L ï , V
T O U L O N .
EVERY obferving and intelligent traveller, having made the tour of Italy, and returning
by the way of Nice and Antibes, ihould be careful not to neglcft \'ifiting tlie provinces of
Provence and Languedoc; both equally deferving his attention. The former, from the
beauty of its harbours, and the coftlinefs of its buildings; and the latter, from the fupcrb
of antiquity, found in vaft proftifion in various parts of that province; which muft
naturally create a moft pleafmg fource of amufement and contemplation, though at the
fame time fome regret will be excited at the fight of fuch innumerable fragments of ancient
magnificence: a melancholy proof of the tranfitory condition of all fublunary things.
Having crolTed the Var, and viewed the fmall town of Antibes, already defcribed, that
of Frejus, which was formerly the Forum Juliamim of the ancients, muft not pafs unnoticed,
as it can boaft of containing many monuments of antiquity; particularly the remains
of an Amphitheatre, and an Aqucduft, fome arches of which are ffill ftanding on
the north-eall fide of the town.
From hence the author recommends the traveller to proceed to Toulon, or Telo Martius,
a city in itfelf well deferving attention; being alfo delightfully fituated in one of the
fafeft and beft roads in the Mediterranean, viz. in lat. 43° 7', long. 6° 2', eaft of Greenwich.
It does not appear that Toulon was ever vifited by the Romans, having fcarcely been
of any note till the fifteenth century, at which time it fell, witii the remainder of that province,
into the l^ands of the French, and, fmcc that period, both the town and harbour
liave acquired great celebrity.
Lewis the Twelfth of France feems to have been the firft who conccivcd a proper idea
of the great advantages which might refalt from its excellent fituation. In his reign was
built the fort of Grofie Tour, which lies to the north-eaft of tiie enti-ance of the inner road,
and which is now ilrengthened by fevei-al batteries, nearly on a level with the furface of
the water.