Two days before this letter reached Paris, Toulon had fallen, and the Representatives gave out that the despatch was a forgery.
The moment had at last come when Buonaparte judged it right to make his grand attempt.

During the night of the 17th of December he threw 8000 bombs and shells into Little Gibraltar, and the works being thus shattered, at daybreak Dugommier commanded the assault.

The French, headed by the brave Muiron, rushed with impetuous valour through the embrasures, and put the whole garrison to the sword.

The day was spent in arranging the batteries, so as to command the shipping; and next morning--so true had been Buonaparte's prophecy--when the French stood to their posts, the English fleet was discovered to be already under weigh.
Then followed a fearful scene.

The English would not quit Toulon without destroying the French ships and arsenals that had fallen into their possession; nor could they refuse to carry with them the Antijacobin inhabitants, who knew that their lives would be instantly sacrificed if they should fall into the hands of the victorious Republicans, and who now flocked to the beach to the number of 14,000, praying for the means of escape.