ALAN, although now (1792) surrounded by a young family, and in
circumstances independent of the emoluments of his profession, was not,
however, disposed to live a life of idleness. Nor had he relinquished
the intention to enter again on active service. This was most difficult
of accomplishment, on account principally, of the reduction of the army
on the termination of the American War; and that no additions wore made
to it for the last five or six years.
Britain was for the moment at peace with all nations; but the state of
affairs in India was causing so much concern that the home government
decided on increasing the military force in each of its Presidencies;
and to enable that intention to be effected, an augmentation of the army
of five battalions was ordered, commencing with the 74th Regiment. Two
of these were to be raised in Scotland and three in England. Into one of
the new corps, Alan hoped to be transferred from the "provincial list."
In this, however, he was disappointed owing to other applicants being
his seniors in the service; notwithstanding that the Marquis of
Cornwallis, whoso friendship he had gained in America, had previously
recommended him to the Commander-in-Chief.
After remaining a few years longer at home, an event impended, which was
to shake Europe to its foundation. This was the French Revolution. To
trace the causes, or detail the scenes, which followed this revolution,
is beyond the limits of our subject, except simply to refer to its
excesses in burning, plundering, and confiscating property of every
description, to which was finally added the execution of the King and
Queen on the scaffold. These iniquitous acts were execrated by
reasonable people of all countries, but were shortly followed by the
Republican Assembly offering aid to other nations to rid themselves of
their monarchical rulers. The incitement to extend rebellion to their
neighbours drew upon them the animosity of all governments, of whom the
continentals were the first to take offence.
To demonstrate their earnestness, the French took immediate action by
advancing three armies towards their northern frontiers; the total
strength being not under half a million soldiers, under the command of
their ablest generals--Jourdan, Moreau, and Pichequr. Simultaneously
with this offensive demonstration, war was declared against Holland,
Spain, and Britain. The manufactures of the latter country were strictly
prohibited in France, and it was, moreover, ordered that all British
subjects in whatever part of the Republic should be arrested, and their
properties seized.
The whole powers of the Continent were now arrayed against the French, yet
the vigour of their measures enabled them to disconcert the dilatory
schemes of their allied opponents. This same year (1793) the insurrection
at Toulon also broke out, and it was on this occasion that first appeared
the extraordinary man, who was to wield for a considerable period the
destinies of Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte, then _Chef de bataillon_, was
dispatched by the Convention as second in command of the artillery, where
he displayed a genius in the art of war, which soon afterwards gained him
the direction of the _Corps d'armee_ in Italy.
The British Government now became alarmed, and resolved on sending the
Duke of York to Flanders with 10,000 troops. Among the evils of the
Hanoverian succession was, that it dragged Britain into the vortex of
continental politics, and often made her subservient to the King's views
in favour of his electorate. The present was one of the instances. This
decision of co-operation may be said to have committed this country to a
line of policy which engaged its army and navy, more or less persistently
for upwards of twenty years, and terminated only in varying success, with
the crowning victory of Waterloo, and the occupation of Paris in the
summer of 1815.