as hood's fleet worked its way to the straits of gibraltar and then northeast to the ligurian sea, a spanish squadron cruised off southern france, although it was forced to withdraw in june with substantial numbers of sailors absent from duty due to sickness. during this time the french remained at anchor in toulon; 17 ships of the line were ready for sea, with another 13 refitting or under repair in the town's arsenal. in june, in response to the spreading reign of terror, the town council at toulon had expelled the radical jacobins from the city, declaring for the more moderate girondists. trogoff had refused to align himself with either party, but his deputy contre-amiral was an adherent of the revolutionary cause, backed by a substantial proportion of the sailors of the french fleet.