THE DEFENCE OF THE PROVENÇAL COAST AFTER THE SIEGE OF TOULON BONAPARTE (Napoleon). Autograph apostille signed "Buonaparte" as brigadier general (2 autograph words, "certifié conforme") on the handwritten copy of a decree of the conventionnels on mission in the Midi. Toulon, 6 nivôse an II [26 December 1793] (one p. 1/4 in-folio). Rare document signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, general for 4 days. Victorious at the siege of the town of Toulon, recaptured thanks to him on 19 December 1793, he had just been promoted to brigadier general on 22 December. "Considering the lack of order amongst the companies of cannoneers responsible for guarding the coast from the Bouches-du-Rhône to the Vard coast; the poor state of all the batteries on this coast; the lack of proportion between the supply of the various cannon and the importance of their position ; the importance of our coast being in the most respectable state of deffence at a time when the enemy squadrons are masters of the seas; decide that citizen Bonaparte, brigadier general of the artillery, will be charged with inspecting the coast from the Bouches-du-Rhône to the Vard as quickly as possible. He will organise the companies of marine gunners in accordance with the law; he will remove anything that would be useless for the defence of the batteries; he will establish an accounting order that will destroy the abuses that have been introduced in this essential part. He will establish new batteries wherever he deems necessary; he will give orders to supply the various batteries. He will have reverberatory furnaces set up wherever they are needed, reporting to us on his work; he will ask us for the funds that will be necessary and that we will make available to the coastal artillery. He will visit the fort of St-Nicolas and St-Jean de Marseille, and will put them on a respectable footing as far as artillery is concerned...".