With the assistance of the English and Dutch fleets, the duke of Savoy and prince Eugene passed the Var [149] _[See note 2 B, at the end of this Vol.]_ on the eleventh day of July, at the head of an army of thirty thousand men, and marched directly towards Toulon, whither the artillery and ammunition were conveyed on board of the combined squadrons.

The French king was extremely alarmed at this attempt, as five thousand pieces of cannon, vast magazines, and the best part of his fleet, were in the harbour of Toulon, and ran the greatest risk of being entirely taken or destroyed.

The whole kingdom of France was filled with consternation when they found their enemies were in the bosom of their country.

The monarch resolved to leave no stone unturned for the relief of the place, and his subjects exerted themselves in a very extraordinary manner for its preservation.

The nobility of the adjacent provinces armed their servants and tenants, at the head of whom they marched into the city: they coined their plate, and pawned their jewels for money to pay the workmen employed upon the fortifications; and such industry was used, that in a few days the town and harbour, which had been greatly neglected, were put in a good posture of defence.
The allies took possession of the eminences that commanded the city, and the ordnance being landed, erected batteries.