In
letters from Toulon dated 7 and 8 August was
with commotion written about the extra ordinary haste caused by telegraphic
messages from Paris
to fit out and arm ships. For the moment were 3 ships of the line and 6
frigates to be made ready for departure, the latter even to be able for
departure the 15th. At Paris were tidings from Malta dated the 3rd received
that the British admiral Stopford was ordered with his whole fleet of 13 ships
of the line to collect off the Syrian coast and immediately responded. France had at that moment just 7 ships of the
line off the Syrian coast and it was believed at Paris
to reinforce that force immediately with all available French warships in the Mediterranean.
