The glare of the flames, the crash of the enemy's bombs, the explosion of the two powder-ships, frenzied many a soul; and scores of those who could find no place in the boats flung themselves into the sea rather than face the pikes and guillotines of the Jacobins.

Their fears were only too well founded; for a fortnight later Freron, the Commissioner of the Convention, boasted that two hundred royalists perished daily.
It remains briefly to consider a question of special interest to English readers.

Did the Pitt Ministry intend to betray the confidence of the French royalists and keep Toulon for England?
The charge has been brought by certain French writers that the British, after entering Toulon with promise that they would hold it in pledge for Louis XVII., nevertheless lorded it over the other allies and revealed their intention of keeping that stronghold.

These writers aver that Hood, after entering Toulon as an equal with the Spanish admiral, Langara, laid claim to entire command of the land forces; that English commissioners were sent for the administration of the town; and that the English Government refused to allow the coming of the Comte de Provence, who, as the elder of the two surviving brothers of Louis XVI., was entitled to act on behalf of Louis XVII.[26] The facts in the main are correct, but the interpretation put upon them may well be questioned.

Hood certainly acted with much arrogance towards the Spaniards.