse, mast-house, ordnance, and other buildings, are capacious and good: the model-loft is worth the attention of strangers, but it is seldom they can obtain the indulgence of an admission. The water in the basin is, of course, sufficiently deep to receive a first-rate with all her stores. The east side is occupied by the victualling department and the gun-boats : the north side is a fine capacious quay, on which stands the tower, extending from the dock-yard to the victualling office ; immediately in front of it is the mouth of the basin, formed by the meeting of the two jetties to the distance of about sixty feet, on the easternmost one a pair of sheers is erected for masting the ships ; a boom closes the entrance at night, and another runs from the jetty to the town, confining all the small-craft and timber on the west ride of the harbour ; the basin is never ruffled by any wind to occasion damage; the outer sides of the jetties present two tremendous batteries, à fleur d'eau, or nearly even with the water's edge, which we consider the very worst species of fort for a ship to encounter.

"The space for the anchorage of ships of war in the inner road is very confined, and probably not more than two or three sail of the line could lie there at a time; the ground is in general foul and rocky. The great road is a good anchorage, but neither extensive, nor secure from the effects of a Levanter, which throws in a heavy sea: it is defended on the south side by a peninsula, terminating at Cape Sepet: the bay of Toulon, which is eastward of this, is open, and the water deep, therefore not to be relied on as an anchorage in all weathers. The town, which, it has been observed, occupies the north side of the inner harbour, is fortified with great art, both on the land and sea approaches; but being commanded by the heights with which it is surrounded on all sides, must be dependant on them for protection. A semicircular chain of mountains on the north, extends from the Hieres-road on the east, to the pass of Oliol on the west; this pass might have bid defiance to any force, had it been guarded by British troops: it is five miles from the town. Strong batteries from the heights command also the arsenal and the anchorage. Fort la Malgue stands on a hill between the little and the great road ; Fort Mulgrave occupies the tongue of land continued from this hill into the harbour: opposite to it, and on a point of land which forms the little road, at the distance of half a mile, stand the forts of Aiguillete and Bellaguer; whence to Cape Sepet the shore is one continued chain of forts.

"The heights of Toulon are estimated at six hundred yards, and are of the most rugged and difficult ascent: the rocks

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