of republicanism were the chief requisites sought after; and a young chef de division, M. Villaret-Joyeuse (an officer, it must be acknowledged, of some merit), was made a rear-admiral, and appointed to succeed M. Morard-de-Galles in the command of the fleet. The flag of the new commander-in-chief was immediately hoisted on board the Cote-d'Or, or, as by the orders of the National Convention this fine three-decker was newly-named on this occasion, the Montagne.* The names of several other ships (see list, Appendix No. 6) were also changed, the tricoloured flag was formally adopted as the national colours, and the navy of republican France, in the vaunting language of the day, became "cleansed and regenerated."

In this state of renovation and excitement, the destruction of the French ships and stores at Toulon, although it had considerably weakened the power of the republic in the Mediterranean, appeared scarcely to be felt at the great depot on the Atlantic frontier. There the dock-yards and arsenals resounded with the notes of war and preparation, and every republican breast was inspired with the hope of being able, ere long, to strike a decisive blow against the navy of England. The seamen of Brest and Lorient, in an address to them by the deputies of the Convention, Jean-Bon Saint-André and Bréard, were told, "You will conquer them: yes, you will conquer those eternal enemies of our nation. As to that, you have but to will it, and it is done:" "Never before," says a French writer, "did there exist in Brest a fleet so formidable and well disciplined, as that which is now lying there. Unanimity and discipline reign among officers and men ; and all burn with desire to fight the enemies of their country, to the very banks of the Thames, and under the walls of London."

That this irrepressible ardour in the French navy would, however, effect more for the national advantage, if aided by an extraneous stimulant, was evidently the opinion of Sean-Bon Saint-Andre ; for he proposed to the National Convention, and actually had interest to get adopted, a decree, declaring, that the captain and officers of any ship of the line belonging to the republic, who should haul down the national colours to the vessels, however numerous, of an enemy, unless the French ship should be so shattered as to be in danger of sinking before the crew could be saved, should be pronounced traitors to their country, and suffer death ; and that the captain and officers of any frigate, corvette, or smaller vessel, who should surrender to a force double their own, unless their ship was reduced to the before-mentioned extremity, should be punished in the same

* The Cote-d'Or was built from the draught of the celebrated Sané (the reputed designer of 48 French line-of-battle ships), and, in size, beauty, and force surpassed every other ship in the world, except perhaps the Commerce-de-Marseille.