K

CAR.

C.

JAMES

LEGAVIT
J.

HAWKES
WINTON.
M.DCCC.XLVI.

DUKE
UNIVE RSITY
LIBRARY

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A N

ACCOUNT

CORSICA,
THE JOURNAL OF A TOUR
TO THAT ISLAND,
AND MEMOIRS OF

PASCAL
BY

JAMES BOSWELL,

Illustrated
Non enim

P A O L

with a

New

and Accurate

Ma

of

I.

Efq;

Corsica^

propter glorlam, divitiat aut honores pugnamuSj fed propter

bsrtatem folummodo^

quam nemo bonus

Lit.

Comit,

et

nifi

fimul

cum

1I

vita amittit.

Baron. Scotix ad Pap. A. O. 1320^

THE THIRD EDITION CORRECTED.

LONDON:
Printed for Edward and Charles Dillv
IN THE Poultry.

M DCC LXIX.

Tr.'K

LETTER
FROM
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

George lord Lyttelton

T O

James Boswell,

esq^.

:56iC4

London, Feb. 21, 1768.

SIR,
Think myfelf

ged

to

accept

to you,

my

greatly obli-

and defire you

mofl gi-ateful

thanks, for the valuable pre-

you have done me the honour to make me, of your Account of Corfica, which has
fent

given

me

more

perfedlly acquainted

the pleafure of being

with

the greateft character of this

:<*Ji

eie4

vx

age.

had oained

ledge of

knowfaw your

fbine

before

it,

book, from the

ther

letters of ano-

Eno;lifti o;entlenian

on that

but you have added

jRibjecl

many

curious

and interefling
which I have read

particulars,

widi mvich delight and adinira-

were a few years

younger, I would go in pilgriiT^age to Coriica (as you have
If I

tion.

i^Qlie) to yifit this

Uying imajfe

of ancient virtue, and to

rate in

PAo

J.

tlie
I

ipind of

the

ipirit

Pa

yene.
s

c 4l

of Tj mol ^-^

^nd EPA^I|1^05i[PA.S. But J

muft riow be contieiit with fc^^
ing him \r\ your defcription,
43K

the vivacity of which fliews,

that

your h^^rt

is

ipflame^

vu

with the (ame generous paflion

which glows
I

with you that our go-

wifli

had fliewn more

veriinient
fpetSl

for Corlican liberty,

think
that

fb brightly in his.

diigraces

it

we do

friendfliip

re-

and

our nation

not live in good

with a brave people

eno;ao;ed

in the nobleft

contells,

a conteft againft ty

ranny,
given
plaint.

all

and who have never

us

any caufe

of com-

fympathy of

Befides

{entiment, which

is

a natural

bond of union, we ought

licy to

of

fliew

as

much

in po-

regard

for them, as the Genoefe, their

oppreffors, have

fhewn for the

French, in our late wars with

that nation.

viii

Believe

me

with fincere

re-

gard and efteem,

Sir,

Your

And

tnoft obedient

obliged

humble

fervant,

LYTTELTON.

DEDICATION
T O

PASCAL PAOLI
GENERAL OF
THE C ORS IC ANS.
SIR,

DEDICATIONS

are for moft

part the offerings of interefted fervility, or the effufions of partial zeal

rating the virtues of

whom

no

found, or

virtues

enume-

men
can

in

be

predifting great-

nefs to thofe

who

afterwards

pafs their days in

unambi-

and die leaving no memorial of their extious indolence,

iftence, but

a dedication, in

DEDICATION.

which

all

feffedly

their merit

is

and which

future,

time has turned into a

reproach.

He who

confilent

has any experi-

ence of mankind, will be cautious to whom he dedicates.

Publickly to bellow praife on
merit of which the publick is
not fenfible, or to raife flat-

which are
never fulfilled, muft fmk the
chara6ler of an authour, and
tering expeftations

make him appear

a cringing

fond enthufiaft.
under no apprehen-

parafite, or a
I

am

fions of that nature,

when

book to Pafcal
Your virtues, Sir,

infcribe this

Paoli.

are univerfally

ed

acknowledg-

they dignify the pages

DEDICATION.

si

which I venture to prefent to

you; and it is my fmgular
feUcity,

that

voucher pf

my book

is

the

dedication.

its

In thus addrefling you,

my

not to attempt
your panegyrick. That may
in fome meafure be coUeOed

intention

is

from my imperfeft labours.

But I wifh to exprefs to the
world, the admiration and
gratitude with which you
have infpired me.
This, Sir,
that I can

is all

make

the return

for the

ma-

ny favours which you have

deigned to confer upon me.
I intreat you to receive it as
a teftimony of
I

regret that

power nor

my difpofition.
I

have neither

intereft to enable

2di

me

DEDICATION.
to

fervice

render any

you and

to

effential

to

the

I can only
brave Corficans.
aflure you of the moft fervent wifhes of a private genI have the honour
tleman.
to be, with all refpe6l and

affeftion,

Your

R,

ever devoted,

Obliged humble fervant,

JAMES BOS WELL

Auchinleck, Ayrfhire,

29 Goober, 1767.

PREFACE.
TVT

apology

fliall

be made for prefent^

ing the world with an Account of

Corfica.

has been for fome time ex-

It

pelled from

me

dour of publick

own

that the ar-

curiofity has

both encou-

and

On my

raged and intimidated me.

turn from viiiting Coriica,

wherever
could

tell

and

its

my

tale

them concerning

that ifland

Unwilling to repeat

every company,

beft to promife a

for

found people

went, defirous to hear what

inhabitants.
to

re-

thought

book which fhould

it

fpeak;

me.

But

would not take upon

this, till I

rne to

do

confulted with the General of

therefore informed

the nation.

my

His anfwer

delign.

flattering for

me

beg leave to give

to
it

perhaps too

is

pubhfh
as the

him of

but

muft

licence

and

fandlion of this work.

Paoli
*

was pleafed

Non puo

effer

to write to

piu generofo

il

me
di

thus

lei

di-

PREFACE.

xiv

fegno dl pubblicaAr colle ftampe

ofTerva-

le

ziOM che ha

fatte fopra la Corlica.

ne ha veduto

la filica fituazione,

t&

ha potu-

efarriinare

coftumi degli ab-kantiy c

dentra

le

mafTime del loro governo,

t^edcr

(S

Ella

cm

conofce

poh con

lai

entufiafeio di gratitudin'e

Hoto applatifa ^ quelle

ti!& il

Quefli po-

coftittizio^ie'*

drfingannata.

Nothing

ca-ft

dell'

be

iiniralft'-

Eufoprf

nerous than yo^r

de%n

6bfcrvations -which

you have made

You h^ve

oflica.

to publifli th^

able to

f^udy th

manners of ks- inhabitants, and

tiwiateiy

the

xipotl

{eeti its natni^ail fi^ta:-

hscte been

tion, yoti

ge-

n?iore

of

mai^ims

their

know

inent,

of which you

d'on'.

TRi^ people with an

the

to fe^

hfir^

goYe:^n>con'Mth!!^*

enthufiufni:

of

gratitude, wiil' unite their' applaufe vrkt^

t3iat

of unxfeceivcd Europe/

IMy

firft

intention

yfcw of the prefcnt

was

ftaHe

ther with Memoirs' of

to give otfl/i

of

Corficst,

toge*

illuftrious

its

Ge>

neral.

But by the adVice of fbirie learned-

friends,

whofe judgement

larged

my

ipldLtx,

and

fixed

refpedl, I eti-

on that of the

PREFACE.
Execution of which the publick

XV
is

now

to

judge.

had before mc

'

Hifloire de

printed at
'

on

written

exprcfsly

I'lfle

two French books

The one

Corfica.

de Corfe, par M. G.D.

Nancy

in

'^^^

1749.

C.^

other

Memoires Hiftoriques &c. par M. JaufAncien Apoticaire Major;' printed

fin

Laufan'ne in

books

many

derived

The lad of them

entiiick

detail

From both of

758.

at

thofe

materials.

ufeful

contains a full

and

fci-

of the natural hiftory of

as alfb

many

tlie

ifland,

toes

and other papers

letters,

manifeA

and both of them

contain a variety of particulars with re^

gard

to the operations of the

Corfica.

had

alTo before

large colleclion of remarks,

committed

French in

me

a pretty

which

to writing, while I

had

was in the

ifland.

But
ent in
to

my

time
as

found

flill

many

my

materials defici-

therefore applied

refpecls.

friends abroad

dirc(5led

might

my

furnifli

and in the mean

ftudies

me

to fuch books

with any thing

re

PREFACE.

xYi

lative to the fubjecl.

am

thus enabled

to lay before the world fuch

of Corfica, as

I flatter

fatisfadlion

for, in

An

Account

myfelf will give fome

comparifon of the vebeen hitherto

known

concerning that ifland, this book

may be

ry

has

that

little

faid to contain a great deal.

It

is

indeed amazing that an ifland fb

and in which fuch noble

confiderable,

things have been doing, fhould be fo imperfedily

known.

Even the

Chiefs has been unperceived

we

fucceflion c^
;

and becaufe

have read of Paoli being at the head of

the Corficans
ftill

many

years back, and Paoli

appears at their head, the

has been fuppofed

all this

command

time in the pcr-

fon of the fame man. Hence all our newspapers have confounded the gallant Pafcal Paoli in the vigour of

manhood, with

the venerable chief his

deceafed Father

Giiicinto Paoli.

way

Nay

the

found

its

rian

for Dr. Smollet

fame errour has

into the page of the hifto-

when mentioning

Paoli at the fiege of Furiani a few years

ago, lays he was then paft fourfcor^.

PREFACE.
I

would in the

xvii

place return

firfl

moft humble thanks to Pafcal

the various

me

have related his remarkable

declare

upon honour,

added nor diminifhed

have

been, that

fmallefl: variation

thought
I

it

that
;

is

fica.

this,

as

fayiiigs,

have neither

fo fcrupuious

my

even when

friends

would be an improvement.

we read

pleafure

perfectly authentick.

me

full

fo

good

as

and diftin^ anfwers

variety of queries

gard

and

would not ma.ke the

Count Rivarola was

turn

nay

know with how much

what

Paoli, for

communications with which

he has been pleafed to favour

I

my

which

fent

to re-

to

him with

re-

many particulars concerning CorI am much indebted to him for

to

iand particularly {b,

from the obH-

ging manl?er in which he did

Th6J reverend

it.

Mr. Burnaby, chaplain

to the Britifli fa(5lory at Leghorn,

made

tour to Gorfica in 1766, at the fame time

with the honourable and reverend Mr.

Hervey now

bifliop

of Cloyne.

Mr. Bur-

naby was abfent from Leghorn when

h

PREFACE.

xviii

was

had not the

there, fo I

ing perfonally

known

great poUtenefs of his

pleafure of be-

But he with

to him.

own accord, fent me

made of

a copy of the Journal which he

what he obferved

in Corlica.

fatisfadlion to find that

we

had the

agreed in every

thing which both of us had confidered.

But

on

found in

feveral

and
I

his Journal, obfervations

things which

feveral things

found

fet in

naby was

which

had omitted

As Mr. Bur-

fo obliging as to allow

ufe

have

interwoven

freely

had remarked,

a clearer light.

make what

me

to

pleafed of his Journal, I

acknowledge

my

it

into

my

work.

obligations to

my

efteemed friend Sir John Dick, Bart, his

Britannick Majeily's Conful at Leghorn, to

Signor Gian Quilico Cafa Bianca, to the

learned Greek phyfician Signor Stefan opoli, to

be

Colonel Buttafoco, and to the Ab-

Roflini.

Thefe gentlemen have

tributed their aid in eredling

nument

my

all

con-

little

mo-

to liberty.

am alfb to thank an ingenious gentleman who has favoured me with the tranfI

PREFACE.
lations of Seneca's

Epigrams.

made

plication for this favour, in the

Chronicle
ture, I

and

found her

to the

xix

ap-

London

honour of

litera-

votaries very liberal. Se-

veral tranflations were fent,

of which

took the liberty to prefer thofe which had

the fignature of Patricius, and which were

improved by another ingenious correfpon-

By

dent under the fignature of Plebeius.

a fubfequent application
tricius

would

let

me know

obliged for what

ornament
with

my

to

my

requefl

begged that Pa-

whom

was

confidered as a great

He

book.
;

to

and

has complied

beg leave in

this

publick manner, to acknowledge that

am

indebted for thofe tranflations to Tho-

mas Day

man

Efquire, of Berkfhire,

whofe

fituation in life is genteel,

his fortune affluent.

though

a gentle-

his verfes

mufl add that

have not only the

and
alfire

of youth, but the maturity and corredlnefs

of age, Mr.

Day

is

no more than nine-

teen.

Nor can

omit

to exprefs

my

the candour and politenefs with

b 2

fenfe of

which

PREFACE.

XX
Sir

received the remark

James Steuart

which

have ventured to make in op-

polition to a pafTage concerning the Corfi-

cans, in

PoUtical
I

liis

Inquiry into the Principles of

Oeconomy.

have fubmitted

my

book

to the re-

who honour
and I am feniible

of feveral gentlemen

vifal

me with their
how much it
redlions.

regard,

improved by

is

therefore

It is

my

their cor-

duty to re-

turn thanks to the reverend Mr. Wyvill

redour of Black Notely in

my

old

EfTex,

and to

and mofl intimate friend the

verend Mr. Temple redlour of

in Devonfhire.

am

re-

Mamhead

alfo obliged to

My

Lord Monboddo for many judicious

re-

marks, which his thorough acquaintance

with ancient learning enabled

make.

But

am

principally indebted to

My

Lord Hailes,

Sir

David Dalrymple*,
is

who under

the

has

name

of

been long

the cuftom in Scotland to give the Judges of the

Court of Seflion the

eftates.

to

and friendly attention of

the indulgence

* It

him

Thus Mr.

David Dalryinple

is

title

of Lords by the names of their

Burnett

is

Lord Hailes.

Lord Monboddo,

and

Sir

PREFACE.
known

to the

xxi

world as an able Antiqua-

and an elegant and humourous

rian,

fayid

to

whom

Ef-

the world has no fault

but that he does not give them more of

own

his

when they

writings,

value them

fo highly.

would however have

that although

my

of

it

undeflood,

received the corredlions

friends with deference, I have not

An

always agreed with them.

authour

ihould be glad to hear every candid re-

mark.

But

thy to write,

look

upon a man

who

has not force of

to determine for himfelf.

that the

unwor-

as

mention

judgement of the friends

named may not be

mind

conlidered

this,

have

as

con-

nected with every pafTage in this book.

Writing a book

building a houfe.

and

A man

colledls materials.

enough
but

have found to be

to raife a large

after

poliflied,

He
and

like

forms a plan,
thinks he has

(lately edifice

he has arranged, compadled and

his

work turns out

fmall performance.
ver like the builder,

to

be a very

The authour howe-

knows how much

PREFACE.

xxil

labour his

work has

fore eftimates

it

coft

at a

much

than other people think

I

him

it

and

higher rate

deferves.

have endeavoured to avoid an often-

By

tatious difplay of learning.

and the

frivolous indeed,

do not write

But

my

ing

be judged, will

whom

Thofe by
I

as I

pay no

for fiich readers, I

regard to their cenfures.

I wifli to

the idle

any appearance

of learning is called pedantry.

of

there-

hope, approve

adding dignity to Corfica, by ihewconiideration

its

and will not be

among

the ancients,

difpleafed to find

my page

fornetimes embellifhed with a feafonable

quotation from the Glaflicks.

lations

The

tranf-

are afcribed to their proper au-

thours.

"What are not fo afcribed are

my

own.
It

may

be neceffary to fay fomething

in defence of
it

my

orthography.

Of

late

has become the fafhion to render our

language more neat and trim by leaving

out k after

c,

and u

words which ufed

luftrious

to

in the lafl fyllable of

end in our.

The

il-

Mr. Samuel Johnfon, who has a^

PREFACE.

what was the

lone executed in England

task of

xxiii

whole academies in other countries,

has been careful in his Didlionary to pre-

ferve the

He

as a

mark of Saxon

original.

has for moft part too, been careful to

preferve the u,

but he has

in feveral words.

alfo

omitted

have retained the

and have taken upon me

it

k,

to follow a ge-

neral rule with regard to words ending

Wherever a word

in our.

originally Latin

has been tranfmitted to us through the

medium

of the French,

have written

An

with the charadleriftical u.

may

to this

am

appear

one of thofe

formation

modes

who

own

in

various

its

the

wifli that

nity of Englifli with other tongues

not be forgotten.

affi-

may

work Ihould

If this

any future period be

are curious in the

of language

and therefore

attention

But

trivial.

it

reprinted,

at

hope

my

orthogra-

book,

afFecling

that care will be taken of

phy.

He who

publifhes

not to be an authour,

and

profeffing

indifFerence for literary fame,

may

an

pof-

i^

PREFACE.

xxiy

impofe upon

fibly

idea of his

may

be received.

people

confequence

be proud to be

and

many
For

known

he wifhes

as

my

flich. ati

part,

ihould

as aqi authour

have an ardent ambition for

ry fame

for of all pofTeflions

litera^

ihould ima-

gine literary fame to be the moft valuable.

A man who

has been able

furnifh

to

book which has been approved by the

world,

has eflablifhed himfelf as a

re-

fpedlable charadler in diitant fociety, with-

out any danger of having that character

by the obfervation of

leflened

To

nefles.

prefer ve

am^ong tLofe

who

hardly poiTible

put us under the

reflraint.

us

to

fetters

every day,

aim
of a

at

it,

is

mufl

perpetual

The authour of an approved

book may allow

an eafy

an uniform dignity

fee

and

^eak-

his

play,

his

natural

diipolition

and yet indulge the pride

when he coniiders
who know him only

of fuperiour genius
that
as

by

thofe

an authour, he never

fpe(5led.

be

re-

Such an authour when in

his

ceafes

hours of gloom and difcontent,

to

may have

PREFACE.
;the

XXV

confolation to think that his writings

are at that very time giving pleafure to

numbers
rifh the

death,

and

ftich

hope of being remembered

which has been a great

the nobleft minds in

Whether
literary

may

fame, the

Whatever
jthat

an authour may che-

my

all

objecH: to

ages.

merit any portion of

publick

am.bition

m.y confidence

after

is

fny hopes too fanguine.

will

may

be,

judge.
I trvift

not too great, nor

PREFACE
To
T Now

the Third Edition.

beg leave to prefcnt the world with

more

corredl edition of

of Corlica.
thofe

return

who have

out feveral
criticifm.

with a

wrong,

My

am

orthography

plained

would own that

convinced that
I

have

am

it is {o.

fufficiently ex-

have not met with one ar-

againft

it.

In juftice to Mr. Burnaby,

ferve, that

the

pafTage in Livy,
edition,

and although fome pleafantry has

been fliewn,

gument

have pre-

reading, contrary to their

as I never
till

of candid

fpirit

hope they will not be offend-

my own

opinion

thanks to

iincere

ed that in one or two places

ferved

Account

taken the trouble to point

faults,
I

my

my

muft ob-

erroneous tranflation of a

which

is

corrected in this

page 64, was mine

it

being no

PREFACE.

xxviii

which the

part of his Journal, in

text only

was quoted.

former editions with

my

that

firfl

original

In comparing the
this, it

will appear

tranflation renders the

mean-

ing of Livy, but does not convey the turn

of exprefTion, as

While

gations to thofe
I

been others
in

an

hope

have

now

have a proper fenfe of

candour,

who have

treated

done.

my

obli-

me

with

do not forget that there have

who have

illiberal

of fome has

The refentment

manner.
evidently

grateful admiration

mc

chofen to treat

arifen

which

of Mr. Samuel Johnfon.

from the

have exprelTed

Over fuch,

it

a triumph to me, to aflure them, that

is

ne-

ver ceafe to think of Mr. Johnfon, with the

fame warmth of

dignity of veneration.
others

what

it

is

more

fliould

make men

befl to entertain them,

in the

told

by

The refentment of
attack one

who

who

has done his

and who

enga-

is

am
me in

moft generous caufe ? But

thofe

For

difficult to explain.

never offended them,

ged

and the fame

afFeclion,

who have gone

before

PREFACE.

xxit

literamre, that the attacks of fuch flioiild

rather flatter me,

me

than give

difplea-

fure.

To

thofe

who have hnaghied

themfelves

me

for being a

very witty in fneering at

wonld recommend the

Chriftian, I

ftudy of Theology,
attain to the

and

"

fame comfort that

have, in

by which

a Sa-

proclamed to the world, and

is

and immortality

life

hope they will

the belief of a Revelation

viour

ferious

are clearly

brought

" to light."

am now

Lyttelton, for being fo

to enrich

my

fhip's letters

anxious that
contains

good

to me.
it

that

man,

this

to

his Lord-

fhould be pubUfhed

an eulogium

was very defirous

me

was indeed moft

on
I

the writings of antiquity.

I

as to allow

book with one of

equal to any thing that

that

My Lord

to return thanks to

to

as it

Pafcal

Paoli,

have foimd in

Nor can

deny

ihew the world

worthy and refpedlablc Noble-

whom

genius, learning

and

vir-

PREFACE.

XXX
tue

owe

much,

fo

can amidft

all

his

honours be pleafed with what

literary

have been able to write.

May
cefs

be permitted to fay that the fuc-

of this book has exceeded

When

ed hopes.
it

my warm-

firfl

ventured to fend

into the world, I fairly

owned an ardent

defire for literary

my

defire

cafl

my

fame.

have obtained

and whatever clouds may over-

days,

can

now walk

the rocks and woods of

AucHiNLECK, Ayrshire,
29 Odobcr, 1768.

among

my anceftors,

an agreeable confcioufnefs that

fomething worthy.

here

with

have done

CONTENTS.
A

Letter from the Right Honourable George

Lord Lyttelton

to

James Bofwell, Efq;

page

Introduftion.

33

CHAP.
Of

I.

the Situation, Extent, Air,

Soil,

and Pro-

dudions, ofCorfica.

43

CHAP.
A

concife

View of

II.

the Revolutions which Corfi-

ca has undergone from the earlieft times.

CHAP.
The

Government,

Religion,

Z^j

III.

prefent State of Corfica,

Learning,

iii

with refped to

Arms,

Commerce,

the Genius and Charafter of

Inhabitants.

its
1

73

Appendix, containing Corfican State Papers.

265

The

Journal of a

nioirs

Tour

of Pafcal Paoh,

to

Corfica

and Me-

285

r*--4.

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A N

ACCOUNT
O

CORSICA.
INTRODUCTION.
T IBERTYisfo
^^ mankind,

whether

members of fociety,

that

ceflary to our happinefs.

worthy

arifeth

from

and

natural,
as
it

fo

individuals,

dear to
or as

indifpenfibly

is

ne-

Every thing great and

Liberty gives health to

it.

the mind, and enables us to enjoy the full exercife

of our

move

faculties.

He who

either eafily or gracefully

is

in

chains cannot

nothing elegant

-,

or noble can be expecfted from thofe, whofe fpi-

fubdued by tyranny, and whofe powers

rits

are

are

cramped by

There

are,

reftraint.

indeed,

who from

judice, or moft corrupt venality,

the darkeft pre-

would endeavour

INTRODUCTION.

34

mankind out of

to reafon

their original

and ge-

nuine feelings, and perfuade them to fubftitute artificial

fentiment in place of that which

ed by God and Nature.

They would

from habit become

that flavery will

is

implant

maintain,

eafy, and, that

mankind

are truly better,

ment and

fubjedlion to the arbitrary will of a few.

Such dodrine

fon alone.

confine-

could never have gained

at this,

any ground, had

when under

been addreffed to calm

it

Its partifans therefore

rea-

have found

it

neceilary to addrefs themfelves to the imagination

and palTions

afm and

to call

fuperftition

in the aid

of enthufi-

fome countries

in

to inftill

a ftrange love and attachment to their fovereigns

and
ons,

in others to

-,

propogate certain myftical noti-

which the mind of man

dy to receive, of a divine

is

wonderfully rea-

right to rule

-,

as if their

fovereigns had defcended from heaven. This laft

idea has been cherifhed for ages, from the

Deum

foboles.

Gods,'

among

The
the

'

Cara

beloved offspring of the

Romans,

to thofe various ele-

vated and endearing epithets, which modern nations have thought proper to bellow

upon

their

fovereigns.

But whatever fophifms may be devifed

vour of

flavery, patience

any thing but

'

under

it,

in fa-

can never be

the effed of a fickly conftitutiojn,

INTRODUCTION.

35

and defpondency, that

'

which creates

puts

'

ambition,

freedom begets

'

only a dull kind of pleafure, of being carelefs

'

and

men beyond hopes and

and other
,

fears

aftive

mortifying

which

qualities,

and inftead of them, affording

infenfible {a).*

There
ty,

a lazinefs

no doubt, but by entering

is

mankind

voluntarily give

up

into focie-

a part of their

natural rights, and bind themfelves

to the

obe-

dience of laws, calculated for the general good.

But,

we muft

cpprefTion
tates

between laws, and capricious dic-

and keeping the

vernment ever

no more

between authority, and

diftinguilh

in view,

reftraint

than what the

of go-

original intention

we

fliould take care that

be laid upon natural liberty,

neteflities

of fociety require.

Perhaps the limits between the power of government, and the liberty of the people, fhould
not be too

kon

ftriftly

marked

out.

Men

of tafte rec-

that picture hard, where the outhnes are fo

flrong, as to be clearly feen.

They admire

a piece

of painting, where the colours are delicately blended, and the tints,
lar objefl,

which point out every particu-

arc foftened into each other,

fenfible gradation.

So

by an

in a virtuous ftate,

in-

there

fhould be fuch a mutual confidence between the

(^)

My

lord Molefworth's Account of

Denmark,

p. 69.

INTRODUCTION.

g6

government and the people, that the

rights

of

each fliould not be exprefsly defined.

But

flagrant injuftice,

on one

is

not to be concealed

is

the privilege of the fide that

dicate

and, without queflion,

injured, to vin-

is

itfelf.

confideration of the arguments

men

in the refinement

by which ingeni-

of politicks have en-

and turn away

deavoured to amufe mankind,

their attention

of

it

have been led into thefe reflexions from a

ous

fide or other,

from the plain and fimple notions

liberty.

Liberty

is

indeed the parent of

felicity,

of eve-

ry noble virtue, and even of every art and fcience.

Whatever vain attempts have been made

to raife

the generous plants under an opprefllve chmate,

have only fhewn more evidently the value of

freedom.
It is

therefore

no wonder that the world has

at all times been roufed at the mention of liberty

',

and that we read with admiration and a

tuous enthufiafm, the gallant

thofe

who have

vir-

achievements of

diftinguiftied themfelves in the

glorious caufe, and the hiftory of

fl:ates

who were

animated with the principle of freedom, and made

it

the bafis of their conftitution.

INTRODUCTION.
Should any one tranfmit
nals

pofterity the an-

to

of an cnllaved nation, we fhould

whole ages of the humbling

37

over

Every thing

detail.

would be

fo poor, fo tame,

one might

as well perufe the records

and

fleep

fo abje(5l,

that

of a prifon-

houfe.

But we have a manly

the hiftory of the ancient

fatisfaflion in reading

Romans

even abflraft-

ing from their eonnedions and their broils with

other

ftates.

Their internal progrefs alone

af-

fords ample matter of fpeculation to a judicious

and

fpirited obferver

of human nature.

We love

to trace the various fprings of their conduft,

of

their

advancement

in civilization.

We

and
con-

template with pleafure the ferments between the

and plebeians, the ftrong exertions of

patricians

rude genius, the vigorous exercifes and hardy

men uncontrouled by

virtues of

They who
for antiquity,

divine

fire

entertain an extravagant veneration

would make us

in

modern

it

which are to be

times, are but feeble and dim.

They would make

grown

believe, that the

of liberty has been long ago exhaufted,

and that any appearances of

found

timid fubjedion.

us believe that the world

old, that the ftrength of

decayed, and that

we

are

human

nature

is

is

no more to exped: thofe

INTRODUCTION.

38

men

in

nature

is

noble powers which dignified

former

ages.

But the truth

at all times,

from

is,

that

human

and appears

in different lights

a difference of circumflances.

guage of the fchoolmen,

Rome

and
ftill

fixed,

is

has yet the feven

on which the conquerors of the world dwelt,

thefe are

Romans.

inhabited by

Athens

occupies the fpace from whence philofophy

and genius difFuled a radiance to

around,

and

is

now

retain

blance of their illuflrious anceftors

owing

to the courfe

of

all

the nation?

But

by Athenians.

pofTeffed

neither of thefe people

ly

merely

In the lan-

the fubftance

the accidents only vary.

hills

the fame

any refem-

this is entire-

political events,

which

has produced a total change in their manners.

That

the fpirit of liberty has flourifhed in

dern times,
Swifs,

we may

mo-

appeal to the hiftories of the

and of the Dutch

of it are to be found

in

and the boldeft proofs

own

the annals of our

country.

But a mofl diftinguifhed example of it

exifls in the illand of Corfica.

refolute nation, has

now

for

adlually

There, a brave an4

upwards of

fix

and

thirty years, maintained a conftant ilruggle againft

the opprefTion of the republick of Genoa.

Thefe

valiant iHanders were for a long time looked

upon

INTRODUCTION.
as

39

an inconfiderable band of malecontents, as a

diforderly troop of rebels,

who would

fpeedily be

compelled to refume thofe chains which they had

frowardly Hiaken

off.

They have however conProvidence has

tinued fteady to their purpofe.

favoured them

-,

and Europe now turns her eyes

upon them, and with aftonifhment

fees

them on

the eve of emancipating themfelves for ever

from

a foreign yoke, and becoming a free and inde-

pendent people.
Libcrtas quae fera tamen relpexit
Refpexit tamen et longo poft tempore venit.

ViRG.

When

a long age of vent'rous

Celtftial

The
render

freedom

bleft their

ifle

toil

was

Eclog.

I.

paft,

at laft.

fmallnefs of the Corfican ftate does not

it lefs

contrary,

an objed of admiration.

we ought

ingenious

to admire

it

On

the more.

Mr. Hum.e (a) hath fhewn

\\s,

the

The
that

Rhodes, Thebes, and many of the famous ancient ftates

Corfica

were not fo numerous

now

are.

as the

people of

If the ten thoufand Greeks have

gained immortal honour, becaufe they were op-

pofed to the armies of the Perfian monarch, Shall

not the Corficans be found deferving of glory,

who have let

themfelves againft a republick, which

() EfHiy on the populoufnels of ancient nations.

INTRODUCTION.

40

has been aided at different times by the power of

France, and by that of the empire of Germany

The

Corficans have been obliged to (hew par-

The

ticular force of fpirit.

were both

afTifted

covery of their

by powerful nations

liberties

Dutch

Swils and the

in the re-

but during the long and

bloody war which Corfica has carried on, the Pow

ers

who might be fuppofed friendly

of Europe,

have flood

her,

and fhe has

aloof,

fingle

the degree of confequence which fhe

To

grant

me

am

am

is

the

Briton

firft

and they

will readily

thufiafm of one
iflanders,

when

height, and

who

cation of their

The
is,

him

as to enable

who

holds.

what

they confider
will confi-

has had the

and to receive fuch

to

infor-

form a juft idea of

has been

it

for the en-

among

patriotick virtue
felt as it

furely lau-

They

who

at;

readers will

make allowance

their

has

is

is

my

when

the fubje<5t.

curiofity to vifit Corfica,

mation

attempt

perfuaded that

every indulgence,

favourable

der that

The

attempt.

and

dable

how

now

give an account of this ifland,

am now to

and un^

and arrived

fupported, weathered the ftorm,

to

the brave
is

at

its

were a communi-

fpirit.

plan which

have prefcribed to myfelf

to give a Geographical and Phyfical defcriptioq

pf the

'flandj

that

my

readers

may

b^

mad?

ag-.

INTRODUCTION.

41

quainted with the country which in thefc latter

days has produced fo heroick a race of patriots.

To

exhibit a concife view of the Revolutions

it

has undergone from the earlieft times, which will

prepare the mind, and throw light on the fequel.

To Ihew the Prefent State of Corfica and to fubjoin my Journal of a Tour to that ifland, in
j

which

I relate a variety

of anecdotes, and treafure

up many memoirs of the

General of the

Memorabilia Paoli.

Corficans
I

illuftrious

do moft

fincerely declare,

inferiour to the tafk.

But

that I feel myfelf

hope the fketch which

be of fome immediate fervice, and will

I give, will

induce others to execute a more perfe<5l plan.

Ihall

be happy

to give the
tereft the

for this

contribute in a certain degree

if I

world a juft idea of Corfica, and

generous in

work

its

potiii feci

I've done

favour j and

to in-

would adopt

a fimple and beautiful infcription

the front of the Palazzo

Qiiod

my

Tolomei

at Siena,

faclant meliora potentes.

beft

let abler

men do mofe.

on

CHAPTER
Of

the

Situation^

Extent^

di'Mions,

/^ O R S I C A
^""'^

fea,

is

of

I.

Air^

and Pro-

Soil,

Corsica.

an ifland of the Mediterranean

fituated

between the 41 and 43 de-

gree of north latitude, and between the 8 and 10

degree of eaft longitude, reckoning from London.

It

hath on the north the Ligurian

On

of Genoa.

the eaft, the

and gulf

fea,

Tufcan

fea

on the

fouth, a ftrait of ten miles which feparates

Sardinia
is

100 miles fouth of Genoa,

about

when

ly be feen

from whence

the weather

to

being broadeft about the middle.

322 miles

in circumference

furement round

it

it

clear.

is

and from 40

miles in length,

it is

50
It

of bays.

and

It

80

can plainIt

is

150

in breadth,
is

reckoned

but an exad mea-

would extend

to

500

edged with many promontories,

a variety

from

and on the weft the Mediterranean.

fouth- weft of Leghorn,

as

it

miles,

and with

AN ACCOUNT

44

Pliny the elder hath given ns a fhort, but very

geography of Corfica

accurate account of the

quam

'

In Liguflico mari

'

non appellavere,

'

trione in

'

millia,lata majore ex parte L,circuituCCCXXII,

'

civit^tes

Mario dedu6lam, Aleriam

'

In the Ligurian

to Liguria,

Cyrnus.

* is

Corfica

eft

Graeci Cyr-

Thufco proprior, a fepten-

fed

meridiem projedla, longa pafTuum

XXXIII

habet

It

about

Marianam

a didatore Sylla (a).

but nearer to Tufcany than

fea,

which the Greeks called

Corfica,

is

et colonias

CL

extendeth from north to fouth, and

50 miles

in length,

and 322

for the

moll part

in circumference.

'

50

'

hath 3 3

ed by Marius, and Aleria founded by the di6la-

'

tor Sylla.'

or

breadth,

in

ftates

can

fix

and two colonies, Mariana found-

Of thefe
now be

33

traced

ftates,
,

not above five

and the colonies are

But the ufual

only to be marked by their ruins.

fidelity

of Pliny

is

Pomponius Mela
Corfica,

as

to be credited in this account.

(h) defcribes the

fituation

left

us two moft

horrid piftures of Corfica, very falfe indeed,

executed with

{a)
lib.

ii.

Plin.

uncommon

Nat. Hift.

lib.

ii.

{c) Ptol,

but

ftrength of fancy and

Stoick as he was,

cap. 7.

of

does Ptolemy (c),

Seneca the philofopher hath

cxpreflion.

It

of a grave and

cap. 6.

Geog.

lib.

{!>)
iii.

fe-

Pomp. Mel.

cap. 2.

;:

: ;

CORSICA.

OF

45

vere demeanour, he did not efcape the Emperour's

jealoufy, but being accufed as one of the

whom

gallants with

many

the profligate Julia had been

guilty of adultery, he was banifhed to Corfica,

where he remained for feven years

in the province

old ruin called

'

of Capo Corfo they

II torre

Here he compofed
Polybius,

and to

other works

his

his

and where

-,

flill

di Seneca, Seneca's

books

De

Tower.'

Confolatione to

mother Helvia, with

and here he indulged

Ihew an

his fretted

imagination in the following epigrams,

h
Corfica Phocaeo tellus habitata colono,

Corfica quae Graio nomine Cyrnus eras

Corfica Sardinia brevior, porre(5tior Ilva

Corfica pilcofis per\ia fluminibus

Corfica terribilis

quum primum

Saevior, oftendit

Parce

relegatis,

Vivorum

hoc

eft,

incanduit aeftas

ferus ora canis

jam parce

lepultis,

cineri fit tua terra levis.

O fea-girt Corfica
Firft

quum

own'd the

whole rude domains,

culture of

Phocaean fwains

Cyrnus, fince thus the Greeks thy ifieexprefs.

Greater than Ilva, than Sardinia

Corfica

Unnumber'd

whofe winding

feveral

lefs

rivers feed,

as their fands, the finny breed

UN T

AN ACCO

46

Corfica

When
Yet

whofe raging heats

fiercer plagues

When

thy fcorching

who

wretch,

doom,

fpare, fince fuch his

living, feeks in thee a

Light lay thy earth,

fliores dilpenfe.

Sirius fheds his baneful influence

Spare, fpare the banifh'd

diiJnay,

fummer pours her ray

returning

firft

tomb

in pity to his pains.

Light lay thy earth upon

his lad remains.

Day.
n.
Barbara praeruptis

inclufa eft Corfica faxis;

Horrida, defertis undique vafta locis.

Non poma

autumnus, fegetes non educat aeftas

Canaque Palladio numere bruma caret;

Umbrarum nuUo
Nullaque

Non

non

panis,

Hie

fola

hauftus aquae,

non ultimus

whom

rocks

terrific

bound.

nature fpreads her wildeft defarts round.

In vain revolving feafons cheer thy

Nor rip'ning

fruits,

Nor blooms

the

The

ignis.

haec duo funt, exful, et exfilium.

Corfica,

Where

ver eft laetabile foetu,

in infaufto nafcitur herba folo

foil.

nor waving harvefts Cnilc

oli\fe

votive olive to

mid the winter drear;

Minerva dear.

See, fpring returning, Ipreads her milder reign

Yet

(hoots

No

cooling (prings to quench the traveller's thirft

no herb, no verdure clothes the

From

thy parch'd

Nor,

haplefs

Is

ifle!

hills in

grateful

thy barren

wholefome food,

murmurs

fiiores

fair Ceres'

plain.

burft

around.

bounty, found.

OF CORSICA.
Nor

47

ev'n the laft fad gift, the wretched claim,

Tlie pile funereal, and the (acred flame.

Nought

here,

a.las

Nought but an

furrounding feas enclole.

and an

exile,

exile's

woes.

Day.

He hath
of his
his

De

lancholy,

fame extravagant manner,

But we muft

Confolatione.

his

in

confi-

the boafted firmnefs

all

mind was then clouded with me-

and every objed around him appeared

meful colours.
Corfica

It

his fpleen againft the place

that notwithftanding

of Seneca,

in

vented

in the

exile,

books

der,

alfo

in reality,

is,

a moft agreeable ifland.

had from the ancient Greeks the name of

KAXtrii,Callifba,

may

believe

it

on account of

was held

beauty; and

we

in confiderable eftimation,

Callimachus places

fince

its

it

next to his favourite

Delus,

Ovx

oifjSeI'

(i,i~

'/%iia

Ki'po;

ottyi^iT

Callim. Hymn,

ovorr'

Next in

It

^outco'cc

in Del.

1.

i^.

the rank, Phoenician Cyrnus came,

fruitful

is

charmingly fituated in the Mediterranean,

ifle,

of no ignoble name.

from whence continual breezes fan and cool

it

in

fummer, and the furrounding body of water keeps

it

warm

in winter, fo that

it

is

one of the moft

AN ACCOUNT

48

temperate countries in that quarter of Europe.

frefh

air is

and

which

places,
cially in

healthful, except

are moift,

fummer,

is

in

one or two

and where the

fuffocating

and

Its

eipe-

air,

fickly

but

in

general, the Corficans breathe a pure atmofphere,

which

is

keen enough to brace

alfo

more than one would expedl under

fo

their fibres

warm

a fun.

Corfica has indeed been pretty generally reprefented as unwholefome, which, I fuppofe, has

been owing to the bad report given of

Romans, who

occafioned a great death

and accordingly
all

good

among

fituation,

the inhabitants,

thefe colonies foon

went to

ruin.

air.
is

harbours,

remarkably well furniihed with good

fo that

we may apply

of the Campania,

to

the north Centuri.

Ifola RofTa, Calvi,

Bonifaccio.

On

and Macinajo.

fea.*

It

has on

On

the South

it

has

the eaft Porto Vecchio, Ba-

Of each of

fome account.
{a) Flor. Lib.

what Florus

the weft San Fiorenzo,

Ajaccio.

And on

it

Nihil hofpitalius mari (a).

Nothing more hofpitable to the

ftia,

damp

their

the interiour parts of the Ifland have very

Corfica

fays

by the

eftablilhed their colonies at Aleria

and Mariana, which from

But

it

i.

Cap. i6.

thefe I fhall give

OF CORSICA.

49

Centuri, though at prefent but a fmall harbour,

may

be greatly enlarged,

as

its

is

very

It

runs

fituation

convenient.

San Fiofenzo
about
about

The

is

fifteen miles
five miles

gulf

itfelf

an extenfive gulf.

up

the country, and

into

and many fathom deep.

acrofs,

creeks

fide

of

it,

being

hath often a violent furge,

expofed to the wellerly winds

tal

is

but there are feve-

and bays, particularly on the fouth

which are quite

There

fecure.

is

bay under the tower of Fornali, about two miles

which

from San Fiorenzo,

and where

is

highly efleemed,

of confiderable burden

velTels

may be

fafely ftationed.

Ifola Rofl^a

is

but a

little

harbour

confiderable depth of water,

and

is

but has a

defended by

They

a fmall ifland againft the wellerly winds.

mole to lock

talk of erecting a
ter.

It is at prefent

Commerce in
Calvi (a)

Cluverius

(rt)

it

in

on every quar-

one of the principal ports for

the pofTeiTion of the Corficans.

large

is

calls

it

and excellent harbour.

Celeberrimus infulae por-

Poftletliwayt, in his tranflation of Savary's Diclionaiy

of Trade and Commerce, has a moft abfurd obfervation concerning Calvi:

Calves.'

Who

'

Its

told

inhabitants,'

him

this?

fays he,

What

'

are

connexion

is

called

there

AN ACCOUNT

50

The moft famous

tus (h)^

The only

objeftion

port of this ifland.'

ever heard

by a French Gentleman, who

bottom of

was

it

made

to

was

it,

me, that the

told

of fharp rocks, which were

full

apt to cut the cables of fhips which entered

and he inftanced one of the

tranfports,

it

which had

landed fome of the French troops in the year

He

1764.
I

however was under a miftake

have been

concerning
authority,

am

informed from the beft

is

nothing to fear from

there

that

rocks at Calvi,

which fuffered

and

and that the French tranfport

there,

little

by fome of the

foul of,

cafion of any

Ajaccio

is

damage
a

for

enquire very particularly

at pains to
this,

it

reft,

happened

to be run

which was the oc-

fuftained.

wide and commodious harbour,

with a good mole, and

perfe<5lly fafe.

It

wants

only to have a fmall rock in front of the mole

removed, which might be

done

at

no great

charge.

Corfica hath alfo in this quarter feveral fmaller

havens,

which

are

ufeful for the reception

of

little veflels.

between the Englifh word Calves and the

vi

Perhaps he intended

it

as wit.

the jefts of this Lexicographer

{h)

Cluver. Corlic. Antiq.

If

Italian

word Cal-

how

clumfy are

fo,

OFCORSICA.
Bonifaccio

is

51

much

an ufeful harbour,

quented fince the oldeft times, and very

fre-

fit

for

trade.

Baftia

not a port of the

is

fhips of v/ar cannot enter

for the convenience
is

very well

and

Capraja,

The

confideration, as

But

ir.

of fmall

fitted.

firft

hath a mole

it

vefTels, for

iflands

which

it

of Gorgona,

Ilva, or the Elbe, are placed at

no

great diftance in the fea which rolls between the

eaft coaft

of Corfica and Tufcany, with the Pope's

dominions
a

lofs for

fo that fmall vefTels

fhould any fudden ftorm

protedion,

come upon

them,,

can never be at

they can run Into any of

as

thefe iflands.

Macinajo
in Corfica,

not one of the principal harbours

is

though

it

very fafe and

is

dious for vefTels of a light conftruftion.

tion Macinajo,

becaufe

the expedition fet

fail

it

commoI

men-

was from thence that

againft Capraja,

as will

be

afterwards feen.

Diodorus Siculus celebrates Corfica for the excellency of

2u^ix)t8(roi/

accefs,

its

harbours

(a),

'

Aut? S\ v

The

i/*i<ro?

ifland being

uV^oVo^-

of very eafy

has a moft beautiful port, called the Sy-

(^)

Diodor.

Sicul. lib. v,

AN ACCOUNT

52

This,

racufian.'

has

Syracufian,

of which

it is

which was anciently called the

now the name of Porto Vecchio

proper to take particular notice.

Porto Vecchio

a fpacious haven, capable of

is

containing a very large

It is five miles long,

fleet.

above a mile and a half broad, has a great depth

of water, and a good bottom, and being landlocked on
ftorms.

every

may

fide,

in

may

from

Iheltered

like a fiately

column

to point

In fhort, Porto Vec-

out at a great diftance.

chio

well

add, that nature has placed a high

and rocky mountain

it

is

vie with the mofl dillinguillied harbours

Europe.

The
air,

in its

only objeftion to

is

it,

the badnefs of

occafioned by the marfhy grounds which

neighbourhood.

be remedied,

as

has

But

this

difadvantage

done

been

at

its

lie

may

Leghorn.

'

The

'

morafs or rather quagmire, the noxious fleams

'

of which rendered the

by the

Robert Dudley, fon

'

tent favourite the Earl of Leicefter,

'

was rendered habitable, the

'

wholefome,

'

become the

country about Leghorn was formerly a vile

(kill

air

unwholefome

and pains of an Eriglifhman,

to

Queen

air

(^) Prefent State of Europe, p. 411.

Sir

Elizabeth's po-

much

and the port improved,

beft in Italy (^ j/

but

the
lefs

10

as

foil

unto

OFCORSICA.
From
it

will

with

this

53

account of the harbours of Corfica,

appear of

how

great confequence an alliance

might be

this ifland

powers of Europe.

any of the maritime

to

a fleet flationed there

For,

might command the navigation of Genoa, Tufand the

cany,

ecclefiaftical ftate,

that between

Spain and Naples, and a good ihare of that to the

Levant-, not to mention

influence over that of

its

And it may be material

Sardinia.

vefl^els fl:ationed

in the ports

to obferve, that

of Corfica might be

formidable to France, as the weftern fide of the

ifland

is

direftly oppoflte to the extenfive coafl:

Provence, on which a defcent might be

of

made with

cruifers in a very fliort time.

The

northern point of Corfica, called

Corfo (h),

is

about 30 miles long, very mountain-

ous and rocky, but covered with vines and

There

Capo

are,

particularly in

in feveral parts

Capo

of the

Corfo, a great

olives.

ifland,

many

but

ancient

towers, built about three or four hundred years

ago, to defend the inhabitants againfl: the incurfi-

ons of the Turks and other

a

little

{b)

village called

There

Capo Corfo:

is

pirates.

Tomino,

a place in Guinea,

There

fl:rong

by

is

there

fituation.

which has alfo the name of

know not from what.

Cluver. Geog. p. ^t^j.

AN A

54

UNT

C C O

The Genoefe have made

feveral attacks

during the

but were never able to

carry

of

it.

The inhabitants are

They

this.

fhell

them

in a niche

upon

fhew, with particular triumph, a

into their village, to

They have

to furrender.

on the outfide of

placed

it

their church, to ferve

memorial of their deliverance, and to

them with

ic

very defervedly proud

which the enemy threw

oblige

as a

late troubles,

greater zeal and devotion

infpire

when they ga

to divine worlhip.

From Tomino eaft to Baflia, is about 26 miles

of a country much diverfified with hills, and
abounding
of poor

fiiliing

there are

On

in fprings.

the coail are a

towns, and a

little

or

villages

feveral

number

up the country,

hamlets

prettily

fituated.

Baflia has of a long time been

capital of Corfica.

It

was here

reckoned the

that the

held the feat of their fovereign power

Baflia

is llill

the largeft

town

Genoefe

and indeed
It ha^

in the ifland.

a Hately appearance from the fea, being byil^ oa

the declivity of a

town, one

is

hill

though upon entering the

good deal difappointed j

houfes are in o-eneral

ill

built,

and the

for thq

ftreets nar-

row, and from the fituation of the town, are neceffarily

pretty

very fleep.

good buildings

There
here.

are
It

however

hath a

feveral

caflle,

which

OFCORSICA.
commands

55

the town and harbour, which, though

hut a forry

fortification

at prefent,

is

capable of

being made a place of confiderable ftrength, as

hath a range of

hills

behind

doubts might be ere6led

on which

it,

little

it

re-

and with

thefe,

and a

few fubftantial outworks towards the

fea, it

might

Hand

a pretty long fiege.

The

on a ieparate

territory, called

New

as

Land,

which

.has

is

caftle

is

properly

terra nuova,

alfo the cathedral

nothing very remarkable.

the

of Baflia,
It

belongs

0 the bilhoprick of Mariana.

The church of

St.

John

in this

city,

means an inelegant building, belongs

who have

fuits,

here a college.

in a great

been ftationed

them the
they

There
ries, a

is

This they

meafure to the French,

who have

in Corfica at different times.

From

much of what

tke arts and conveniences of

vaft

life.

and magnificent houfe, almofl overfea.

The convent

and that of the Capuchins,

grounds behind

Baftia.

a beautiful expofure, and has

front.

is

here a convent of Lazarifts or mifliona-

hanging the

rifing

Their garden

inhabitants have learned

know of

to the Je-

laid out.

finely fituated, large,

owe

and well

by no

of the Francifcans,

are fituated

The

lafl

on the

flands in

really a very pretty

AN ACCOUNT

56

From

beyond Aleria,

Baftia fouth to

continued plain, between 50 and 60

length, proper for raifing

all forts

is

one

miles in

of grain, as well

as for paftiirage.
I

of the ruins of Mariana and A-

fay nothing

the two

leria,

this plain

-,

Roman

which ftood on

colonies

for as Corfiea

was much difregarded

by the Romans, they did not think

tafte

and magnificence em-

fo there are

no veftiges of ancient

having any of their

ployed in
grandeur.

it

worthy of

it

As however, even

the dregs of the

Rom.ans could not be without fome

arts, feveral antiques,

fl<ill

fuch as rings, and

in

feals

the

with

engravings on precious ftones have been found

here,

The

and Ibmetimes pretty good ones.

of an old town called Nicea,

the Ktrufcans,

are

ftill

be built by

faid to

on

to be feen

ruins

this plain,

but without any thing remarkable.

Beyond Aleria

the country

rifes

proper for vines, olives, mulberry

cf them for corn.

It

is

traverfed

of mountains, upon which, not

into fmall hillsj

trees,

and many

by fome ridge$
far

from Porto

Vecchio, are great numbers of very fine oaks, the

bell being to be

rich

ons,

found here, and

at

Campoloro.

waved country with fome few

interrupti-

reaches along the eafb and fouth coails to

Bonifaccioj wh^ch

is

a pretty confiderable town,

OF CORSICA.
and ftrongly

well inhabited,

thence

is

is

the prettieft

many very handfome

walks

fortified

and from

continued to the plain of Ajaccio.

Ajaccio

hath

s7

town

in

ftreets,

Corfica.

It

and beautiful

a citadel, and a palace for the Genoefe go-

vernour.

The

inhabitants of this

town

are

t'ht

genteeleft people in the ifland, having

had a good

deal of intercourfe with the French.

In Ajaccio

are the remains of a colony of

Corfica, of which colony a

fhall

be given

From
more

Greeks

fettled in

particular accouiu

in the next chapter.

the plain of Ajaccio,

after pafling

fomc

you advance along the well fhore to

ridges,

the provinces of Balagna and Nebbio, which are

very rich, and afford an agreeable profpedt, parti-

which may be called the garden

cularly Balagna,

of Corfica, being
having

alfo

had

higfily

favoured by nature, and

in a fuperiour degree the

advan-

tages of cultivation.

You

next arrive at San Fiorenzo, which

is

but

an inconfiderable place, and of no great ftrength.

About

a quarter of a mile to the fouthward of the

town, are fome low marlliy grounds, which

San Fiorenzo
to inhabit

it,

fo fickly, that

make

few people choofe

and the garrifon there muft be chang-

ed every month.

AN ACCOUNT.

58

On

the northern fhore of the gulf,

three villages, of which the principal

This

is

properly the key of

from the cape

on

two or

are
is

Nonza.

becaufe

Capo Corfo

into the interiour parts of the iflancj

the weflern fide, there

is

only one pafs, and that

Nonza

leads through this place.

is

little

village,

on a high rock, on the extreme pinnacle of which,

fome hundred fathoms above the
re6lly perpendicular,
trefs,

gulf,

Hands a tower or fmall

which commands the avenue to

is literally

and di-

what Cicero

calls Ithaca,

Nonza

it.

In alperri-

mis faxulis tanqijam nidulum aifixam

(a).

on the rudeft

After

cliffs

like a little neil.'

for-

Stuck
this,

the cape begins, which finifhes at Erfa.

I

have thus reviewed the Corfican harbours, and

travelled

round the

of the country, along

fkirts

its

fhores.

Diodorus Siculus defcribes Corfica

five ifland,
forefts,

an exten-

very mountainous, abounding in large

and watered with many

(a) Cic.

as

De

Orat.

{b) Diodor. Sicul.

lib.

i.

lib. v.

rivulets

cap. 44.

H St

oAu

OF CORSICA.

59

Indeed the interiour parts of the ifland are in

mountainous,

general

fruitful valleys

though interfperfed with

but have a peculiar grand appear-

ance, and infpire one with the genius of the place

with that undaunted and inflexible

bow

will not

Ithaca

As Homer

opprefTion.

to

which

fpirit,

fays

of

OdyfT.

lib. ix. I.

27.

Strong are her fons^ tho' rocky are her fhores.

POPE^

The

great divifion of Corlica,

is

The

QUA, and the di la dei monti.

on

the mountains

which

is

rifes

and

beyond Aleria,
it

ftretches

qua

Another old

to fuppofe a line

is

upon

DENTRO, The
called

the

fide within

banda

v/as

eaft,

acrofs

a third

diviflon

di fuori,

more

of

this

drawn from Porto

Vecchio, to the gulf of San Fiorenzo

was

the

however by no mean^

country di

than that di la.

divifion

By

of

underftood, that great range of them

for, the

ifland was,

fide

reckoning from Baftia.

-,

the ifland, interfering

equally

country

and the country on the other

this fide,

mountains

into the di

called

and the

band a

and that on the

The

wefl:,

fide without.

never could learn th^ meaning of

farther, than that, I fuppofe, thofe

this

who

di

diviflon

inhabited

ANACCOUNT

6o

Baftia and the plain of Aleria, looked

felves as the

thofe
*

mofl

civilized

on the oppofite

and

were for calling

fo

of the ifland to them

fide

forreftieri, foreigners.'

The

next divifion

there are nine

is

into provinces,

FEUDOs,

feus,'

and

denomination of

wearing out, and

power of the

Another
Pieve

is

will foon

is

is

now

gradually

be funk into the gene-

ftate.

divifion

of Corfica

into pieves.

is

properly an ecclefiaftical appointment,

containing a certain

which

maps,

Aill called fo in the

is

the jurifdiftion of the fignors

ral

of which

for although a great part of this

country long went under the

'

upon them-

number of

who

placed a pievano,

parifhes,

over

fuperjntends the

the priefts, and draws a certain part of the tithes.

But

this divifion

as for thofe

There

is

as

much

ufed for civil

of the church.

are large traces of uninhabited land in

Corfica, moftly covered with

parts of which the peafants

feed their cattle,

ing
is

little

ajffairs,

woods

refort

to

fomc

fummer

in

td

and to gather cheftnuts, mak-

Iheds for themfelves to

lie

under.

There

hardly fuch a thing as a detached farm-houfe

to be feen in the ifland,

like

every where over Great Britain

cans gather together in

what
;

are fcattered

for,

little villages,

the Corft-

which they

CORSICA.

OF
by corruption

call

member when

'

was

un

Without

paefe,

many

miles

meant.

in

that I

The

could

Corficans

fociety

villages

with

which

is

the cuftom in the cantons of Switzerland,

and fome parts of Germany

among

as

it

was anciently

nations.

all

The

Corfican villages are frequently built up-

on the very fummits of

of

cliffs

gy

I re-

Senza veder

'

and have more

each other by thus living

much

countries.'

s,

feeing a country,'

not conceive what they

are in greater fafety,

told in Corfica,

lirlt

Ihould travel a great

'

ae

6i

their mountains,

ftupendous a height,

fo

on cragthat

the

houfes can hardly be diftinguifhed during the

day

their

of

but

at night,

the

fires,

the fhepherds kindl-e

refledion

makes

lights,

when

thefe

of

aerial

fuch

a variety

villages

have a

moft pidlurefque and pleafmg appearance.

In the center of the ifland Hands Corte, which
is

properly

one day a

its

city

and

capital,

of eminence.

and here

will

undoubtedly be

Here

is

the Gene-

the fupreme feat of juf-

ral's

palace

tice,

where the executive power conftantly

and where the

and here

become

alfo

is

is

legiflature

is

annually afiembled

the univerfity, which in time

a diftinguifhed feat of learning,

muft not

allov/

refides,

mv
4

may

though

enthufiafm to induke
D

itfelf in

ANACCOUNT

52

too eager hopes of feeing Corfica an Athens, as

well as a Thebes.

Corte

is

fituated part at the foot,

and part on

the declivity of a rock, in a plain furrounded with

prodigious high mountains,

two

the

rivers,

and

at the conflux

Tavignano and Reftonica.

hath a great deal of rich country about

wonderful natural ftrength, being

of
It

and a

it,

hemmed

in

by

almoft impaflfable mountains and narrow defiles,

which may be defended with a handful of men,

againfl very large armies.

Upon
the

reft,

rock, prominent above

a point of the

and on every

the caftle or citadel.

town, and

fide perpendicular,
It

at

is

the back of the

almoft impregnable

is

there being

only one winding pafTage to climb up to

riae

ta (a)^

rock,

The

caftle

for

thus defcribes

it:

'

Cu-

of Corte placed upon a

broken and ragged almoft on every

the year 1554,

French,
it,

and

arx faxo fere undique praempto impofi-

In

Thuanus

abreaft.

it,

more than two per-

that not capable of admitting

fons

ftands

(h)

it

was

in

Capitaine la

poflefiion

The fame

(^)

Thuan.

{h)

Ibid.

of the

Chambre betrayed

which he was afterwards hanged

feilles.

fide.'

hiftorian inform us,

Hill. torn. i. p. 507,

at

Mar-

that after

OF CORSICA.
the Corficans had
Corte,

it

thus recovered the citadel of

flood a fiege by the French general de

Thermes, from Auguft

was a

63

fcarcity

and that

to 06tober,

which

of water,

it

occafioned

at laft

furrender.

its

In the plain,

on the north of Corte, there

and on the

a convent of Capuchins,

to the fouth of the City,

hill,

of Francifcans.

Here

palace was repairing

fpe(5t

is

of the

a convent

the General lived while his

and here

From

are lodged.

there

fide

is

all

ftrangers of re-

convent, one has

this

the beft view of the city of Corte.

The

learned and ingenious MefTieurs

and Burnaby, when they were

at

Hervey

convent,

this

were greatly Itruck with the romantick appearance

of Corte.
'

We could

fcarce help fancying

ourfelves at

'

Lacedemon, or fome other ancient Grecian

City.

'

a defcription of

'

Heraclea

'

Campo, arcem imminentem

'

que

'

raclea

itlelf

'

tadel,

on

fide.'

One would

Livy fpeaking of Heraclea,

in

it

very like Corte

radicibus

has given
:

'

Sita

Aetae montis,

ipfa in

loco alto et undi-

praecipiti habet. Lib. Ixxxvi. cap. 22.

is

fituated at

on a

plain,

tlie

foot of

He*

mount Aeta

but hanging over

a cliff very

eft

it,

is

a ci-

high and fleep on every

think he was fpeaking of the

AN ACCOUNT

64

At Lacedemon

very place.

pears from Paufanias,

point or eminence
its

as the

the city by that

fame pur-

AcropoUs did

to the other

being more

of Greece,

to an

enemy, and admitting of an

Auv.tSoi,\fjLO'Jioi(;

o^x

J'e

$-,

fji.cx,Xif(x.

ocK^OTToXiVj

lvTau0o5

lib.

oi/tuv
Ig

Si

Iv

I'soov

tJJ

of accefs

eafier defence*

sg

(Xii/

^iTSwoov

AfiJi'vaf

cap.

iii.

difficult

7rfpnpai/?

\J^JOi

JtaOa ^n -/jSa/ojf te

TO

fan.

dy^poTToXii;

yi

Aoysioi^^

Aacica-oc,

ccKXwv

it

name

probably the

cities

71

-n

Kx^fJi-sia,,

ttoAei

am'jtoi/

Xc^pov

Cadmaea of
Argives.

the

But

xj
xj

ovoy-dC^nTiu

PaU-

-TrBTTOiriron.

The Lacedemonians

17.

have no citadel built upon a high place,

hills,

ap-

was no Acropolis

there

in

anfwering

pofe to them,

l^i'^itTcc

as

and they only called the higheft

or citadel,

from

indeed,

like

Thebans, or LarifTa of the

as there

are

many

in the city

they give the moll elevated of them the

name of the

Upon this- hill is a temAnd Livy, fpeaking of its

citadel.

ple to Minerva.'

being befieged by Flaminius, obferves nearly the

fame thing
flationibus

tutabantur.
places,

'

Altiora loca et difficiliora aditu

armatorum, pro munimento

lib.

xxxiv. cap. 38.

and thofe more

defended

difficult

by detachments of

ferved inftead of fortifications.*

of

The

objedlis

higher

accefs,

foldiers

were

which

OF COR
'

According

C A.

65

of Lycurgus, the

to the inftitution

'

Spartans were not allowed to have any

'

cations

their

'

Grecian liberty however,

the plainer

but were to rely for their defence upon

own

Towards

valour.

the decline of the

they eredted walls in

and more open avenues

'

patentibus plerifque objecerunt

'

Livy.

'

valour of its citizens.

'

ing

'

comparifon

The

remainder was

fciil

murum,

However, notwithftand-

was

efpecially as the Acropolis

temple of Minerva being placed

'

could not help imagining,

Taygetus,

the comparifon

'

blance,

'

Paoli (a):

we

more

fancied,

built

there.

-,

Mons
tondo.

It

is

and

Its princi-

about two

both fituated on the highcalled

by the ancients

now Gradaccio

or

Monte Ro-

of an amazing height, and

From

equal any of the Alps.

(</ )

We

was the

between- Lycurgus

in the iiland,

Aureus, and

the

was the refem-

flriking,

pal lakes, are thofe of Ino and Crena,

;

and what made

extremely well watered.

miles from each other

upon

that yonder

here the Eurotas

mountain

form a

between Corte and Lacedemon

'

eft

fays

confided to the

'

is

Locis

there was fufficient likenefs to

this,

Corfica

fortifi-

Mr. Burnaby's Journal.

the top of

it

may
there

AN ACCOUNT

66
is

a moft extenfive view of

and of Sardinia, with

feas

Italy

and France

many of its little

illes

the help of his

under the eye.

this

view

for the

-,

But
up-

is

almoft a perpendicular

man muft

climb two miles with

hands and knees

greateft part of the year, this

is

of

profpects

diftant

are alfo

per part of the monntain

fo that a

of the

Corfica,

while the Mediterranean and

people feldom go to take

rock,

all

covered with fnow.

and for the

immenfe mountain

Thefe two lakes of Ino

andCrena, are both of confiderable extent.

In the plain of Aleria, near to Mariana,
lake called Chiurlina or Biguglia, which
large,

and communicates with the

a lake called

pretty

and near

Stagno di Diana,

to Aleria,

is

which

communicates with the

alfo

fea

is

is

II

fea

and

it is

remarkable, that in fummer, when the heat of

the fun has exhaled part of the water, and the
reft

of

it

is

abforbed by the fandy bottom, there

remains a kind of natural

ficans

find

very good,

fait,

which the Cor-

and conftantly make

ufe of.

The

rivers

and beautiful

of Corfica
river,

are,

the Golo,

which takes

its rife

a large

from the

lake of Ino, traverfes feveral provinces, and after

a courfe of above feventy miles,
to the fea, juft

by the ancient

empties
city

itfelf in-

of Mariana.

C O R

The Tavignano,
takes

its rife

C A.

67

from the lake of Crena, and

bv the ancient

the fea, jufh

ria.

The

river,

is

on account of

in Corfica,

ticular qualities.

water

Its

and mofl agreeable to drink

never

tainly

'

is

faid to

wholefome.

The

thing.

It

Rome

as

fo that

its

par-

chryftal,

Seneca cer-

he

other\\afe

that Corfica

faid,

had not

The Re-

be of a mineral nature, and very

hath a virtue of whitening every

ftones in

ny pieces of chalk.
tween

-,

clear

a draught of water.'

hauftus aquae,

ftonica

is

faw the Reftonica,

would never have

of Ale-

city

which, though but a fmall

Reftonica,

famous

after

empties

traverfing a long tra6t of rude country,

itfelf into

which

alfo a confiderable river,

its

channel are like as ma-

remember on the road be-

and Naples, a run from a fulphure-

ous fpring, which had fomething of the fame quality,

only

it

did not give fo very white a tinfture

as that of the Reftonica,

which

look

and never

almoft like

filver,

will

make
ruft.

iron

The

Corficans frequently dip the barrels and locks of

their

guns

There

in

it.

are fcveral other rivers,

not give a particular defcription

Fiumorbo,

mone

Gravonne,

fine poetical

Valinco,

names.

of which
;

I ftiall

the Prunella,

Talavo,

There

are

Lia*
alfo

AN ACCOUNT

68

many

great

rivulets,

country, and keep

It

hath been

which ferve to enrich the

conftantly frefh.

it

that with proper care

faid,

and

expence, fome of the Corfican rivers might be

rendered navigable

be a very

idle

but

proje6t

great

deal

of

the

would

courfes are

their

when

rain,

think,

for

and

exceedingly rapid,

this,

been

there has
torrents

which

tumble from the mountains often bring down

large fragments of rock, which

any

ces

veffels that

There

many

are

would dafh

in pie-

they fhould encounter.

mineral fprings, both of the

hot and cold kind, in different parts of the ifland,

which the inhabitants of the country

find to be

very efficacious for the cure of moft diflempers

and people of

fome French phy-

and approved of them.

fis,

Corfica

is

extremely well fupplied with

never indeed could hear of any other

their rivers or frefh

very

fat,

fea

are

found

and of an uncommon

But the

all its coafls,

variety of all the befl kinds,

fort

fifh in

in great plenty,

fize.

rich treafure of fifh for Corfica,

for on

fifh.

water lakes, except trout and

Thefe however

eel.

its

particularly

have examined them by, a chymical analy-

ficians

fkill,

there

and

is

is

in

the greatefl

in particular

of ton or fturgeon, and the fmall

fifh

called

OF COR
which

Sardinas,

feveral places, the Corficans

From
mous

And

tafte.

in

have beds of cyflers,

own confumption, but

many

ex-

to Italy.

the earlieft times, Corfica has been fa-

for

excellent

its

who brought every

when

Juvenal,

fifli.

Romans

rifmg the excefllve luxury of the

time,

69

of which they have not only

a fufficiency for their

port a great

C A.

of an exquifite

is

remarkably large

delicacy

fatyin his

from the great-

eft diftance, fays,

Mullus

erit

domini qiiem mlfit Corfica.

Juv.

Nor

lefs

And

I.

92.

the mailer's pamper'd tafte can pleafe.

fmce

am

the Corfican fca,

filh

Sat. V.

precious mullet from the Corfick leas.

talking of the productions of

I

may

great quantities of coral, of

white,
this,

red and black.

when

come

But

to the

that they here

obferve,

the three kinds,

all

I ihall

fay

commerce of

more of

Corfica.

Corfica hath as great a variety of animals as

moft countries. The horfes here,

a very fmall breed.

Goths,
little

fays,

are in general

Procopius in

his

of

wars of the

they run about in herds, and were

bigger than fheep

{a).

markably

lively,

nature of

Welch ponies,

They are, however,

re-

and very hardy, fomewhat of the

or of the

{a) Procop. de Bell. Goth.

lib.

iii.

little

cap.

horfes cal-

24..

AN ACCOUNT

70

led fhelties, which are found in the highlands and

iflands

of Scotland

horfes of a very

though

good

have feen Corfican

The

fize.

affes

and mules

here, are alfo fmali, but very ftrong and wonderfully agile in fcrambling along the

deep rocky

mountains

made

for there are hardly any

My worthy

in the ifland.

Dick, whole publick

friend

fpirit

Sir

roads

Alexander

promoting good

in

known

roads in an approved age,

is

countrymen, obferved that

this has

well

to all his

been no

lofs to

the Corficans during the time that they have been

employed only

defending themfclves

in

Had

natural freedom.

and

Hate of

been open

they had been eafily fubdued by

acceflible,

regular troops.
to her rugged

their country

in a

It yvas in a

hills,

good meafure owing

that ancient Scotland preferved

her independency.

The

black cattle are larger in proportion than

the horfes

but the greateft part of the ifland

not very proper pafture for them

they do not give
lean and tous-h.

much
There

for milk in Corfica,

fupplying
countries.

cheefe in

its

as

is

is

not fo great occafion

they

make no

They however make

pieves.

fo in general,

milk, and their beef

place, as in Italy,

fome

is

butter, oil

and moft warm

a

good deal of

OFCORSICA.
There

are here a vaft

browfe upon the wild

71

number of

and put one

hills,

of Virgil's BucoUcks, where mention

made of
ful,

and have

as fweet

Sheep are

this animal.

feeding

fine

and juicy

alfo

defire,

mind

in

fo often

is

very plenti-

fo that their

one could

as

which

goats,

mutton

is

and attones

for the badnefs of the beef.

The

Corfican flieep are generally black, or of

a dufky colour
there to be

being here and

a white Iheep

met with

in a flock,

The wool

amongft our Iheep.

black ones are

as

coarfe

is

and hairy,

which the people of the country impute to

They have had

Iheep being of a mongrel race.

thoughts of helping

this,

by importing

breed from England or Spain.

told

wool

by the breeders of
is

not fo

as to the nature

who
will,

bear very rough fleeces

forefts

And

there

foli.

It

the quahty of

when upon one farm,

fine.

It

a difix^rent
is

very

foil,

common

fheep to have more horns than two

many of them have

The

have been

for thofe Iheep,

when put upon another of

for

good

to the kind of fheep,

of their pafture

bear fleeces exceedingly

here,

But

llieep, that

much owing

their

is

of

fix.

this

ifland

abound

in

here a curious animal, called a

deer.

Muf-

refembles a flag, but has horns like a ram,

and a (kin uncommonly hard.

It

is

very wild, and

AN ACCOUNT

72

on the higheft mountains, where

lives

ly be approached,

if

cliff,

can reach no other,

it

it

tamed.

mander

M.

throw

upon

Yet when

young, they are very ea-

de Marboeuf, the French comtime

at the

one of them

was

had then

in Corfica,

and there are now two of them

Shugborough

at

will

over, and with furprifmg agility pitch

thefe creatures are taken

fily

jump

hard chaced to the extremity of a

at the diftance

horns, without receiving any hurt.

its

in

Mr. Anfon, who has

is

It will

feet,

to rock,

from whence
itfelf

fo nimble.

is

can hard-

of many

from rock
and

it

it

StafFordfhire,

the

feat

a rich affemblage of

curious in nature, as well as of what

is

of

what

elegant

in art.

The

Corfican animals in general, appeared wild

to ftrangers,

Polybius gives us a reafon for

Toiavrriv ccWiccv.

OJ

T^a%frv

i^ivoci

ivuecuro-t

TAv mc-ov (a).

xara ra?

'

uof/.oci

it

<rvvix.xoXvQi7y

All the animals in the

on

account, that

'

ifland appear to be wild,

'

fo

the Ihcpherds are not able to follow their flocks.'

rude and deep, and

The

wild boar

{a) Polyb,

is

fo thick fet

found here

hiil, lib. xii.

this

with

it is

trees, that

in great plenty.

In"

OFCORSICA.
deed
all

their fwine,

which

are very

73

numerous, have

a mixture of the wild breed, and being fed on

cheftnuts, they are agreeable food.

The

Corficans are very fond of the diverfion

of hunting the wild boar, for which there

a race of dogs, particulary excellent*

here

is

They have

linooth hair, and are fometliing between a mailiff,

They are

and a ftrong lliepherd's dog.

exceedingly fierce

and

large,

but when once they have tak-

en an attachment, they are very faithful to their

mafter, watch

undaunted

him night and day, and

tells us,

deed, this ifland, and

its

that there were in Cor-

apes wonderfully refembling

before

moft

in his defence.

Procopius (a)
fica,

are

all

men

that quarter of

and

in-

Europe

was well inhabited, muft on account of

it

vicinity to Africa,

have fwarmcd with apes.

Of

thefe,

however, there are at prefent no remains

which

is

a proof, that different fpecies of animals

migrate from one country to another, and when

their race wears out in

globe,

Certain

it
it

may be
is,

very numerous Ibmewhere

that in

leveral animals, well

is

many

elfe.

countries, the race of

known there

totally extinguiihcd.

j^elieve that

a particular part of the

But

in ancient times,

am

not inclined to

our Creatour allows any of the various

{n) Procop. de Bell. Goth.

lib.

iii.

cap. 24.

ANACCOUNT

74

creatures which his almighty

hand hath formed,

to be abfokitely annihilated.

There
rabbits

mals of

enough

are hares

in

though Polybius, when talkihg of the

would take them

that at a diflance, one

tle hares,
is

tafte.

both

There

in their

is

faying,

to be

but when they are caught, a great

perceived,

ani-

and

this ifland, fays there are rabbits,

very minute as to their form and qualities

rence

but no

Corfica,

lit-

diffe-

appearance and

no wolves, nor any of the

are here

larger wild beafts, unlefs foxes can be reckoned

fo,

which

venous.

are here indeed extremely large

There

is

known

to

alfo a variety

devour even
of birds

many

foals.

in Corfica

eagle, the vulture, wood-pidgeon,

blackbird, and

ra-

they not only deftroy Iheep,

It is faid,

but have been

and

the

turtle, thrufh,

of the fmaller fpecies

and

plenty of game, as partridges, woodcocks, fnipes,

The poor

the lakes.

and water-fov/1

in

and blackbirds

too,

muft be reckoned

the game, for they are very

numerous

thrufhes

as part
;

of

and from

there being a great quantity of the arbutus fruit in

they are exceedingly fat, and are ef-

the ifland,

teemed

a particular

deftroy, for

affords

It

is

barbarous to

the mere luxury of the table,

which make fuch

dy

delicacy.

fine

mufick

furely their

birds

melo-

more enjoyment, than what can be

(lad

OFCORSICA.
They

from eating them.

common

however, a

are,

diih in the fouthern

^c,

countries,

very-

particu-

larly in France.

In general,
is

fo privileged

nous animal

m.ay be obferved that this iOand

it

in

by nature,

For

it.

that there

althous;h there are

fome

The

crea-

fcorpions, their bite carries no

venom.

which approaches neareft to a

ture in Corfica,

poilonous animal
fize.

is

Its bite will

a fpider,

irritate,

of an extraordinary

and inflame

degree, and the fwelling which

it

and

more than from

fpider, has

it

but

is

very

it

foon

no bad confequences follow,

the Hinging of our bees.

This

by fome been miftaken. for the famous

tarantula of

tlie

kingdom of Naples.

Trees grow remarkably well

is

to a creat

occafions,

alarming to one unacquainted with

goes away,

no poifo-

is

in Corfica.

There

here almoft every fort of forell trees, but

it is

principally adorned v/ith pines of different kinds,

oaks, and cheftnut trees.

found of

a great fize

All of thele are to be

fome of the pines

cular, are exceedingly lofty,

grows

in parti-

and the cheftnut tree

to a prodigious bignefs.

There

are extenfive forefbs in different places.

That of Yico

is

rnoft remarkable.

There

is

in

Corlica, timber fafHcient to maintain a very large

(leet^

and the timber here,

is

much

harder than one

ANACCOUNT

76

would exped in
rocky

foil

of freih

fo fouthern a latitude,

owing to the

of the country, to the perpetual currents

through

air

ture that proceeds

its

and to the tempera-

valleys,

from fome of

being half of the year in fnow

its

and

this

mountains
is

alfo

one

great caufe of the falubrity of the climate, in which

Corfica has

The

much

the advantage of Sardinia.

Ilex, or ever- green

oak,

very

common

and gives the country a cheerful look even

here,

The

in the depth of winter.

lemon, the orange,

the fig and the almond trees,

There

are,

pear,

ple,

is

are alfo frequent.

however, few walnut trees, and the ap-

plumb and

cherry are not remarkably

is

probably owing to no care being

taken of them.

Corfica has the pomegranate in

good, which

great perfeflion, alfo the Indian fig and the aloe

which

laft is faid

to flower here,

as well as in the

Eaft.

The

Corfican mountains are covered with the

arbutus or ftrawberry

tree,

which gives a rich glow-

ing appearance as far as the eye can reach. Indeed

the ifland

is

very like the country which Virgil de-

fcribes as the feat

Glande

Et

of rural

fues laeti redeunt,

varios ponit foetus

felicity

dant arbuta fylvae

autumnus et

Witis in apricis coquitur vindemia

alte

faxis.

ViRG. Georg.

lib.

ii.

1.

520,

CORSICA.

OF
On

77

fatning maft, the fwine well pleas'd, are fed

And

wood

every

witli arbutus

Benignant autumn

is

red.

on the

finiling

fields.

All various fnuts in rich abundance yields

While ev'ry rocky mountain

Whofe

The mulberry grows

much

in

as in

Italy,

warm

and

well here,

raj'^

not fo

is

danger from blights and thunderftorms

and the fouth of France

whenever Corfica enjoys

which Corfica has

The box

tree

furely a very

it

ufed only for hedges

is

fo that

may have

it

laurel,

good claim.

common

dwarfifh,

but

it

muft not omit the

very

is

In moft countries

in Corfica,

tranquillity,

We

abundance of filk.
to

vines difplays,

grapes are mellow'd by the fun's

plant

here.

and generally

grows to a good

and may be reckoned a timber

fize
tree.

Bochart (a) has very ingenioufly fhewn, that the

benches of the Tyrian fhips, which according to
the
ver.

common
6.

tranllation of Ezechiel, chap, xxvii.

are faid

to

brought out of the

have been made

ifles

of ivory

of Chittim, were moft

probably made of Corfican boxwood.

Theophraftus
ates

in his

on the wonderful

hiftory of plants expati-

fize

{a) Bochart Geog. Sac. parsi.

of the Corfican trees

lib,

i-

cap. 5.

AN ACCOUNT

78

Latium were

to which, he fays, the pines of

thing at

He

all.

menfely thick here

vKn (a).

TV?

alfo

The whole

'

that

tradition,

very ftrong:

is

ifland

feemed crouded

He

relates a ftrange

and favage with woods.*

'

the trees were im-

fays,

his exprefiion

-,

no-'

Romans, who were ftruck

the

with the vaftnefs of thefe woods, built here a

prodigious large fhip, which carried no
fifty fails,

but was

loft in

the ocean

lefs

than

This

(l^).

authour gives another ancient teftimony to the

goodnefs of the climate,
Kuflvo?

rov

av

^Ji-iv

cii^oc

s'iT

TToAu

SiOi

Sia<pi6H

whether

TJ5V

foil,

and

uXXoov

of

therefore,

'

climate (d), or in refpeft of

greatly excelleth other countries.*

different

in refpeft

'

x^

CorflCa

temperate

its

or of

its foil,

ifland

iSocOogy

fc).

'

The

of the

fjT hJ TO

a.vs(TiVi

Twy

air

its air,

kinds of grain in Corfica, are

wheat, barley, rye, and millet

all

of which grow

extremely well in feveral parts of the country.

There

are

no oats

here, as indeed hardly ever in

They

any of the fouthern countries.

horfes

and mules barley.

in Ccrfica,

{d)

millet

lib. v.

cap. 9.

follow Scaligcr's interpretation of

Temperies.

is

excellent

and when mixed with rye, makes a

(a) Theophraft. Hift.

it

The

give their

{i>)

lb.

i=(7k.

(c) lb,

He

tranflates

OF CORSICA.

79

v/holefome bread, of which the peafants are very-

Cheilnuts

fond.

may

be reckoned a

for they anfwer

in

Corfica

it.

The Corficans

by way of

roafted

They even have them ground

bread.

of grain

the purpofes of

all

them when

eat

fort

into flour,

and of that they make very good cakes.

There

is

of honey produced in

a vaft quantity

Corfica; for the ifland has from the earliefl times

been remarkable for

it

was fubje6b

pofed upon

it

to the

of no

fand pounds of

wax

almond

tree,

the

rel,

fwarm.s

of bees.

When

Romans,

a tribute

was im-

its

than two hundred thou-

Icfs

yearly

and the myrtle,

of which, the bees find

ers

are very

common

Indeed the lau-

(a).

here

much

fo

and the

in the flow-

fweetnefs,
are all

hills

covered with wild thyme, and other fragrant herbs.

Yet
by

its

honey hath always been accounted

reafon of the

boxwood and yew,

(b) and Pliny (c) obferve

Lycidas

as

Diodorus

which make

Virgil's

wifli

Sic tua Cyrnaeas fugiant

e^amina taxos.

ViRG.
So may thy bees

The

bitter,

Eclog.

i\-.

;o.

refuie

baneful juices of Cyrnaean yews.

Wart OK.
(^) Liv.

295.

lib. xlli.

cap. 7.

(^) Diodor. Sicul. lib. v. cap.

[c) Plin. lib. xvi. cap. 16.

AN ACCOUNT

8o

and Martial write

Audet facundoqui carmina mittere Nervae,
Hyblaeis apibus Corfica mella dabit.

Martial,

To

who would

tuneful Nerva,

May

lib. ix.

Epig. 27.

verfes fend.

Corfick honey give to Hybla's bees.

Many

people think the bitternefs which

The

the Corfican honey very agreeable.

which Pliny

is

in

reafon

of the ho-

alTigns for the bitternefs

ney, he alfo affigns for the excellence of the wax.

Having mentioned

the Pontick, and

the Piinick,

the Cretan, he fays,

'

Poll has Corfica (cera) quo-

niam ex buxo fit habere quandam vim medicami-

nis putatur (a).

'

becaufe

'

ed

to

it is

made from

and

filver.

ore.

reckon-

many mines of

Near

to

San Fio-

a very rich filver mine, yielding above the

value- of 5I. fterling out of every

of

is

virtue.'

are in Corfica, a great

lead, copper, iron,

is

the box tree,

have a certain medicinal

There

renzo

After thefe, the Corfican wax,

The

Corfican iron

is

100

lib.

weight

remarkably good,

having a toughnefs nearly equal to that of the prepared iron of Spain, famous over
It

is

all

the world.

faid that the true Spanifh barrels are

made

of iron which has been worn and beaten for a long

(a) Plin. Nat. Kift.

lib. ::vi.

cap. 16.

OF CORSICA.
heads of naiis in

time

in

who

travel with a flow

tiie

81

Ihoes of the mules,

and incefiant pace along

But a very fmall proportion of

the hard roads.

the great quantity of Spanifli barrels, which are

fold in all parts of

The

tage.

Europe, can have

advan-

this

metal of the Corfican barrels

is

little

inferiour to that of the generality of Spanifli ones,

and they begin

An

to

of

name

.of

a Genoefe,

who

Terrae vifcera

'

ipfo Corficae

'

judicio, Corii

iron

Corfica, to the charac-

writes

on the dominion and go-

vernment of the republick,

'

the

Hieronymus de Marinis,

inhabitants.

its

very well.

been drawn from

has

allufion

mines, and the

ter

make them

fays

of

ferri fodinis affluunt,

nomine

in

uno

this ifland

naturae

cum

confpirantis prae-

enim corde funt

ferreo,

adeoque ad

The bowels

ficam armaque prono (a).

'

earth

'

ing,

'

between the name (b) of Corfica and the tem-

per of the people

'

of iron, and are therefore prone to arms and the

'

fword.'

abound

by

in

mines of iron

The Marquis D'Argens

(a) Graev. Thefaur. Antiq. vol.

(<r)

form

Cor,

the heart

Lettres Juivcs.

let.

a fimilarity

for the Corficans have hearts

Corfica thefe lines of Crebillon

Qy-fica.

nature confpir-

-,

a fort of prejudice, to

of the

Sica,

53.

I.

(c) applies to

p.

1410.

a ftiletto,

{^) Corfica,

heart of

fleel.

AN ACCOUNT

82
La

nature maratre en ces afreux climats,

Produifoit au lieu d'or du fer et des foldats.

In that rude

inftead

ifle,

of golden ore.

Nature, to aid the genius of the place,

On

her high

And bade
I

the malTy iron bore.

hills

her fons

flill rife

a hardy race.

may add
And

\irtue Iprlnging

from the iron

foil.

John Home.
There

are alfo mines

of allum, and of

faltpetre,

in feveral parts of Corfica.

There

is

a kind of granite,

here

hard, fome of
oriental granite,

it

approaching in quality to the

which was

fo

famous

and of which fuch noble columns

ing,

faid

fear

it

to have.

thefe

of Corfica

are

ftill

Rome,
remain-

to conjedlure,

that

columns may have been the produce

for, befides the perfecflion

at

been brought from Egypt.

would be extravagant

fome of

extremely

of the hiero-

glyphicks, which prove them to have been in

Egypt,

queflion

if

fuch large pieces of granite

There

could be raifed in Corfica.

wife porphyry,

The

is

here like-

and a great variety of jafper.

magnificent chapel of the grand duke of

Tufcany,

at Florence,

jafper, with

which

its

is

infide

finiihed with Corfican

is

elegantly incrufted,

and has a moft beautiful appearance.

OF CORSICA.
On

8^

the borders of the lake of Ino,

pieces of rock cryftal,

fides,

as

find

Iftria.

It

and with

very clear,

five

they had been cut by a lapidary.

if

They

they find

fome of

too in the mountains of

hard, that

fo

is

it

it

the Corficans frequently ufe

it

flrikes

fire

and

for flint to their

fufils.

Near

called

ral,

becaufe
It

there

to Ballia,

always found

is

it

in

fort

little

of mine-

fquare

bits.

of marble, has

the hardnefs

a colour like iron-ore,

The

found a

by the country people, petra quadrata,

much about

has

is

and weighs like

lead.

Corficans afcribe certain myftical virtues to

this ftone, as

made

appears from an old monkifii

in its praife

difiiich

Petrae quadratae duro de marmore natae,

Innumeras dotes

Of the
The

numerare poteft

fquare ftone of marble

virtues fell,

From
now

quis

grown.

what man can

tell

the defcription of Corfica, which I have

given,

it

will

appear to be a country of con-

fiderable importance.

According

man's Tables,

New

in

his

the ifiand contains

its

to

Mr. Temple-

Survey of the Globe,

2520 fquare

number of good harbours.

and

miles.

hath

Its air is excellent,

produ6lions rich and various.

It

AN ACCOUNT

84
I

conclude

lliall

chapter with Homer's

this

defcription of Ithaca, which, in general,

well applied to Corfica

[Lit baoi,

To [Atv terty^iXx Kxt

Owde

rjiXiuv

T,

oaa-oi jxetcttwOs ttotj ^o^op jjfgssvTac.

Xiijv

Ey ^

Xwwpi},

apjj,

ara^ sJ

^^^^:^aTo; Irw,
ei/^Eia

y|) ot a-Troq ddia^aroi;,

TiyVBTXl'

A7boT05
navTotq,

Tu

vx'mai Wfo; riu

T0(

x'iil

Ol^efOi Ep^c*,

TfTyxTau
Te oivoj

l $s

TsQaXwtaTE

a76>i x /SstoTo;* r'

tf

El/

ftgd/xoi Ivrjirxvo)

^0-*

j^e* ^'Aij

nrxBiaan.

l^xxYii yt Tix) I? T^oijjy ivo^

^t>,

jjkjj

Ody/r.

Thou

feeft:

Whofe

Nor

an

hills

ifland,

lib. xiii. 1.

not to thofe unknown,

are brighten'd

by the

riling fun.

thofe that plac'd beneath his uttnoft reign.

Behold him finking in the weftern main.

The
For

may be

rugged

foil

allows no level Ipace,

flying chariots, or the rapid race

Yet, not ungrateful to the peafant's pain,

Suffices fulnefs to the levelling grain.

The

loaded trees their various

And

cluftring grapes afford .a generous juice

fruits

produce.

238.

OF

CORSICA.

85

Woods crown

our mountains, and in every grove

The bounding

goats and frilking heifers rove

Soft rains and kindly dews refrefh the

And

field.

liGiigfprings eternal verdure yield.

Ev'n to thofe

Where Troy's

fliores is

Ithaca renown'd.

majellick ruins ftrow the ground.

Pope.

CHAPTER
A

concife

View of

Corsica

the

Revolutions

undergone

has

II.

from

which

the

earliejl

times.

A LT HOUGH many diftinguifhed

authours-

have, in conformity with the tafte of the

rejected every inquiry into the origin

age,
tions,

and prefented

what can be
for

their readers with nothing

but

am

not

clearly attefted

humouring an inordinate

evidence.

ing any credit to what

we

are apt to

of underftanding

and obftinacy,
of our

I confefs, I

avidity for pofitive

By being accuftomed

or what approaches near to

hend,

of na-

it,

to demonftration,

and

at

we do not

no time giv-

fully

compre-

form a pride and infolence

the

mind

acquires a hardnefs

inconfiftent with the true intention

faculties in this imperfedl ftate,

dered unfit for the reception of

and

is

ren-

many important

truths.

But not

to deviate into metaphyfical fpeculati-

on, I have always thought, that even the dark and

fabulous periods are worthy of fome attention.

The founded heads amonsr

the ancients thousht

AN ACCOUNT

88
lb

and

-,

than

their

thenticity.

'

'

The

Poeticis decora fabulis (a).

imagination,

vagant.

Thefe

We

and

when

agreeable,

are always

is,

ftridt

as

au-

Livy

Adorned with
amufing to the

neither tedious, nor too extra-

love to be led on in a gradual pro-

to

behold truth emerging from obfcu-

like the fun

rity,

more

origin of every nation

poetical fables.'

grefs,

are therefore

they had confined themfelves to

if

fays,

works

breaking through the clouds.

Such a progrefs makes a part of our own nature,

which advances from the dawnings of being
our infancy, to greater and greater

They, whofe genius

antiquities, befides

is

in

intelligence.

directed to the ftudy of

the immediate delight which

fuch traditions afford them, are often able, from

hints feemingly detached

and unimportant, to trace

the fundamental truth, and extend the bounds of

reality.

Few

indeed have that peculiar turn for

inquiry, to deferve the

there

is

name of antiquarians. But

an univerfal principle of curiofity, with

refpe<5t to

which makes even conjec-

times paft,

tures be received with a kind of pleafmg veneration

and although the great end of hillory

flrudlion, I think

it is

alfo valuable,

to gratify this curiofity.

(i/)

Liv. Prooem

when

it

is

in-

ferves

OFCORSICA.
I

therefore, in treating

fliall

back

of Corfica, go

as far

though

fame time,

at the

what

till I

and

th?,n a concife recital,

readers

as

of the revolutions

books

am

me

will ferve

intend to give no

to be feen,

is

89

rather to

more

Ihew

my

than to detain them

exhibit a full view of it.

The

earlieft

accounts that

we have of

He

Corfica,

are to

be found in Herodotus.

its firft

inhabitants were Phenicians ; for, that

mus, the fon of Agenor, when wandering

of Europa,

fell

upon

ed

and

left there

Callifta,

own

with his

this ifland,

fome of

that

tells us,

Cad-

in queifc

which was namhis countr)'-men,

coufin Membleareus(^).

He

tells

us,

that ei2;ht o-enerations after this, Theras brought

a colony to the ifland, from Lacedaemon.

Theras

(b)

was originally of the race of Cadmus,

but, being uncle

by the motherfide

nes and Procles, the

Kao^o? yxf

A^jjuopoj,

tsto, xctvciXsi/mu yxo

>Cj

T; cumin

tj

two fons of Ariflodemus,

c'jyyvivji'j

T'o

vr^au toivt/i

5;

'J

XA; te tuv

i>on:iKct.<v,

^liu.oXixcyi-

Herodot.

{oj Hj

to Euryfthe-

Ev^uTir.y ^(^zftgicjj Tr^osrsVp^js I5 T;7 vv Qi^py,-j

iroiyicrcii

o"<i

This

r.^x; cirs? yi~c;

lib. iv.

1:jv K.^;ji.i7iii, rr,^

cap. 147.

ft^Tfi; uh?.^eoi; Toicrt

AN ACCOUNT

90

and, on that account, having governed the king-

dom

^s their tutor

came kings of

when

they grew up, and be-

Sparta, T'heras fcorning to live a

and

private hfe,

under the government of

to be

his pupils,

determined not to remain at Lacedae-

mon, but

to

go and join

of Corfica, then called

his

kindred in the ifland

Accordingly,

Callifla.

{b)

he went thither with fome chofen companions, not

with any intention to drive out the former inhabitants,

on the contrary, with moft friendly

but,

difpofitions towards them.

55 rr,

A:iKi^xi[Mvi, x?s?' XTicnrT^ivcrcaBxt

I?

toJj avyyiveui;.

Herodot.

foj
iX'^iTv

OrJrot

EijW.e>TO

T^v K^X*r>',i'

Ka.>.'.o-^J.vr,v l-Trt

cTTo TiJy ^fAsi/'y, eV?'.>>e (TyvoiXKTwv TSiTotcri'

1^-

T'et
Ix.

olKr.h-j ^svcc,

To Trivyeroy,

T?7

riov

Ette* te oe x^ ol

Axmaxiuanut

Q-n^X'; oxui; jmvjte

y(uipr,c.

vr,ff.u)

iTTi

Tov olxtTeU 0>;^

t>j

cr^Iv

iz,c'h{uy

mi;

147.

),

Qn^xv

'Kct.ov

'i^ay

aiTUg, aXku.
'ifxvo<;

a77c?\l^y:xi,

I'^cvro

irxpn-

uvto^ tb viriSiXna aipsxg i^x^siv

yvu[^.v)

a7royoia<;
rj

aoxixuz

Mnvai iX^ctimiSK

yivr/rxi,

MsixQxKXfiu

icj

B^htvo^t^ivuv o-^ix^

'^vy)(oi^f,cxnuy oa

r^irixovTe^oiffi ii "Tov;

T*( ok

(pitvo^

yimx^,

Ett* tutok; ovt uv o rijiasj

IK Aa.Xtoxi'/.rtvoCi oztuj avci^uv,

xxzrx

lib. iv. cap.

iTruvv^'iTt

rav AxKiSxi-^oviuv, T^trt

e7r?iUi7B,

**********

lyinro.

Jbid. et cap.

14.8.

OFCORSICA.
Sometime

after this, the

who had taken

tribe,

oj

Minyae, a wandering

among

refuge

the Lacedae-

monians, having become obnoxious, on account

of their afpiring views, were thrown into priibn,

and condemned

to die

but Theras perfuaded

-,

the Spartans to fpare them, promifmg, that he

would carry them out of the country

new

Callifta,

colony which he had

fettled

and from

there-,

and ac-

of

cordingly, he carried
to join the

them

liim,

to the ifland

the

ifland

was called

Thera.

Thefe Minyae, though but a wandering

am.ong the Lacedaemonians, were,

tribe

in reality,

of

being the poflerity of the he-

illullrious defcent,

roick Argonauts (a).

(a) Tun
TIe'ka.ayuiv

Ik

^i l^i^sU^i-JTo;

Ix.

if Tj) 'Tr,'6yi~!i},

-re:

yup TKTaj

r.K'jUv

TYii

Acyag

tJi Ix Vicav^icvoc

A-/;/x.;i?,

cri;^)}!'

ic

T-<i>

li^iQarioiv

y'.riis'ay.ivni

y^uQriV,

^txTob;,

Ah:',vx\i;

l*c?vaOWf uTra

yv'jxizx^ vTro Ttirxv

ci;^o:to ttAeojt;; T Axy.ioa'iy.o'joc.

ixanv.

AniMov,

<7rx.'ioav

7a;

(f'jTiucrui <75c(Jj;.

x^ lUtva

IQo'^vj:h

AuKiox.ifi,w(n ob ioJctej, olyUXov

aiOctvj.

vJ. os j\a.x.i'ju.iy.'y.i,zi,

Ot

cS

s^asrav, vs:o

t'T^t^irm'*

cacuZooTii

Ui'f.xiryuv

AN ACCOUNT

93

This account of the

is

peopling of Corfica,

firft

a very curious piece of ancient hiftory.

It

is

indeed very probable, that the Phenicians, or the

Phoceans, where

its

they were the

great navigatours in the weftern

firft

original inhabitants

feeing

many

part of the world, and fent out colonies to

diilant countries.

nus, from the

name of

fel

to the iQand,

had the

fhe

and

This

^i?'Jeci

him

in a

the idand,

fatter,,

vef-

little

with

all it&

the Ligurians

and from Corfa, who had

is

ludicrous enough
rife

but we

to fo extraordinary

may

trace

a fidlion,

auTai.

Herodot.

(.^)

got

the difcovery, they called the ifland Corfi-

what has given

filai

it

Corfa,

and return much

Upon which

fertility.

fent thither a colony

ca.

in Ayhich

to him,

and

often obferved a bull

curiofity to follow

lb difcovered

beauty and

made

manner

According

Corfica.

Cyr-

KJgvo?,

promontories

its

woman, having

a Ligurian

fwim over

number of
relates the

Ifidorus (a)

the

name of

afterwards got the

It

Ifltlor.

Origin.

lib. xiii.

cap.

6..

lib. iv,

cap.

14.5".

OF CORSICA.
when we

-93

confider, that very probably, a

coaft of Italy, either

from the oppofite

gurians, or the

people
tlie

Li-

Etrufcans, have taken pofleffion

of Coriica,

Whatever may be
tain, that its

ans,

next mafters were the

who extended

iflands

conjecture,

in this

cer-

Carthagini-

their conquefts over

of the Mediterranean.

it is

all

the

Ariftotle relates a

moll extraordinary piece of Ptinick policy, with

refpeft to Corfica.
to

Finding that

keep the inhabitants

is

in fubjeflion,

was

difficult

they ordered

the whole of the vines and olives in the ifland to

and forbid the Corficans, under

be pulled up,

the pain of death,

kind of grain,

to

fow

of a very

fertile territory,

in the

and, though poffelTed

be obliged to refort to

Africa, to feek the bare necefiafies of

early

with any

might be kept

fo that they

moft abfolute dependance

their fields

life.

So

was the cowardly and barbarous policy of a

trading republick exercifed againft this people.

Corfica

Rome.

next pafled

In the

firft

under the

Punick war, and about the year

493 from the building of

lius Scipio

dominion of

the city, Lucius Corne-

conquered the ifland (a), being oppoied

(a) Liv, Epit.

lib, xvij.

Flor.

lib.

ii.

cap. 2,

AN ACCOUNT

94

by an army of Sardinians and Corlicans, headed

by Hanno, a Carthaginian general.
It

appears however, that the Corficans could

not bear fubje6tion with patience, for they were

Of this, we

continually attempting to get free.

have an inftance

in the

book of Livy.

Y\^c

M.

againft

epitome of the twentieth

next find them

Pinarius the praetor,

of them, obliged them

them bound

to

who

engaged

2000

flew

to give hollages,

and took

pay a tribute of 100,000

of

lib.

Afterwards C. Cicereius

wax, every year

(a).

the praetor, was

obliged to give them battle,

when 1700 of them were

1070 taken

prifoners,

their annual tribute

killed,

and upwards of

and upon

this

occafion,

was increafed to 200,000

lib.

weight of wax (b).

From

may

was formerly much more

fee

that Corfica

populous than

it

is

thefe

now, and that

inflances,

it

hath been

able to furnilli amazing quantities of honey.

are told

by Pliny, that Papyrius Nafo

umphed over
mount
It

the

firft

the

We
tri-

Alban

(c).

has

already been

founded two colonies

{a) Liv.
(it)

on

Corficans,

we

lib. xl.

faid,

that the

in Corfica.

cap. 34.

Plin. lib. V. cap. 29.

The

Romans

ifland was,

(^) lb. lib. xlii. cap. 7.

;;

OFCORSICA.

governed by a praetor.

like their other provinces,

It

was

alfo

made

gs

to ferve for a place of exile

and was very proper for what they called

Rele-

gatio in infulam, banifhment to an ifland/

But

the,

try,

Romans

never had a firm hold of

where that

liberty,

was ever breaking

call rebellion,

On

of

fpirit

the irruption of

coun-

this

which tyrants

forth

the barbarous

nations,

Corfica fhared the fame fate with the other do-

minions of the ruined

to the Goths,

who

copius,

it

-,

a prey

the feudal

Some

arms penetrated.

king of the Goths

firfl

fell

other country to

Corfica was conquered

that

fay,

the

their

It

eftablillied there

did in every

fyftem, as they

which

empire,

authours

by Alarick,

according to Pro-

b\it

was conquered by a detachment fent

out by Totilas (a).

From
many

this period, the hiftory

of Corfica

is

for

ages a continued feries of wars, ravage and

deftruftion,

We are

by a

here very

fufficient

clew

variety of contending powers.

much

in the

dark, without any

We

to guide us.

find in

many

authours detached remarks concerning the illand

but

it

is

difficult to

arrange

(a) Procop, de Bell. Goth.

lib.

iii.

them

iii

cap. 24.

tolerable

AN A

9^

CCO

UNT

are almoft always uncer-

order, fince the dates

tain.

however give a fhort view of what feems

I Ihall

to have been the progrefs of events.

When

the

of

height,

power of the Saracens

which

we

rofe to that

amazement,

with

read

they drove the Goths from Corfica, and maintained the dominion

there

confiderable

for

time.
It

is

believed, that they

kingdom

firft

gave the

title

of

to Corfica; and, to this day, the coat

armonial of the iiland bears a Moor'^s head on

its

Ihield.

There

Moorifh coins frequently dug up

are

in Corfica;

and near to Ajaccio,

are

Saracen

tombs, which appear to have had fome magnificence.

by

They

are fubterraneous vaults, fupported

ftone pillars

and

in

them

are

found fepul-

chral urns of an earthen compofition, fimilar to

brick.
It

would appear,

that the

Pope has always had

a view towards the annexation of Corfica to his

territories

and, that he at different times

infti-

gated the kings of Arragon, as well as the {overeigns of France, to

flile

make

againll

it,

what

of thofe times was called a holy war

in the

which

OF CORSICA.

97

kind of wars were always calculated to ferve the

views of the holy father.

political

At

Corfica was adually conquered by one

laft,

of the kings of France

others,

fome

by Charles Martel.

fay,

by Pepin, and

The

Corficans fhew

to this day, a fountain, called

by the name of

Charles, in the pieve of Alefani, and, as they fay,

on the fpot where

this

gallant prince vanquifhcd

the Moors.

By
in a

the kings of France, Corfica was refigned,

perpetual

cens

gift,

The

to the holy fee.

however, from time to time returned

Sara,

fo

pope had but a very feeble and uncertain

that the

fway.

The Genoefe
tradled

availing themfelves of the dif-

of the

ftate

had very early con-

ifland,

trived to fettle a colony at Bonifaccio

and em-

boldened by degrees, they landed troops on other

parts of the country,

and began

to bear a formi-

dable appearance.

This could not

Rome, and

to

fail

to

incenfe

the court of

draw down upon them the thunders

of the Vatican, from whence the holy father ufed,

in thofe

ages,

to fulminate

with ferious efFed

againft the greateft powers in Europe.

ingly,

the

Genoefe were

Accord-

excommunicated by

AN ACCOUNT

98

pope Gregory the feventh, which made them

that time defift

from

at

their projeft.

In this flud:iiating fituation Corfica continued,

till

one of the popes,

rians are not agreed,

but which of them

Hugo

fent thither

Colonna,

nobleman of Rome, accompanied by

others of the

under

his

from the

Roman

command,

nobility, with a

many of the

joined by

the flruggle which

feveral

good

force

in order to expel the infidels

When

ifland.

hifto-

Colonna landed, he was

who, during

inhabitants,

had been

fubfifting fo long,

and with fuch violence, had again and again endeavoured to maintain themfelves

a ftate of

in

freedom, and had elected a certain number of

whom they gave

chiefs, to

Thefe caporali gave

to

Colonna

ple,

men,

all

the

of caporali.

title

the aid in their

power

and, by their influence over the peo-

they foon brought together fuch a body of

that

Colonna was enabled

the Saracens,

and to

The Moors

for ever.

were forced to quit the ifland

but before they went,

,

and to

they burnt
this

pute the defolation which

Corfica,

them

difpoffefs

rout

being rendered defperate by this

unexpefted blow,

pofllbly could

totally to

we

is

numents and publick

archives.

that they

mufl: greatly

yet

and the deflrudion of

all

to be

iiii'

feen

their ancient

in

mo-

OF CORSICA.
Hugo

Colonna

family of Colonna

of the moil illuHrious,

So early

world.

having ob-

honours and

diftinguiflied

The

extenfive grants.

Corfica,

fettled in

from the Pope

tained

99

and

as the

mofl: ancient

1200, mention

is

one

in

the

made

is

The

of Pietro Colonna, the eight of the name.

branch which

Iftria

continued long

Corfica,

by the confufions and troubles which

but,

in

fplendour, enjoying the noble fief of

great

in

fettled

the ifland has been thrown into,

between the Genoefe and the patriotick

contefts

that family hath fuffered prodigioufly,

Corficans,

and

polTeffions

its

The

compafs.

worthy,

where

It

is

firfb

narrow

of the family,

man, and very zealous

was lodged

in his

is

in the

houfe at Solla-

found Pafcal Paoli.

probable, that the Corlican counts, mar-

and barons, derive

quiffes

period

are reduced to a very

prefent head

fenfible

great caufe.
caro,

by the bloody

for

their origin

from

this

can fee no time fo proper for their

taking place here.

The
quiet.

ifland

remained for fome time

But partly from the

rent parties

among

contradiflion,

in tolerable

difTenfions

themfelves,

of

diffe-

ever impatient of

and partly from the repeated

at-

tacks of the Genoefe, whofe hankering after this

little

kingdom

ftill

continued,

there were fuch

100

AN ACCOUNT

and

diforders,

that the

defed of good government,

fiich a

Pope thought proper

who were

the Pifans,

make

to

it

over to

then in great power.

This grant was upon advantageous terms for

the holy father,

like

which he ufed to give

lield

many

the

grants of

to be

to various princes,

of the fee of Rome.

fiefs

learned Profeflbur

of the univerlity of Pifa, has compofed a very curious difiertation concerning the ancient

of

his

countrymen over Corfica.

volume of

in the 7th

my

It is to

dominion
be found

Acade-

the EfTays of the

of Cortona.

The
and

while their republick flourifhed,

Pifans,

their force

was confiderable, maintained

authority over Corfica to very good purpofe

as far as

we can

and,

gather from different authours,

the illand enjoyed

more

this period,

than

during

their

rcpofe and tranquillity

it

has ever been

known

to enjoy.

But

this

Genoefe,

calm was of Ihort endurance

to

irritated

find

fedtually excluded

from an

had long

hearts

fet their

above, the determined

now

themfelves
ifland

for the

on which they

and being, over and

rivals

of

Pifa,

a keen

and obftinate war was carried on between

flates

mous

at lafl, the

fea-fight at

ef-

Genoefe prevailed,

thefe

in the fa-

Malora, near the mouth of the

OF C
Arno
of

after

and

Pifa,

upon

ORSI

C A.

loi

which, they got entirely the maftery

were

fo

enabled to feize

at length

Corfica, about the beginning of the four-

teenth century.

Thus

v/ere the Corficans,

the

for

brought under the power of the Genoefe

whom

time,

firfl

with

-,

they have fince had fuch ftruggles for that

freedom, which they appear to have

at all

times

attempted to recover.

have erred

If I

am

fure

it is

in

any part of

this recital,

without any intention.

know fome

Genoefe writers have maintained, that a fignor

Ademar, of
firft

was employed

their nation,

in the

conqueft of the iiland by the kings of France.

I confefs I

do not

But fuppofmg
ly be an

it

officer

fee fuflicient authority for this.

had been

fo,

Ademar could

on-

We

are

under the French king.

certain, that the

French king made the conqueft,

becaufe he afterwards

made

srift of the iiland to

a O

the pope.

But

quifitions.

dif-

many

pu-

There

are

both by the

blifhed,

noefe

would not dwell long upon fuch

in

pieces

Corficans

which the authours,

lately

and the

Ge-

v/ith great labour,

endeavour to refute each others hypothefes with

regard to
Corfica.

many

ancient fafts in the hiilory of

Here indeed,

there

is

full

fcope for

all

AN ACCOUNT

102
parties

fince thofe periods are fo obfcure,

may

every writer

them up according

fill

turn of his imagination

abroad

may

in a

dark night,

juft as people

that

to the

who

are

with equal keennefs,

and equal appearance of reafun

affirm,

that ihey

lee objefts totally different.

Let Corfica have been the property of the

Phenicians, the Etrufcans, the Carthaginians, the

Romans,

the Goths, the Saracens: let

a conqueft of France
to the

pope

Pifans,

and

a gift

-,

a gift again

at length a

we muft have

it

have been

from that kingdom

from the pope

to the

conqueft of Genoa

flill

recourfe to the plain and funda-

mental principle, that the Corficans are men,

have a right to liberty

which,

power whatever, they have

if

anc^

ufurped by any

at all times a juft title

to vindicate.

In reviewing thefe ftrange and rapid revolutions,

which

this ifland has

join with Seneca

bility

of

human

(a")

undergone, we

in refleding

affairs,

and be

may

on the mutafilent

changes which happen to individuals,

on the

when we

contemplate the viciffitudes of a whole nation.

The Genoefe having

poffeffion
their

of

Corfiica,

obtained the undoubted

they were eager to enjoy

power, and thought they could not fully

() Seneca de confohtione.

OF COR
enjoy

A.

103

but by exercifing the moft fevere do-

it,

What we

minion.

have long anxioufly defired,

acquires in our minds an imaginary and extrava-

gant vahie
feiTcd

of

and when we adlually become pof-

moderate and reafonable

it,

fruition,

feems infipid and unfatisfa6lory to our heightened

We are even,

expectations.
if

we really have

till

And

it.

as

it

were, uncertain

generally,

we never

reft,

by abufing our powers, we deftroy what we

cfteemed fo highly.

An
and a

individual,
ftate,

minion,

who

acquires a large fortune,

which acquires an

may be

increafe

very properly compared.

of domi-

He who

gets a large fortune,

thinks he cannot fhew his

command of

but by fuch ads of profu-

riches,

muft quickly

them.

And

lion,

as

ftate,

which has acquired an increafe of domini-

on,

thinks

its

diflipate

fovereignty

not

is

fufficiently

manifcfted,

but by fuch a6ts of arbitrary op-

prefllon, as

muft tend

to force

throw off their allegiance.

its

fubjefts

For however

may, from indolence, from

timidity,

to

a people

or from

other motives, lubmit for a feafon to a certain

degree of tyranny
puflied to an
volt,

and the

redrefs.

if it is

long continued, and

exorbitant length, nature will reoriginal rights of

men

will call for

AN ACCOUNT

104

The Genoefe were

The

Corfica could have fallen.

a

had weathered many a florm

fomewhat

flate

and which, by humanity

in awe,

their affeftions.

who

of which they

and proper encouragement, might have

ed

were

and who could not

have been governed, but by a

flood

Corficans

impetuous, violent and brave

people,

whom

the worfl: nation to

conciliat-

Whereas, the Genoefe were a

nation of republicans juft in the neighbourhood

of the idanders
mies

v^'ho

who had long been

-,

had made

many

fo

their ene-

cunning, and im-

potent attempts to feize upon the ifland, that

al-

though, by the unexpedled courfe of events, they

were

now

mailers of

the Corficans could not

it,

look upon them with any

refpedl.

And

as

it

has

been always remarked that the foreign fubje6ls

of a

little

republick, are

thofe of a great

expel nothing

much

kingdom

worfe ufed,

than

they had reafon to

but avowed tyranny from Ge-

noa.

Accordingly the Genoefe,

felves

in

feeking

an unliable,

who were them-

and perilous

condition,

the protedion fometimes of one

erful

flate,

treat

the

pow-

and fometimes of another, did not

Corficans

with

that

gentlenefs

and

confidence, which alone could have fecured their

attachment and obedience,

by

infenfibly leading

OF COR
them

A.

105

of the culture and

to a participation

fe-

and accuftoming them to con-

licity

of

fider

the Genoefe as their fellow fubjefts,

civil life,

and

friends.

They took

dire6t a

contrary courfe

and,

although they did not ufe fo defperate a mea-

of the Carthaginians,

fure, as that

fion

was heavy

their

fyflem was

and

der the Corficans happier

keeping them

in ignorance,

not to ren-

better,

but by

and under the moft

to prevent their endeavouring

abjedt fubmiffion,

to get free

their oppref-

while

Genoa drained the

ifland

of

all

could pofiibly get, choofing rather even to

ftie

have

much

lefs

advantage by tyranny, than to have a

greater advantage, and rifk the confequences

of permitting to the inhabitants the blelTings of

freedom.
In this unhappy fituation was Corfica.
did the natives
to

dire6t

rife in

arms

-,

Often

but having no head

them, they were immediately quelled.

So apprehenfive however were the Genoefe,

that,

own

they

according to their

hiftorian Filippini,

burnt 120 of the beft villages in Corfica, while

4000 people

What
light,

left

the ifland.

Ihewed the Genoefe policy

in the

woril

and could not but be very galling to the

Corficans

who remained

at

home, was, that many

AN ACCOUNT

io6
of thefe

who had gone over

iflancjers,

made

continent,

of the European

the

to

moft

a diftinguilhed figure in

both

ftates,

and

in learning,

in

arms.

About

the

1550,

Corfica

condudl of a great hero,

liverance of his country.

He

Ballelica.

and

fpirit

revived under the

who

arofe for the de-

This was Sampiero di

early difcovered extraordinary parts

and had the advantage of being edu-

cated in the houfe of cardinal Hypolitus de

Me-

nephew of pope Clement the

feventh.

He was created colonel of the Corficans in

France,

dicis,

the

and diftinguilhed himfelf

of the

o:reat

aftions

in

of

every

almoft

that

nation

in

one
his

time.

After the death of Francis the

home

to his native country

Vannina,

heirefs

firft,

he went

where he married

of the houfe of Ornano, of the

moft ancient and rich of the Corfican nobility

and from

this time,

he was generally called Sam-

piero di Ornano.

Being moved with the miferable

of his

ftate

countrymen, he refolved to procure them

and for

this,

prefented

Here

The

relief

-,

a very favourable opportunity then

itftlf.

hiftory begins

again to open

clouds of antiquity,

upon

and barbarifm

us.

are dif-

OF COR
perfed, and

of the

we proceed

Genoa

clearly,

Thuanus

illufirious

France had of
ver

A.

under the guidance

(a).

long time claimed a right o-

but after the battle of Pavia, when

the French were forced entirely to

become of no

that claim had

fecond however, having

Italy,

againft the

folved to aiTert his

avail himfelf

of

which galled

it

abandon

commenced

power

Corfica

in

new war

in

fifth, re-

Sampiero di

this difpofition, that

he might

from

to free the ifland

it,

Italy,

Henry the

effecfl.

emperour Charles the

Ornano encouraged

He

107

yoke

much.

fo

reprefented to Henry, that as the Genoefe

had taken part with the emperour,

was debarred from

all

his majefty

entrance to Italy by

fea-,

whereas, by putting himfelf in pofTcfTion of Corfica,

he might have a free paflage through the

diterranean, and might, at the fame time,

that ifland as a

and warlike

commodious

ftores

garrifon,

Me-

employ

where troops

might be lodged, to be from

thence thrown in upon Naples or Tufcany, as the

fituation of affairs Ihould require.

An
ca,

in

expedition was therefore ordered to Corfithe year

1553,

{a) Tliuan. Hill,

^^nd^^*

lib.

.\ii.

the

command of

cnp. 2.

AN ACCOUNT

io8

general Paul de Thermes, accompanied by

Sam-

piero di Ornano, Jourdain des Urfins, and feveral

other

Henry had

commanders.

able

Turks joined with him

in this

the

alfo

expedition, having

prevailed with their fourth Emperour, Solyman,

ftyled the magnificent, to fend out a large fleet to

Tufcan

the

fea (a).

This expedition was powerfully oppofed by

the.

Genoefe

-,

v/ho

to their celebrated

Andrew

had given Corfica

bank of St. George.

charge

in

The

great

Doria, though then in his eighty feventh

year, bid defiance to age

and

infirmities, and, fince

Corfica was an objed of importance to his country,

rit

the gallant veteran

embarked with

all

the fpi-

of his glorious youth, having a formidable

mament under

his

The war was

At

fides.

firft

ar-

command.
carried

on with vigour on both

however, feveral of the beft towns

were taken by the French and Turks, particularly Ajaccio,

where were a number of merchants,

whofe riches afforded good pillage to the enemy,

and helped to make the enterprife go on

fpirit.

The

and the

Corficans joined in the

greatefl part of the ifland

v/ith

common
was once

delivered from the tyrant.

{a) Knowlcs's hiftory of the Turks, p. 757.

more

caufej
fairly

CORSICA.

OF

But the Genoefe were

fo well

109

commanded by

the intrepid Doria, and had befides fuch aiTiftance

from Charles the

who

fifth,

lent ftrong reinforce-

ments both of Spanifh and German troops, that

the expedition was not entirely effeclual.

In the courfe of this war, fo

aftions were performed, that,

templation of them,

am

and to

hope

rian

day

arife,

affun-ie

a Livy,

and difplay

my

with the con-

plan,

and of

my

the province of an hifto-

or a Clarendon, Ihall one

to fucceeding ages, the

fican bravery, with the luflure

The

fired

valourous

almoft tempted to for-

get the limited bounds of

abilities,

many

Corficans were

now

which

it

Cor-

deferves.

fo violent againft the

Genoefe, that they refolved with one accord, that

rather than return under the dom.inion of the republick, they

would throw themfelves

At

of the great Turk.

into the

arms

length however, a treaty

was concluded between the Corficans and Genoefe,

advantageous and honourable for the former,

having for guarantee,

his

moft Chriftian Majefly.

But, as there was an inveterate, and implacable

hatred between thofe two nations, this treaty did

not long fubfift

fame opprefTion
Corfica.

as

and upon Henry's death, the

formerly,

became

flagrant in

AN ACCOUNT

no

Sampiero
fometime

Ornano, who had been again fof

di

France, having

in

wciit himfelf to the

folicited

But the

loft his royal

Ottoman

frefh afiiftance

to

Porte, and earneftly

unhappy

his

no longer exifted

a miracle indeed, when

ftates are

at

and

it

muft be

moved by

vir-

This brave man,

tuous principles of generofity.

being unfuccefsful

nation.

The fame

face of affairs was changed./

political viev/s

mafter,

Conftantinople, returned to

Corlica, where his prefence infpired the iflanders

with fortitude, and occafionedavery general revolt.

He

carried

on

iiderable effedl

now no

his glorious enterprife

and the more

foreign afTiftance,

little

preparation againft him.

who had him

name of

the

of

liis

death.

But he was

bafely affalTinated,

ftop-

by a wretch of

Vitolli (a)^ in the year 1567.

who

writes

Cordcan revolt under Sampiero,

tives

not looked

by the treachery of the Genoefe,

(a) IVlichael Metello,

the

he had

and the republick made

as very formidable,

in his career

fo, that, as

he was

upon

ped

with con-

He will

a particular hiflory of

gives a different account

have him to have been killed from mo-

of private revenge, by

his

brother in law, Michael An-

gelo di Ornano. But, befides the improbability that Vannina,

the Ipoufe of Sampiero, had a brother,
inherited the family domains
related

by

when

own, that the

feveral other autliours,

appears to

it is

certain

fiie

aflaflination, as

me

fo

much of

Of CORSICA.
Thus

fell

Sampiero

tit

Ornano, a

di Baftelica di

Corfican worthy of being ranked with the moft

diftinguifhed heroes.

and

He dilplayed great bravery

fidelity in foreign fervice

and with unremit-

ting conftancy endeavoured to rellore the liber-

of

ties

his

country.

bello impiger et

animo invidtus

and of a

in war,

which were

Thuanus

him

calls

(a)^

fpirit invincible.'

man

The

Vir

a6live

fhades

condu6t, are to be for-

in his private

gotten in the admiration of his publick virtues. His

fon Alphonfo, and his grandfon John Baptift, both
arrived at the dignity of marcfchal of France,
after

which

Alphonfo

up

his pofterity failed.

di

in the court

Ornano,

who had been brought

of Henry the fecond, kept alive

the patriotick ftruggle for a

able to
tired

make head

from the

The
fion

ifland

fliort

while

but un-

againfb the republick, he re-

and

fettled in France.

Genoefe were thus again put

of Corfica.

-,

Enraged

at

in pofTef-

what they had

dif-

fered from a daring rebellion, as they termed

and

Hill

it

dreading a new infurredlion, they thought

only of avenging themfelves on the Corficans

and

a piece with the oppreirions of Genoa; both before and fince,

that

give

it

the preference.

{a) Thuani Hift.

lib. xli.

cap. 31.

AN ACCOUNT

112

plunging that people

ftill

lower than ever, in ig-

norance and flavery.

Their opprefTion became now,

worfe than before.

They were inflamed with

and

refentment,

ter

pofiibie,

if

their tyranny

formed

into fomething of a regular fyftem.

hotitfelf

Forgetful of

every equitable convention that France had eftathey exercifed, without controul, the ut-

blillied,

They

moft rigours of arbitrary power.

permiti*

ted nothing to be exported from the ifland,

but

to Genoa, where, of neceflity, the Corficans were

obliged to
rate

and

fell their

in

merchandife

years of fcarcity,

very low

at a

the ifland was

drained of provifions by a fort of legal plunder.

For the
Genoa,

inhabitants were forced to bring

fo that adlual

them

to

famine was often occafioned

in Corfica.

The Genoefe

did every thing in their power to

foment internal
the

diflenfions

in Cgrfica,

were naturally too

people

Thefe diflenfions occafloned the

flied.

flcans

They reckon
were

that

no

much

caufe of hatred

between the

befl:

among

which

inclined.

moft: horrid blood-

lefs

than

aflafllnated in the fpace

Aflafllnations were, in the

to

firft

700 Cor-

of two years.

place,

a certain

the Corflcans,

and often

families, fo that they

would not

unite in any fcheme for the general liberty.

And

OP CORSICA.
in the fecond place, they

good account,

either

could be turned to very

by confifcating the

of

eftates

by making the criminals pay heavy

the affaflins, or

The judge could

compenfacions to the judge.

wave the

purfuit of juftice

cedatur.

Let

eafily

113

there be

by

faying,

no procefs

,*

'

Non

pro-

which could

be cloaked under the pretence of fome de-

feft in point

of form

or could even acquit the

deepeft offenders from his

was called
mation of

'

Ex

his

own

informata confcientia,

own

confcience

by what

will alone,

j'

The

infor-

of which he was

not obliged to give any account.

It

was not

till

an edidl againft

M. De

the year 1738, that

this

Genoa made

moft dreadful abufe.

Montefquieu thus writes concerning

it,'

with that calm dignity which becomes fo great a

matter

'

Une

republique d'ltalie tenoit des infu-

mais fon droit politique

'

laires fous fon obeiflance;

et civil a leur egard etoit vicieux.

de

'

damneroit plus a des peines

fcience informee

vent des peuples demander des privileges

fouverain accorde ledroitde toutesles nations ftjj.

A republick

On

fe

fouvient

cet a6le d'amniflie, qui porte qu'on ne les con-

(<?)

afflidlives fur la

du gouverneur.

On

in Italy held a nation

Efprit des Loix,

edit.

Edin.

liv.

vu

confouici le

of (landers
i

x. cap, 8

AN ACCOUNT

114

But her

under her obedience.

'

vil conftitution

'

member

'

they fhould no more be

'

pains,

'

vernour.

'

vileges.

'

the

that

to afflictive.

the go-

We have often leen people afking priHere, the fovereign

right of

pleafed to grant

is

all nations.*

this oppreffion,

it

was

common

to con-

multitudes to the galleys, for frivolous offen-

ces, that they

;

and

might purchafe

it is

barbarity, than

The Genoefe
neral, or
office

condemned

ci-

We re-

bad.

upon the informed confcience of

During

price

among them, was

and

that a6l of amnefty, which bears,

common

demn

political,

their liberty at a

high

hardly poITible to conceive greater

what

now

thefe illanders

fent to Corfica a

commifTary

governour over the whole

continued for two years.

He

endured.

ifland

ge-;

whofe

was generally a

nobleman of defperate fortune, who by fhameful

extortions, returned

home

intereft in the fenate,

made

offered

opulence

and by

his

prevented any inquiry being

into his conduct.

py Corficans

in

For although the unhap-

many

complaints to the re-

publick, they were inftantly

ftifled

which was

not difficult to do, as the Corficans were confider-

ed to be

fo turbulent

and mutinous, that no ad-

minifuration could pleafe

tour

who was

them

and

as

to give his vote, did not

every fena-

know, but

COR

IC

A.

115

by extravagance, he himfelf might one day be

obliged to have recourfe to the fame expedient.

The

comm.iflary general had his refidence at

There were

Baftia.
vi,

Cal-

Ajaccio and Bonifaccioi and Lieirtenants, and

difperfed over the ifland

inferiour officers,
all in

mean
it

and

while they triumphed in a

fecurity, that asCorfica

was overlooked, and,

hid in a corner of Europe,

were,

rious proceedings v/ere not

During
fion,

who

their feveral ftations, contributed to rob,

to ruin the country

as

alio other commifTaries at

this

there

known

their inju-

to the world.

period of fecret, and cruel oppref-

happened a very curious event, th&

eftablifhment of a colony of Greeks in Corfica

of which
After

I Ihall

now

give an account.

Mahomet and his

fucceflburs

had fubdued

almoft the whole of ancient Greece, and Scanderbeg,

dead

who
-,

his country,

was

remained a few brave fouls

who

fo glorioufly

there

ftill

defended

inhabited a part of Peloponnefus of old,

kingdom of Morea.

now

This part was, what

is

the
cal-

led a branch of the Maina, the very fpot where

Lacedemon

flood.

Here, covered by

inripafiable

mountains, with

only a fmall entrance, they refilled the Ottoman

empire, as Leonidas formerly refilled the millions

of Xerxes,

AN ACCOUNT

ii6

But when the Turks got

pofTeflion of the

of Candia, in 1669, they came by

fea,

iflc

and made

a defcent upon Maina, penetrated into the heart

of the

and foon became mailers of

territory,

and then, the unfortunate

tans,

were reduced to a

very.

of the Sparthan

ftate, little better

fla-

Exorbitant taxes were impofed upon them

their fineft
gliosj

pofterity

it

women were

forced away to the fera-

and towers were built

in different parts

of the

country, where troops were garrifoned, to keep

them

in

awe

Their

rance.

fo that they

the faith of the Koran.

however, a fpark of the ancient

Still,

preferved amongft thofe,

tilo

who, defpairing

came

dejefled country,

doning

many of

gradually funk, and

fpirits

them embraced

had no hope of delive-

it

With

was

dwelt at Porto Vi-

to fee any change in their

to the refolution

and of feeking an

altogether,

ment fomewhere

who

fire

of abaneftablifh-

elfe.

this view,

they fent to Italy, deputies

had fome acquaintance with the

who

different Hates,

and who were intruded by the community

to look

out for a convenient fettlement, and to conclude

the terms of a convention.

The Genoefe

fent

them over

to Corfica,

where

they were fhewn a trad of ground, belonging to

the

chamber of the

ftate,

on the weftern

fide

of

CORSICA.

OF

117

The

the iiland, about three miles from the fea.

deputies were very well pleafed with

their return to

it

and, on

Genoa, they entered into an agree-

ment with the republick.

They
made

home

then went

a report to their countrymen,

approved of; and,

1676, thefe

in the

the plan

Danaum, Sad

mains of the Greeks,' embarked, in

1000

The

fouls.

was

month of Oftober,

Trifles reliquiae

'

and having

to Greece,

re-

about

all

family of Stefanopoli was the

moft diftinguifhed among them, and condudled

the whole enterprife.

They

arrived at Genoa, in the

1677, where they remained,

ar)%

The

of March.

of

month of Janu-

their freight,

fubfiflence,

The

till

republick paid

till

all

the expencc

they were fafely landed in Corfica.

conventions entered into, were, that the

Paomia, Ruvida and Salogna,

furnifhed

and with

cattle

territories

fults, for

the

firfl

of

in perpetual fief.

them with houfes, with

grain,

and engaged to maintain a body

of Genoefe foldiers to defend them againfl

alfo

month

and afforded them lodging and

Genoefe granted to the Greeks, the

They

the

all in-

years of their refidence,

They

appointed a Genoefe gentleman, with the

title

of Diredtour, as judge over them,whofe

was

to be biennial, fo that

it

office

fhould go by rotati-

AN ACCOUNT

ii8

among

on,

to fupport,
car,

the Genoefe nobility

inftrLKfl their

and they agreed

expence of the republick, a

at the

fkilled

Greek language, who

in the

children in different lludies

the fame time, celebrate mafs,

vi-

fliould

and, at

and preach

in

the

chapel of the diredour.

On

the other hand, the Greeks

and with

felves to cultivate the lands,

tion,

obhged themall

expedi-

to difcharge the debts they (hould incur to

the republick, forfupplying

them with every ne-

They

ceffary, in the infancy

of their colony.

obhged themfelves,

pay to the republick, a tax

of
all

five livrcs, for

their

to

alfo

every family, befides a tenth of

produdions, and to be ready to ferve the

republick, either by fea, or land, whenever their

fervice fliould be required.

Thus, was

this

colony

fettled.

the free exercife of their

own

according to the Greek church,

They enjoyed

rites

of religion,

having brought

with them the bifliop of Porto Vitilo.

They had
ligious,
in their

alfo

brought with them, fome

of the order of

church

who

Banl, the only order

St.

eftablifhed a convent in a

wild and romantick valley.

not approve of thefe fathers
theij:

re-

convent wag fhut up.

But the Genoefe did

j

and, in a Ihort time^

Of CORSICA.

119

The Greeks found themfelves very eafy and

By their indufhappy, for a good many years.
try

and

their

aftiviiy,

poiTefilcns,

they beautified

and enriched

and

good houfes,

built

doing every thing with a

very

tafte,

altogether

new

in

Corfica.

But

the natives of the ifland,

their neighbours,

did not live in great harmony with them.

haps, in this, envy

and

their vines

flocks, were,

may have had fome

by care and

fkill,

But

to thofe of the Corficans.

ders looked

upon the Greeks

Genoefe, to

whom

fidelity

They

alfo

and

much

for

their

fuperiour

befidcs, the ifland^

as auxiliaries

of the

from time to time, fwore

and were ever ready to give

tance.

they,

Ihare

their herds

their olives,

Per-

their

aflif-

knew, that the Greeks were

well fupplied with arms

and therefore, there

were frequent fkirmifhes between them and the

peafants of the province of Vico,
territories

had formerly made a part

year I/29,
noefe,

many

of which their

when

and

in the

the nation rofe againft the

the Greeks were ferioufly attacked

Geand

a defperate battle they fought with great

bravery.

The Genoefe formed

companies of them, to

whom

and they were always employed

ficult enterprifes.

three

regular

they gave pay;

in the

moft

dif-

In particular, they were de-

F 4

;;

AN ACCOUNT

120

tached to attempt taking the caftle of Cortc from

the patriots

on which occafion, they were

forely

and a great number of them were

defeated,

kil-

led.

After various ftruggles, which the plan of

work does not allow me

were forced to leave
to Ajaccio,

this

the Greeks

to relate,

their pofTeflions,

and

retire

where they now fupport themfelves

tolerably by their labour

and being convinced

of the tyranny of the Genoefe, wait with impatience for their total expulfion from the ifland

and hope from the generofity of Paoli and the

protedion and encouragement

Corficans,

that

which they

deferve.

This colony has been

duftrious

and

if

',

it

was from

from the fidelity which they

republick that had

which

fidelity

it

in-

good

owed

prin-

to the

them an afylum

granted

they would ever have preferved,

had not the republick included them

ral oppreflion.

and

they have afled in a hoftile man-

ner againft the nation,

ciple

fober, virtuous

muft obferve of

in the gene-

this colony, that

hath had the honour of producing an excellent

phyfician,

who

Signor Giovanni Stefanopoli,

hath had the wifdom and the

inoculation into pradtice in Corfica,

preferves multitudes of lives

the

fpirit to

firfl

bring

by which he

and may therefore

OF CORSICA;
be

juflly

the

ftate.

Long

reckoned a diftinguiflied benefaflor to

plundered and opprefled,

defpifed,

Corficans again revived in 1729,

commenced, which, with Ibme

tinued

121

till

now

and

after fo

when

many

changes, mif-

on a

fo-

Corfican liberty.

lid bafis the

how

wonderful to fee

is

war

intervals, has con-

fortunes and flruggles, will probably fix

It

the

the

produced by little

caufes.

great events are

late

authour (a) hath

given us an entertaining feleftion of fuch inftances,

rife

by a

from the

hiftories

of the Corficans

1729, was occafioned

in

fingle paolo, a piece

Englilh.

worth about

as

Being

in

the

him.

money

for

demand.

to abufe her,

this trifling

which Ihe was

affeffed.

Upon which,

and to

feize

the colledor

fome of her

fur-

She begged him to have patience, and

niture.
faid,

pence

extreme penury, Ihe had not wherewithal

to fatisfy the

began

five

Genoefe colleftor, went to the houfe

of a poor old woman, and demanded

fum,

The

of different nations.

Ihe

He

hoped

in a

few days to be able to pay

perfifted in his feverity,

woman made

a great lamentation.

and the poor

Two

or three

people hearing the noife, entered the houfe, took

the part of the

woman, and exclaimed

barbarity of the colle6tor.

(<?)

He

Monlieur Richer,

againft the

threatened then)

AN ACCOUNT

122

with piinilhment, for having hindered him in thc

execution of his

and they drove him away with

lagers,

The Genoefe
tor,

This provoked the

office.

vil-

ftones.

fent troops to fupport their collec-

and the Corficans affembled

in large bodies

The tumult

to

defend themfelves.

fpark was fufficient to kindle the

flame, in a people,

who had

the enthufiafm of liberty

To often

and

encreafed.

generous

glowed with

in a very fliort

time, the whole iOand v/as in motion.

The
capital,

Corficans immediately ruflied

upon

which they took almoft without

refiftance

and they would have been mailers of the

Corte, had they been a

They faw

it

little

caftle

of

better regulated.

was necefiary to put themfelves

under the diredion of certain

fore chofe

the

They

chiefs.

Signor Andrea Geccaldi,

there-

one of the

higheft nobility in the kingdom, and Signor Luiggi

Giafferi, not indeed of the

number of relations,

firft

rank, but

a Ipirit,

warm

who had

to a degree

of fanaticifm, againfc the republick, and the moil

To

ileady and undaunted refolution.

joined,

learned
jullice,

Signor Domenico Raffalii,

ecclefiaftick,

as

thefe

a worthy and,

a fort of prefident

whole wifdom might preferve order

adminiftration,

of

in their

and whole religion might temper

the violence of their meafures,

confcience.

wa3

by principles of

OF CORSICA.
The Genoefe

at firft

123

endeavoured to overcome

the Corficans by the fole force of the republick

but finding

themfelves altogether unable for

the Corficans were

while

pieces the

cutting to

flronger,

every

it,

day growing

poor reinforce-

ments of Genoefe troops, and thereby fupplying

themfelves with more arms

under the

They

neceflity

of feeking foreign

applied to

who

fixth,

fent to Corfica, a

Thefe harrafled the

enough

ful

to

it.

the

prince of
ficans

They

Wirtemberg

were not
laid

continual

who,

in

one

The emperour

of Germans, with the

at their

head+

The Cor-

in condition to refift fuch a force.

down

Genoefe,

arms,

their

that a treaty Ihovid be

the

Wachtendonck.

They had

Corficans,

then fent a ftrong army

Charles the

without being power-

1200 of them.

killed

afllflance.

body of auxiliaries,

general

ifland,

overawe

rencounters with

adion,

the emperour,

command of

under the

the republick was

upon condition

made between them and

having for guarantee the

em-

perour.

To

this

the republick

having acceded,

Corficans confented that their three chiefs,

ther with Signor Aiteili,
fluence,

lliould

go

to

the
toge-

a pievano of great in^

Genoa

as hoftap;e3.

AN ACCOUNT

124

Thefe were

accordingly

condufbed thither,

dreading no violation of the promife of fafety

which had been made

however,

inclined to put

who was

berg,

Guaftalla,

the

death of thofe

and gallant

how much

fpirit,

the honour

fhould he confent to the

fuffer,

who had

furrendered themfelves

the faith of his facred proteftion.

This was

feconded by the generous interpofition of

great prince

and

emperour, with a very

reprefenting

letter,

-,

but the prince of Wirtem-

a prince of a brave

of Caefar would

upon

them to death

afterwards killed at the battle of

fent an exprefs to

flrong

Ligurians

had almoft obtained the

their minifler at Vienna,

emperour's confent

The

them.

to

Eugene of Savoy

the

and inftrudtions

were fent to Genoa, that the hoftages Ihould be

releafed.

Giafferi

and

Aitelli

went home to Corfica.

Ceccaldi went to Spain, where he died with the

rank of colonel

and

where he remained

till

Raffalli

went to Rome,

he became very old.

He

then returned to end his days in his native country,

where he

ftili

lives,

regarded with venera-

tion.

The

treaty

which had been formally concluded

between the Corficans and the Genoefe, having

been broken by the

latter,

there was a very fhort

OF CORSICA.
fofpenfion of hoftilities

and

325

17349 the Cor-

in

ficans rofe anew.

was again elefted

GiafFeri

and got

a general,

for his collegue Signor Giacinto Paoli, father of

the prefent General.

was

Giacinto Paoli,
a

good family.

more than
religion

But

a Corfican

his

merit diftinguillied

He was

his rank.

and bravery

-,

gentleman of

man

of learning*

well qualified to ferve his

Thefe

country, either in politicks, or in war.

by a variety of prefidents of

chiefs were afiifted

eleded one

juftice,

after

The Genoefe had

viftory,

that

had

it

livres,

in

another.

paid very dear for their

their ftruggles.

befides

coftly

Wirtemberg, and

The Marquis

was computed,

It

them above

coft

him

of

thirty millions

prefents to the

prince of

to the other general officers.

d' Argens

very pleafantly applies

to the Genoefe,

the French fable of a gardener,

who complained

to

a gentleman

in

the neigh-

bourhood, that a hare came every day into

garden, and eat his cabbages

gentleman would be
for him.

fo

good,

his

and begged the

as drive

The Gentleman comes

her out

with a pack of

hounds, and half-a-dozen huntfmen, and does

more mifchief

in five minutes,

could have done in feven years.

than the

hare

After a prodi-

AN ACCOUNT

126

made her

gious chace, the hare

a hole

efcape through

Upon which

in the wall.

the gentleman

congratulated the gardener on getting rid of his

enemy, and advifed him to flop up the hole

So the Genoefe,

having expended a great

^fter

more upon foreign

deal

(a).

than

auxiliaries,

any

advantage they can ever derive from Corfica

upon the departure of

thcfe

have

auxiliaries,

the mortification to find themfelves juft as they

were.

Genoa

again tried her force againft Corlica

but fhe only fhewed her weaknefs, and bad po-

So much

liticks.

venturous

Genoa

far.

They

pily adminiflered.

Savona having rebelled

liberated in

to deflroy

be your intention,

relate,

that the city of

When

were

it

was de-

rofe,

and

gentlemen,

a witty fenator
faid,

you cannot

fall

'

If that

you need only

fend them fuch another governour,

lafl

was unhap-

whether they ought not

altogether.

of the Doria family,

indeed,

feveral times,

the fenate,

it

was ihe from that ad-

which had formerly extended

flate,

her influence fo

fallen

as the

two

on a better expe-

dient.'

The

Corficans on this occafion, difplayed their

refolution afrefh,

in the caufe

(a) Lettres Juiv.

Ictt.

34.

of

liberty.

They

OF CORSICA.

127

and had many fuccefsful

were well condudled,

engagements with the Genoefe.

Their noble enthurialm always continued, and,
notwithflanding

many unlucky

themfelves, there were Hill,

intrepid bands,

the ifland,

ample of diftinguilhed
I

among

in different parts,

of

animated by the ex-

leaders,

muft here take notice of count Domenico

His family was

Rivarola.

of Roffi,

at

ceftor

had

left his

fief

of Mantua,

ritory

varola.

Italian nobility.

His an-

of Rivarola,

the ter-

Genoefe

(late,

name of Rofii, and took

This family of Rivalora,

creafed.

In the fifteenth century,

was,

on account of long

where h

that of Ri-J

greatly

raifed

fervices,

by the empe-

from which period, the

has fince been in the family.

in-

Francis Riva-

to the dignity of a count Palatine,

rour Maximilian

in

and the countefs Matilda,

in the

fettled

quitted the

branch of the houle

on account of the wars be-

tween the emperour,

and had

Parma, one of the moft ancient

and confpicuous of the

rola

divifions

title

Several defcendants

of Rivarola were eftabhfhed

in

Spr.in,

Sicily,

and the dominions of Sardinia, and three were

eftablifhed

Ajaccio,

in

Corfica,

and one

in

one
Baftia

in
j

Calvi,

of

one

which

in

lafl:,

AN ACCOUNT

128

count Domenico Rivarola was the reprefentative.

This gentleman had the lands of Chiaveri,

on the

of Genoa

river

was confidered

as a friend

of the republick, and was intrufted by her, with

the office of commiflary in Balagna

a fingular

honour for a Corfican.

He

endeavoured,

fonable

at this time,

make

to

a rea-

accommodation between the Corficans

and Genoefe, which having proved

ineffeftual,

he was convinced, that the republick was determined to perfevere

in

tyranny

embraced the patriotick party,

after,

of

moll firm and zealous,

He

liberty.

to Leghorn,

and was ever

the great caufe

quitted the ifland, and went over

that he

upon the

to negotiate

in

he therefore

might be
continent,

full liberty

at
in

behalf of his

country.

The Genoefe

He

of Chiaveri.
in Corfica

immediately confifcated

had

to which,

move from

Baftia.

vere

trial

of

year,

his fon Antonio,

academy of

him

his

crofling

his

Siena,

flill

his lands

the lands of Oletta,

he made his family

But, he had foon a very

For,

conflancy.

who was

the

refe-

fame

ftudying at the

went home, to bring with

brother Nicholas

over to Leghorn,

and, as they were

in

little

Tufcan

CORSICA.

OF
velTel,

129

with a Britifh paflport, they were taken

and carried

by the republick,

where

Genoa,

to

they were thrown into prifon.

The

republick thought this would certainly

prevent count Domenico, the father, from con-

They

tinuing with the patriots.

him

ftore

would return

But he anfwered with

and magnani-

refolucion

me

lor dif-

e tutte le altre offerte le ftimo

un nul-

miei figliuoli

ii

petto

'

la

'

fo e che feguitero fin che

they fhall be obliged to give me,

'

will or

'

as nothing,

in

'

perfevere while I have

impegno che ho pre-

a paragone del giufto

no

which

and

in

young

the

engaged, and

is

Sardinia,

Tufcany.

in

fons

whether they

will

inftances

of

The

many of them.

eldeft,

a major, in the fervice

entered Genoa,
fet

my

Count Nicholas, the

at liberty.

very

good

of the king of

and conful general for that

be recorded.

counts Rivarola were

the

which

Such

life.'

Aultrian troops

Count Antonio,
friend,

My

vita.

other offers I confider

annals of Corfica will furnifh

When

ho

comparifon of the jufl enterpriie

am

all their

patriotick fpirit deferve to

the

to their fide.

daranno a

'

and

general of the Corfican troops in

their fervice, if he

mity;

to releafe his fons,

his poIfefTions,

make him

to

offered to re-

fovereio;n in

other,

lives at

AN ACCOUNT

130

Olctta in Corfica, but

tution,

that he cannot

would wifh
fpirit

ence

to do.

fo delicate

ferve

his

a confti-

country as he

Both the brothers have the

Domenico Rivarola obtained

in the
at

Turin,

procured fuch

not been for the

afliftance,

to

In the

with

make
mean

fpirit.

terfere.

that he

had

houfe of Matra in Corfica,

intereft

a ftrong party in the illand.

war went on

time, the Corlican

Sometimes

the king of Spain

or other.

regi-

to free his country,

which flood by the republick, and had

enough

Sardinian fervice, and by his influ-

would have been able

it

of

of their father.

Count

ment

is

would

it

was expeded, that

ftrike

in

on one

fide

But that prince did not choofe to

in-

would

in-

Probably he forefaw, that

it

volve him in a quarrel with France.

While

Genoefe and the Corficans were

the

thus keenly engaged,

and the

politicians

rope were forming various conjedures,

extraordinary circumflance occurred,

mazement of every body.

of Eua

to the

much

a-

This was the appear-

ance of Theodore, whofe fingular llory has

fo

moft

made

noife.

As many

inconfiftent

reports have been cir-

culated, with regard to this man,

have been

at great pains to obtain authentick accounts con-

OF

cerning him, which,

acceptable to

RS

C O

my

am

131

perfuaded, will be very-

readers.

Theodore Baron NewhofF,

La Marc

A.

in the

county of

afpired to the fovereignty of Corlica.

education in the French fervice.

his

who

Weflphalia, was the perfonage

in

He had
He after-

where he received fome

wards went to Spain,

marks of regard from the duke of Riperda and

But

cardinal Alberoni.

of

beins;

a ft-rang-e unfet-

tied projefting difpofition, he quitted Spain,

went and travelled

land

England and Hol-

into Italy,

ever in fearch of fome

and

He

new adventure.

on Corfica, and formed

at laft fixed his attention

a fcheme of making himfelf a king.

He
after

was

man of

-,

and,

having fully informed himfelf of every thing

relating to the ifland, he

-fell

and addrefs

abilities

upon means

to procure

and then came

wrote a

went

to

letter to the

to Tunis,

where he

fome money and arms

Leghorn,

from whence he

Corfican chiefs, GiafFeri and

Paoli, offering confiderable afTiftance to the nati

on, if they

This

letter

Rivarola,
in

would

-,

him

as their fovereign.

was configned

who

Tufcany

eledl

to

count Domenico

a6led as Corfican plenipotentiary,

and he gave for anfwer, that

if

Theo-

dore brought the afliflance he promifed to the

AN ACCOUNT

132

would very

Corficans, they

make him

willingly

king.

Upon

without

this he,

landed at Tavagna

man of

in fpring,

He

his mien.

had

His manners were

plaufible, that he

He

was

and the Tur-

added

and

fet fail

1736.

a very {lately appearance

kifh drefs which he wore,

of

of time,

lofs

to the

dignity

few attendants with him.

and

fo engaging,

his offers (6

was proclaimed king of Corfica,

before count Rivarola's difpatches arrived to in-

form the

chiefs

agreed.

He

of the terms upon which he had

brought with him about a thoufand

zechins of Tunis, befides fome arms and

nition,

and made magnificent promifes of foreign

alliftance

who were

fo that the Corficans,

of any fupport, willingly gave into

and

it

great

ammu-

his

glad

fchemes

mull be confidered, that there could be no

harm

in allowing a

man

the

name of

king,

fmce they had always the power of reflraining

his

authority.

Theodore alTumed every mark of

nity.

He

He had

conferred

his guards,
titles

and

his officers

met

with.

fide

of it

is

in
I

of

ftate.

of honour, and he ftruck

ney, both of lilver and copper.

were few

royal dig-

The

number, and can now

have one of

his

mo

filver pieces

liardly

be

copper coins, on one

'T. R. fTheodorus Rex) King Theo-

OF COR

A.

133

dore,'Avith a double branch croffed, and

this infcripdon,

ni Corficae)

the piece,
a

it

Pro bono publico Re. Co. (Reg-

For the public good of the kingdom

On

of Corfica.*
'

'

round

the other fide,

is

the value of

cinque foldi, five fous.' There was fuch

curiofity over

all

Europe

king Theo-

to have

dore's coins, that his filver pieces were fold at four

zechins each

and when the genuine ones were

exhaufted, imitations of them were

ples,

made

at

Na-

and, like the imitations of antiques, were

bought up

at a

high price, and carefully preferved

in the cabinets

of the

virtuofi.

Theodore immediately blocked up the Gcnoefe fortified

towns

and he ufed to be fome-

times at one fiege, fometimes at another, Handing

with a telefcope
afTiilance

which he

alfo the artifice

hand, as

in his

if

he fpied the

he expeded.

find

He

ufed

of making large packets be con-

tinually brought to

him from

he gave out to be from the

Europe, acknowledging

the continent,

difi^eient

which

fovereigns of

his authority,

and promif-

ing to befriend him.

The Genoefe were

with

this

not

little

unexpedbed adventurer.

confounded

They

publillied

a violent manifeflo againfl: Theodore, treating

him

with great contempt, but at the fame time fhewing,

that they

Theodore

were alarmed

replied,

in a

at his

manifefto,

appearance.

with

all

the

AN ACCOUNT

134

calmnefs and dignity of a monarch, exprefled his

indifference as

to the injurious treatment of .the

republick, and appeared firm in the hopes of victory.

The Genoefc

London, made ftrons

minifler at

intereft againft the

CorHcans

and on the 24th of

the queen regent

1736, her majefly,

July,

-,

of

Great Britain, iffued out her royal proclamation,

prohibiting any of his majeily's fubjecls from furnifhing provifions or afTiiiance to the malecontents

of Corfica.
After having been about

Theodore perceived,

fica,

e'lg-ht

months

in

that the people

Cor-

began

to cool in their affections towards him, and did

not

a(5l

fame relblution

v/ith the

as before.

He

them

for a

therefore wifely determined, to leave

little,

and try

his fortune again

So, after having laid

tion, to

He

went

cefsful

from

who

to Holland,
to

and there he was fuc-

get credit to a great extent,

feveral rich merchants,

particularly Jews,

him with cannon, and

{lores, to a great value,

percargo.

he quitted the

month of November.

enough

trufled

continent.

a plan of adminiftra-

in his abfence,

be obferved

ifland, in the

down

upon the

With

1739; ^"^' ^"

thefe,
^'-^

other warlike

under the charge of a

he returned to Corfica,

arrival,

fuin

he put to death hi^

"

OF COR

C A.

135

fupercargo, that he might not have any trouble

from demands being made upon him.

By

this time, as fhall

French had become

that,

be afterwards fhewn, the

fo

powerful in the

ifland,

although Theodore threw in his fupply of

warlke

he did not incline to venture his

llores,

upon

perfon, the Genoefe having fet a high price

his head.

He

therefore chofe to relinquifh his throne,

and give up

his

views of ambition for fafety, hav-

ing furnilhed a remarkable example,

daring and defperate

dore had a

fpirit

may

better

might have worn the

upon the generous

Corfica,

far a

Had Theo-

go.

more prudence, and fome

little

fortune, he, and his pofterity,

crown of

how

title

of hav-

ing delivered the ifland from opprefTion.

It has

often been faid,

cretly fupported
ers.

But, from

that

all

that I can learn,

there

is

no

It is,

conje51;ure.

a rare thing, to find a private gentleman

embarking on

his

of fuch a nature.

own bottom,

in

an enterprife

But the truth

is,

Theodore was

a moll Angular man,

bout,

fe-

by fome of the European pow-

foundation whatever, for this

indeed,

Theodore was

and had been

by change of fortune,

that he

fo beaten a-

had

loft

the

common fentiments of mankind, and viewed things

as

one

who

had nothing

is

mad, or drunk, or

to lofe,

in a fever.

He

and a great deal to win. His

AN AC COUNT

136

fcheme was, to amiife the Corficans with hope*

of foreign aid

and, by the force of hope, to car-

ry

them foreward.

in

which

cafe,

he could very

fpirit,

it

it is

faid, that

there been

And, had he been

no help.

probable, fome of the powers of

Europe might have,

The

have

but they had behaved with fuch

as to require

fortunate,

eafily

would have come, had

the foreign aid

occafion for

This might have fucceeded,

by him.

in reality, ftood

talk differently of king

Corficans now,

Some of them, who had molt

Theodore.

his fine fpeeches.

him

Hill extoll

to

faith in

tlie fkies,

to

who looked

fupport their

own judgment

upon him

as

an impoftour, and never joined hear-

tily in his

meafures,

others,

him

reprefent

Wat Tyler, a king of a rabble

as

a kind of

but the moft know-

ing and judicious, and the General himfelf, confider him

in the

now been

moderate light

reprefented,

in

which he has

and own, that he was of

great fervice in reviving the fpirit of the nation,

which, after a good

many

years of conilant war,

was beginning to droop, but which, Theodore

reftored, while he rekindled the facred fire

of

li-

berty.

They, indeed,
fate has

thrown a

fince their

are fenfiblc,
fort

that his wretched

of ridicule on the nation,

king was confined

which was aflually the

cafe

in a jail at

London,

of poor Theodore

OF CORSICA.
who,

137

after

experiencing the moft extraordinary

viciflltudes

of fortune, chofe to end his days in

our ifland of liberty

wretched

Itate

but was reduced to the

of a prifoner, for debt.

Mr. Horace Walpole generoufly exerted himfor

felf

He

Theodore.

wrote a paper

World, with great elegance and humour,

a contribution for the monarch in

foliciting

be

to

diftrefs,

paid to Mr. Robert Dodfley, bookfeller,

as lord

This brought him a very hand-

high treafurer.

fome fum.

the

in

He

was allowed to get out of prifon.

Mr. Walpole has

original deed,

the

by which

Theodore made over the kingdom of Corfica,

fecurity
feal

He

to his creditors.

in

has alfo the great

of the kingdom.

Mr. Walpole has

curiofity to fee

told me,

acquaintance.

he had the

king Theodore, and was accord-

company with him,

ingly in

that

at a lady's

But whether from

of his

dulnefs, or

from

pride, he did not open his mouth.

I

fo

fuppofe he has been fo

much

become
after

much

dejedled,

and

hurt by his misfortunes, that he was

fullen

and

indifferent.

He

died very foon

he got out of prifon, and was buried in

St.

Anne's church-yard, Weftminfter ; where a fimple,

unadorned monument
following infcription

is

erected to him, with the

AN ACCOUNT

13S

Near

this place, is interred

Theodore, king of Corfica

Who

died in this parifh,

Dec.

1 1,

1756,
Immediately after leaving

The
By

king's bench prifon,

die benefit of the aft of infolvency

In confequence of which.

He

regiflered his

For the

The

ufe

kingdom of Corfica
of

liis

creditors.

grave, great teacher, to a level brings.

Heroes, and beggars, galley-flaves, and kings

But Theodore,
Fate pour'd

its

this

moral learn'd,

lefTon

on

his living

e'er

dead

head,

Beftow'd a kingdom, and deny'd him bread.

To

Genoefe,

eager to reprefs the

ed fome

Swifs

and Grifons,

who from

found

it

no

being

home, might

at

fcour the mountains of Corfica.

hir-

in 1734,

rife

gccuftomed to fuch a country

diers

The

return to the affairs of the ifland.

But

thefe

eafy matter to fcour

fol-

moun-

where the natives were continually

firing

upon them, and had numberlefs ways of

efcap-

tains,

ing.

They

bargain,

foon faw that they had

and that they gave the

much blood

Genoefe too

alfo recourfe to the defperate

dient of Marius

a bad

money,

for their

Genoa had

made

and

Sylla.

expe-

She publiflied an

OF COR
indemnity to
every

her

all

C A.

that they

fhould fight

The

robbers and

for the republick, in Corfica.

alfaiTins

tion

139

and outlaws of

afTaffins,

on condition

fort,

of Genoa, are no inconfiderable propor-

of her people.

together, from

Thefe

wretches

quarters, and wxre

all

twelve companies,

flocked

formed

who were joined with

into

the Swifs

and Grifons.
It

may

well be believed,

that

venal flipen-

and abandoned criminals, could not op-

diaries,

pofe an army of brave men,

the great caufe of liberty,

who were

fighting

iri

and had every thing

that was dear to them, at ftake.

But France, who has ever had an eye

now began

ifland,

to

be apprehenfive that the

Corficans might entirely throw

Genoa,

in

which

a free ftate,

from

cafe,

to this

ofi^

the

yoke of

they would either become

which the powers of Europe would,

mutual jealoufy, prote6t, or perhaps, would

put themfelves under the fovereignty of fome great

She refolved then to force them back

nation.

under the dominion of Genoa

for,

by conftant

negotiations with that republick, France has fuch

an afcendancy, that fhe

may command, when

whatever belongs to

pleafes,

A treaty

fhe

it.

was therefore made

at Verfailles,

by

which, his moft Chriftian Majefty engaged to re'

AN ACCOUNT

140

duce the Corficans to obedience

and

it

was con-

trived with fuch addrefs, as to appear done at the

Genoa

earnefl defire of

though

the

in reality,

republick had too recently experienced the danger

of calling

of a great

in the aid

repetition of the

ftate, to

wifh for a

fame expedient.

In the month of March, 1738, the count de

Boifieux was fent with a detachment of French

This general was a good

troops to Corfica.
cer,

on

He was

but of no great enterprife.

this expedition,

marefchal of France,

army,

at the battle

attended

by M. de Contades,

who commanded

of Minden.

offi-

fince,

the French

After feveral con-

ferences with the chiefs of the Corficans, GiafFeri

and Paoli, with

whom we may

alfo

mention Lu-

ca di Ornano, a collateral branch of the great

family, which Sampiero di Baftelica formerly reprefented,

M.

de BoifTeux finding that the Corfi^

cans would not fubmit to their old opprefTours,

beo-an his hoftilities.

The

people of Corfica remonftrated

mofl: Chriftian
rial,

in

Majefty

in a

which they enumerated

their grievances,

and

as

now compel them

tyranny.

at great length

they hoped

fhe

were fubjoined

af-

would

to yield to the worft

To the memorial

his

memo-

France had formerly

forded them proteftion,

not

very affeding

to

of

articles-

OF

C O

RS

C A.

141

of accomodation, which they fubmitted to the

French king.

Thefe

articles

were thought too bold for a

people in the fttuation of the Corficans

and

ar-

formed by the Genocfe were approved by

ticles

France

no accommodation could be

that

fo

brought about.

Giafferi

rited manifefto to their

it

and Paoli publifhed

countrymen,

a fpi-

concluding

with the noble fentiment of Judas Maccabeus

'

Melius

'

tis

'

tie,

eft

mori

in bello

noftrae (a).

quam

videre mala gen-

us to die in bat-

It is better for

than to behold the calamities of our people.'

M.

de Boiflet^x did confiderable hurt to the

Corficans

for,

although his operations were flow,

He

they were well conduced.

to art

for he

had a part of

ly like the people

had even recourfe

his troops dreft exa6t-

of the country,

and,

by that

device, they deftroyed multitudes, and occafioned

a ftrange confufion and difmay among the Corficans,

in

parties,

fo

much,

that

who appeared upon

the woods,

they

till

the mountains and in

they could not be

being fent from

were overtaken with a

certain

whether

Meanwhile, more

they were friends or enemies.

troops

came very near

France,

the

tranfports

terrible ftorm,

and fome

of them wrecked on the Corfican coafts, where

(.')

Maccabees, chap.

iii.

vcr. 59.

AN ACCOUNT

142

the patriots took the foldiers prifoners, and feized

M.

their arms.

de BoifTeux did not

Hiccefs of his operations.

He

live to fee

was taken

the

and

ill,

died at Baftia, in February 1739.

The

the

that

much

Genoefe,

elated with the

monarchy of France had

it,

truly pleafant

is

'AH

the

againft

Corficans, publifhed a long memorial.

ginning of

fuccefs

The

be-

the world

'

knows

'

which the republick of Genoa governs her

people

afFedion fhe hath ever regarded thofe of Corfi-

ca,

fo

&c.

and above

(a).'

and

mildnefs

the

well,

all,

They

love,

v^ith

with what goodnefs and

really intended this fhould

pafs in Europe, as a ferious truth.

fupported by the goodnefs of their caufe,

Still

the Corficans remained inflexible,

nor would they

ever have given way, but to fuch a fuperiourity of

force,

as

it

was impoflible for them to withftand.

In March,

1739, the French fent to Corfica,

the marquis de Maillebois,

ry

way

officer

He

fitted for

commander

fuch an cxpeditioh, being an

of great penetration, and uncommon

faw,

eve-

that the Corficans

had long been

fire.

trifled

with by Genoa, and that even the French had

not aded againft them with fufficient vigour.
faw,

that

it

was neceflary to

{a) JauiTin, tom.

i.

flrike a

p. 35S.

He

bold flroke,

OF CORSICA.
if

make any

he wanted to

blood

him

fo

iflanders,

liant

and

143

impreflion on the va-

long accuftomed to fcenes of

fince his fovereign

had committed to

the charge of conquering this people,

folved to do

it

effe6lually.

Every thing

therefore,

He

enterprife.

he re-

was provided for the

had 16 battalions of the

beft

troops of France, befides fome arquebufiers, and

Bearnois, expert in climbing the mountains.

Having formed two

fmall parties,

all

great corps,

compleatly furnifhed with am-

munition,

and whatever

convenient

elfe

to the villages,

in every quarter.

or

his grenadiers carried hea-

the vines,

He

cut

the olives,

down

fet fire

and fpread terrour and defolacion

He

hanged numbers of monks,

and others, who were keeneft

his

neceffary,

acrofs the rudeft paffes.

the ftanding corn,

at the

was

he pierced into the innermoft parts

of the country, while

vy cannon

and feveral

in the revolt,

fame time, publifhed, wherever he

and

v*ent,

terms of capitulation, which had the beft

chance to be accepted, amidft fo general a deftrudion.

caufe,

in

Notwithftanding

ungenerous

which they were difplayed, one cannot

but admire the martial

bois.

the

abilities of

M.

de Maille-

AN ACCOUNT

144

We
The

have feen,

fiiccours

which he

left,

durfl:

now took

as

terrible flaugh-

from

fo

formidable a nation as

down

France, obliged the Corficans to lay

at the

much

place, with the dread of Hill

greater vengeance,

arms,

not land;

were not of

Such unprecedented, and

avaih
ter,

Theodore

that

end of the campaign,

Of thefe

was indeed a hot one.

their

1739, which

arms, a thoufand

The

were found to have the Genoefe mark.

republick demanded to have them reftored, a

cumftance

The

little

to their honour.

generals,

and Paoli,

Giafferi

and went to Naples

ifland,

cir-

left

the

where they were

both made colonels, which charader, they enjoy-

ed

till

their death.

There were

who

triots,

ifland

ftill

fkulked

fome few enthufiaftick pain the wildeft parts

but thefe were

all

of the

reduced before the end

was

the

young ba-

of the year 1740,

as

ron Newhoff,

nephew of Theodore, who

the

alfo

with a fmall party of defperadoes,

had long

efcaped the utmoO; diligence of the French com-

mander.

and

on

his

the'

formed.

Fie furrendered, on condition, that he

attendants, fhould be landed in fafety

continent,

which was

faithfully

per-

COR

A.

145

In this manner was Corfica totally vanquilh-

of which the Genoefe were as

ed by France,

had been

proud,

as

ment.

They gave
for

bois,

if

it

in propofals to

keeping the iQand

Thefe propofals

Amongft many

one was,
the

any

as

M.

Jauflin (a)

fchemes,

number of

and make them over to the

his diftant colonies.

there be a m.ore harlli,

than this

Jauffin

or a

more abfurd

much on

is

of Genoa, and through the whole of

volumes, does not feem to have

of true
fpirit

yet

liberty,

-,

fhould be afhamed

other barbarous

king of France, to people

meafure,

de Maille-

to tranfport a confiderable

inhabitants,

Could

by

ftate

M.

atchieve-

perpetual quiet.

in

are preferved

and they are fuch,

of.

own

their

or at

felt

the fide
his

two

one fpark

to have entered into the

all

of what the Corficans were fighting for;

when he

help faying

recites
*

II

this

propofal,

fembloit par

he cannot

la qu'ils

auroient

contens d' etre foverains des feuls rochers

'

ete

'

de Corfe fans

'

pear, that the Genoefe

to be fovereigas of the bare rocks

fujets {h).

It

would thence ap-

would have been

of Corfica,

without fubjeds.'

() Jauflin, torn.

i.

p.

{h) lb. p.

468.

fatisfied

481.

AN ACCOUNT

146

France being engaged with more important

objedis than Corfica, or any thing concerning the

Genocfe, was no longer at leilure to employ her

attention
in

on that

agitation,

ifland.

it

now

fhe thought proper to recall her

They

troops from Corfica.

the ifland,

All Europe being

accordingly quitted

end of the year 1741, leaving

in the

in perfe6l fubmiflion

and quietnefs

was

as

faid

of the Romans by Galgacus, the ancient Scottiih

chief,

mountains

pellant (a).
it

famous fpeech, upon the Grampian

in his
'

Ubi

folitudinem faciunt,

Where

they

pacem ap-

make

adefart, they call

knew

the Corficans toa

peace/

The French,
well,

noa,

indeed,

when

left to

would fubmit

that they

to believe,

The

themfelves.

pened accordingly

as

who were
furnifhed

French were hardly

for the

much

in

fettled

they took

from the Genoefe.

fticity,

different

them with arms

depreffed, like

in

Several of their countrymen,

ever.

formerly done,

Gehap-

event

gone, before the Corficans were again as

motion

to

From

a ftrong

bow

towns

and,

as

in

they

vit.

had

good many arms

having been long
recovering

they rofe with renewed vigour.

(^) Tacit, de

Italy,

Agric. cap. 30.

its

ela-

Man,

OF COR
woman and

ed

may be

child,

C A.

field

arms

aifo carried

and even

of Sparta, (liew-

their vvoinen, like thofe

their valour in battle.

hV

have engaged

laid to

young boys took the

for very

fome of

Many

of the religious

and, as if actuated by a kind of

was ardent againft

univerfal inipiration, every foul

the tyrant.
Gaffori and Matra,

ment of
the

Corfica, under the

obtained the governtitle

Gaffori was a

kingdom.

of Proteclours of

man

of diilinguifhed

His eloquence was moft remarkable

talents.

the Corficans

fliil

He

He went

and met them with a ferene dignity, which

him

little

and

heard once, that a band of

were coming againll him.

He

nifhed them.

talk with admiration of his ha-

rangues to them.
alTairms

now

our,
aflo-

begged they would only hear

and he gave them

fo pathetick a pic-

ture of the diftrelTes of Corfica, and roufed their

fpirits to

fuch a degree againft thofe,

the opprefTion,

who

caufcd

that the affalTins threw themfelves

at his feet, intreated his forgivenefs,

and inflantly

joined his banners.

The Genoefe
of Corte,
Corficans,

it

being in poiTefTion of the caflie

was befieged with great vigour by the

commanded by

want of thought, the

Gaffori's eldefl fon,

Gaffori.

nurfe,

By

a flrancre

who took

care of

then an infant, wandered a-

AN ACCOUNT

148
way,

at

diflance

little

Genoefe perceived

The

from the camp.

and making a fudden

it,

they got hold of the nurfc and the child,

them

carried

The

into the caftle.

ed a decent concern

at

this

fally,

and

General Ihew-

unhappy

accident,

The

which ftruck a damp into the whole army.

Genoefe thought they could have Gaffori upon

their

own

dear

fince they

terms,

When

pledge.

were poflefled of fo

fome cannon play, they held up

over that part of the wall,
tillery

gan

was

draw back

to

The

levelled.

to continue the

gentleman,

fire.

who

which

his ar-

Corficans ftopt, and be-

and ordered

Luckily, his firmnefs

his child,

who

efcaped

inherits his father's cftate.

me

this llory,

which does

dired:ly

had the pleafure of knowing the young

related to

ther.

againft

at their head,

was not broken by lofing

unhurt.

his fon,

but Gaffori, with the refoluti-

on of a Roman, Hood

them

make

he advanced to

had

himfelf,

it

alfo

particular intereft in

fo

from the

He

beft authority,

much honour

to his fa-

vouched, by fuch as had no

it.

Matra, the other general or protedlour, was

always fufpefled,

as fecretly

favouring the views

of Genoa, and was rather a promoter of

fion,

than a patron of liberty.

misfortune of the

divi-

Indeed, the great

Corficans, was their want of

OF COR
union

up

C A.

149

which made particular animofities take

their attention,

and divert

from the

their zeal

great caufe.

In

745, Count Domenico Rivarola,

at Baflia,

arrived

along with fome Englfh fhiips of war.

Great Britain had forbidden her fubjedls to give

any

to

afliftance

the Corficans

-,

by the

but,

changeful fchemes of political connexions,

flie

confented to fend fome Ihips againft the Genoefe

not, as if

from

but,

herfelf,

the requefl of her ally,

who had taken

of Sardinia,

of Corlica

Thefe Ihips bombarded

heart.

complying with

the king

caufe

the

as

much

to

and San

Ballia,

Fiorenzo, both of which they delivered into the

The

hands of the Corficans.

tifh

men of

us to

force of the Bri-

war, and the great fervice done by

their caufe,

by the

are never forgotten,

brave iflanders.

Count Rivarola, was proclaimed

mo

of the kingdom.

Generaliffi-

Gaffori and Matra, were

not prefent at this eledion, and did every thing

in their

power

to oppofe

it ;

thing but heart-burnings,

and the

fions

this

people,

Britifh

was no-

and miferable

diflen-

went away with an idea of

as if they

half-barbarians.

fo that there

had been

parcel of

AN ACCOUNT

ISO

As our

with regard to Cornea,

information,

has been very imperfedt, thefe

unhappy impref-

have continued ever

and have had too

fions

much

fince,

influence in Great Britain.

Rivarola, Gaffori and Matra, having at length

come
a

better,

little

Baftia

In

matters went on

to a tolerable agreement,

though the Genoefe loon recovered

and San Fiorenzo.

1

746, the Corficans fent two envoys, with

propofais to the Earl of Briftol, then his Britan-

niok Majefly's ambaffadour,

rin.

The

intention of thefe

at the

court of

Tu-

propofais was, that

Corfica Ihould put herfelf entirely under the pro-

The envoys

tedion of Great Britain.

Turin,

till

My

the miniftry at
tion at

Lord

Briftol

London,

waited at

had a return from

fignifying their fatisfac-

what had been communicated, hoping the

Corficans would preferve the fame obliging fen-

timents

-,

but that

it

was not then the time to

enter into any treaty with them.

Count Domenico Rivarola,

finding that he

could be of moft fervice to his country, when at

a diftance,
ftantly

returned

improved

Sardinian

t:he

to

Turin,

where he con-

'benevolent intentions of his

Majefby towards

with the rank of colonel,

Corfica.
in April

He

died

1748, and

OF CORSICA.

151

kt behind him the character of an honeft man,

and a gallant

patriot.

In the fame month and year, the Britifh Ihip,

the Naflaii,

commanded by

together witli
Coifica,

two

fome

tranfports,

carried over to

one

battalions,

Holcomb,

captain

of the king of

and one of Auftrians,

Sardinia's troops,

der to aid the Corficans

or-

but the general peace

being concluded, at Aix

in

Chapelle, no foreign

la

ftates

could any longer interfere,

and the Corfi-

cans

and

left

Genoefe,

again

v;ere

to

them-

felves.

My
ledtion

Lord Hailes
of

among

has,

his valuable col-

hiftorical manufcripts,

lating to Corfica.

The one

two pieces

entitled,

re-

Informa-

tion de I'etat dans leqel fe trouve prefentement la

Corfe,

& de ce qu'il faudroit

rola.

la delivrer

du gouvernement Genois,

I'efclavage
ritalien,'

pour

is

The

Corfica, in

written by
other,

is

de

traduit de

Count Domenico Rivaaccount of the

an

the original

Italian

flate

of

drawn up by

one,

who

appears to have been well acquainted

with

the

fubjedt.

Both

of

thefe

papers

fet

forth, the advantages to be derived to a maritime

power, from an alliance with

were communicated by

M.

Corfica.

Carret de Gorregne,

the Sardinian minifter, to general

the Britifh ambalTadour,

They

Wentworth,

at the court

of Turin

AN ACCOUNT

152
and,

believe, they

had confidcrable influence,

procuring the interpofition

in

Great Britain,

Matra,

favour of the Corficans.

in

in the

end of the year 1748, went

and

thefervice of Piedmont,
neral of the ifland.

GafFori fole ge-

A repetition

of the fame de-

1753, Gaffori was

of murderers,
it is

a faft that

fet

till

on the 3d of Oc-

thefe wretches have

There

eredled at Corte, on

is

The

leaft,
ftill

in the terri-

of infamy

pillar

the place,

houfe of the principal adlour

ny.

At

on by the republick.

fome of

of Genoa.

by a band

aflTaffinated

miferable penfion to fupport them,

tory

.to

left

fperate aflions continued,

tober,

of Sardinia and

where flood the

in this

bloody

villa-

houfe was burnt, and razed from the

foundation.

The

Corficans,

and violent

from

parties,

their family

connexions,

their

accounts of

differ

in

Some of them would have

Gaffori.

that he

was too much engrofTed by

and

order to promote his

in

voured

to bring

ciliation

own

it

believed,

felfifh

interefl,

views,

endea-

about unworthy fchemes of recon-

with Genoa.

But,

befides

the reludt-

ance which every generous mind mull

feel,

give credit to injurious reports of a hero,

greatnefs of foul fhone forth,

have related, what

in

the

to

whofe

manner

heard of Gaffori from thofe.

OF COR
in

C A,

whofe judgment and impartiality

153
I

could con-

joined with the regard with which he

fide,

in

remembrance by the majority of

me

men, determine

to a perfuafion

his

is

had

country-

of the

reality

of his virtues.

The

adminiflratours of the ifland had been fo

by general

well inftituted

Gaffori,

that Corfica

was able to continue for two years without any

while the war was

chief;

ftill

carried on with va-

rious fuccefs.

The
oath,

patriots did not

that,

however,

fwear a folemn

rather than fubmit to the republick,

they would throw themfelves into the

fire,

This oath, which

the Saguntines of old.

is

like

con-

ceived in terms of ftrength and violence, not unlike the Corfican

ftile,

but fomewhat exaggerated,

was circulated over Europe, and generally believed to be genuine.

favour of the Cor-

was very naturally led

to give this oath a

place in
that
I

nals

it

warmth

his

was a

hiftory (a)

but Paoli affures me,

fiftion.

come now,

to a

remarkable event in the an-

of Corfica, an event, from which the

pinefs

who

in

difplays a generous
licans,

Doftour Smollet,

and glory of that

hap-,

ifland will principally

(^) SmoII. hill. vol. XVI. p. 384.

be

AN ACCOUNT

154
dated.

mean,

the elefbion of Pafcal Paoli, to

be General of the kingdom.

Pafcal Paoli *

chief Giacinto

was fecond fon to the old

He

Paoli.

with great care by

who formed

father,

his

his

and infpired him with every wor-

tafte for letters,

He

thy and noble fentiment.

ca,

had been educated

was born

where he remained long enough,

in Corfi-

to contradl

a love and attachment to his country, and to feel

the opprefTion under which

When

it

groaned.

the patriots were totally crufhed by the

jnarquis de

Maillebois, his father took

Paoli to Naples,

v/here he

young

had the advantage of

attending the academy, got a commiffion as an

officer in that fervice,

Here he

and was much about court.

lived twelve or thirteen years,

culti-

vating the great powers with which nature had

endov/ed him,

* His name,
Pafcal, as

in Italian,

more agreeable

ing liim any

When

and laying the foundation of thofe

title.

I aflced

or General

him.
his

is

Pafquale de' Paoli.

to an Englifli ear.

owe

tliis

Whether

anfwer was,

I alfo

thought to
I
'

My

Lord

fliould call Paoli,

Signor

is

Hailes.

Signer,

better than

ral,

but plain Pafcal

iy.

King Alexander, but Alexander of Macedon

title

adds to the dignity of Judas Maccabeus.'

is

better than either.

write

avoid giv-

Gene-

You do not
;

no

OF COR

A.

155

grand defigns, which he had early formed,

for

the deliverance of his country.

His reputation became

among

the Cor-

that he received the {lrong;eft invitations

ficans,

to

fo great

come over and

barked

in the glorious enterprife,

deration of the dangers,

cares,

tiie

em-

ftimulated by

and undifmayed by a

generous ambition,

certainty

He

command.

take the

confi-

and the un-

which he was about to encounter.

There was fomething

his parting

from

particularly affecting,

his father

and gray with years,

fell

in

the old man, hoary

on

and kiffed

his neck,

him, gave him his blefling, and with a broken

feeble voice, encouraged

him

on which he was entering

may,

pofTibly,

'

'

my

Your

'

doubt not,

little

'

your caufe,

'

plications to

'

profperity.'

mind,

defign

'

My

faid he,

fon,'

never fee you more

fliall

is

in the undertaking,

a great, and a noble one

but

but in

ever be prefent with you.

God

will blefs

which remains to
in offering

me of
up

you

life,

in

it.

and

The

I v/ill allot

my prayers

to

and fup-

heaven, for your protection and

Having again embraced him, they

parted.

Pafcal Paoli no fooner appeared in the in and,

than he attracted the attention of evei^^ body.

His carriage and deportment prejudiced them

his favour,

and

his fuperiour

in

judgment, and pa-

AN ACCOUNT

156

of elo-

triotick fpirit, difplayed with all the force

quence, charmed their underftandings.

with

heightened

condefcenfion,

modefly, entirely

won him

All

this,

affability

and

A way

their hearts.

was open for him to the fupreme command, and

he was called to

countrymen

it

by the unanimous voice of

upon which

occafion,

was

his

iffued

the following manifefto.

'The

Supreme, and General Council of the King-

dom

<?/

CoRs

c A,

to

the Beloved people of that

Nation,

Beloved people and countrymen,

'THE

difcords and divifions,

that have

begun

to infedt the publick, as well as private tranquil-

lity

and perfonal enmities arnongft

very

and zealous, for the good of the publick, have

'

obliged our principal chiefs to call us together,

'

to this general Confulta,

on fuch necelTary meafures,

'

contribute to the eftablifhment of a commorj

union, and to caufe the moft rigid laws to be

put

of our country, by the revival of ancient,

little

fear

of God,

in execution,

thofe,

and are

who have

little interefted.

in order to deliberate
as

may

againft fuch as

effedlually

lliall

dare tq

OF CORSICA.
'

difturb

'

pofitions.

it

by

15;

their private piques, or unruly dif-

The moll proper and

effedual means, to fuc-

ceed

oufly thought to be, the eledling of one oeco-

'

nomical, political and general chief, of enlight-

ened

'

with full power,

'

cafion to confult

'

ftate,

'

concurrence of the people, or their refpedtive

'

reprelentatives.
*

in this

our defireable end, are by us

faculties,

command

except

By

the general voice

Pafcal Paoli

'

ties,

when

kingdom

there fhall be oc-

treat

of,

without the

eledled for that trufl,

is

a man, whofe virtues and abili-

render him every

After

over this

upon matters concerning the

which he cannot

'

to

feri-

fo general

an

way worthy
ele<5Vion,

thereof.

by the

chiefs

of

'

the council of war,

'

vinces,

parifhes alTembled, this gentleman

'

by

the

fent to his houfe,

charge, and to repair hither to be acknowledg-

'

ed

exercife the office,

with the utmoft zeal, affection and difinterefted-

and the

a letter, to

principal

as

the deputies of the pro-

refpe<5live reprefentatives

come; and

was invited,

a large committee

members of

our chief ;

of the

to defire

of

the afiembly, was

him

to accept of the

and to take the folemn oath, to

with which he

is

invefted,

AN ACCOUNT

158
' nefs

and to receive the oath of

and

fidelity

obedience from the commons.

'

many

Befides having given

he has fhewn

* this,

much

reafons

againft

reluclance to take up-

'

on him

'

formed of our

'

cafe of any obftacle or refufal,

'

to acquiefce,

'

was condu(5ted hither

laft

night,

'

plighted and received

the

oaths above-men-

tioned.
'

He

charge

fo great a

is

refolutions

but having been

and determinations,

in

he was obliged

He

being neceflitated fo to do.

to take the

in-

and

hath

government upon himfelf,

by two counfellors of

and one

'

affifted

'

of the moft reputable perfons from each p'O*

vince,
'

who

The

be changed every month.

(hall

day of Auguft

third

'

for a general

'

authours of

many

'

committed

lately in different

'

cuit,

'

with the deputies.

as he fhall think fitting.

'

'

liberations,

'

as

'

charge

it

fhall

be fixed on,

order to

punifh

will

the

crimes, particularly murders,

by the

This

parts.

cir-

aforefaid General,

The number

of armed men,

that thefe our refokitbns

concerns
all

in

circuit,

to be direfted

We hope,

ftate,

and de-

be to the general fatisfadlion,

the

common good

the chiefs

and

we

and commifTaries over

OF COR
'

the parifhes,

'

their

'

lity.'

co-operate,

to

A.

159
far as

as

power, to promote the pubhck tranquil-

Dated

at St.

Antonio of the White Houfe,

15th of July, 1755.

this

Though

Paoli had lono; meditated on the im-

portance of the charge he was to enter upon,

near approach ftruck

him with awe

were enlarged,

his

and the

appeared

office

him, than

balanced

more momentous

his

certainty,

to

meafure,
felf

the

country.

and he could not

aflonifhing
to have,

bound

di-

influence

on the hap-

But the reprefentations

him, were fo earneft,

fo

He

affedled.

For he could not

government was

pinefs of his

made

plans.

command, was not

but be ferioufly moved.

which

to

and diffidence, when called to

the confequences,

vine with

for his ideas

were magnanimous,

refolves

more moderate

hefitation

the fupreme

its

could appear to one of more con-

it

fined views, and

His

in

lies

and,

in

fome

peremptory, that he thought himin

duty to

accept of the arduous

tafk.

When
affairs

he enquired into the fituation of the

of Corfica,

and confufion.

he found the utmoft dilbrder

There was no fubordination, no

AN ACCOUNT

i6o
difcipline,

no money, hardly any arms and am-

munition

and, what was worfe than

little

all,

union am^ong the people.

He

to remedy thefe defe6ls.

His perfuafion and ex-

ample, had wonderful force

themfelves,

in

immediately began

all

ranks exerted

providing what was neceflary for

carrying on the war with

fpirit

whereby, in a

Ihort time, the Genoefe were driven

to the re-

moteft corners of the ifland.

Having thus

from the bo-

expelled the foe,

fom of his country, he had

to attend to

leifure

the civil part of the adminiftration, in which he

difcovered

abilities

He

paralleled.

and conftancy hardly

reftified

be

to

innumerable abufes,

which had infmuated themfelves, during the

times of trouble and confufion.
ner,

He,

was always

man-

upon

new- modelled the government,

foundeft principles of democratical

in a

late

rule,

the

which

his favourite idea.

The

Corficans having been long denied legal

juilice,

had aflumed the right of private revenge,

and had been accuftomed

upon

to afTafTmate each other

the moft trivial occafions.

He

tremely dimcult to break them of

by which

it

found

this

was computed, that the

800 fubjcds every

year.

The

difeafe

it

ex-

pradlice,
Itate

loft

was be-

OF
come

ORSIC A.

fo violent, that

feemed almofb incurable.

it

by feafonable admonition, by repre-

However,
fenting to

i6i

them

the ruin

caufe of liberty,

at a

of

pradice to the

this

time when they had occa-

fion for all the afliftance they

could lend to each

other, joined to a {lri6l exercife of criminal juftice

he gradually brought them to be convin-

ced, that the

power of difpenfmg punifnment be-

longed to the publick

per lubmifTion,
ftration,

enemy,

So

and

effedtual

make head

againfl:

an

indeed, be properly fpeaking, a ftate.

were the meafures he took,

law was paffed, making

it

without a pro-

and a regular fyftem of admini-

they never could

or,

that,

affaflination

that a

capital, let

be committed on any pretence whatever.

The

Corficans

like the Italians,

are naturally

humane

and moft fouthcrn nations, are

extremely violent in their tempers.

tainly the efFed; of a

the

human frame

lity.

warm

climate,

This

cer-

is

which form.s

to an exquifite degree of fenfibi-

Whatever advantages

produce, by cherifhing the

more

but,

exalted affedtions

it

this fenfibility

may

feelings

and

finer
is

at the

fame time

produftive of fome difadvantages, being equally

the occafion of impatience, fudden pafllon, and a
fpirit

of revenge,

tending

to

fociety.

the

diforder

of

ANACCOUNT

i62
by

Paoli,

his mafterly

knowledge of human

guided the Corficans to glory, and ren-

nature,

dered the impetuofity of their difpofitions, and

their pafTion for revenge, fubfervient to the noble

objefts of liberty,

His wife

try.

and of vindicating

inftitutions

had

fo

their

coun-

good an

ejffedt,

that notwithftanding of their frequent lofTes in

acbion,

was found, that

it

number of

When

in a

few

years, the

inhabitants was increafed 16000.

proper fyftem of government was

formed, and fome of the moft glaring abufes recPaoli proceeded to improve and civilize the

tified,

manners of the Corficans.

This was a very de-

They had been brought up

licate ta(k.

in anar-

chy, and their conftant virtue had been refiftance.

It therefore,

them

required the niceft conduft, to

difcern the difference

ftraint

between falutary

born to

and who received a nation

rule,

as a patrimonial inheritance.
in vain

to

re-

He was no mo-

and tyrannick oppreffion.

narch,

make

It

was,

therefore,

think of afting with force, like the

Czar Peter towards the Ruffians.

It

was not,

in-

deed, confiftent with his views of forming a free

nation

but, had he been inclined to

He

not have executed fuch a plan.

dependant upon the people,

and anfv/erable

to

eafy matter to
his

power.

But

them

was

elefted

entirely

by them,

for his condudl. It

reftrain thofe
this,

he could

it,

of

whom

was no

he held

Paoli accomplilhed.

OF CORSICA.
He

163

gradually prepared the Corficans

for the

reception of laws, by cultivating their minds, and

leading them, of their

own

accord, to defire the

enaftment of regulations, of which he fhewed

them the
Corte

benefit.

and he was

eftablilhed an univerfity at

at great pains to

village of the

kingdom.

laft ftep

ficans to

he took was, to induce the Cor-

apply themfelves to agriculture,

merce, and other

civil

the Corficans
fo that

It

had

had given

a contempt for the arts of peace

they thought nothing worthy of their at-

but arms and military achievements.

tention,

great and valourous aflions, which

them had performed, gave them

which difdained

into

fo perfedt,

all

many of

a certain pride,

meaner and more inglorious

Heroes could not fubmit to fink

occupation.

down

com-

War

occupations.

entirely ruined induftry in the ifland.

The

have proper

for the inftrudlion of children, in every

fchools,

The

He

plain peafants.
as that

Their virtue was not

of the ancient Romans,

who

could return from the triumphs of viftory,

to

follow their ploughs.

From

thefe caufes,

the country was in danger

of being entirely uncultivated,

becoming

and the people of

lawlefs and ungovernable rabble of

banditti,

l2

AN ACCOUNT

164

Paoli therefore,
againfl this

and by degrees,

brought the Coraverfion,

lefs

fo

provide themfelves fufficiently in

lead to

at

himfelf ferioufly to guard

look upon labour with

ficans to
as

fet

food and clothing,

and to carry on a

little

com-

merce.

His adminiftration,

from being

that,

in every refpeft

the nation

rent into fadlions,

became firm and united

-,

was fuch,

and hid not France

again interpofed, the Corfican heroes would long

before this time have totally driven the Genoefe

from the

ifland.

Feeling

its

own importance,

tion refolved to give the

the Corfican na-

Genoefe no quarter

at lea,

which they had hitherto done, out of indulgence

to the

unhappy

their
live

individuals of the republick

lamenting

which obliged them to

fituation,

under a tyrannical government.

But finding

that the Genoefe continually attacked, and

booty of the Corfican

veffels,

highly equitable to retaliate

fame time,
powers.
in

760

all

To

due refpedt
this effeft,

it

made

was thought

preferving at the

for the other maritime

a manifefto was iffued

(a).

Thefe firm and rapid advances of the Corfican nation,

cern
ill

and

filled

in

the Genoefe with ferious con-

1761, they publifhed a

very mild and infinuating terms,

(a) Appendix

N".

I.

m anifefto
to

try

OF COR

A.

165

they could allure the Corficans to a pacifick fubmiffion (a).

Immediately

was alTembled

upon
at

the ftrongeft

this,

were taken,

refolutions

and independency
memorial was

ficans,

terpofe,

done

lb

but on
its

liber-

(b).

alfo

publifhed by the Cor-

to the fovereigns of

upon them, by

never to

the republick,

condition of having Corfica fecured in

where

Vefcovato in Cafinca,

make any agreement with

ties

council

general

Europe

(c)^ calling

the rights of humanity, to in-

and give peace to a nation which had

much

for freedom.

In thefe various writings, there

eloquence,

a feeling,

and a

the Corfican caufe

a fpirit of

refolution,

does honour to the charader of

But the poUticks of

is

which

this people.

Verfailles did not favour

France has been alternately,

the fcourge and the ihield of Genoa.

Paoli had

well nigh compleatly finifhed his great fcheme of

freeing every part of the iiland from the Genoefe,

when

a treaty

was concluded between France and

the republick,

by which the former engaged to

fend fix battalions of troops to garrifon the fortified

towns

in Corfica, for the fpace

{a) Appendix

N".

{c) Appendix

N*. IV.

II.

{b)

of four years.

Appends

N''. III.

AN ACCOUNT

i66

When

was

this treaty

firft

known

every noble heart was affiifled

body

for every

and fword into Corfica, and

fire

hopes of the brave

of it, with

energy,

his ufual

to his

Parma

at

wrote

and

friend

one of the au-

man who

thours of the Encyclopedie, a

to

blaft the

M. Roufieau

iflanders.

M. De Ley re,

mine,

Europe,

that France was again determined

believed,

carry

in

unites

with fcience and genius the moll amiable heart and

moft generous foul

'

II

avouer que vos

faut

un peuple bien

bien ven-

Franfois, font

'

du

a la tyrannie, bien cruel, et bien acharne fur

les

malheureux.

'

a I'autre

'

pour

'

be owned that your countrymen, the French,

are

'

ranny,

perfecuting

'

a free

believe they

de

plaifir

exceedingly

man

friend

and

who

crois qu'ils iroient

It

muft

wholly fold to ty-

and

relentlefs

they

If

would go

forcible.

thither

in

knew of

him

for the

mere

*.'

a good tranflation of a fentence fo

am

indebted for the above,

does not choofe to have his

tranflator.

libre

the other end of the world, I

It is difficult to give

original

cruel

the unhappy.
at

un homme

I'exter miner.

nation,

fervile

pleafure of extirpating

very

favoient

bout du monde, je
feul

le

S'ils

fervile,

to a

name mentioned

as

OF CORSICA.
But
tick

it

and poli-

a prudent

turned out to be

She was

fcheme on the part of France.

owing the Genoefe

Her

167

fome

finances were not fuch as

venient for her to

niilers are

tageous

for

treaty

the Genoefe,

'

lofs

their

We

it

very con-

to conclude an advan-

They

monarch.

cannot yet

But we

made

livres.

But the French mi-

pay.

never at a

of

millions

let

you have your

fend you fix battallions

'

money.

'

of

ing fund for the difcharge of our debt.'

will

auxiliaries to Corlica,

Genoefe,
tion

who

in

the

would enfue;

provoked, and

be a fink-

barbarous

never doubted, that

were again

fkirmiflies

let that

The

fatisfac-

had formerly done againft

what France

foldiers

and

with

recalled

the Corficans,

told

continual

ifland,

France

French

if

would be

bloody war would

be the

confequence, by which the Corficans would

gain be reduced to a Hate of flavery.

a-

They were

therefore extremely pleafed with the fcheme.

The
to act

French, however, took care to engage

only on the defenfive, and to

ty for four years,

that they

fix

the trea-

might be fure of

having time to fink their debt.

They

fent

troops as ftipulated in the end of the year

the

1764

AN ACCOUNT

i68

and the Count De Marboeuf was appointed com-

mander

in chief.

M. De Marboeuf was
and temper

an officer of experience

and, no doubt,

had

his inftruc-

condud: himfelf mildly towards the Cor-

tions to

All his duty was,

Ficans.

things Ihould not

that (he fhould

become worfe

ftill

retain the

San Fiorenzo,

Baflia,

to

take care

that

Genoa

but,

for

garrifon towns of

Calvi,

Algagliola and

Ajaccio.

The

Corficans condu6led

with

this occafion,

general council

(a) publifhed

fhewed no
trufled,

the greateft

was held,

from which

diflruft

upon

and determinations
it

appears, that they

hoftilities againft

But, for greater fecurity,

it

propriety.

of the French, who,

would not begin

a council of

themfelves,

they

them.

was provided, that

war fhould be appointed by the

government, to be ever vigilant againft any

in-

of what they fuppofed France had

ta-

fractions
citly

promifed to them, and was bound by the

law of nations to obferve

jfhould not
ritories

that the

French troops

be allowed to have accefs to the

of the nation

(a) Appendix N'^.

ter-

that the General lliould

V,

OF COR
any French

give

to

of

the

in

and

frontiers-,

pafsport,

he

firll

general con-

of what pafsports he had grantgranting them

motives for

his

the

169

but fhould be obliged

account,

an

fulta thereafter,

ed

it

C A.

defired

officer

might grant him

upon

poft fufficient guards

if

and

of every treaty he Ihould have with the French.

That,

as

was

it

reported,

of peace with the republick would be of-

fals

they fhould rejecl

fered,

not

upon

That

(inca.

the

in

mod

to the

troops

lofs
j

fuch,

did

it

make

the General fhould

Chriftian

mufl

name of

in

fuftain

by the

the

great

ref-

the nation,

with

Majefty,

of Ca-

arrival

regard

of

by which, the Genoefe would be

lieved of

his
re-

expence of the Corfican

and the patriots be prevented from con-

war,

and

totally

the ifland.

That

tinuing their fuccefsful enterprifes,

expelling their enemies from
this

they

if

general council

pe6lful remonftrance,
his

all

grant to the nation, the preliminaries

firll

refoived

to

fome new propo-

remonftrance might be more effeclual, his

excellency

fhould,

at

the

fame

time,

to the powers favourable to Corfica,

might employ
king,

in

their mediation

order

v;ith

to preferve to

the

apply

that they

the French
nation

its

AN ACCOUNT

170

prerogatives,

rights,

And

cy.

they further

body had,
the

liberty

and independen-

ordered,

without controul,

woods of

every

that as

timber

cut

in

they fhould be prohibited

Corfica,

without the permiflion of the govern-

fo to do,

ment.

Thefe determinations were wife and mode"Without giving umbrage to the French,

rate.

they fecured the patriots from fudden attacks,

or

infidious

the cutting

away to

the

probably,

for this edi6t,

carrying

Toulon ; which

would have done,

which

had

they,

the Corfi-

cans a noble fupply of wood, to be ready,

for their

own

fervice,

either

or for the fervice of any

maritime power, with

an

it

not been

it

preferved to

to

requi-

clTentially

French from
and

Marfeilles

relating

article

was

of timber,

to prevent

fite

The

wiles.

whom

make

they might

alliance.

The

warlike operations of Corfica were

fufpended.

But

of tranquillity
paring for
giving

to

improved the

the beft

perfedlion

and

to

in pre-

the

civil

effedtuating

what

liability

country

had not been able

purpofe,

feafon

of viftory, and in

future fchemes

conftitution of his

^ges

Paoli

now

to

produce,

and ex-

OF CORSICA.
hibiting an illuftrious inflance of

of Epaminondas

quam

'

fuiflfe

has

'

nation.*

'

Unum

civitatem

hominem

(a).

171

what was

faid

pluris

That one man

been of more confequence than a whole

(a) Corn. Nep.

vit.

Epam.

in fin.

CHAPTER
'The

III.

Prefent State of Corsica,

with

refpe5}

to

Government^ Religion^ Arms, Commerce, LearnGenius and Chara5ier of

the

ing,

its

Inhabi-

tants.

A FTER
"*

ifland,

ciflitudes,
fult

it

which has experienced

will

fo

many

vi-

be agreeable to confider the re-

of thefe vigorous exertions in the caufe of

I ihall,

liberty.

prefent

now

running over the revolutions of an

my

with

therefore,

readers with

the flate

much

pleafure,

of Corfica

as it

13.

The Government
Every paefe or

village,

elefts,

a Podefta and other

votes,

have the

mune

of Corfica

refpe<5bable

is,

as

follows.

by majority of

two magiftrates, who

name of

'

Padri del

Fathers of the Community.'

giftrates are chofen annually.

Com-

Thefe ma-

They may be

con-

tinued in office for feverai years, at the will of

the

community

tion everv vear.

but there muft be a new elec-

AN ACCOUNT

174

The

by

Podefta,

may

himfelf,

caufes to the value of ten livres

Commune, may

the Padri del

and united with

finally

determine

The

Podefta

the reprefentative of the government,

and to

caufes to the value of thirty livres.

is

determine

him

are addreffed

The

council.

the orders of the fupreme

all

Padri del

Commune

fuperintend

the ceconomy and police of the village,

people together,

and confult with them on every

thing that concerns their

lages,

call the

In fome

intereft.

vil-

the inhabitants join with the Podefta and

Padri del

Commune,

whom they

can confide, and to

whom

they dele-

gate their power of fettling the

afi^airs

of the pu-

twelve honeft

men,

blick.

Thefe

afieflTors

with the three magiftrates of the village.

The names

and

in

are called counfellors,

fit

as

of thefe Magiftrates, as foon as eledl-

ed, muft be tranfmitted to the magiftrates of the

province,

who have

in their

it

the choice, and order a

new

power

eledtion

to oppofe

but this

never happens when the people have been unani-

mous.

Sometimes they choofe two Podeftas and

one Padre del Commune, and fometimes more

and fometimes fewer

counfellors.

gularities are permitted,

of

to

humour

different villages in an infant ftate,

no confequence

for the

Thefe

irre-

the caprices

and

are

of

fame degree of power

OF
remains to each
a lefler or

ORS

number

who

A.

175
be held by

whether jt

office,

a greater

Holland, thofe

as in the ftates

fend two or three reprefen-

have but an equal voice with thofe

tatives,

In fome of the

iend only one.

towns, the Podefta

who

more confiderable

not fubjeft to the provin^

is

but

cial magiflrates,

of

confidered as having equal

is

authority with them.

Once

a year,

all

the inhabitants of each vil-

lage allemble themfelves and choofe a Procuratour,

them

to reprefent

in

the general confulta

or parliament of the nation, which

nually

in

of the voices.

He

is

the

at

rival at

of

muft have a mandate,

his ar-

Corte, he prefents to the great chancel-

of the kingdom, by

Each procuratour
livre a day,

his fetting

lowance

city

eleded by the ma-

by a notary publick, which, on

attefled

lor

month of May,

This procuratour

Corte.
jority

the

held an-

is

13

has,

whom

from

his

to bear his charges

out

till

his return

too fmall,

it

is

regiftered.

community, a

from the time of

home.

This

and muft foon

be

al-

in-

creafed.

Sometimes the procuratours of

all

the villages,

contained in the fame pieve, choofe from

themfelves one
pieve,

who

among

goes as reprefentative of the

which faves fome expence

to the villages.

AN ACCOUNT

176

But

this

is

an abufe,

and wh.en matters of any

confequence are deliberating,

ber of thofe
little

who

are

it

renders the

num-

to confult too fmall.

expence fhould be defpifed, in comparifon

of having a voice
the moft ferious
greater the

in

making

of the country

affairs

number of

affembly approach

the laws, and fettling

more does the

voices, the

of

the idea

to

and the

-,

Roman

comitia.

The

general confulta

numerous affembly;
procuratours,

who have

befides

for,

and

the ordinary

ufual to call in feveral of thofe

feveral of thofe

fathers or near relations

who have

in the

fervice

that the blood of heroes

country,

a great

formerly been members of the fupreme

and

council,

it is

indeed,

is,

loft their

of their

may be

diftin-

guifhed by publick honours.

The

magiftrates of each province alfo fend a

procuratour to the general confulta

all

and when

the procuratours are affembled at

Corte, in

prefence of the General and the fupreme council

of ftate,

it is

recommended

each province,

to choofe

to the procuratours

two of

their

who, together with the procuratour of

giftrates,

fident

may proceed to

of

number,
their

ma-

the eledion of the pre-

and oratour of the general confulta.

The

procuratours of each province accordingly choofe

OF COR
two
are

of their

C A.

177

numbei^ by votes viva voce,

unanimous

and

they

if

not unanimous, by bal-

if

lot.

Thefe two, with the procuratour of the maof each province, come before the fu-

giftrates

preme

council,

to

whom

every one of them gives

in a fealed note, containing the

name of

who, he thinks, fhould be prefident

are confidered

three

who have moft

thirds

thefe notes

by the fupreme council, and the

infcribed with their

notes

names, are put to a ballot

two

the perfon

of the votes

and he who

his favour,

in

carries

is

made

prefident.

In the fchedule or note,

lert

the

name of

his relation,

or of one

been ftrongly recommended to him

lot,

he can freely give

whom

he thinks moft deferving

another abufe
in the

for

fchedule the

among

had the feweft notes for him,

by a great majority.

who

it

often

the three,

who

fo that

will be

made

a procuratour,

me

by

inferting

name of one of whom he

Befides, he

confiderations of

pre-

This appears to

he thinks moft deferving,

toc^ether.

has

but by bal-

does not approve, runs a rifk of having the

whom

in-

vote for the perfon

his

happens, that the perfon

fident

may

a procuratour

man

thrown out

al-

ought not to be moved by

connexion or of recommenda-

AN ACCOUNT

178

The members

tion.

have

fupreme council

of the

alfo their votes in this ballot for

The

dent.

oratour

is

the

prefi-

chofen exactly in the fam6

manner.

The

prefident governs during the fitting of the

The

general confulta.

papers fubjected

from

the

government

are

addrefled to the prefi-

is

are addrefled to

propofition from the govern-

If a

the oratour.

Propofitions

deliberation.

Thofe from the people

dent.

ment

to

oratour reads the different

approved of by a majority of voices,

it is

But a propofition

immediately pafled into a law.

from the people, though approved

may be

of,

fufpended by the government, without afligning

their reafons

which, however,

they are

ftriflly

obliged to do at the next general confulta.

This fufpending power was greatly agitated

the Corfican parliament
it

fo

much,

take place.
his

that

it

But

and the people oppofed

was thought

of

defigns,

affairs,

it

would not

Paoli, ever ready to enlighten

countrymen, Ibewed them, that

ftate

in

the

in the prefent

government may have many

not mature enough for being

nicated to the publick,

tage to the nation ; fo that

but of
it is

commu-

effential

advan-

highly proper they

fhould have the privilege of delaying for a while,

any propofition which might interfere with thefe

OF CORSICA.
the fiipreme council,

Befides,

defigns.

179
the

as

grand procuratoiirs of the nation, and poflefied

of

confidence, ought to be fpeci-

their greatefl

ally heard

and

portant and
it off,

till

may

critical,

it

well be allowed to put

be fully confidered by

fhall

of the

fubje6ts

they think a proportion im-

if

And

ftate.

with no bad confequences

this

can be attended

fince the people

the

all

may,

pafs their proportion into a

at an after period,

law.

The

procuratours of each province

next

af-

femble themfelves, in prefence of the prefident

of the general confulta, or

by him

and each province appoints

fentative in the

year

thefe

of Great Chancellor.
time being,

the

eledion

deputed

its

repre-

fupreme council, for the enluing

and one of

a prefident

and the

is

ele6led into the office

The fupreme

may

remonftrate

council,

for

againft this

eledtion of each province

muft

be confirmed by a majority of the other provinces

becaufe thefe counfellors,

of the kingdom,
er

are to

of the whole nation

legiflative

with the General

form the executive pow-,

the general confulta or

power devolving upon them

that high

commifTion.

The

General holds

his office for life.

He

is

perpetual prefident of the fupreme council of nine.

K2

AN ACCOUNT

i8o

He

votes in

ail

quellions

and

He

he has a calling vote.

lity,

mander of the troops or

His

much

office

in cafe

of an equa-

com-

abfolute

is

militia of the idand.

refembles that of the Stadtholder

of Holland.

The

procuratours of each province alfo choofe

the provincial magiftrates for the enfuing year.

This magiftracy

is

regularly

compofed of a

preli-

dent, two confultors, an auditour and a chancellor

but the number

vinces,

have fmall

their table

guard of
giftrates

varied in different pro-

fame manner

in the

The

different villages.
lor

is

falaries

kept

at the

foldiers

as the magiftracy in

and

auditour

chancel-

and the magiftracy have

publick expence, with a

in pay.

The

can try criminals, and pronounce len-

them

ience againft

but a fentence for capital

puniftiment cannot be put in execution,

approved by the fupreme council.

In

till it is

civil

cau-

they can determine finally to the extent of

fes,

fifty livres

may

in caufes

exceeding that fum, parties

appeal to the Rota Civile,

which

is

bunal confifting of three dodtours of laws,

fcn

ma-

provincial

by the fupreme

their

pleafure.

council,

tri-

cho-

and continued

at

This tribunal judges according

and canon laws,

and

to

the

to

the particular laws of Corfica.

civil

were partly formed

in old times,

according

Thefe

laft

and afterwards

OF

OR S

IC

A.

i8i

who

augmented and improved by the Genoefe,

publifhed them under the
'

et Criminali del Ifola di Corfica.'

come very

little

in

1694.

Happy would

omnia.

lix

'

had fhe Ihewn the fame equity

fic

There

are alfo

the judgment,
villages,

are be-

It is

a very

code, and does credit to Genoa.

'

fi

They

have a copy of them, a thin

printed at Baftia,

folio,

good

fcarce.

Statuti Civili

'

title of,

it

Fe-

have been

in all refpecls.*

Although

few modern laws.

both of the magiftrates of the

and of the provincial

final to the extent

yet if any perfon

of the values
is

magiftrates,

be

have mentioned,
he

manifeftly aggrieved,

may

obtain redrefs by applying to the fupreme council,

or to the court of fyndicato,

lent inftitution,

v.'hich is

another excel-

conducted

in

the fol-

lowing m^anner.
In the general confulta, befides the ele clicns

of which

have given an account, the procura-

tours alfo choofe

refpeft,

as

fome perfons of high

fyndicatori.

go the

circuits.

againft the different

them have

and

Thefe make a tour

through the different provinces,

in Britain

credit

They

magiftrates

as

our judges

hear complaints
-,

tranfgreffed their duty,

and

if

any of

they are pro-

perly cenfured.

Thefe fyndicators are exceed-

ingly beneficial.

The

General himfelf

is

for the

moft part one of them. They fave poor people the

AN ACCOUNT

iSz

trouble and expence of going

their grievances

They examine
provinces,

before the

into

fupreme

reconcile the people to the

diffufe a

wholefome

is

hibits

From

the

fpirit

of order

of theifland.

civilization in all corners

the government of Corfica

which ex-

compleat and well ordered democracy.

Podefla and Padri del

to the fupreme council,

there

they can refume,

is

and difpofe of

end of every year

Commune, up
a gradual pro-

from the people, which

greffion of power, flowing

at the

council.

every thing concerning the

good undertaking, and

Such

to lay

of law, encourage induftry and every

feverity

and

to Corte

at their pleafure,

fo that

no magiftrate

or fervant of the publick, of whatever degree,

will

venture,

upon

his

for fo Ihort a

conftituents

time,

knowing

to encroach

that he

foon give an account of his adminiflration

muft

-,

and

if

he fhould augment the authority of his

he

is

only wreathing a yoke for his

he

is

immediately to return to the fituation of an

ordinary fubjel.
tally loft to

will exert his

tizens,

if

own neck,

a magiftrate

is

as

not to-

every manly feeling, he will not even

allow himfeif to

that he

Nay,

office,

reft in

fupine negligence

-,

but

powers for the good of the country,

may recommend

himfeif to his fellow

ci-

and be honoured with farther marks of

their confidence.

OF CORSICA.

183

In the general confulta held in the year

764,

were made with regard to

feveral wife regulations

the government, of which

give the fub-

fhall

fiance.

No

propofitions

made

fhall acquire the force

proved by two

thirds

to the general confulta,

of laws,

if

they be not ap-

of the voices.

Propofitions approved by one half of the voices,

may be propofed

in the

third time

which are not approved by one

Iialf

thofe

fame

feflion,

a fecond or

of the voices, cannot be propofed again,

the fame feflion

but

may be brought

confent of the government,

in

in

with

in,

fome future

fef-

lion.

The fupreme

council of flate fhall confifl of nine

counfellors, fix of this fide,

and three of the other

of the mountains, one for each province.

fide

Three of them

fhall refide at Corte,

four months

three during the fecond, and three

during the third: that

there fhall be
fide

two of this

of the mountains

fhall

is

-,

fide,

and one of the other

and the three

all

fhall

it

fhall

whole nine to

the refidence, whenever he fhall think

on account of any important

in refidence

the nine. But

for the General, to call the

None of the

firfl

to fay, during each fpace,

have the authority of

be lawful

during the

it

neceffary

affair.

three refiding counfellors of flate

be abfent from the refidence, for any caufc

j84

an account

whatever,

without having

from the General

writing,

firft

obtained leave in

and

this leave fhall

not be granted for a longer time than eight days,

and but upon the weightieft motives.

In cafe of

the General's abfence from the refidence,

fame time

at

the

that one of the three counfellors

alfo abfent,

all

be

judicial proceedings Ihall

is

fuf-

pended.

No man
who
who

is

fhall

be defied a counfellor of

not above thirty five years of

ftate,

age,

and

has not held with approbation, the office of

prefident in a provincial magiftracy, or the office

of Podefta

in

who

Notwith-

however, any perfon of fmgular

ftanding which,
merit,

fome principal town.

has fuftained with approbation, other

refpedable charges, in the fervice of his country^

thouo;h he hath not borne the offices above-mentioned,

may be eleded

a counfellor,

provided he

be of the age prefcribed by law.

No man

Ihali

be appointed to the

fident of a

provincial magiflracy,

thirty years

of age,

and

who

office

who

is

of prC'-

under

has not twice held

the office of confultor in the faid magiftracy, or

fome other refpedlable employment

of his country

in the fervice

and who has not the proper

knowledge neceffary

for that office.

OF CORS
The

office

of

The

A.

185

towns not fubjeft

PodeflLi, in the

tb the provincial

by the fame

IC

magiftracy,

fhall

be conferred

regulations.

charge of General of the kingdom, being

vacated by death, by refignation, or by any other

means, the whole of the fuprcme authority

then remain in the adlual counfellors of

of

eldeft

which

whom

fhall prefide at

in the fpace

for electing a

The

made

main

and other

in their

full exercife

by

lieved

The

of

the

the council,

by

Confulta to be

general.

officers

the prefidents of

and judges,

refpeflive charges,
their authority,

ma-

iliali re-

and have the

till

they are re-

their lawful fucceflburs.

counfellors of ftate, the prefidents of pro-

vincial magiftracies,

towns

new

for a

counfellors of ftate,

giftracies,

ftate,

of a month after the vacancy,

intimation muft be
held,

jfliall

fnall not

and the Podeftas of the larger

be re-eleded to the fame charge,

without having been two years out of

office,

and

without producing credentials from the fupreme

fyndicators, attefting their good

dud

in the

and laudable con-

employment which they have

exerci-

fed.

Paoli has fuccceded wonderfully in fettling the

claims of the feudal fignors.
feveral applications

Thefe fignors made

to the government,

praying

for the reftitution of their ancient rights.

Thi.-;

AN ACCOUNT

i86

was a very

delicate queftion.

fignors the

ample

privileges

To

which they enjoyed

of old, would have been to

dent principalities

in

allow to thefe

eftablifh

indepen-

and miift have

Corfica,

tended to fubvert the enlarged and free conftitution,

which Paoli had formed,

nent felicity of the

The

fignors

rious war.

for the

perma-

ftate.

had not been foremoft

They had much

to lofe

in the glo;

and

hefi-

tated at taking arms againft the republick of

noa,

left

The
at

they fhould forfeit their domains.

peafants,

on the contrary, had plunged

once into danger.

but their

lives

fee prized.

were

fired

from the

from

the

Thefe had nothing to

and a

If they

life

of flavery

is

lofe

not be

be fuccefsful, they

fliould

with the hopes of a double deliverance,

diftant tyranny

of the republick, and

more intimate oppreflion of

This was become

lords.

Ge-

fo

their feudal

grievous,

that

very fenfible Corfican owned to me, that fuppO"

had abandoned

fing the republick

fions

its

preten-

over Corfica, fo that the peafants fhould

not have been obliged to

rife

againft the Genoefe,

they would have rifen againft the fignors.

The
feat,

peafants therefore,

to return

would not now con-

under the arbitrary power, from

which they had freed themfelves,

of their bravery.

in

confequence

propofe fuch a meafure to

OF CORSICA;
would have been enough

them,
volt,

to break the nation

anew

187

to excite a re-

and

into parties,

give their enemies an opportunity, of again fo-

menting difcord,
till

and hatred,

the Corficans fhould

and

affaflinations

themfelves do, what

the ftratagem and force of

all

Genoa had attempted

in vain.

On

the other hand, the fignors were not to be

offended,
tents,

if

The motto

Frangimur

we dafh

fed

make them become malecon-

and difturb the operations of the govern-

ment.
'

fo as to

fi

of the fagaeious Hollanders,

againft each

but

fhall

go

other,' ftiould

on the minds of the

in every nation

We

collidimur.

is

to pieces

be impref-

different orders

of men,

doubly important

in

an

infant flate.

Paoli indulged

the fignors fo far,

that they

themfelves Ihould not be perfonally amenable before the magiftrates of the

their refpe6livejurifdi6lions

provinces in which

lie.

That they Ihould

have the power of determining caufes between the

peafants

upon

lible for

giftrates

their fiefs,

their fentences,
;

without being refponto

the provincial

ma-

but that they (liould be fubjed to the

review of the fupreme council, and of the court

c^ fyndicato.

AN ACCOUNT

i88

In this manner,

have the

fignors

flat-

of a certain degree of authority,

tering diftindtion

while,

the

in reality,

they are difcharging the united

duties of fathers

of the community,

And

and provincial magiftrates.

as

Podeftas,

they

are,

them, fubjedt to the cognizance of higher

like

they

judicatories,

cannot abufe their powers

but while they enjoy a pre-eminence over the

other nobles,

afford

they juft

the

ftate,

at

no

expence, an additional number of judges to pro-

mote

civilization

among

a rude and unpoliflied

people.

Thus have

the hereditary feudal jurifdiftions

been moderated

in

Corfica,

by

a fortunate con-

currence of accident and wifdom

partly by the

tumults of a fpirited war, partly by the prudent

difpofitions

of an able

And

legiflatour.

a fyflem

traniplanted from the north, by robufl Barbarians,

into

moll countries of

Europe, where having

taken deep root, and fpread wide

by

it,

has,

by a ftorm

comn^and,

and even

extir-

falutary to the ifland,

management,

fl<.ilful

branches,

been required to

the utmoft violence has

pate

its

been

brought

and

under

rendered ufeful in Cor-

fica.

When

the government

lliall

greater maturity, and time

lliall

have arrived

at

have abated the

OF

C O

RS IC

A.

189

ardour of rule, the fignors will be difpofed to refign a diftinftion attended with

more trouble than

advantage.

In

manner

this

and, no doubt,

carried on,

render
I

Corfican

the

is

it ftill

look upon

more
it

perfedt

they will be able to

though

as the beft

government

model

as

it

now

is,

that hath ever

exifted in the democratical form.

Sparta,

indeed, was a nervous conftitution

but with reverence to the memory of immortal

Lycurgus,

Sparta was deficient in gentlenefs and

humanity.

That

total inverfion

human

of the

af-

fedions, that extindlion of every finer feeling,

was a
that

and

fituation fo forced,

it is

not to be envied.

fo

void of pleafure,

We mull

indeed ad-

mire the aftonifhing influence of their legiflatour.

But we may be allowed

tained by

it,

nothing,

is

James Steuart

government, and

fpirit

might have perhaps

I

believe

it

that,

II.

he ob-

chap. 14.

flate

'

had the

to the principles of their

of their conftitution, they

fubfiiled to this

might have been

() Inquiry into the Principles of Political

ook

all

without happinefs.

of opinion,

is

Lacedemonians adhered

C^^.'

think that

was only the preiervation of a

and preiervation
Sir

to

very day
fo.

But,

Oecoaomy,

AN ACCOUNT

19

could Lycurgus have changed his Spartans into

men

they

of ftone,

would

have

lafted

flill

longer.

In the conftitution of Corfica, while proper

meafures are taken for the continuation of the

Hate,

individuals have the full enjoyment of

the comforts of
citizens

They

life.

are

and when once they

men,

fhall

all

as well

as

have entirely

freed themfelves from theGenoefe, I cannot ima-

Animated with

gine a country more happy.

Paoli fways the hearts of his coiintry-

|)rofpe6l,

men.
the

Their love for him

power of the General

is

that although

fuch,

is

properly limited, the

power of Paoli knows no bounds.

Treafon
niate

this

fo

him

much

It

as to fpeak againft,

high

is

or calum-

a fpecies of defpotifm, founded, con-

trary to the principles of Montefquieu,

fedlion of love.

government of

I (hall finilh

this

my

on the

af-

account of the

with a very remarka-

ifland,

ble anecdote.

A Corfican who

had been formerly

vice of the French king,

crofs

of

country,

St.

in the fer-

and had obtained the

Louis, upon his return to his native

had entered

were contrary to the

into

fome

liberty

of

pra<^ices

it.

He

which

was

alfo

fufpefled to have a defign againft the General's

life.

Upon

this

he was fent

to

prifon,

from

OF CORSICA.
whence, however,

191

fome time,

after

he was, at

the interceflion of the French general then in the

ifland,

Not long

fet at liberty.

a fecond time

caught

after,

he was

and treafon-

in other fecret

able pra6lices, and was again fent to prifon.

was again afked, together with

life

by the French comm.ander

this

requeft,

intended to do with the prifoner

'

oli,

you.

will tell

freedom,

who being

know of

defired to

his

When

His

rcfufed

Paoli what he
'

Sir,' faid

Ihall

Pa-

have per-

country, and fhall have

'

fedled the liberty of

fixed

'

moft likely to maintain

'

gether the ftates of the ifland, and will produce

the man.

form of government, that happinefs which he

wanted

him from the

upon

it

rriy

that eftablifhment which I think

I will

it

After which,

to defbroy.

ifland, for

in

which thefe

then call to-

that

liberty^

banifh

I will

Such

ever.'

is

tlie

illuftrious chief.

religion of Corfica

lick faith,

I will

fhew him that

manner of thinking of this

The

is

the

Roman

iflanders

Catho-

are very zea-

lous.

Perhaps they have a degree of fuperftition

which

is

the beft extreme.

without piety

for

when

and every noble fentiment

trine of

No

nation can profper

that fails, publick fpirit

will decay.

The

doc-

looking up to an all-ruling Providence,

and that of a future

ftate

of rewards and punifh-

AN ACCOUNT

192
ments,

rendered the

great.

In

people virtuous and

proportion as thefe

weakened, by the
the minds of the
their

Roman

dodlrines

were

philofophy of Epicurus,

falfe

Romans were

impoverillied, and

manly patriotifm was fucceeded by effemiwhich quickly brought them to

nate felfiihnefs,

contempt and

ruin.

Although firmly attached to

the revelation fent from

God,

as

the Corficans prethe fame fpirit of

ecclefiaflical matters,

ferve in

their religion,

boldnefs and freedom, for which they are diftin-

They

guiflied in civil affairs.

to the temporal

are fworn enemies

power of the church.

Indeed

the late violent differences between the national

government and the bifhops, has pretty well

di-

minifhed their prejudices with relpedt to the perfons of the clergy.

TheCorfican bifhops, who are

were warmly attached to Genoa

they depended for promiotion.
to preach

miffion,

up the molt

flavifh

and fligmatized the

The government

them

a guard,

the bifhops

for

on Genoa

They thought

patriots as

defired that they might

to proteft

knew

fit

doftrines of fub-

the territories of the nation,

But

num-

and fuffragans of the archbiihop of Pifa,

ber,

in

five in

rebels.
refide

and promifed

them from any

infult.

well, that in the territories

OF CO RSI

A.

193

cf the nation, they could not preach the doclrines

of tyranny,

and therefore refufed to

Upon which,
triots

Ihops

refide there.

the government prohibited the paintercourfe with the bi-

from having any

with which they moll readily complied.

The Pope,

forry to

the Corficans

fee

refolved to fend

Iheep without a fhepherd,

them
of the

to officiate in place

an apoftolick Vifiter,

like

bifhops.

The

Genoefe,

confidering this as in fome mea-

fure taking part with the malecontsnts, gave in a

long remonftrance to the Pope, letting forth,

'

That they were

'

intentions of his

'

to

'

holy fee

'

provifion he Ihould

'

evils

'

concurrence of the republick.'

fhew

fenfible

of the reftitude of the

and were ever ready

holinefs,

their unalterable devotion towards, the

:

but they begged leave to fay, that no

make

againft the fpiritual

of Corfica, could be effeftual, without the

The

Corficans,

happy to

receive fuch counte-

nance from the church, laughed

and

artful remonftrance.

'

bucco,

'

cia dal

'

cia.

'

il

'

Ecco

capo d'oro e piedi

complimento, e

fi

at this

laboured

la ftatua di

di creta.

Si

comin-

termina nella minac-

Behold the ftatue of Nebuchadnezar

head of gold, and the

feet

Na-

of

clay.

It

the

begins

AN ACCOUNT

194
*

with a compliment,

ing.'

The court

and ends with a threaten*

of Naples thought proper to

pofe, in behalf of Genoa.

Cardinal Orfmi, the

Neapolitan minifter at the court of

alio in rcmonftrances

inter-

Rome, gave

and fome very plodding

and heavy Genoefe Canon, publifhed a very long

Difcorfo

1 heologico-Canonico-Politico,

full

of

quotations from innumerable authorities, and no

doubt afiured himfelf, that

and

Angelis,

over

all

The

performance was

But the Pope adhered

unanfwerable.
lution,

his

fent

to his refo-

Monfignore Cefare Crefcenzio de

bifhop of Segni,

as

apoftolick Vifiter

Corfica.

Corficans accepted of his miflion,

the greateft cordiality and joy.

with

Signor Barbaggi,

married to the niece of Paoli, welcomed

who

is

him

to the ifland,

in

a polite oration.

He

was

not only to perform the fundtions of the bifhops,

but was to be general of

Tica,

appointing under

He was a man

of fo

engaging condud,
univerfal love

the Religious in Cor-

him

provincial vicar.

much piety, good

fenfe,

and

that the people conceived an

and regard

The Genoefe no
rian deceit,

all

for him.

longer continued their Ligu-

but threw off the mafk.

They pu-

OF CORSICA.
prohibiting

blirtied a manifeflo,

in Corfica,

195

all their

fubjeas

under the heavieft penalties, to com-

ply with the orders of the apoftolick Vifiter, and

offering fix thoufand

Roman

fon v;ho fhould bring

him

to any per-

crowns,

prifoner to any of their

fortreffes.

This audacious edi6l the Pope very gravely

Some

annulled, with great folemnity.

ages ago,

he would have performed a more dreadful cere-

The government of

mony.

Corfica again, pu-

blickly proclaimed their difpleafure, at the fcandalous temerity of the republick of Genoa, 'who,' faid
they,

'

have fent forth an

edidt,

by which they

'

have not only offended againfl the refpeft due

to the holy fee

'

in the affairs

'

acknowledges them

'

declare the faid edidl, to be deftruflive of reli-

'

gion, and of the apoftolick authority

'

to the majefty of the vicar of Chrift

'

and contrary to the fecurity and tranquillity of

our

'

good cuftoms.

be publickly torn, and burnt, by the hands of

'

the

unworthy memorials from Genoa, in time com-

'

ing.'

ftate,

of

but have prefumed to meddle

this

kingdom, which no longer

as fovereign.

Therefore

-,

we

offenfive
feditious,

and tending to corrupt our laws and

And we

common hangman

have condemned

and

this to

it

to

prevent fuch

AN ACCOUNT

196

This fentence was put

of drum, below the gallows,

upon

who

by beat

in execution,

in the city

of Corte,

the fpot where flood the houfe of the wretch

aflaffinated GafFori.

was a moft

It

political

They recommended

ftep in

the Corficans.

themfelves to the

appeared firm,

and authoritative

contempt upon

their enemies.

-,

Pope

they

and they put

Hashing thus got rid of their tyrannical bilhops,

the Corficans very wifely began to confider, that,
as thefe dignified

churchmen

perform the duties of

occafion for fending

refufed to refide and

their offices,

there

was no

them confiderabie fums,

enable them to live in idlenefs and luxury,

money might be much

the

They

therefore thought

it

better

to

when

employed.

highly reafonable, that

the bifhops tithes Ihould go to the publick cham-

ber of the Hate

and accordingly

it

was

fo de-

creed.

prodigious outcry was raifed againft

But the Corficans defended

great force and
'

Hanno

le

decime, ed occupati

They have ufurped

be-

the tithes,

ni

and fcized upon the goods of the bifhops,'

the Genoefe.

with

fpirit.

ufurpate

dei vefcovi.

their ,condu6t

this.

faid

OF COR

Replied the Corficans,

'

A.

J97

Ufurpate e mal detto.

perche

'

Noi confefferemo

'

qui ambulat fimpliciter ambulat confidenter.

'

governo ha prefo una porzione delle decime, e

'

dei beni de' vefcovi

'

perche ne ha avuta neceffita

'

ritto fuperiore

'

liamo,

'

fchiavitu la piti orribile.

'

fchiavitu, e neceflaria la guerra

'

guerra,

'

non bailando

'

una confulta,

'

fiaftici

'

principi.

'

una truppa

'

liberta, la vita,

'

qua

di tutti le opprefTioni, e piu facra, venerabi-

'

le,

e pia,

'

perche

quefto regno, Benedetto

'

re di

fe il

'

preflanti le circonftanze,

'

adefl'o

perche

la vcrita fenza

corda

ad ogni

e queilo e

per noi non vi e mezzo.

full'

efempio di
i

principi,

ribelle.

Una

liberta,

per foftenere

la

ma per pagarla,

un

fuflidio dagli eccle-

S. Pietro,
fi

dice,

e di tutti

non alimentano

truppa che difende

la

I'onore, elapatria, dallapiuini-

di quella di

una C)ciata.

appunto per difcacciare

Arragona, per
cafo e lo

in cui

dei fecolari, fu flabilito in

di prendre

Ma

di-

Per non cadere nella

e neceflaria la truppa

un

Nello ftato

altro.

II

Primo,

ed ecco peixhe.

le tafle

fteflTo,

XL

Genovefi da

concefl!e a

tre anni,
il

le

Secondo,

Giacomo

decime.

Ora,

bifogno maggiore, piu

perche non fara lecito

quel che fu conceduto allora

Terzo,

niuno e piu obligate dei noftri vefcovi.

AN ACCOUNT

198

da

di contribuire alle fpefc di quefta guerra^

hanno ricavato

elTi foli

finora

do una

facra mitra,

in

milk anni

ottenen-

che non avrebber ottenuta,

Come

di pace.

bel capitale, ed

un

tanto piu dovendo im-

per confervare

piegarfi,

loro

faranno fentire per par-

efli fi

ticiparne qiialche frutto

hanno

1 fecolari

un fiume di fangue, per procurar

verfato
fi

profitto

cui,

nazione lo

alia

fteffo

vantaggio, e procurargliene dei maggiori? Quar-

perche

to,

paftori e

noftri vefcovi,

da padri,

perche
ftefli

hanno

ci

fi

loro impreftate

guerra

facciano

non

di cui

fi

ridurre al doverre Gioab.

oab piu caparbii, chi

governo riprendera

a'

prefib a

gran

fomme,

non

la

al ritorno,

ill

Or

fe efTi

fono di Gi-

condotta ? Si aggiunga, che

rifiede, di chi

without difguife

faid.
-,

e fer-

fi

non

ferve

he

noftra

We will

fince

PAl-

lo tradifce, fon devoluti

Ora, chi piu povera della

Ufurped is

II

compatira? chi del noftro

li

molto piu di chi

poveri.

fono

fi

valfe AlTalonne, per

truppa, della noftra finanza

'

ritirati

volerfi reflituire al fuo gregge.

vito del lipiego,

frutti di chi

Han

cela fanno eglino

noftro governo, per obligarli

tare,

fon

orribilmente, colle armi fpirituali, e

oftinati a

vece di farla da

portan da nemeci.

fi

difertato dalle loro diocefi;

nemici

in

confefs the truth,

who walketh

fimply,

OF COR

199

The government

hath taken a

walketh

'

portion of the tithes,

'

bilhops.

becaufe

* is

furely.

And
we

A.

and of the goods of the

the reafons for

it,

are thefe,

are under a necefllty to

do

a right fuperiour to every other.

firft,

which

fo,

In the fitu-

ation in

which we

'

liberty,

or

'

fall into

'

war.

'

to have troops.

taxes of the feculars were not fufficient to

'

troops,

'

Ihould take fubfidy from the ecclefiafticks, after

'

the example of St. Peter,

'

But, fay the Genoefe,

'

rebel

'

liberty,

try,

' is

it

is

no medium

it is

necelTary for us to

war

And when we

found, that the

was decreed

An

and of

princes,

army which defends

honour and
all

their

their

coun-

oppreflions,

more venerable, more pious

than that of a croifade. Secondly,

nedidl the

'

to

'

might drive the Genoefe from

And

'

greater,

'

Ihall

XL granted

is

becaufe Be-

the tithes, for three years,

James king of Arragon,

the cafe

all

we

Princes do not fupport a

'

if

pay the

in a Confulta, that

their

their life,

facred,

make

neceflary for us

it

from the moft unjuft of

more

to

is

fuftain the

army.*

or

Not

the moft horrible (lavery.

flavery,

To

there

are,

on purpofe that he

the fame,

this

the neceffity

and the circumftances more

not what was lawful

kingdom.

then,

ftill

prefling,

be granted

AN ACCOUNT

20O

now

Thirdly,

nobody

becaufe

under a

is

greater obligation to contribute to the expence

of

than our bilhops

this war,

as

they alone

have hitherto derived any profit from

obtained

ing

the

would not have obtained

How

of peace.

The

in

a thoufand years

pital,

have fhed

feculars

of blood, to procure them

river

fo

duty bound,

in

noble a ca-

of v/hich they have enjoyed the

and are they not

hav-

which they

mitre,

facred

it

to

fruits,

do every

thing to preferve to the patriots,

what advan-

tage they have gained, and to aid

them

ting

more

Fourthly, becaufe our biHiops, in-

flead of being grateful,

pafrours and
as

and

ry

have behaved themfelves

fathers,

large

lent

on the war

fums of money,

nay

deferted their dioce-

the territory of our foes.

retired into

They have

inftead of acting like

They have

enemies.

fes,

they

To

government hath

themfelves

their fpiritual

oblige them to return, our

tried

Abfalom employed,

who

to car-

and have obftinately refufed to return

to their flocks.

duty.

h^ve

by

fhewn a dreadful hofdlity

arms,

in get-

the fame remedy which

to bring

If they are m.ore

will feel for

them

.?

Joab back

to his

froward than Joab,

who

will find

fault

OF CORSICA.
condud of our government

the

with

'

conclude,

'

fide,

more of

'

Now what can

'

our finances

who do

the tithes of thofe

who do

The

201

not ferve at the

who

thofe

betray

it,

To

not re-

much

altar,

and

fall to

the poor.

be poorer than our troops, than

?'

tithes

in Corfica are,

about

in general,

The

a twentieth part of every produdlion.

go-

good fhare of

vernment has

at prefent

them

not only takes the revenues of the

as

bifhops,

it

but alfo

where there
fions

is

pretty

of nominal

thofe

no care of

and

fouls,

benefices,

all

the pen-

which the Pope ufed to grant to foreign ec-

affairs

of the ifland

government

Ihall

number of

made

fpirit

for the

their large

to

the

no doubt the
rents.

the Pope,

bifliops increafed,

the epifcopal funftions

and that the

be fettled,

will rellore the bifhops

application will be

ferved

When

out of the rich livings.

clefiailicks,

the

to have

order that

in

may be better

But

adminiflred,

of equality may be more pre-

bifliops,

revenues,

when

in polTefTion

would be

like

of

princes in

the ifland.

Several

made
tithes

a
i

of the inhabitants of Corfica,

compofition with the

and the defcendiints of

have

church, for their

tlie

Caporali,

who

AN ACCOUNT

202

Hugo

were of fuch fervice to

pelling the Saracens,

by

are,

exempted from paying any

lege

is

Colonna,

ex-

in

fpecial privilege,

This

tithes.

privi-

fuppofed to have been granted to them,

very anciently by the Pope, in whofe caufe

Corfica,

are not as yet very learned

in general,

and the many years of con-

ifland in ignorance,

have prevented the cultivation

fufion and war,

There

letters.

fome

clergy of

barbarous policy of Genoa to keep the

as the

of

The

that they Ihewed their zeal.

was,

it

an education upon

and are very well inftrufted, and

the continent,
all

however, here and there,

who have had

priefts,

they are

are,

very pious, and of irreproachable

morals.

There

are

dicant Friars

Corfica,

in
;

viz.

6^ convents of Men-

34 of Obfervants, and 14

of Reformed, of the order of

1

7 of Capuchins.

has only a

wood

a fmall vineyard.
the charity

five

a garden

They depend

There

are

two

col-

two convents of Dominicans,

have very good

fome lands

and

altogether on

of Servites, and one of Miflionaries

whom
alfo

thefe convents,

for retired walks,

of the people.

of Jefuits,

leges

Every one of

and

Francis,

St.

pofTeflions.

belonging

to

all

There

other

of
are

religious

OF CORSICA.

Carthufians of Pifa,

to the

orders, particularly

the fevere fandity of

whom, muft

the veneration of every body,

rights

203

them

fecure

and preferve

their

even in times of the greateft

inviolated

dillra(5tion.

would be expedted,

It

monafleries

for

women

that in this ifland,

Ihould bear fome pro-

men

portion to the convents for

there

is

not a fmgle nunnery in

account for

this,

the

yet,

all

in fadt,

Corfica,

To

muft be confidered that the

it

monaftick inftitution has been frequently perverted to fecular purpofes

in catholick

who

are defirous to ag-

make

their

countries,

grandize their families,

fo that the nobility

the veil, folely that their portions

for the eldeft fon.

The

keep the Corficans

in

fed every

method

Genoefe,

faved

who wanted

to

to prevent any of the nobles in

They

confiderable.

therefore prohibited monafteries,

off

may be

continual fubje6bion, devi-

the ifland from becoming

them

daughters take

in

order to cut

from one method of growino-

richer.

Friars they rather encouraged, in order to lefTen

population, and to leave upon families, a

num-

ber of unmarried women, than which nothing can

be

a greater burden,

proteftant countries.

as

is

fadly experienced in

AN ACCOUNT

204

Convents fhould be
ons,

that

what

inftitution,

common

not become fo

as to lofe

and be reckoned a profeffion for the

effect,

its

reftridli-

intended as a folemn religious

is

may

under fuch

laid

dull or the indolent.

Under proper

reftri(5tions,

it

muft be for the

advantage of religion, to have a few venerable

fan6tuaries,

for the reception of thole,

ing done their duty to fociety, are fo

who

much

above the world, that they would choofe

to devote the evening of
plation and prayer
paflions

ties (a),

to pious

make

entirely

contem-

refolve,

into

offences,

by

courfe of ab-

of penitance and of voluntary

to

raifed

not to mention thofe, whofe

have hurried them

which they fmcerely

ftradlion,

life,

hav-

for

aufleri-

expiation to the eternal jiiftice

of the Divinity.

From

Paoli's care

his country,

it is

in Corfica will

and attention to the good of

probable the number of convents

indeed, are well entitled

fion,

The

be reduced.

during their

lives

to

prefent fathers

a peaceable poflef-

but regulations

[a) See that majeftick teacher of moral and

dom,

the Rambler,

number iio.

may

be

i-eligious wif-

OF COR
made

many

prevent

to

C A. *

205

noviciates, efpecially

of

very young perfons.

The

and

Corfican clergy,

monks,

have been warmly interefted for

patriots.

Padre Leonardo,

one of the

profefiTours

hath publiihed a
vile,'

little traft,

are

'

is

Cicero

Difcorfo Sacro-Ci-

who

This difcourfe hath had great

Turks and

fall in battle

We

effeft.

for

martyrs.

as

know

that doflrine hath given to the

to the Ruffians.

Indeed, that patro-

a virtue which merits heaven, was held

'

the

and

a Francifcan,

be confidered

to

what force of mind

the

of the univerfity of Corte,

teaching that thofe

their country,

tifm

particularly

Omnibus

by

qui patriam confervaverinr,

adjuverint, auxerint,

'

nitus locus, ubi beati aevo fempiterno fruantur

'

(a).

'

and aggrandized

'

and fixed place

'

with the enjoyment of eternal

The
fifts

certus ell in coelo et defi-

For thofe who have preferved,

their country,
in

heaven,

affifted

is

a certain

where they

are blell

there

life.'

warlik force of Corfica principally con-

in a bold

and refolute

militia

every Corfi-

can has a mufket put into his hand, as foon as he

is

able to carry

it

and

(^) Cic. Somn. Scip.

as there

is

a conftant

AN ACCOUNT

206

markfmen, and

become

they

emulation in fhooting,

will hit with

excellent

a fmgle bullet

very fmall mark at a great diftance.

There
and

every village a Capitano d'anriC

in

is

has the

command

over

Thefe

his diftridt.

who

a Commiflario d'arme,

in every pieve,

all

the Capitani d'arme of

officers

are

chofen by

General, with the approbation of the people.

are ever ready to receive his orders,

out fuch a number of men,

as

he

the

They

and to

ihall at

call

any time

require for the publick fervice.

There

are

have pay

200

to

300

-,

foldiers

who

for a guard to the General,

and

Corfica,

in

but 500

furnifh guards for the magiftrates of the

feveral provinces,

and to garrifon a few fmall

forts

at particular places in the ifland.

A militia

is

Rome

nation.

347 year

after

indeed the true ftrength of a free

had no
the

foldiers

in

pay

till

building of the city

then they were introduced by the patricians,

the

and
to

ingratiate themfelves with the people, at a time

when

the fenate was embarrafled with the great

influence of the Tribunes (a).

(<?)

Liv.

lib.

iv.

cap. 59.

OF COR

A.

207

Paoli devifed a lingular and excellent

of promoting bravery among

He

wrote a circular

parifh in the ifland,

of

all

thofe

country.

countrymen.

letter to the priefts

defiring a

who have

The

his

letter

fallen

was

lift

in

method

to be

of every

made out

battle for their

in thefe terms.

AN ACCOUNT

2o8

PAS

ALE

Q^U

Generde del Regno

e'

aOL

Corsica.

di

MOLTO REVERENDO SIGNOR RETTORE,

'

PER

'

di coloro,

'

dere

'

tradiflinguere

'

benigna influenza

'

ftabilito

'

darfi alle flampe,

ancora

'

tore

'

cofe della fua parrocchia,

'

I'incommodo

'

fara cotenta info'rmandofi dai pii> vecchi affen-

'

nati del paefe,

'

coloro che vi fono morti,

'

vizio della patria, dal

'

tando coUa maggior precifione

' e'l

rendere

al

publico nota,

che hanno fparfo

la virtu e la pieta

fangue per difen-

il

e per con-

diritte e la liberta della patria,

il

loro merito,

fame un

alle

fame provare

compito

catalog;,

da

quale ficcome potra giovare

Ella

alia ftoria della nazione.

dovendo piu d'ogni

anno &c.

abbiamo

loro famiglie,

efatto e

la

come

ret-

altro eflere al fatto delle

fi

prendera volentieri

di coadiuvarci in quefto difegno, e

fegnarci

nomi e
o

la famiglia di

reftati feriti in fer-

1729 a quefta
il

parte, no-

luogo,

il

mefe

OF CORSICA.

209

PASCAL PAOLI
General cf the Kingdom of

C ok sic

a,

VERY REVEREND RECTOUR,

'TO

make known

the bravery

to the publick,

who have

and piety of

'

in

'

country,

'

make

we have

'

catalogue of thofe heroes, and have

'

fo that

'

a hiftory of our nation.

'

being better acquainted than any body

the affairs of your

'

that

us in this defign

'

inform yourfelf of the oldeft and moft judicious

in the

names and

wounded

thofe,

fhed their blood

defending their rights and the liberty of our

and to

diftinguifli their merit,

their families

it

you

alfo

its

benign influence,

make an exad and compleat

refolved to

may

prove

it

printed,

be of ufe towards compofmg

own

You,

Sir,

parifh,

it

Redlour,

as

elle,

with

expefted

is

will willingly take the trouble to

village,

and

aflift

and for that purpofe you will

and get them to

families of fuch as

in the fervice

tell

you the

have been killed or

of their country, from

and you

mark

1729 to the prefent time

'

with the greateft precifion, the place, the month

'

and the year, &c.'

will

AN ACCOUNT

210

The

have been very regular

priefts

in

No

returns in confequence of this letter.

tution was ever better contrived.

adopted by every nation,

courage to

foldiers,

preferved,

and

as

nefs
I

of the

would give double

it

their

fame time leave to

lations the valuable legacy

infti-

might be

It

who would have

at the

making

fame

their re-

of a claim to the kind-

ftate.

have often wondered how the love of fame

carries the

common

lations,

do

of our armies,

of the greateft dangers

to the midft
that they

foldiers

is

hardly

known even

and never heard of

when

inall

to their re^

any publick man^

in

ner.

The

Corficans

are not yet

much

trained, as

they have been adling chiefly upon the defenfive,

and carrying on a fort of

irregular war.

But now

that they are advancing fail to a total victory over

their enemies, a certain degree

comes

A
a

of difcipline

l?e*

neceflary.

Corfican

ftiletto.

He

dark cloth,

is

armed with a gun, a

piftol

and

wears a Ihort coat, of a very coarfc

made

in

the ifland,

with waiftcoat

and breeches of the fame, or of French or

cloth, efpecially fcarlet.

He

Italian

h^s a cartridge-box

or pouch for his ammunition, fixed round his middle,

by a

belt.

Into this pouch his

ftiletto is

OF CORSICA.
ftuck

and on the kft

His gun

his piftoL

He

is

fide

211

of his belt he hangs

flung acrofs his llioulder.

wears black leather fpatterdafties, and a fort

of bonnet of black ck>th, lined with red freeze,

and ornamented on the front, with a piece of fome

finer llufi

neatly lewed

and

peculiar to the Corficans,

piece of drefs

and when

Corfican drefs

verfing the

man

down,

let

an

The

is

on Trajan's

fee

pillar.

very convenient for tra-

woods and mountains

a<51;ive

fide,

precifely the figure of a

we
is

is

a very ancient

is

doubled up on every

it is

like thofe

helmet,

The

This bonnet

about.

and gives a

and warlike appearance.

foldiers

have no uniform

Corficans any drums, trumpets,

-,

nor have the

fifes,

or any in-

ftrument of warlike mufick, except a large Triton

Ihell

make

found loud enough to be heard at a great

diftance.
atfea.

with which they

pierced in the end,

The

fiiell

would more properly be ufed

Virgil reprefents Triton,

cperula concha

Exterrens freta.

^neid.

Frowning he feems

And

his

crooked

(hell

lib. x. 1.

to found,

at the blafl the billows dance around.

2C9

AN ACCOUNT

212

Montgomery

Colonel

America, particularly

Ihcll is ufed in

found

Its

is

not

a large horn.

but rather

fhrill,

Roman Lituus.

hame of Caprinton

has Ihewn

of which mention

Atlas (a).

It

in Carolina.

flat

like that of

has however fome refemblance

It

to that of the

pofTeflion,

has told me, that the

was dug up

in

Sir

me
is

John Cuning-

a Lituus in his

made

in Blaeu's

an ancient

battle at Coilsfield in Ayrefliire,

field

of

and ferved the

old barons of Caprinton to call together their followers.

As

the Corficans advance in improvement, they

will certainly

adopt the pradlice of having war-

like inflruments

of mufick, the effeds of which

have been very great

in ancient times, as

we

are

afTuredby Polybius, a judicious and grave hiftorian, a careful obferver

man

not too

much

modern armies we

of

human

nature,

and a

Even

given to credulity.

in

find confiderable efFedls pro-

duced by them.

The
piftols,

Ihip.

der

non.

Corficans

make

good many guns and

moft of which are of excellent workman-

They

alfo

make

but they have

great quantities of

as yet

Thefe they have

no foundery

either taken

pow-

for can-

from

their

enemies, or purchafed from abroad, or filhed from

(a) Blaeu's Atlas, p. 71. Province de Aire,

OF CORSICA.

213
Neither

the wrecks of veflels loft in their feas.

do they yet make

own

their

bullets

they bring

them from the continent, or take them from the

Genoefe,

whofe expence they have contrived to

at

carry on the war.

many

did not ufe a great

he,

po.

Corfican told

Corfo non

Corfican does not

tira, fe

that they

becaufe, faid

bullets,

non

II

me

e ficuro del fuo col-

fire,

if

he

not fure of

is

his aim.'

They

are certainly defigned

having

ftrong at fea,
fo

much

fo

many good

excellent timber

ever a

and

fhips,

their naval

with great prudence and

who may be
W.e have

many
but

ftiled

feen

this ifland

commerce,
cheftnuts,

phyry,

and fome of a

affairs are

fpirit,

condud:ed

Corfica.

that there

is

is

in

no queftion

might carry on a pretty extenfive

in oil,
filk,

and

tole-

by Count Peres,

wine,

rofin,

honey, bees-wax,

coral.

beginning to flourifh

fait,

boxwood, oak, pine, por-

marble of various kinds, lead,

per, filver

expence

rich Corfica naturally

fo

nor

They have how-

High Admiral of

how

produdlions

of Ihipbuilding

artificers.

number of fmall

rable fize

harbours, and

fufficient to defray the

of employing proper

to be

but they are not yet

fyfficiently fkilled in the art

have they money

by nature

At

prefent,

iron,

commerce

among them.

They

cop*

is

but

find in

AN

214

ceo UN T

their feas confiderable quantities of coral,

manufaftory, have a

from the Corficans,

eftabliilied there a coral

fort

of exclufive privilege,

to this trade

and

money, and fupplying them with cannon.

The

Corlicans

may make

plenty of admirable

wines, for their grapes are excellent.

in

in return

by advancing

are very ferviceable to the nation,

tJiem

all

The Jews

the three kinds, red, white and black.

of Leghorn, who have

of

Capo Corfo two

They make

very good white wines

one

-,

of them has a great refemblance to Malaga.

deal of

annually exported to Germany, and

it is

fold as fuch

Leghorn,

and fome of

it

is

bought up

and carried to England, where

it

pafles

The

equally well for the produftion of Spain.

other of thefe white wines

at

fomething like Fron-

is

tignac.

At

Furiani they

make

a white wine very like

Syracufe, not quite fo

lufcious,

whole, preferable to

Furiani

Corfican annals, for

it.

and upon the

is

famous

a violent fiege,

the

in

where 500

Genoefe were repulfed and defeated by 300 Corficans.

In fome villages, they

much

refembling Tokay.

make

a rich fwect wine

At Vefcovato and

Campoloro, they make wine very

imd over the whole

at

like Burgundy

ifland there are wines

of

dif-

OF CORSICA.
It

ferent forts.

ference a

little

indeed wonderful, what a dif-

is

variation of foil or expofure, even

the fame vineyard,

ifi

The juice

wine.

215

will

make

in the

tafte

of the Corfican grapes

is

of

fo ge-

nerous, that although unlkilfully manufa6tured,

it

will always pleafe

its

natural flavottr.

think there might be a wine

fica

by

made

in

Cor-

of a good found moderate quality, fome-

thing between Claret and Burgundy, which would

be very proper for

this country.

cans have been

(b harralTed

years, that they

have had no

But the

for a

ever

afllired,

mounted

in

number of

leifure to

themfelves in any art or manufadlure.

Corfi-

improve

am how-

that the exportation of oil has a-

one year to 2,500,000 French

livres,

and that of cheftnuts to 100,000 crowns of the

fatne

money.

We may expeft to fee the Corficans diftinguifh

themfelves as a commercial nation. Trade has al-

ways

flourilhed moft in republican governments,

as in

Tyre, Sydon and Carthage, in ancient times

Venice, Genoa, Lucca and the United Provinces,

in

modern

great

{a)

times.

This

is

fully illuftrated

by the

John de Witt, penfioner of Holland

De

Witt's Intereft of Holland, part

III.

(a),

chap. 3.

AN A C C O UN T

2i6

u hofe
fenle

refledions were the refult of the foundeft

and a long experience.

Nothing has

call a greater

damp upon

the im-

provements of Corfica, than the King of Great

Britain's proclamation after the late peace, forbid-

ding

that nation.

of

have any intercourfe with

fubjedls to

his

flate for

upon me

What may
fuch

a proclamation,

to fay.

behind the
vernment.

have been the reafons

It

me

to look

fecrets

of go-

does not become

and pry into the

veil,

cannot take

This much

may

venture to

aflert,

good correfpondence with Corfica would

that a

be of no fmall advantage to the commercial

tereft

our

of this country, were

only on account of

it

trade and our woollen manufadlures

fifh

to mention the

know

that if

it

at

this

pro-

the clofe of

war, have had feveral of our ftouteft pri-

laft

vateers in their fervice,

tually

not

profit.

had not been for

clamation, the Corficans would,

the

various other articles of traffick

which would turn out to our mutual

I

in^

which would have

effec-

overawed the Genoefe, and given the brave

iflanders

an authority

at fea,

which could nop

And
whom the

have failed to make them very refpedable.

furely

it

felicity

would be worthy of

a people

of freedom has rendered generous, to

ford their countenance to a race of heroes,

af'

who

OF CORSICA.
have done

fo

much to fecure

bleflings, efpecially

214

to themfelves the fame-

when our Ihe wing

this

genero-

would greatly coincide with the commercial

firy

interells
It

nois,

of thefe kingdoms.

has been faid, that

who had

interefl

was the Duke de Niver-

it

enough with our

minifters,

to obtain the proclamation in favour of the

efe.

Some

politicians

have expreft their

furprife,

that Great Britain ihould have favoured

which
it

is

always attached to the French

notorious,

is

that without

French could not have

lon,

fitted

its

Geno-

Genoa,

and when

affiftance,

out that

fleet at

which enabled them to take Minorca

the

Touthat

the Genoefe continued building ihips for them,

during the whole of the

v/ar,

laft

fupplied them with feamen

cans, as lovers of liberty,

whereas the Corfi-

muft naturally have a

refpedl for the Britilh, as indeed

We

may hope

of every virtue, who

is

the cafe.

Sovereign pofieflcd

animated with genuine

fentiments of liberty, and

his

is

that other views will prevail in

the councils of this nation.

making

and conftantly

who

feels

the joy of

own people happy, would

naturally

wifh to extend his beneficence.

Agriculture
in Corfica.
ill

made

is

as yet in

a very

imperfed

ftate

Their inftruments of hufbandry arc

and they do not make the befl ufe of

AN ACCOUNT

2i8

Their plowing

what they have.

the furface of the earth

but fcratching

is

and they hardly know

-,

any thing of the advantages of manure, though

they can be at no

lofs for fufficient quantities

This general obfcrvation

of it.

not incompatible with

is

the large produce of feveral parts of the ifland,

where a greater degree of fertility, and fome more

induftry and attention to culture than ufual are to

be found.

The fupreme

council appoints two or

more pcr-

fons in each province, to fuperintend the cultivation of the lands,

and

to take the

mcafurcs for promoting

it

-,

and

mod

effedual

in particular, to

encourage the planting of mulberry

trees, as it is

Cornea may be made

to produce a

certain,

that

great deal of
totally

filk.

neglc6ted,

As gardening
there

which every man who

enclofure,

is

beans and

all

is

has been almoft

late

ordinance by

pofTefles a garden, or other

obliged to fow every year, peafe,

forts

of garden-ftufF, and not

lefs

than a pound qf each, under the penalty of four

livrcs, to

be exafted by the Podefta.

The Ripreme

council alfo appoints two confuls,

to infpe6t the kind

forts

of merchandife

and the price of the various

in the ifland

and to watch

pver every thing that can tend towards the ad-

vancement of commerce.

OF CORSIC

A.

Provifions are not dear in Corfica.

At a

medium

419
Their prices

are as follows.

A labouring ox, about 80 livres.

A cow, from 20 to 30 livres.
A horfe of the belt quality, from

100

to

140

livres.

A mare,

from 70 to 80

from 20 to 25

J\.n afs,

livres.
livres,

A Iheep, about 4 livres.

A

partridge,

fous.

Thruihcs and blackbirds, 2 fbus each.

Beef, 2 fous a pound.

Mutton, 2

The

thirds fous a

pound.

2 fous a pound.

bell

fifli,

Ordinary

fiih,

Wine, 4

fous a flafk of 6

fou a pound.

The money of Corfica

is

lib.

wt.

of the fame value as

that of Tufcany.

Oil

is

livres.

tains

fold in

barrels

barrel contains

valued from 40 to 50

20

pints.

con-

quarts.

Wine

is

fold

in barrels

of 12 zuchas.

zucha contains 9 large Florence

Grain
tains

A pint

12

pounds.

is

by the

fold

bacini.

The

The

bulhel.

The

flafks.

The

bufhel con-

bacino weighs about 2Q

lack or bulhel

fells at

j8

livres.

AN ACCOUNT

220

The

pound weight

Corfican

fame

alfo the

is

with that of Tufcany.

The government

an uniformity

eflablifli

The wages of
er,

is

weights and meafures.

in

a tradefman, or of a day labour-

arc a livre a day,

If a tradefman
profeflion, he has

gradually taking care to

is

and victuals and drink.

particularly ingenious in his

fomething more.

Reapers have no wages

money

in

but befides

which

their viftuals, each gets a bacino of the grain

he cuts down.

The
rude.

manufaftures of Corfica are

I

as yet

have obferved that their wool

very

exceed-

is

ingly coarfe, and generally black, and that of this

they

black

wool

make but
is
is

the

The pure

a thick heavy cloth.

moft valuable

mixed with

it,

when

the cloth

is

cfteemed, being of a ruflet grey, or

They import

little

white

not fo

much

brown dufky
;

for be-

fides that there is not a fufficient quantity

of wool

colour.

all their fine

cloth

for the fervice of the ifland, the Corficans have

not learned to

make any

thing elf^ of

;t,

but the

coarfe cloth I have mentioned.

In Sardinia they

make

coverings for beds and

carpets of various colours, befides

fluffs for clothes.
leifure,

When

many

different

the Corficans have

more

they will probably imitate their neighbours.

OF CORSICA.
in thofe arts.
ly,

Indeed over the greateft part of

Ita-

none but the very peafants wear home-made

cloth

and

finer kind,

from

if in

fome places they make cloth of a

it is

made of

foreign wool imported

different countries.

good deal of flax grows

doubt abundance of
ed

221

to

in Corfica

might be

it

have found there,

if

linen.

raifed.

expect-

not the fine webs of

Holland, Ireland and Scotland,

good, ftrong, houfehold

and no

at leaft plenty

of

But, in reality, the

Corficans are as yet fo backward, that they hardly

make any

linen at

all,

which occafions a very ex-

penfive importation.

A Corfican gentleman obferved to me,

If

'

our kingdom fuch an inflitution

we

had

Dublin Society, and

to give

'

felves in manufadtures,

'

of Ireland, we might foon bring our linen to

'

fome perfedtion

in

praemiums

The Corficans
which

is

Doftour Samuel Madden

to thofe
as

who diflinguilh themis

done

as well as other branches.'

have plenty of oil for their lamps,

much

There

is

They

candles, and a few tallow ones

alfo

for, as

cattle

do not

leather in the ifland.

Many

have formerly remarked, their

yield

in the capital

the light they generally ufe.

make wax
I

as the

fat.

plenty

of the peafants

cff

juft

harden the hides in the

air.

AN ACCOUNT

222

particularly the wild- boar

Ilioes

and have their

fkins,

made of them without being

This

tanned.

they are under no temptation of doing, but that

of poverty and

for the art of tanning

lazinefs,

is

very well underftood in Corfica, and the materials for it are in

of bark

is

fuch abundance, that a great deal

The

carried over to Italy,

Corficans

have a method of tanning with the leaves of wild

laurel, dried in the fun,

This gives a

fort

and beaten into a powder.

of a greenifh colour to the leather.

Certainly various expedients

the purpofe of tanning.

may be ufed,

In the ifland of

to ferve
St.

Kil-

da, they tan with the tormentil root [a).

The

ftate

imagined

of learning

at a

may

in Corfica

very low ebb, fmce

it

well be

was the de-

termined purpofe of Genoa to keep the inhabitants of this ifland in the groffeft ignorance

the confufions and

no

diftreffes

leifure to attend to

'

arma

'

of arms,*

filent leges.
is

of war have

and

left

them

'

Inter

any kind of ftudy.

Laws

are filent amidft the din

an old obfervation

juftly applied to the mufes,

whom

and

it

may

be

war frightens

away from every country.

Paoli and the wifeft of the nation, with

whom

he confults, very foon confidered, that to bring

the people of Corfica to fuch a ftate as

{a) M^AuIay's Hiftory of St. Kilda, p.

zH-

it

might

OF CORSICA.
be hoped

their

freedom would

down pure and generous

it

would be

minds with the

and

partici-

them with

to furniih

found and rational principles,

ftirution

and be carried

to pofterity,

neceiTary to enlarge their

pation of true fcience,

laft,

223

by which the con-

might be held together

in firmneis.

Therefore, after long deliberation,

it

was

at laft

refolved in the year 1764, to eftablifh an univerfi-

ty in the city of Corte

upon which occafion a

manifefto (a) was publiihed, recalling to the people of Corfica, the barbarous policy of Genoa, in

iceeping

them

in ignorance

and informing them

of the eftablifhments, which the parental care of

thf government had formed for their inftrucSlion.

This manifefto was no vain difplay of what

Paoli had been at the

could not be performed.

greateft pains to coUeft the

the iflandj and

many

moft knowing

learned Corficans

tick enough, to accept of the fmall

felves

eftablifli-

were difinterefted and patrio-

in foreign ftates,

which Corte could

men in

afford.

amply rewarded,

in

emoluments

They thought themhaving an opportunity

to contribute to the happinefs of their native country,

by refcuing

it

from the Genoefe darknefs,

which was worfe than that of the Goths, and ee() Appeodix, No. VI.

AN ACCOUNT

224

lightening thofe heroes whofe untutored patriotifm had fhone with fuch luftre.

The

profeflburs in the univerfity of Corte, are

moftly fathers of different religious orders.

and the youth

are indefatigable in their labours,

of Corfica difcover the fame keennefs of

which

their lludies,

There

them

charafterifes

fome pretty good

are at Corte,

like the regular buildings

fpirit in

in

arms.

halls,

where

But

the profeflburs give their ledures.

be expected that they lliould

They

it

cannot

have any thing

as yet

The

of a college.

flu-

dents are boarded in the town.

Under
there
ler's

is

the head of learning

mufl obferve, that

a printing houfe at Corte, and a bookfel-

fhop, both kept by aLuccefe, a

capacity in his bufinefs.

man of fome

He has very good types

but he prints nothing more than the publick manifefloes, calendars

tical

of

feafl days,

and

little,

prac-

devotional pieces, as alfo the Corfican Ga-

zette,

which

is

to time, juft as

publifhed by authority, from time

news

are collefted

nothing but the news of the

foreign

intelligence, nor

for

ifland.

It

private

it

contains

admits no

anecdotes; fo

that there will fometimes be an interval of three

months during which no news-papers

ed

are publifli-

OF CORSICA.

225

be long before the Corficans arrive

It will

at

the refinement in condufling a news-paper, of

which London
for,

do

affords an unparalleled perfeftion

believe,

an Englifh news-paper

is

the

moft various and extraordinary compofition that

An Englifli news-paper,

mankind ever produced.

while

informs the judicious of what

it

is

really

doing in Europe, can keep pace with the wildeft

fancy in feigned adventures, and amufe the moft
defultory tafte with effays on

every

in

ftile.

There

are in Corfica,

Corte

but they are in

of poli-

feveral treatifes

tical controverfy, faid in the title to

be printed at

Lucca,

reality printed at

or at Leghorn. In fome of thele

I

and

all fubjects,

of which

treatifes,

have a pretty numerous colleflion, the authours,

with

much

care

and thought, labour to prove to

a demonftration, that the Corficans muft be free.

Their writings are a good deal

profound

trafts for

of the

and againft the hereditary and

indefeafible right of kings,

with which

braries in this country

were

Authorities are heaped

upon

blifti

in the ftile

the plaineft propofitions

filled in

all

the

laft

authorities,
;

and

the

li-

age.

to efta

as the poet fays,

they
quote the Stagyrite

To

prove that fmoke afcends and (how

is

wliite.

Mallet.

AN ACCOUNT

225

The

natural and divine prerogatives of liberty

need not the aid of logick, which has been

employed by the advocates

cefsfiiUy
*

To

fo fuc-

for flaver)',

darken counfel by words without knov/-

ledge.*

The

genius and charafterof the inhabitants of

Corfica <delerve to be particularly confidered, be-

caufe fome authours in ancient times,

emiffaries

prefented

of Genoa

them

In Muratori

We find

xxiv.
cis,*

in

in

have

times,

moft unfavourable

in the

Rerum
'

modern

and the

light.

Italicarum Scriptores, vol.

Petrus Cyrnaeus de

Rebus

This Petrus was a

four books.

re-

Corfi-

prieft

of

the diocefe of Aleria, in the fifteenth century.

His family name was

Filice

but he chofe to

-,

take to himfelf, the learned defignation of Cyrnaeus,

ifland.

hood,

from Cyrnus the Greek name of his native

He

was very poor, and fought a

in different parts

of

Italy,

as a fort of pe-

dagogue, and fojourned long at Venice

redour of the

prefs.

liveli-

as

a cor-

At la.ft having returned

to his

mother country, he very pioufly compofed

hiftory,

The
the

which he brings down to the year 1516.

only manufcript of this

King of France's

bliflies it in
'

its

library

work

little

is

in

and Muratori pu-

1738, when, fays he,

'

Corfi fero-

cium atque agreftium hominum genus,

et in fc-

'

OF COR

C A.

227

'

ditionem facile pronum, fereniffimae Genuenfi-

'

um

'

a multo tempore negotium non leve facefTunt.

'

The

'

and very prone to

'

minds

'

ven no fmall trouble to the mofl ferene repubiick

'

of Genoa/

'

Cyrnaeus gentem fuam

tentionibus ac turbis flu6tuantem, talem praefens

'

quoque

'

Cyrnaeus defcribes

'

perpetual contefts and tumults, fuch the prefent

'

ao;e fees

converfis in rebellionem animis,

republicae,

Corficans a ruflick ferocious race of men,

fedition,

have now of

to rebelHon,

And

having turned their

he adds,

'

a long

Qualem

Such

aetas agnofcit ac fentit.

Petrus

perpetuis con-

defcribit,

his nation

timegi-

as

Petrus

fluftuating with

and acknowledges them.'

Petrus Hands greatly up for the honour of the

ifland.

He

there.

Strabo (a)

infifts

that a fon of Hercules reigned

us that a fon of Hercu-

tells

les fettled in Sardinia,

which

fuppofe has given

occafion to the fame report concerning Corfica,

As Livy
'

fays,

'

Datur haec venia

antiquitati ut

primordia urbium auguftiora faciat

Anti

indulged with a privilege of rendering

quity

'

the beginnings of ftates

is

(I?).

cap. 225.

(rt)

Strabo,

(^)

Liv. in Prooem.

lib. v.

more

auguft.'

AN ACCOUNT

428
Pctrus

He

a moft enthufiallick patriot.

is

has

no patience with Strabo, who notwithftanding

the fiwourable account given of Corfica

by Dio-

hath chofen to convey the worft

dorus Siculus,

idea both of the country and of

its

inhabitants.

Petrus declares, that one principal reafon for his

writing

'

is,

'

video,

'

broad.'

quia Strabonis mendacia vulgata

becaufe

find Strabo's lies

gone

are

the fury of a true

Quum totam

infulam laceraye-

'

non expoftulemus

non accufemus

non

'

rit,

'

graviter feramus

'

nonne parietes domus ubi natus fum, nonne

'

vitas

'

hath torn to pieces the whole ifland,

'

not expoftulate

'

we

filent,

'

* * *

Quod

Shall

not be provoked

we

as

ego tacerem,

if

ci-

When

he

fliall

we

not accufe

* * * But

Shall

lliould

be

would not the walls of the houfc where

cated cry out

is

fi

ubi educatus fum exclamarent

was born, woiUd not the

It

a-

And exclaims with all

Ton of Hercules

'

efle

city

where

I \yas

edu-

?'

indeed ftranp;e to find two fuch authours

Strabo and Diodorus, differing fo widely, and

feemingly contradiding each other.

'H

Si

Kvpvo?

rxi

Si

(faJXw?, r^Oi^iioi

UTTO Tcoi/'Pwjtcai'a-f

o-Jo-caTcj, TBXiug cotTTs Tf

Strabo fays,

xaAsn-at Koptrinx OIx.e7-

outroc,

nca To7g irXiTfotg f^ionry

ytxTi^QVTUi Ta

o^vi

Kxl

ocTTo

Xn-

OF CORSICA.

f i'v

Iv

t^'F a

xait

(Tff

^^v

rccv

ot

y-riTutrii/

r)

accl

[ji.y},

ocTraOsra xxt

^wvr?

o/^w;

7r^ auTW!/,

224.

'

utts

nxlitio

a'paia-Ontn'*

is

inhabited,

'

in

who

'

beries, are wilder than

fore

'

ons into their country,

'

ftrong-holds, carry off

'

and bring them

'

what

ver.

'

lay violent hands

'

live, it is in

'

Ability,

'

have a very bad bargain,

'

little

pening to

is ill

moft places

difficult

lib.

i-

cap.

V.

by the Romans

Corfica.

It

u^O|ulvsc-t

mnaxuiv^z

tsj

Stfabo.

'

S/i^io,'-

xjiTaSaAAou(rv

Tup^ov

to

|!>ieTjaAii'.

But Cyrnus

^^ %

auVor?.

i/

Tr^otnna-ovTE?

v.xi

ocov lu^xtvirxi to

^oi,'JixoiC,tv

TO |3&a-xnaaTaJ!??

iTrnpi^ao-iV

l.ToxTnyot

Pooy.a.ioov

529

called

being rugged, and

of accefs

fo that

thofc

dwell on the mountains, and live by rob-

when

the

even wild beafts. There-

Roman

to

make

generals

and

falling upon' their

numbers of

Rome,

it

wildnefs and brutality

irrupti-

is

thefe people,

wonderful to fee

the creatures difco-

For, they either are impatient of

on themfelves

or

life,

if

and

they do

fuch a ftate of ftupefadion and infen-

that thofe

who

purchafe them for (laves

though they pay very

money for them, and forely

fall into their

regret their hap-

hands.' So far Strabo.

Diodorus on the other hand

fays,

Ta

Si

aV-

AN ACCOUNT

230
xara

tov

(^lov

P(^fiW,

'n-x^oiX.oXa^iia-rig

* * * *

^oiP^dpag * * * *,
jM,eco?

ra?? a.K\oiq

oixoi/ojM.<j? GojUjLtarw?

Diod. Sicul.

lib.

feem to

'

flaves

'

lity for

differ

Trpnri^ufTi

cap.

225.

from

all

v.

the offices of life,

by a peculiar

-rou^

for

of nature.

'

and juftice beyond

'

In every part of the oeconomy of

'

a remarkable regard to equity.'

life,

they fliew

thefe very different accounts

by fuppofing the authours to

under

different points

of

is

yield againft
irritated,

and

any power
their

prefent.

"at

Death

they are furious as lions.

nor

re-

but will exaftly correfpond with the

character of the Corficans

(fl)

humanity

and then they will not only be found

-,

concileable,

thing,

Strabo as of enemies, Diordorus as of

-,

friends

fit-

other barbarians. * * * *

fpeak of the Corficans,

view

are

* * * * Thefe

among themfelves with

reconciled,

CoiTican

which they

iflanders live

may be

xaras

others, in their uti-

ted

Mr. Burnaby thinks

Iv (Si'u

The

'

'

all

I-

Piacrtu

ro SlaaicTroa.'ysiv.

gift

ISioTviroi

rrij

aXAn'Xa?

tt^oj

J^e^

-j-e^

f'y

TXVTY\g

(pvtrixrii

will not

efteemed no-

is

fufficient to

inclination

brook

What Mr. Burnaby fays

-,

In war,

make them

they

reftraint (a).

become

Where-

of the Corficans puts

mind of an admirable obfervation of

Sir

me

in

Thomas Blount

OF COR
as in peace,

and

IC

A.

they are mild and

in civil life,

and have

juft to the greateft degree,

231

thofe

all

a-

miable qualities which Diodorus afcribes to them.

Where

there fervice

is

voluntary too,

or they are

attached to their mailers, by kind and gentle treat-

ment, they have the other perfections which he

al-

lows them.

My

Lord Hailes

thinks that there

properly

is

no contradidion between thefe illuftrious authours;

fmce Strabo has not thrown any abufe upon thd
Corficans in general.

He

has only talked in fbrong

terms, of the barbarity of fuch of them,

bit the
if

mountains and

by

live

as inha-

robberies, juft aS

writing concerning Scotland in former lawlefs

times,

he had

very wild

fet

faid,

the Highlanders there are a

of men.

My Lord Monboddo
more required
ters

thofe

thinks,

to reconcile

of the Corfican

there

nothing

thefe different charac-

flaves,

but to fuppofe that

which Diodorus had occafion

were well treated,

is

obferve,

to

and thofe which Strabo had

occafion to obferve, were

ill

treated.

make

or bad treatment was fufEcient to

For, good
the Corfi-

cans appear either of the one character, or of the

'

You may

hew

liim

flroke the lion into tamenefs

into

pieces,

Tho. Pope Blount's

but you

ftiall

fooner

than beat him into a chain,'

Eflays, edit.

Lond. 1697,

p. 65.

Sir

AN ACCOUN T

232
other

as

we may

many barbarous

fee in

nations

at this day.

But

I Ihall

fuppofe an univerfal ferocioufnefs in

the Corficans, and

think

may well be juftified,

it

confidering the treatment which that brave people

have met with from theiroppreflburs. For, itisjuil-

by the philofopher of Malmfbury,

ly faid

malorum pravitatem,

'

Prop-

recurrendum etiam

ter

'

bonis

'

vim

'

By

even a good people, muft

'

recourfe to the qualities of war, force and fraud,

'

nay to a kind of favage rapacity,

eft,

et

fi

fe tueri

dolum,

volunt, ad virtutes bellicas,

id eft ad ferinam rapacitatem (a),

reafon of the wicked oppreflion of the bad,

Petrus Cyrnaeus lays

'

ple,

down

as a fixed princi-

Univerfi Corfi liberi funt,

vunt legibus.

by

it

their

own

eulogium to

et propriis vi-

All Corficans are free,

laws.'

And

his country,

'

have

in felf-defence,

he gives

and

this

live

noble

Corfica femper alumna

om-

'

paupertatis, hofpes virtutis, mifericors erga

'

nes,

'

pat * et paupertatem tuetur et liberalitatem. Cor(<z)

quam

afcivit a fevera difciplina

Hobbcs de

* Muratori has

The

quam

ufur-

Cive. Epift. Dedic.

it '

ufurpant,'

text has certainly been

learned friend for correding

which will not make

corrupted.
it

to

ufurpat.'

am

fenle.

obliged to a

OF CORSICA.
* fica

ever nurtured by poverty, to

welcome

gueft,

companionate

that poverty and generofity

ed from the hardy

Ured.*

whom virtue

to

which

difcipline to

233

maintains

all,

flie

is

hath learn-

which Ihe

in-

is

A FRIEND/

The

fourth book of Petrus Cyrnaeus

taken up with an account of his

gabond

life, full

is

entirely

own wretched va-

of ftrange, whimfical anecdotes*

He begins it very

gravely,

'

Quoniam ad hunc

lo-

'

cum perventum eft, non alienum videtur, de Pe-

'

tri

Since

'

to fay fomething of the life

trus

qui haec

we

fcripfit,

are

vita et

come thus

who writeth

far, it will

But

fo

not be amifs,

and manners of Pe-

this hiftory.'

excellent charadler of himfelf

very faithful one.

moribus proponere.

He

gives a very

and

minute

is

dare fay a

his narration,

that he takes care to inform pofterity, that he

was

very irregular in his method of walking, and that

he preferred fweet wine to hard.

a

man

city

In fhort he was

of confiderable parts, with a great fimpli*

and oddity of charafter.

I fhall

whom

now

take leave of honeft Petrus

perhaps fome of

my

with

readers will choofe to

cultivate a farther acquaintance.

The

Corficans are naturally quick and lively,

4ind have a particular turn

for eloquence.

Hie-

AN ACCOUNT

234

ronymus de Marinis

(a) gives

them

this chara6ler:

'

Montes apum cxaminibus abundant,

'

melle manant

'

um, qui fub

aculeum adeoque foro

'

tains

'

milk and honey

'

who

'

tongues, have alfo a fting, and are therefore born

for the forum.*

cum

lade

et melle,

nati funt.

Their moun-

like the genius

of the Corficans,

while they have milk and honey under their

in

my pofleflion

their eloquence.

two Corfican

The one

is

difcourfes,

afford fpecimens of
entitled

ca a fuoi Figli, Corfica to her Sons

La

habent

fwarms of bees, and flow with

in

of popular harangues, which

lade ac

apte etiam ad Corforum ingeni-

lingua,

abound

have

et

'

La

:'

Corfi-

the other

Corfica a fuoi Figli Sleah, Corfica to her Dif-

loyal Sons.'

In the

firfl:

of thefe harangues, the patriots are

thus encouraged to proceed in the glorious caufe

dunque I'efempio

'

Seguitate voi

'

la lor patria, e fiate ficuri,

che la

mio

e che all

della liberta,

rezza, e di pace, di abondanza, e di contentez-

za

'

vi riufceranno tanto piu dolci,

gamente ne

{(i)

delle vollre fatiche

di

-,

racoglierete

avanzamento, e

fiete

ftati

dei falvatori delliberta fara

il

ombra amena

foavi frutti di

di gloria.

pre-

Frutti,

lieu-

che

quanto piu lun-

fuor di raggione privati

Graev. TheHiur. Antiq. vol,

i.

p. 1410.

OF CORSICA,

235

malignita dei voftri opprelTori.

'

dalla

then the example of the faviours of their coun-

'

try

'

ward of your

'

fhade of liberty, you will gather the agreeable

'

fruits

'

contentment, of exaltation and of glory. Fruits

'

which

have been unreafonably deprived of them, by

'

the malignity of your opprefTours.*

and be affured that liberty

toils

will

Follow

be the re-

and that under the pleafing

of fecurity, of peace, of abundance and of

be thefweeter to you, the longer you

will

In the fecond of thefe harangues,

fuch of the

nation as fhewed any wavering or timidity, arc

thus roufed againft the Genoefe:

'

Ecco

la

vorrebbe indurvi a temere.

po-

Voi

'

tenza che

'

I'avete fprezzata, e ne avete trionfato nel

'

della voftra

'

eravate fproveduti d'armi, di munizioni, di ba-

'

flimenti, di porti,

'

ta

nel

fi

maggior debolezza, nel

tempo che

di finanze, e di
i

tempo

tempo

ch*

truppa paga-

voftri capi erano novizii nel

ed economico,

'

govern militare

'

e che tutti quefti governi riufcivano loro gravi e

difpendiofi

ditamente la

feminavano

'

era dalla cifmontana independente e divifa

nel

-,

e politico, civile

tempo che

crefta, e

la zizania

partiti

da per tutto

alzavano aralia fcoperta

che la parte oltramontana

;

che

dominio della nazione era mal ficuro e mal no-

;;

AN ACCOUNT

236
'

to.

Ora

'

fiete

proveduti a foprabbondanza, d'armi e

'

nizioni

'

che avete

la

'

modi

'

la

ftituite le voflre finanze

'

vano molto meglio

non fono difpendiofi

batuti,

'

tutt'

'

nemici, e

'

che

te unite fotto a

'

(lo diro

'

che per faviezza e antivedimento, per zelo e di-

'

fmtereffe, per coraggio e valore, per rettitudine

'

d'intenzione,

'

alcuno de' piu celcbri eroi

'

ftato

'

e che vi promette,

<

coftanti,

za totale, una perpetua

la republica la vana, la deplorabile, la

potenza
'

fua
di

che con un cambiamento

poi,

fuffiftenza

moke

truppa ed

la

fpedizioni,

da

truppa collettiva portava feco

che

che

iftruite
j

che

fondi per

dagrincomdifordini che

che avete in-

voftri capi

che

governi piu

partiti

fono tutti ab-

temuto dagli

comincia a riconofcer dagli

ci

tro-

fi

governo nazionale e ubidito da

il

ceti della nazione,

le parti

percio

liberi

mu-

di baftimenti e di porti

a fufficienza,
ftabilita

felice,

ftefli

efberi

cifmontane ed oltramontane fon tut-

un

fol

Capo

e lotto ad

ad onta della malignita e

di

fini,

e di maflime,

che per voi non fu mai

una

dell' invidia)

non cede ad

ora, difll, in

fi

fe farete nel

gloria immortale,
felicita

un Capo

forte e

voflro

fi

uno

florido,

impegno

una indipendentemerete voi del-

mefchina

Behold the power which they would have

you

to fear.

You

have defpiled, you have

tri-

OF CORSICA.

237

time of your greateft

'

umphed over

'

weaknefs

cd with arms, with ammunition, with

'

harbours, with finances and with troops.

a time

'

ment, whether military or

'

all

and expenfive

'

ons audacioully held

every quarter openly fowed

the country beyond the mountains was indepen-

'

dent, and divided

'

of the mountains

'

nation

when by

'

bundantly provided with arms and ammunition,

'

and are

'

and harbours

'

and funds

'

regulated your finances,

'

themfelves

vernment

the faftions are quelled

vernment

dom,

ning to be acknowledged by

I t]ie

it,

in the

in

the

time that you were unprovid-

a time

high their

when

fufficiently

is

feared

in

When
this fide

the dominion of the

little

in

And,

known.

afi'airs,

you

are a*

accommodated with

when you have eftablifhed

much

fa6li-

and

crefts,

fedition.

for their fubfiftence

is

when

from the country on

happy change

and when

political,

At

was infecure and

a

At

government were heavy

to them.

with

novices in govern-

when your chiefs were

thefe branches of

fliips,

fhips

troops,

when you have

when your

chiefs find

better inftru(5ted,

when go-

no longer

fo expenfive
,

obeyed by

when
all

when

all

the national go-

ranks in the king-

by our very enemies, and beginfoi-eign dates

when

countries both on this, and on the other fide

AN ACCOUNT

238

of the mountains are

'

all

united under one chief,

the lliame of

and under a

'

malignity and of envy)

'

fight, for zeal

'

and valour,

'

views and maxims, does not yield to any of the

'

moft famous heroes.

'

are in a fituation

than ever, and which,

'

undertakings, promifes you immortal glory, a

'

total

you be

temptible power of the republick

The
good

chief,

(I will fay it to

who

for

wifdom and

and difmtereftednefs, for courage

for the reftitnde of his intentions,

Nov/,

fay,

more ftrong and

if

when you
flourifliing

you are conftant

independence and a perpetual

language of the Corficans

tinflured a

little

in

felicity

afraid of the vain, the pitiful,

Italian,

fore-

your

fhall

the con-

?'

is

remarkably

with fome remains

of the dialeds of the barbarous nations, and with

a few Genoefe corruptions, but much purer than

in

many of

ation

the

however

particular
difpleafed

is

Italian ftates.

fomewhat

Their pronunci-

coarfe.

They

give in

a broad found to the vowel e which

me

good

deal.

v/rite Italian in a great

That

the Corficans

degree of perfedion

be feen from fome quotations

in

may

the covirfe of this

account, as well as from the manifeftoes fubjoin-

ed

in the

The

Appendix.

Corficans have

all

a turn for the arts.

cannot indeed fay that painting has yet flouriih-

OF COR
ed among them

play upon the

citra,

are

many of

239
in

mufick

an old Moorifh inftrument,

are pleafed to think the ancient cytha-

romantick found, and

and beautiful.

their airs are tender

They have
finiflied

A.

few of them who do not

has a fweet and

It

ra.

but they fucceed well

There

and poetry.

which they

-,

not yet produced any large and

poem.

But they have many

little

pieces

exceedingly pretty, moft of them on war or on

Old Giacinto

love.

Paoli, father to the prefent

general, has left feveral fonnets

great

fpirit.

Iliall

infert

have a good many of them

one, of which

tranflation.

It

compofed with

ther-commander General

and

have attempted a

was compofed

in praife

GiafFeri,

of his bro-

upon occalion

of a vidory obtained by him over the Genoefe,

at the

ficge

of Cordone

and while

it

gives a

fpecimcn of the talents of the venerable chief,

at the

fame time fhews

at the fuccefs

generous fatisfadlion

his

of another engaged in the fame glo-

rious caule.
S

A
E

O N E T T

coronar I'Eroe di Cirno invitto,

Morte
li

dillenda, e fe I'mchini

folpiri del

Diano

alia

it

il

fato;

Ligure fconfitto

tromba della Fama U

fiato.

O.

AN ACCOUNT

240
Fatto appcna

di

Goto

Del nemjco plpugna

Sprezzo perigli

bel tragitto,

forte (leccato

e al difugual conflitto.

Virtu prevalfe, ov'

Cjrno lo

il

comparve armato.

ci

fcelfe, e'l fuo deftin I'arrife

E'l gran litigio a cui I'Europa e attenta

Al
II

fuo valor, al brando fuo, commife,

brando, ch'anche

Air

il

ingrata Liguria

a Cirno

il

deftin fpaventa.

il

crin recife

man

fcetro la fua

prefenta.

SONNET.
To

crown thy hero, Cyrnus, from the

Lo

Fate with joy

flues

inclines, defcends fierce

While vanquifh'd Genoa's

death

dcfpairing fighs

Give to Fame's glorious-founding trumpet breath.

Scarce was the Golo pafh with courage bright.

The

pallifadoed hoftile fort to ftorm,

Dangers he reck'd not

Virtue prevail'd

in the

when

unequal fight

feen in

His country chofe him, and

celeftial

Pleas'd to behold the Corfick

The mighty

ftrife

armed form.
Fate

fire reftor'd.

on which the nations wait,

Entrufted to his valour^ to his fword.

That

fvvoid, at

The
From

vaunting

which ev'n Fate

trelTes

recoils

with dread^

cut with vigour brave.

the ingrate Ligurian's faithlefs head.

Cyrnus, to thee

his

hand the

fceptre gave.

OF CORSICA.
They have

alfo

many

ballads and madri-

little

gals, full

of drollery and keen

Genoefe

and they have

mour, and various

and

their enemies.

241

againft the

fatire

their eflays

of grave hu-

allegories refpedling themfelvcs

They have

in particular a cu-

rious paraphrafe of the Lord's Prayer,

where

all

the petitions are ftrangely turned into fevere accufations againft the Genoefe.

The

charafter of the Corficans

has been al-

ready touched, in the comparifon between Strabo

They

and Diodorus Siculus.

are

no doubt a

people of ftrong pafTions, as well as of lively and

vigorous

minds.

which men are

in

Thefe are the materials, of

to be

formed

a fuperiour degree.

obfervation which

M.

either

good or bad

always remember an

RoufTeau made to me, one

day, in the Val de Travers,

when we were

ing of the characters of different nations

'

J'aime ces caradleres ou

was well

faid.

il

y a de

poor feeble

fpirit

lupport the weight of great virtues.

where there
to

is

ftrength and

fire,

form charalers of worth and

Thefe

iilanders

have

that

talk-

faid he,

I'etoffe.'
is

It

unable to
It

is

only

we can hope

dignity.

abilities for

any thing

but their fourtune has been fuch, that they have

been confpicuous only for the hard and refolute

qualities.

Abandoned by

the nations around to

AN ACCOUNT

242

the oppreifion of a tyrannical republick, they have

their g.aiv.s for

had no opportunity of fhewing

learning and the arts, their hofpitality, their coiir-

and

teoufnefs,

lized

What

life.

in civi-

they have had an opportunity

to fhew, they have

The

amiable virtues

their other

fhewn with diftinguilhed glory.

authours of the Encyclopedie fay,

'

Les

Corfes font remuans, vindicatifs, et belhqueux.

'

The

'

warlike.'

Corficans are tumultuous, vindictive and

Their ftruggles againft the tyrant

could fhew them

A writer
them

of the higheft

light.

thus charafterifes

clafs

Les Corfes font une poignee d'hommes

'

no other

in

braves et auffi deliberes que

Anglois.

'

aufli

'

On

'

dence

'

emple,

'

aux hommes I'amour de

'

dangereux

'

Corficans are a handful of men, as brave and as

'

determined as the Englifh.

'

not be fubdued but by prudence

'

treatment.

'

courage and what virtue the love of liberty gives

'

to

'

it is

{(i)

ne

lefs

domptera, je

On

et ia bonte.

men

que par

la

pru-

peut voir par leur ex-

courage et quelle vertu, donne

quel

crois,

les

et injufte

la

iiberte,

de I'opprimer

et qu'il eft
(ci).

The

believe they will

and good

We may fee by their example, what

and how dangerous

to opprefs

Eflai de Crit.

as well as

unjuft

it.*

fiir

le

Prince de Machiavcl. p. 114.

OF CO RSICA.
The manners

of the Corficans have a great

They have

by Tacitus.

the fame habit of drinking

to an

uncommon

by luxury

principles unhurt
exercife

rous

lafl

but

and chaue

in part to

may

to

hold

it

good

and partly to the

of private revenge againft fuch

as violate

women*

the honour of their

This

ftricl

owing

degree,

not however

for they are extreme-

Their morals are

ly temperate.

fi-

of the ancient Germans, as

milarity with thofe

defcribed

243

fome appear rude and barbato be wife

and noble.

Better

occafional murders than frequent adulteries. Better cut off a rotten

branch now and then,

than

that the while of the fociety fhould be corrupted.'

When

morals are intimately conne6led with ideas

of honour, and crimes of an alluring nature are

not committed v/ith impunity,
that m.ankind will

retain a

kept within the bounds of

we may expect

proper awe, and be

their

duty

and

have not the frivolous embellifhments and

ent pleafures of licentious gallantry,

from
its

its

effeminate difquiets,

falfenefs

ciples

and diffimulation

its

-,

we

if

we

tranfi-

are free

feverilh pafllons,

while honeft prin-

and manly and generous affedions are kept

in full vigour.

They who

think duelling neceffary to preferve

the nice decorum of pclitenefs, ought not to

c^n.-

AN ACCOUNT

244

fure private revenge, the

virtue which

is

the fupport of every community.

"What Tacitus
fay of Corfica

rough guardian of that

fays

'

of ancient Germany we

Nemo

illic vitia

ridet

may

nee cor-

corrumpifaeculumvocatur(';. No-

'

rumpere

'

body there laughs

being corrupted called the way of the world.'

The

et

at vice

Corficans like the

nor

is

corrupting and

Germans of

extremely indolent.

The women do

part of the drudgery

work

tom among

(b)^ as

the Scots Highlanders.

old, are

the greateft
alfo the cuf-

is

Yet they

arc

very adlive in war, like the fame Germans, of

whom

Tacitus fays,

cum

'

rint

'

ture the fame

'

impatient of

iidem homines

quietem

(c).

fic

By

men

Mira

'

diverfitate naturae

ament inertiam

a wonderful variety of naare

reft.'

fond of indolence and

Notwithftanding

Paoli has done, the Corficans

and averfe to labour.

M. De

are

ftill

all

that

indolent

Every year 800 or 1000

Sardinians and Luccefe are

and day-labourers

ct ode-

employed

as artificers

in the ifland.

Montefquieu obferves, that

This

nations are alfo proud.

of the Corficans, to which,

ferved, their fuccefs in

is

as I

all

indolent

indeed the cafe

have formerly ob-

war has contributed.

{a) Tacit, de Mor. Germ.

{b) lb.

{c)

lb.

OF CORSICA.

245

M. De Montefquieu propofcs a very good reOn purroit tourner I'effet contre

medy for this
'

par

Dans

'

la caufe, et detruire la pareffe

'

le

frappes par

'

donner des prix aux laboureurs qui auroient

'

porte plus loin leur

'

a reufli de nos jours en Irlande

'

une des plus importantes manufadures de

qui

midi de I'Europe, ou

'

foit

I'orgueil.

peuples font

les

point d'honneur,

le

il

fort

fi

bon de

feroit

Cette pratique

induftrie.

elle

y a

etabli
toilc

en Europe (a).

One might

turn the efFcdl againft the caufe,

'

and deftroy indolence by pride.

In the fouth

'

of Europe, where the people are fo

much

'

with the point of honour,

give premiums, to the labourers

cultivated their fields,

'

carried their induftry the greateft length.

'

practice hath fucceeded in our days, in Ireland

' it

it

would be

ftruck

right to

who have

or to artificers

beft

who have
This
:

hath there eftablifhed one of the moft impor-

tant linen manufa6hircs in Europe.'

The

Corficans love

much

to

lie

round

This praftice feems peculiar to rude nations.

Indians in north America do

Germans did

nem agunt

The

it. '

(h).

Totos

it,

dies juxta

fire.

The

and the ancient

focum atque ig-

They pafs whole days by the

fire.*

Scythians too had this cuftom.

(a) Efprit des Loix,

liv. xiv,

chap. 9. (^) Tacit, de

Mor.Germ.

AN ACCOUNT

246
Ipfi in defollis

fpecubus lecura fub alta

Otia agant terra, congeftaque robora, totafque

Advolvcre

focis ulfnos, igniquc dcdere.

ViRG. Georg,
In caverns deep with oaks uppil'd, they

And many

376.

iii. 1.

railc.

a branching elm, the crackling blaze

From

cold fecure, around the flaming hearth,

Wafte

the long dreary night in focial mirth.

Wartok.
There have been many very flrange culloms
in Corfica.

Diodorus

men were brought

tells us,

to bed,

the

that after the

wo-

men Immediately

took care of the children, laying themfelves down

as if they

were

fick,

and fondling the

infants,

fo

that the mothers had no farther trouble than ta

give them fucK (a).

man

after Ihe has

So great attention

fuffered fo

much

to a

for the

wo-

good

of fociety, had really fomething humane in

though we muft fmile

may

fay that

it

We

has never been paralleled by

the complaifance of

equitable cuftom

at fuch fimplicity.

it;

'is

modern

gallantry.

no longer

But

all

this

in ufe.

Petrus Cyrnaeus fays, that in his time marriage

was
if

fo

much honoured among

the Corficans, that

any young v/oman was fo poor that nobody

allced her, the

neighbours raifed a contribution to

[a) Died. Sicul. WefTeling. p. 34T.

OF CORS

C A.

Generofity could never

help her to a hufband.

Epaminondas uled

be more properly exercifed.

to exerciie his generofity in that

There

are

ftill llibrift

247

way

(a).

fome extraordinary cuftoms which

In particular they have

in Corfica.

fe-

veral ftrange ceremonies at the death of their re-

When

lations.

man

dies, efpecially

been airafiinated, his widow with

women

all

the married

accompany the corpfe

in the village

grave, where after various howlings,

exprefllons of forrow,

widow, and beat and

Having

manner.
paffion,

he has

if

women

the

tear her in a

thus

fatisfied

fall

and other

upon the

mofl miferable
their grief

and

they lead her back again, covered with

blood and bruifes, to her own habitation.

I

to the

had no opportunity of feeing, while

the id and

-,

but

have

it

This
was

in

from undoubted autho-

rity.

Having

faid fo

much of

the genius and charac-

muft beg leave to prefent

ter

of the Corficans,

my

readers with a very

diflinguifhed

Corfican

character, that of Signor Clemente de' Paoli, bro-

ther of the General.

This gentleman

is

the eldeft ion of the old

General Giacinto Paoli.

of age, of
(^)

middle

Corn. Nep.

fize

in vit.

He

is

about

fifty

years

and dark complexion,

Epam.

his

AN ACCOUNT

248

eyes are quick and piercing, and he has fomething

in the

form of

his

mouth, which renders

it

rate

firll

ap-

His underftanding

pearance vtij particular.

of the

his

is

and he has by no means fnfFered

He

to lie neglcdted.

was married, and has an

only daughter, the wife of Signor Barbaggi one

of the

For

firfl

men

in the ifland.

many

thefe

being in a

flate

Signor Clemente,

years paft,

of widowhood, has refided

at

Roftino, from whence the family of Paoli comes.

He

of a Saturnine

difpofition,

ligion are rather

whole time

and

gloomy and

in ftudy,

fevere.

of

is

re-

He fpends his

except what he pafTes at his

hours every day ; during

all

fix

or eight

which time he

and before the

altar,

with his hands and eyes

lifted

church,

his notions

Thefe generally take up

devotions.

He

very retired manner.

lives there in a

is

in

in a fixed pofture,

up

to heaven, with

folemn fervour.

He

prefcribes to himfelf, an abftemious,

courfe of

life

fome of the

as

if

rigid

he had taken the vows of

religious orders.

He

is

much

with

the Francifcans, wlio have a convent at Roftino.

He
tr)%

wears the

and

it is

common

coarfe drefs of the coun-

difficult to diftinguifh

of the loweft of the people.

him from one

OF CORSICA.
When

he

is

249

company he fcldom

in

fpeaks, and

except upon important occafions, never goes into

or even

pnblick,

When

danger

appear

in the

to vifit

his

brother at Corte.

he

however,

calls,

defence of his country.

hottefl aftion

the

firft

He

is

to

then

and expofes himfeif to the

foremoft in the ranks,

for religious fear

perfedlly con-

is

with the greatefh bravery

fiftent

is

according to

-,

the famous line of the pious Racine,

Je crains

Dieu,

cher Abner

ct n'ai point d* autre

crainte.
J fear

my God

and

Him

alone I fear,

A FRIEKD.

In the beginning of an engagement, he

calm

nerally

and

will

faying he

ge-

frequently offer

up

whom

he

is

prayer to heaven, for the perfon at

going to

fire

neceffity

of depriving him of

is

is

forry to be
life

under the

but that he

is

an enemy to Corfica, and providence has fent him

way,

in his

in order

that he

may be prevented

from doing any father mifchief

God
feif.

will

pardon

his crimes,

that

he hopes

and take him to him-

After he has feen two or three of his coun-

trymen

fall at his fide,

the cafe alters.

His eyes

flame with grief and indignation, and he becomes

AN ACCOUNT

250

dealing vengeance every where

one furious,

like

around him.

His authority

in the

not

is

and extent of knowledge, joined

fanftity

is

his charaifler,

give

publick confultations

the

all

of

lefs

than his

His ftrength of judgment

the field.

valour in

council

of confiderable fervice to

to t!ie fingular

him great weight

and

in

his influence

his brother the

Ge-

neral.

When

view the Corficans glorioufly

v/e thus

ftriving for the bell rights pf humanity,

der the guidance of an illuftrious

able

commander and

flatefman, eflablilliing freedom, and form-

can we be in-

ing a virtuous and happy nation,

different

as

to

their

fuccefs

Can we

forbear to admire their bravery,

dom

One

ca.

know

him

and un-

the

for

None
Rapt

their wif-

Englifli Poet hath celebrated Corfi-

not

who he

fpirit

But

is.

he hath {hewn

t)eg leave to leleft a

Hail

and

Britons

few of

would thank
and

his verfes.

Corsica! than whofe recorded name

e'er ftood fairer

at the found,

Each thought

my

on the
foul

my

For worth

of fame
fires.

impalllons, and each ftrain infpircs.

Pity, to injur'd honour that

Pleads in

rolls

new ardour

heart, and bids

like thine,

is

due.

me

pity you

one honeft wifh receive

'Tis all the mufe, and all the friend can give.

woulc^

O F C O RSICA.
Ye who

are flaves of pow'r, or drones of peace.

Ambition's tools, or votaries of

If not quite ahjecl,

Your

nor quite

cafe,

loft to

fhame.

hearts can feel one particle of fame.

Stand forth; on Corsica

Not what you

The

251

and

reflefV,

fee

what you ought

arc, but

general good's their aim

to be.

no flavilh awe

Marks man from man, but Liberty

is

Law

No venal fenatcs publick credit drain.

No king enflav'd by creatures of his reign.
Of publick honours merit is the teft.
And

thofe obtain

this vile age,

In

No

them who deferve them

one fmallfpot,

The

fmalleft fpot

Held

forth the

is

(for in

on immortal man

Fix your firm hope on

Then glow

On

it

makes

tliofe vile flaves

Who

his

name.

and deftin'd but for you

this,

as

my

to madnefs

Europe's fhame,

Paoli

Your arms muft conquer

!

all

the path purfue

Mark'd out by heav'n,

heav'n

th'ALMlGHTY's Book,

never overlook'd)

wonder to

Produc'd the man, and

Py

rcver'd.

godlike patriot prodigy appear'd,

'Till

Go

now

no virtue

bell.

on

this \'our truft.

your cauie

life's

when

beft

is

juft.

blood run cold.

tliy ftory's told

be heav'n's choice thunder hurl'd.

chain'd themfclves,

would gladly chain a world.

Prxde, a Poem,

AN ACCOUNT

252

The
and

Corficans are in general of fmall ftaturc,

rather

Highlanders

we

alfo find

fize,

much

hard-favoured,
,

though

as

among the

we

like the Scots

among

find

thele, fo

many of a good

Corficans

and comely countenances.

The number of inhabitants

in Corfica has not

been exadtly taken of late, but they

oned 220,000 fouls i

may

be reck-

previous to the

for,

rife

in

L729, there were 40,000 families who payed tax

to Genoa,

and reckoning

five to

each family, the

inhabitants were then 200,000.

Now
certain

although
the

that

it

may appear

number of

creafed during the war

a paradox,

it is

inhabitants has in-

as will

appear from the

following confiderations.

Father Cancellotti a Jefuit mifTionary,

travelled over Corfica,

great exadnefs,

made

and informed himfelf with

a computation, that in thirty

years of Genoefe government,

affaflinations

Whereas

in the thirty feven years

who have

of war, the

above 10,000 people, including

fled

from the confufions of

country, to follow fortune

And

the ifland loft by

and other caufes 28,000 people.

ifland has not loft

thofe

who

upon

the continent.

therefore this calculation of the

f inhabitants

at prefent,

is

their

a juft one.

number

OF COR
The number
than

it

was

of Corficans

C A.

is

however much

in ancient times.

by an able writer (a),

253
lefs

obferved

It is well

That the depopulation of

many countries feems

'

ed by the havock the Romans made among the

'

fmaller ftates and cities, before they could fully

'

eltablilh

could

to

their fovereign

of

its

at

no

inhabitants

lofs to

there

25,000
I

Roman

to the

ha-

have fhaken
account

why

this ifland,

the

number

diminifhed.

is

Of the 220,000
fica,

When

the reiterated turmoils, which dur-

a courfe of ages,

we need be

In no flate

power.'

for in no flate were the natives

harder to be fubdued.

vock we add

occafion-

firft

of depopulation take place, more

this caufe

than in Corfica

ing

have been

people computed to be in Cor-

may be 10,000

in the territories

in

and

Baflia,

of the Genoefe

in all

fo

that

reckon there are about 200,000 of the patriotick

nation,

men
It

and of thefe Paoli can bring 40,000 armed

into the field.

is

therefore

Genoefe

times,

that the

fliould reduce to abjeft fubmiffion fo con*

fiderable a

moft of

by no means probable,

nation,

whom

and a nation of fuch men

have been born

in the troublous

and been brought up with fentiments of

(a) Wallac* on the

Numbers of Mankind;

p.

106.

AN ACCOUNT

254
the

mod

There
little

is

violent

not a Corfican child

at

can procure a

and

the explofion,

blown up the enemy,

calls out,

as

'

fets fire

he had

if

Ecco

Geno-

and beft nobles of Genoa

I believe the wifefb

now of opinion,

that the republick fhould re-

nounce her pretenfions of dominion, over

ple

to

There go the Genoefe.'

' vefi.

are

who

gun-powder, but he immediately

huzzas

it,

hatred againd the republick.

whom

a peo-

long experience has proved to be un-

conquerable by the Genoefe arms,

who have

baf-

fled every attempt that the republick has made a-

gainft them,

and who are

ftate that has a folid

the wifeft and

at

laft

bed of Genoa,

But
and

like the wifell

by the majori-

and the republick has hitherto continued to

drain her treafury,

fruitlefs

and

facrifice

her foldiers,

in

attempts to recover Corfica.

The Abbe Richard

and

into a

claim to independency.

belt of other flates, are over-ruled

ty

formed

lively

(a) hath given a very juft

account of

this

'

Le royaume de

'

Corfe dont la republique pofiede quelques places

'

maritimes lui coute prodigieufement

'

retire

'

combattre un peuple indifciplinc armc pour

'

berte.
(rf)

aucun avantage

Richard Dercrip. Hift.

reel,

et Crit.

n'en

elle

et elle a toujours a

de

la li-

I'ltal. torn. I. p.

n8.

OF CORSICA.
*

Mais comme

comme

les

nobles Gcnois

255
regardent

fe

folidairement rois de Corfe, cettc

'

tous

'

railbnqui eft tres forte fur leur efprit,

'

nera toujours a ne rien epargner pour conferver

ail

moins ce

les

touche

'

eux, que

'

la ballance paroit
'

les

Rien

n'eft aufTi intereffant

nouvelles de ce pais

Une dame

determi-

C'eft robjet d'ambition qui

titre.

le plus.

les

quand

fur tout

-,

pour

pancher du cote des rebelLes.*

Genoife fort inquiete de quelques

'

fucces qui fembloient annoncer une

'

totale

'

efperances de la republique

fe retablilToient, dit

dans un tranfport de joie,

" Dieu merci nou^

'

fommes done encore un peu

'

en faveur des

The kingdom

infulaires,

of Corfica,

revolution

apprenant que

les

reines."

of which the repu-

'

blick poflefTes fome maritime ftrong places, cofts

'

her a prodigious expence. She derives no real ad-

'

vantage from

'

an undifciplined people armed for liberty.

'

But

it,

and fhc hath always to combate

as the

Genoefe nobles look upon them-

be

joint kings of Corfica, this confi-

'

felves to

'

deration which

'

will ever determine them, to fpare

nothing

'

der to preferve at leaft the

It is

'

of ambition which touches them the moft.

*

He

flioulJ

all

not

fore reprefeuted as

is

very ftrong upon their minds,

call thoHi
^

'

armei pour

title.

rebelles'

whom

!a liberte.'

in or-

the point

lie

No-

lutli be-

AN ACCOUNT

256

news from

thing

fo interefling to

them

'

that country, efpecially

when

to lean to the fide of the rebels (patriots j.

'

is

A Genoefe lady

who was

as the

the

bahmce feems

very uneafy, on ac-

'

count of fome fuccefles which feemed to an-

nounce a

ders, hearing that the

gan to be

*
*

joy,

total revolution in

iflan-

hopes of the republick becried in a tranfport of

re-eftablifhed,

" Thank God

favour of the

we

then,

fomewhat

are yet

queens.'*

"While I was employed in writing this Account

of Corfica, the brave

on

iflanders refolved

ftrik-

ing a bold ftroke, and making a conqueft of the

ifland of Capraja.

Capraja or Caprara

about

five

lies

to the eaft of Corfica,

and twenty miles off Capo Corfo, over

againft the coaft of Tufcany.

formerly annexed to the

This

kingdom of

ifland

was

Corfica, be-

ing a portion of the feudal territory of the noble

family of Damari

who were

deprived of

it

by the

Genoefe.

Capraja is about

The whole

of

it is

fifteen miles in circumference.

exceedingly mountainous, and

of a dry craggy furface.

with rocks, that
quarter,

it is

It is all

around

fo pointed

inaccefTible almoll

except at one habour,

which

good one, and where numbers of

on every

is

a pretty

vefiels pafTing

OF CORSICA;
the Mediterranean

take Ihelter,

ufe to

upwards of 3000 inhabitants,

fembled

town

in a

257

whom

of

all

It

hath

are af-

extremity of the ifland

at the

jufl above the harbour.

The men of Capraja are ftrong and robufl.

They all go to fea, and are reckoned the hardieft
and moll expert

The women employ themfelves

ting vines,

in

which the

There is here a ftrong

fo that

it

of the world.

failors in that part

commands

chiefly in cultiva-

ifland is

pretty fertile.

citadel built

on a high rock,

town and harbour.

the

It is

well furniihed with artillery, and the Genoefe kept

There

there a garrifon.
at the

are alfo

two extremities of the

two other towers

ifland,

built rather

in order to defcry the Barbary corfairs,

defend a country fo well

fortified

than to

by nature*.

In the month of December 1766,

Signor Paul

Mattei of Centuri having gone to France to tran-

fome private

faft

went aihore

know

of weather
fix

home he

where he was

at great

was driven

return from Corfica.

into it

me

ftrels

was detained there

in a Francifcan convent,

fathers entertained

by

where the

very hofpitably. I employed

time in writing a minute detail of every thing in the

ifland,
it,

my

days, and was lodged

worthy

my

at Capraja,

Capraja well, for

in

in his paflTage

afi^airs,

which

I ftill

have by me, and often amuie myfelf with

at a vacant hour.

AN ACCOUNT

258

pains to inform himfelf with regard to the fituation

of

their garriibn,

their

harbour and their coafts,

the fcarcity of provifions, and the

attention

little

with which the ifland was defended.

On his
to

make

he propofed to Paoli

return to Corfica,

a defcent

His propofal

upon Capraja.

was immediately approved, and the conduft of the

cnterprife
rati,

was committed

commandant

at

to Signor Achilles

Erbalonga, and Signor John

commandant

Baptift Riftori,

Mu-

at Furiani,

the evening of the i6th of February

who on

767,

fet fail

from the port of Macinajo, accompanied by Signor

Mattei and fevcral gallant young gentlemen of the
principal families in the provinces of

and Nebbio, who chofe

They had

alfo a

to

commanders

they were

them

-,

volunteers.

as

few Capraefe to ferve

They landed on Capraja

lican

go

Capo Corfo

as guides.

The Cor-

that night.

fignified to the Capraefe,

come with no

that

hoflilc intentions againft

but only to expel from their country, the

Genoefe, that the inhabitants of Capraja might

participate the

happy

fruits

of liberty,

with their ancient friends the Corlicans

in
:

common

and there-

fore they

hoped that

pofition,

they would be received with cordiality.

inflead of meeting with op-

Upon this, a number of the

ly joined

inhabitants immediate-

them, and they laid fiege to the citadel.

OF COR

The Genoefe were piqued

C A.

to the greatefl de-

gree, to find that thofe iflanders,

out to be a

fet

259

whom

they gave

of rebels under the awe of a French

guard, were boldly fallying forth,

and wrefting

from them the fovereignty of another

ifland in the

Mediterranean

an event which could not

fail

to

blaze abroad over Europe, and equally contribute

to the glory of the Corficans

They

of the republick.

therefore fpared

pence or care to defeat the

They

no ex-

enterprife.

out a confiderable armament under

command of

Signor Auguftino Pinello, a mart

tried adivity

and valour, and an adlual fena-

the

of

fent

and to the difgrace

tour of Genoa.

They

alfo fent colonel

Antonio Matra, with a

body of chofen men, who by the

affiftance

of aCa-

landing,

praefe galley-flave cfFe6tuated a

at

place negledled by the Corficans as inaccefTible.

While Matra attacked

the Corficans by land,

Signor Pinello attaked them from the

fea,

on two

fo that they

had a very hot

and

difficult adlion to maintain.

Notwithftand-

ing

all

different

tra*s

quarters

-,

which, Pinello was beaten

detachment was
could

off,

and Ma-

totally routed.

willi to relate

the various particulars of

this expedition. I

have materials

but the plan of

my work

P2

fufficient for it

does not permit mc.

AN ACCOUNT

26o

The

citadel of Capraja furrendered

on

the 29th of

May.

The

Corficans

have by

this

They have

confiderably to their dominion.

ed an

increafe of

moft ufeful people

are in condition to prevent,

remely

Sir

acquir-

and they

or at leaft render ex-

communication between

the

difficult,

Genoa and her

conqueft added

garrifons in Corfica.

James Steuart hath placed the Corficans

rather an unfavourable light.

'

Corficans have exported,

part of their ifland to

His words
that

Genoa

is,

are,

in

'The

fold the belt

and now,

after

having fpent the price in wearing damafk and

want to bring

back,

by

velvet, they

ting the property of the Genoefe,

'

paid for the ifland, and drawn back the price

'

of

iflanders (a)*

by the balance of

it,

With

this

it

confifca-

who have both

their trade againft thefe

refpedable writer's permiffion,

it

was

not a balance of trade, but a ballance of bad fortune, which fubjeded Corfica to the Genoefe

the greateft part,

if

not

all

The

was acquired

expenfivenefs of the

Corficans in wearing damaflc and velvet,

(a) Inquiry into the Principles

Book

II.

Chap. 29.

and

the property of the no-

bles of the republick in that ifland,

only by force or by fraud.

is

merely

of Political Oeconomy.

OF CORSICA.
Corfica

ideal.

perhaps the only country upon

is

the face of the globe,

once been

where luxury has never

The

introduced.

by commercial fuperiority

fica,

blicans have been fupplied

with a great
their

Genoefe cannot

made themfelves

pretend to have

261

many of the

mafters of Corfor thofe repu-

from that

of

neceflaries

own narrow dominions could

fertile ifland,
life,

which

not furnilh in

fufEcient quantities.

have thought myfelf called upon to

miftake in a book which

may

tant leffons to free nations,

afford

reflify this

many impor-

and among the

reft to

the brave Corficajis themfelves.

It

is

in vain for the

Genoefe to pretend any lon-

ger that the Corficans are to be looked upon as rebels.

It

is

nobly oppofed by a Corfican writer

with whofe words

fhaU conclude

my Account of

Corfica.
'

Rebelli

come non hanno vergogna

'

noi quefto titolo

con tanto

'

altro

r onore

cercando

'

qua

'

che quello di

'

tor d'ogni bene,

'

to

fi

a noi che facciamo la guerra

fpirito di lenita e di dolcezza,

ftudia che rifparmiare

il

de' noftri concittadini

fe

non

di dar a

fangue,
?

che non
i

beni, c

a noi che non

di liberare la patria della piu ini-

di tutte le cattivita, altro titolo

falvatori.

abbiamo

non conviene

poiche lode a Dio dagia confeguito

1'

inten-

poiche abbiamo gia formato in fequela un

AN ACCOUNT

262
'

governo lovrano

padrone della vita e della morte di tante migliaja

di fudditi, che lo riconofcono,

'

fedelta e

'

cefTivamcnte rota e tribunal!

independentc, aflbluto,

ed ubidifcono con

con preftczza. Avendo

trati

'

rie

leggi e flatuti

'

al

telli

truppe e finanze

abbiamo

noftra dominio
;

fecrete-

compoftc

poiche fotto

caf-

porti e baftimen-

poiche afiblviamo e condanniamo per via di

'

ti,

procefli e fentenze

zioni

le nollre

imponiamo

improntiamo

bandiere

concediamo

afledi

fegni tutti difovranita, e di

Ion piu appellarci gente privata

tratte e licenze

are they not

to us,

dominio

contraf-

come

pof

(a)

aihamed

who make war

formiamo

capitoliamo refe ed armiftizi

Rebels

contribu-

fventoliamo

intimiamo guerre

creiamo notari

tafle e

noftri figilli

e prefidi

torri

armi e cannoni

magif-

giiidjci e

aperte ftamperie

e cancellerie;

e carceri

ftabilito fuc-

ed elecutori di giullizia

miniftri

libero,

to give to

with fuch a

i]s

that title

'

rit

'

to fpare the blood, the efFedls and the honour of

our fellow-citizens

'

but to free our country from the moll iniquitous

'

of

of

fpi-

of lenity and mildnefs, that our only ftudy

all captivities,

* title
*

of faviours.

all

to us,

who feek

15

for nothing

and therefore well deferve the

And

thanks to

God

the Giver

good, we have now obtained our purpofe

(a) Minifeft. di Gen. Colle Rifpoft. di un CorC p. 23,

OF COR
we have now formed

<

for

free

263

A.

government fovereign,

and independent, with the power of life and

many thoufand

who ac-

fubjeds,

death over fo

knowledge

'

alacrity.

'

rota and tribunals, judges and magiftrates, admi-

niftratours

'

cretaries offices, and

'

ing-houfes,laws and ftatutes, troops and finances.

We

'

and'garrifons, caftles and prifons, arms and can-

'

non, harbours and Ihipping. Befides,

and condemn

fentences

'

we

it,

We

and obey

it

with

fidelity

and with

have now fucceflively eftablilhed a

and executers of

juftice.

We have fe-

publick archives i open print-

have moreover under our dominion towers

in the regular

we impofe

adhibit our feals,

abfolve

form of procefles and

taxes and contributions,

we

we form

we

difplay our colours,

'

declare wars,

truces and ceiTations of arms.

fieges,

we

capitulate for

Are not

'

marks of fovereignty and dominion

can they any longer

call

we

all thefe

the

How then

us a private hand

?*

APPENDIX,
CONTAINING

CORSICAN STATE PAPERS.

APPENDIX.
N

I.

267

page 164.

MANIFESTO
DEL GENERALE,
E

SUPREMO CONSIGLIO

DEL REGNO

LA

DI

STATO

DI CORSICA.

guerra contro la repubblica di Geneva

tjuanto la necedita che ci ha indotti
a prender le armi per fottrarci dalla piuobbrobiiofa, ed infofFribile tii-annia degl' ingiuili occupatori della noftra ilola, e de ne^
mici della noftra liberta.
La moderazione, cio non oftante,
giuftizia dell a noftra

e tanto nota al

mondo,

coUa quale ci fiamo fempre diportati in qucfto si giufto, e lodevole impegno, avendo viepiu riempiti d' orgoglio, e fatti ogni
giorno piu arditi a noftro danno i Signori di Genova, rende a
noi indifpenfabile il doverc nel punto che fiamo per cambiar di
condotta a lor riguardo, manifeftarne al pubblico li niotivi, e le
ragioni, onde ognuno fia perfuafo della rcttitudine delle noftre
determinazioni, e di quella equita, che forma il carattere della
noftra nazione.

Da trenta anni che noi fofteniamo la prefente guerra per ifhidare afFato dalla noftra ifola la repubblica di Genova, mai in alcun modo avevamo tentato fraftornare il commercio di mare &
fudditi di quella fignoria, compaftionando di quelli piuttofto I'infelice fituazione, che I'obligava a vivere fotto un governo, che
per la iftelTa fua coftituzione non pud fe non eller tiranno.
Ma
vedendo ora con quanta oftinazione, ed efficacia la predetta re-

pubblica s'afFatichi per interdire, e precludere ogni ftrada al com?^^

mercio marittimo nel noftro regno, prendendo non folamente co'
fuoi Baftimenti armati in Corfo quelli che loro riefce incontrare
di noftra bandiera, ma per anche con felice ardimento finora abbrugiando, ed infultando quelli delle altre nazioni piu rifpettabili dell* Europa, che per ragion di traffico fi portino ad approdare, o partano da porti, e fcali a noi foggetti della noftra ilbxa.
E vedendo in fine, che quefta noftra lenita, e contegno iiiente e
cprriipofto dalli fiadditi Genovefi, e che anche efli jnftigano ii

;A

26s

N D

X.

loro principc a privarci del beneficio del commercio con qualunque bandicra, lufingandofi con quefto mezzo vedere afFatto la
noftra nazione foifrir nelle loro mani il menopolo delle fue foftanze, colic quali

fi

fono obbligati provedere quei prefidi, chc

Per non maacar quindi di riguardo a noi

noi tenianio bloccati.
medefimi, per toglier gli oftacoli, e proteggere il noftro commercio, e per render fenfibile il noftro rifentimento a coloro,
che ful mare impunemente finora ci hanno infultati con tanto
noftro pregiudizio ; prevalendoci del dritto, che ci compete, e
perche e infeparabile da quella liberta, che il cielo ha concefla al
noftro valore, abbiamo deliberato conceder la facolta a quaiunque de' noftri nazionali, che volefle armar baftimenti daCorfo
contro deGenovefl noftri nemici, e lor bandiera, d' inalberare il
noftj*o padiglione dopo aver prefo pero da noi il paftaporto, e
la quale facolta nell' ifteflb modo,
le iftriKioni opportune ;
e forma, volentieri accorderemo ancora a qualunque ftraniere,
che volefTe fervirfene contro de' medefimi noftri nemici, e lor
bandiera, bonificandogli, ed afficurandogli tutti que' privilegi,

che in uguali circoftanze fogliono accordarfi agli armatori.

Coftretti per tanto da cosi preflanti motivi, e fode ragioni
a far la guerra anche per mare alia repubblica noftra nemica,
ci

proteftiamo nondimeno voler ufare

il

maggior

rifpetto,

ed

riguardi polTibili a tutti i prencipi dell* Europa, e di voler praticare, ed ofTervare le leggi, e confuetudini introdotte, ed am-

mefte nelle guerre marittime anche verfo de Genovefi, quando i

medefimi coUe folite loro irregolari, ed inumane procedure non
ci

coftringano ad appartarcene.
Cafinci,

20 Maggio, 1760.

APPENDIX.
N*^

II.

262

page 165.

DOGE
GOVERNATORI,
E

PROCURATORI

DELLA REPUBBLICA

NELLA

DI

GENOVA.

determinazione, in cul fiamo di dare a' noftri poi contrafTegni piu indubitati,
ed auten-

poli della Corfica

tici della paterna noftra amorevolezza, e del fincero defiderio

che abbiamo di renderli tranquilli e felici ; eflendoci fatte prefenti le inllanza di una gran parte de detti popoli, abbiamo
deliber to di fpedire in quel noftro regno luia eccellentiflima
deputazione mur.ita di tutte le opportune facolta, ed autorizzata in nome della iereniflima noftra repubblica a promovervi
efficaceme.'ite. ed a fiiFare i mezzi di quella ftabile pacificazione,
che fu da tanto tempo I'oggetto delle piu vive noftre premure,
Notifichiamo quindi col mezzo delle prefenti a' lopraddettl
noftri popoli, che faranno elTi, niuno efclufo, pienamente ri-

favore della prefata noftra repubblica col

generale indulto di tutto cio che puo eflere accaduto in occafione
gli accertiamo inoltre della immancabile
de' moti trafcorli

melli nella grazia e

noftra dilpofizione ad alTicurare la traTiquillita, e la fecilita loro

col

mezzo

di tutte quelle graziofe

concellioni, che fervano

non

Iblo a confermare, e fpiegare le precedenti, e particolarmente

quelle, che furono accordate in

tempo

dell'

illuftrifTImo Pietro

ma

ancora la ferma intenzione, in cui fiamo, di concedcre alia r.azione Ccrfa diftinzioni maggiori, ftabilire una retta, ed invariabile amminiftrazione della giuftizia
civile e criminale, favorire ed ampliare il commercio, e procurare in fomma alia predetta nazione col bene della pace ogni

Maria Giuftiniano,

altro pofTibile vantaggio.

quefti giuftiiTimi fini la prefata eccellentilTima deputazione

impieghera ogni fua cura e penfiero

meno

tutti

foggetti

piii

ed

rigua.rdevoli^ che

invitiamo percio non

qualunque altro par-

APPENDIX.

270

ticolare del regno a contribuirvi per parte loro con quella ftefla
afFezione, impegno, e buona fade, che per parte noftra, e dell'

eccellentiilima deputazione

procurando

altresi

pievi, e provincie,

il

vi faranno certamcnte apportati,

piu pronto generate concorfo di tutte Ic

onde

pofia colla

maggior follecitudine, Con-

cordia, ed unanimita perfezionarii un' opera, che dev' eflere per

fommo interefTe, ed importanza.

In vifta di quanto fopra proibiamo elpreflanaente a chi avrJ
cara la noftra grazia il recare qualunque danno alle perfbne, e
i

iuddetti noftri popoli di

bene di chiunque Had de' fuddetti noftri popoli ; e liccome ci

promettiamo, che I'opera, e lo zelo di ognuno (I adopereranna
efficacemente per un oggetto, che tanto interefla la repubblica,
e'l vero bene del regno, cosi avremo noi prelcnte il merito di
quelli, che con piu di attivita, e d'impegno contribuiranno a promuoverlo, e ftabilirlo.
Dat.

in

Geneva

nel noftroReal Palazzo

Domenico Maria

Tat is

li

9 Maggio, 1761.

Segretario diStato.

A A

N^

N D

X.

271

page 165.

III.

RISULTATO DEL CONGRESSO TENUTO DA* CORSI IN

CASINCA, IN OCCASIONE DELLA GIUNTA SPEDITA
IN CORSICA DA* GENOVESI.

IL
ED

IL

GENERAL E,
SUPREMO CONSIGLIO DI STATO

DEL REGNO

LA

repubblica di

fue forze,

minio,
ci

ma

Genova

DI CORSICA.

conofciute infufficienti le proprie

all' aborrito di lei do-

non che per fottometterci

ben anche per far piu lunga

fornifce la

noftra unione, ed

il

refillenza a quelle,

che

noftro invincibile attacca-

mento alia liberta da qualche tempo a quefta parte, ma fempre

invano non ha mai ceflato di tentare con tutta la maggior effi.cacia delle fue impofture d' indiiporre contra di noi, e ricever
foccorfo da qualche gran Corte d' Europa.
Vedendofi ora delufa in quefto fuo difegno, e fapendo beniCCmo riputarfi da ogn' uno un dritto dell' umanita il dare una
volta quiete a quefta na2uone, fortementc ella teme, che nel
future congrefib di pace confiderata, e la giuftizia della noftra
caufa colle noftre folenni determinazioni, e
del fuo governo col genio dei noftri popoli,

1'
i

incompatibilita
principi d'

Eu-

ropa per non lafciare accefa in feno all' Italia una fcintilla di
guerra non penfino a farla defiftere dalle pretenfioni che oftenta,
e che ad altro fine non vorrebbe far valere fopra quefto regno,
che per riempirlo di miferie, e d' orrore.
In tale ftato di cofe
feguendo l' impulfo della fua paffione predominante di ftragi, c
di vendette, ella ha creduto non poterli meglio opporre alle noftre intraprefe, che animando coUa profufione di molto danaro,
e coll* ofFerta di gradi militari, e ftipendi alcuni uomini vili, e
mercenari, efuli dalla lor patria per le enormita de' loro delitti,

ad

introdurvifi furrettiziamente per eccitarvi

il

tumulto, e la

dif-

APPENDIX.

272
iinione

onde

vile, avc/Te piu

in apprenfione,

commodo

diftratti noi

di far valere

nelle Corti, e nel congrefTo di pace.

il

in

giro de'

Ed

una guerra

ci-

fiioi artifizi,

ella tanto piu volen-

ha adottato quefto progetto, quanto che nel congrefTo di

Aquifgrana, allorche i miniftri delle potenze penfarono a metter le mani anche agli aflari di Corfica, aftutamente feppe elutieri

premura coll* aflertiva, che in poco tempo avrebbe

rumori di quefto regno.
CoU' iftefla induftria volendo ora prevenire 1' attenzione dei gabinetti per mezzo de' fuoi
inviati, e con manifefti, impudentemente aflerifce, e divulga, aderne

la

quietati

vere finalmente ritrovato

il

mezzo

di ridurre alia quiete le cofe

di Corfica, ed avere a tale oggetto I'uUe richiefte dclla

maggior

parte de' popoli, e de'principali dclla nazione deftinatauna giunta

di fei foggetti dell' ordine fenatorio munita di ample facolta, e
per attirarfi la confidenza, ed il concorfo delle pievi nella citta
di Baftia, e per ultimarvi

Noi

il

trattato di pacilicazione.

amatillimi compatribtti

per raggione del noftro

ed indefefTa attenzione
ftamo continuamente applicati, e vegliamo alia confervazione
dell a voftra interna tranquillita, ed a fconcertare i progetti, e
refpingere i tentativi de' nemici della noftra liberta, avendo
penetrato quefto piano cd idea della repubblica di Genova, non
quali

miniftero colla maggiore Ibllecitudine,

credemmo poter

piu lungamente difFerire la citazione del folito

annuale congrefTo, efpediente fperimentato efficacilTimo in trenta, e piu anni di guerra per confondere I'orgoglio, e fraftornar
Fu intimato, e notificato a tutti quelle mifure de' Genovefi.
H, che hanno voce, ed autorita fu' i pubblici afFari, e fu tenuto
col maggior concorfo di tutti gli ordini, e vapprelentanti della
nazione nel convento di S. Francefco della picve di Cafinca
Previddero il colpo fatale della
nelle feftivita di pentecofte.
lor macchina i noftri nemici, e fecero ogni sforza per farlo cadere a vuoto.
D. Filippo Grimaldi alia tefta de' banditti, e
facinorofi fatti venire appoftatamente da Geneva in Baflia coll'
intelligenza del Martinetti, e coll' apparato di molti baftimenti
fece uno fcalo in Fiumorbo, e ftabiliili a cafa di Sardo, da dove
con minaccie e luilnghe, e colla propofizione di Icvare un reggimcnto in quella commarca, fi perfuafe fpaventare i buoni patriotti, e tirare a fe il concorfo di molti partiti nel difegno d'interrompere, occupandoci altrove, il citato congrefTo, e privarci
COS! della congiuntura piu propria d'illuminare i noftri popoli,
e d' eflerc aiUftiti dal loro zelo, e generofita nel commune biL'iftantaneo provedimento, che s' oppofe a quefto prifogno.
mo tentitivo degli avverfari, e la prontezza con cui prefe Farmi per difefa della propria liberta tutta quella comarca, vi fono egualmente noti alia iconfitta de' traditori della patria, c
ddle truppe^Qenovefi. Continuo dunque il congrefTo colla piu

APPENDIX,

273

defiderabile unanimita di fentimenti, e colla piu matlira ponderazione delle cole le I'ue leflloni, nclle quali furono prele le qui
fotto notatc deliberazioni, quali perche fiano a notizia d' ogn'
uno, e per la loro intiera ollervanza, vogliamo ed ordiniamo
che fiano lette, e pubblicate, ed affilTata copia ne' luoghi Ibliti,
conl'ueti, rii'erbandoci Ibpra alcuni punti ad emanar fuori piu
circoftaiiziato dettaglio per ibddisfazione, ed intelllgenza de'
noftri amatilTimi popoli.
I.

E' ftato decretato cbe

(1

un manifefto per mezzo di

Geneva, proteftando nel
noi non faremo per dare o-

faccia

cui fmentire quelli della repubblica di

medefimo, che

in alcun

tempo

niai

recchio a veruna propolizione d' accordo con i Genovefl, le quefti per preliminari non riconoi'cono la noflra liberta, I'indipen-

denza del noftro governo, e non cedono al medefimo le poche

Quali preliminari accorpiazze che ancor tengono nel i-egno*
dati, ed efeguiti, la nazione Corfa, ed il fuo governo adottera
le mifure piu proprie e decenti, e fara fpiccare la

quita, e

moderazione per indennizare

della repubblica di
II.

il

natural fua edecoro, e grinterefll

Genova.

Nella piu probabile fuppofizione, che

Genovefi accie-

non faranno per aderire a quefti prelimipace, per metterci maggiormente in iftato di fargli con

cati dal loro orgoglio

nari di

.piu fuccefTo,

e vigorofa la guerra in conibguenza del piano fta-

anno corrente, e ilato penfato, ed a pieni voti determinato, che (i levi una contribuzione ftraordinaria, in virtu

bilito per

1'

della quale determiaazione, ciafcuno che avra beni

mo-

ftabili,

o femoventi fruttiferi nel regno dovra pagare una lira per

ogiii mille che ne polTedera in detti efFetti per una ibl volta.
Per fare quefta efigenza li fignori intendenti generali, o altri
preddenti della camera con una particolare iftruzione fi metteranno in giro nel proflimo venture mefe d' AgoHo.
III. Per la piu pronta fpedizione degli affari, e per eflere nel
luogo il piu a portata d' invigilare all' interna tranquillita del
regno e ftato conchiufo, e ftabilito, che il governo fupremo
faccia filTa la fua reEdcuza nella citta di Corte, e che vi ft debba trasferire ne' primi giorni dell' entrante Giugno, col permefib
pero al Sig. Generale di poterlene appartare quando lo giudichi a propofito, o per 1' efecuzione del piano ftabilito delle operazioni di guerra in queft' anno, o per mantenerli alia fronte
Nel qual cafo redel nemico, ed opporfl alii di lui tentativi.
bili,

fteranno a di lui carico, e di fua inipezione particolare il comando, e la direzione dell' armi, la guarnigione de' prefidi,
torri, e poftamenti, ed ogni altro alFare appartenente alia guer-

incombenze proctdera
fuprema autorita,

ra, e nel reftante delle pubbliche

premo

coniiglio colla Iblita fua

il

Jli-

APPENDIX.

274

IV. Inerendo

al

defiderio

amatori della

de' veri

libertJ,

quale in ogni cofa vorrebbero che aveflTe uguale influenza, ed

ardentemente foUecitano per 1' abolimento di ogni qualunque
refiduo

deir antica fervitu

ficcome

ancora per averne quel

profitto die ne ritraggono gli altri ftati,

niare colle armi del regno

fi

e ftabilito di far co-

una quantita proporzionata

di

mo-

neta di rame, e d' argento, per fervire agli ufi correnti dentro
il regno. La quale moneta non potra efTer rifiutata da alcuno, e
nella quale folamente la camera, ed i tribunali riceveranno i pagamenti, i dazi, letafle ordinarie, e ftraordinarie, condanne, o altro&c. Per maggior comodo de'popoli in ogni provincia, e forfe
anche in ogni pieve fara deputata una perfona, a cui potra ricorrere chiunque per far qualche pagamento pubblico, per cui avr^
bifogno di cambiar moneta foraftiera colla corrcnte del regno,
o di quelle colla foraftiera per il commercio, ed ufi fuori di
ftato.

V. E per

viepiu fare fpiccare I'lndependenza dei noftri tribu-

fpefe della loro manutenzione, e

fupremo governo penfi a far boUare colle
armi del regno una quantita di carta, confegnandola agl' intendenti generali delle finanze, coll' incarico ai medefimi di diftribuirne per ciafcuna pieve a proporzione, perche venga comprata
a foldi due, e denari otto il foglio da chiunque ne avra bifogno.
Poiche dal momento che fara diftribuita per le pievi, quefta
carta cosi boUata, e fara notificato a tutti per mezzo d'una circolare, non fara ricevuto come iftromento, o fcrittura pubblica,

nali, e fupplire in parte alle

ftato rifoluto, die

il

ma fara confiderato ne' noftri tribunali come di niun vigore qualunque atto in avvenire non fcritto fopra quefta carta.
VI. E ad oggetto di far piii fenfibile, e manifefto il giufto noftro rifentimento contro Don Filippo Grimaldi, capo e direttore
de' facinorofi felloni, ed emifTari, le di cui malvagie inclinazioni
lo condulTcro al remo nella fua gioventu, ed a cui la frequenza
de' piu enormi delitti contro la patria ha fervito di Icala per
arrivare al grado di colonnello della repubblica di Genova,
della quale or gode la maggior confidenza, fi e ordinato, che
debba conftruirli la figura d'un uomo di paglia rapprefentante ellb
Don Filippo Grimaldi, per eflere dal miniftro di giuftizia alle
forche pifcaine pubblicamente impiccato, affinche venendo in
qualunque tempo nelle noftre forze, 11 debba efeguire il medefimo fupplicio nella di lui propria perfona.
VII. Ed attefe le prefenti emergenze, fi e penlato incaricare
colle piu elHcaci premure i commilfari, i capitani delle armi, ed
altri pubblici uffiziali della nazione d' arreftare, e confegnare
alia giuftizia tutte le perfone fofpette, o cbe terranno difcorfi
fediziofi, ficcome d' invigilare agli andamenti, e forprendere gU

APPENDIX.

275

Genovefi nelle loro reljjettive pievi, e parrocchie,

alia qual premurola difpofizione contravenendo fi efeguiranno
rigorofameate contro di lord le leggi ftabilite nel congrelTo di
Santo Pietro.
VIII. Si fono prefe inoltre le mifure piu propria per mantenere il bilon ordine nell' amminiftrazione della giuftizia, e iiella
perdezione, e maneggio del danaro pubblico, ciocche noi fcrupolofamente adempiremo in quanto per ragion del noftro impiego
a noi fpetta, ed alTiduamente invigileremo, che gli altri ancora
efeguil'cano coUa maggior diligenza, ed efattezza le loro commiflioni, e incombenze.
Noi per ultimo, amatiflimi compatriotti, non ftimiamo nenimeno opportune d' efortarvi ad unire alia noftra fdllecitudine la
voftra coftanza, mentre nell' ultimo memorabile congrefTo H
e troppo manifeftamente contradiftinto il voftro zelo per la
commune patria, e nel concorrere in tanto numero, e con tanto
ardore ad abbattere, e punire 1' indegno ribelle Martinetti, avere abbaftanza fatta vedere la voftra fermezza in difendere, e
mantenere la noftra liberta onde noi fiamo pieni di riconofcenza,e di gratitudine per la voftra fedelta e valore, e 1' Europa
tutta fara quindi perfuafa della inalterabile noftra unione, mediante la quale noi allicureremo la noftra felicita, ed aumenteremo fempre la gloria della patria.
emilTari del

Vefcovato, 24 Maggie, 1761,

Giufeppe

Maria Massesi

a--

Gran>CancelIiere.

APPENDIX.

27^

N*? IV. page 165.

E
A

M O R I
SOVRANI

No N

dovrebbe certamente lagnarfi

neva,

fe

dai Coi-fi

non

fi

la

A
A.

repubblica dl Ge-

e preftato orreccliio alie iufing-

hcvoli, e genericlie efpreflioni d' alTicurare la tranquillita,

felicita

loro contenute nell'

ciofamente in

piu

poco informato

mani

delle

dai

e la

9 Maggio, fparfo artifiCorfi medefimi.

Chiunque fia per
editto dei

circoftanze foriere di qucfto editto, fara

o la repubblica non ebbe lumi bafteben intraprenderTimpegno dipiegar I'animo dei Corfi,

aftretto a confefTare, che

voli per

oppure che

le di lei

mire erano a tutt' altro dirette, che a renLo sbafco clandeftino di diverfi uo-

derli tranquilli e felici,

mini facinorofi gia sbanditi dalla Corfica ; la fedizione interna

1' aver obligati
alcuni ufEziali
tentata in piu parti del regno
Corfi, che fono al foldo dei Genovefi, a girare per i luoghi,
affine di ammutinar gente ; il non aver fatto il minimo capitale del regno, ma foltanto del popolo meno illuminato, fono
forfe mezzi adattati per dar principio alia tranquillita, e felicit^
dei Corfi, ovvero ad eccitare fra efli lo fpargimento del langue,
e tutto r orrore di una guerra civile ? Le maflime pre/enti della repubblica niente diflimili fono da quelle che per 1' avanti
hanno animato il di lei governo, refo tan to odiofo ai Corfi,
quanto e ftato il compatimento, con cui ogni fovrano ha riNe accade che piu fi penfi a riguardato le di loro vicende.
fogettargli una nazione, la quale ficcome dalla repubblica riconofce r avvilimento di tutto il regno, e 1' abiezione de* popocosi eleggera una morte generofa, piuttofto che fottoporre
li
;

di

nuovo ill collo all' antica fcliiavitu.

Dalla violenza, e dalla forza che potefi^e accorrere

in ajuto

della repubblica, potrebbe, non vi e dubbio, abbatterfi il va1'

lore dei Corfi, ma non per tanto fi otterrebbe dai Genovefi
intento, perche il cuore di quegli non perderebbe percio quella

connaturale liberta, con cui

[i

nafce,

ed in vcce di fcemarfi.

APPENDIX.
magglormente

277

aumenterebbe quella antipatia, che dividera

per fempre le due nazioni. E non e da crederfi, che vermi fovrano voglia continuamente tenere in Corfica un' armata iii piedi
per foftenere i dritti di una repubblica^ che eccetto V invafione,
non ha titoJo, che pofia contrapporfl a quelli che vi hanno gli
altri potentati d' Europa.
O fia 1' impero per rapporto alia
Tofcana, o fia la Francia a cui altre volte fu incorporata, o fia
la Spagna per i re d' Aragona, o fia la Santa Sede Apoftolica
fi

di cui fu tributaria.

Intanto pero neppure e da porfi in dubbio che i re moderni,

pervennero i giufti clamori dei Corfi, vogliano ti-afandare quel dritto d' umanita, che puo iftillare nei
di lore animi augufti il penfiero di dare una volta la quiete alia
Corfica, col lafciarle godere la Ilia liberta, per cui in ogni tempo ha dimoftrato tanto attaccamento, e per cui ha foftenuta
con tanta coftanza una guerra cosi difaftrofa, o mettendola fotto la protezione di qualche principe, che la riguardi come figlia, e che invigli ed influifca colla minor gelofia degl' altri
(lati nella conftituzione del fuo governo ; oppure adattando
qualche altro Ipediente poco meno analogo alia naturale inclinazione de* fuoi popoli, e che coU' indennita de* loro privilegi,
meno anche s' opponga alle mire politiche, ed alle pretenzioni
delle potenze interefl!ate.
ai troni de' quali gia

APPENDIX.

278

NO

V. page i68.

DETERMINAZIONI
PRESE NEL CONGRESSO
DI

TUTTI
Tenuto

in

CAPI PRINCIPAL! DEL

Corte
deir

ATTESE

le

II

23, 24, e 25, di Ottobi'e

Anno

corrente

imminente venuta

in

npn

vi

fia

764.

die

continuate notizie,

parti, fembra, che

REGNO

fi

hanno da

tutte le

piu luogo a dubitare dell'

Corfica delle truppe Francefi, leggendofi

il minuto dettaglio del numero
dovranno occupare in Corfica, del

perfino nelle pubblichc gazzette

di efle truppe, de' lucghi che

tempo, cKe dovrajino reftarvi, ed alcuni altri articoli concernenti a quefta fpedizione.
Qviindi e che il ^overno fi c crcduto
nella indifpenfabile necelTita di convocare un particolare congrelTo di tutti
liglieri di ftato

vincie,

foggetti,

nel

che hanno occupata la carica di condc' prefidenti delle pro-

ilipremo governo,

de' commillari delle pievi,

e di tutti gli altri capi prin-

regno ad oggetto di confultare intorno alle determinazioni da prenderfi in rapportq a quefto incidente troppo interelTante per la nazione.
E febbene vi fia luogo a credere, che le intenzioni di S. Macfta Chriftianifllma non tendano con quefta fpedizione a fare
direttamente la guerra ad una nazione, che fempre fi e fatta
preggio del piu fincero olTequiofo attaccamepto alia corona di
Francia, e per cui altre volte fi merito la fpeciale protezione de*
di lui gloriofi predecelTori ;
efiendo pero deftinate le truppe
Francefi a munire, e difendere i prefidi, che ancora ritengono
in Corfica j Genovefi, non poflbno i Corfi rilguardarle, ch.e come una Ipecie di truppe aufiliarie della repubblica, finche fpecialmente non vengano loro a notizia tutti gli articoli del tratcipali del

tato di frefco conchiufo coUa

fpedizione.

(tefia

repubblipa relative a quefta

APPENDIX.

279

pertanto di udire di tutta la pofUbile precauzione, e di

prendere le mirure piu convenevoli alia pubblica ficurezza, (1
fono prefe unanimemente alcune determinazioni contenute ne'
.

AflliTie

fegueuti articoli.

rrhno.

Si

formera una giuuta di guerra compofta

di vari

foggetti dJ tv.tte le provincie, da nominarfi dal fupremo gover-

no, la quale ura incaricata

rofa oilervanza dell' articolo

d'

invigilare per la elatta,

3^^.

dell'

e rigo-

ultima general conililta,

rifguardante la proibizione di qualunque forta di commercio co'

prelidi nemici, tauto in riguardo all' accellb dei nazionali ai

quanto de

prefidiani agli fcali della nazione, ad

popoli dalle anguftie di una vicina careftia conllmile a quella dell' anno fcorlb, per mantenere, ed aumentare il commercio introdotto negli fcali della nazione, e

detti prefidi,

oggctto

di garantire

provvedere nel tempo ftelTo alia fufliftenza delle pubbliche fiDandofi percio piena autorita a detta giunta di punire
nanze.
irrcmilTibilmentc

delinquent!.

Secondo. Quantunque pofla crederfi, che le truppe Francefi

deftinate ora in Corfica non fiano per intraprendere cola alcuna
in pregiudizio dei diritti della nazione, e rinnovarvi alcuno degli
attentati altre volte commeffi con manifefto abufo della confidenza, e buona fede de' Corli nella inafpettata forprela della
paludcUa, e di alziprato, e nella refa del Caftello di Sanfiorenzo in mano de' nemici ; contuttocio per maggiormente ab-

onninamente vietato l' accelqualunque pretefto. Sara percio ifpezione di S.

Ecc. il Sig. Generale di tener muniti i poftamenti di frontiera,
anche per far valere la giuridizione, e il dominio della nazione
fbpra i territori degli fteifi prefidi confifcati a favore della pubblica camera, come e ftato praticato finora.
Potra pero il
fupremo governo accordare il paflaporto a qualche officiale
Francefe, che lo chiedefTe, con obbligo di manifeftare nella prima generale conlulta da tenerfi i motivi della richielta, e della
conceiEone di tali pafTaporti, e di quanto fi folle trattato con
bondare

in precauzioni, fara loro

fo ai paefi fotto

efli

Francefi.

Terzo. Precorrendo voce, che poffa eflere fatta qualche propofizione di pace, o di accomodamento colla repubblica, dovra
quella aflblutamente rigettarfi, fe prima non fiano accordati,
ed efeguiti i preliminari propofti nella general confulta di Cafinca deir anno 1761.
Quarto. S'incarica S. Ecc, il Sig. Generale di fare a nome
della nazione una rifpettola, ed efficace rimoftranza a fua Maefta Chriftianiffima in rapporto ai danni, che viene a rifentire
la nazione fuddetta per la miflione in Corfica delle fue truppe
in un tempo, che profittando i Corfi della eftrema debolezza
de' lor nemici, erano ful punto di cfpellerli intieramente dali'

APPENDIX-

i96

reftando percio preclufa loro la ftrada ad ulterior! pro

grefli, e vantaggiata al contrario la repubblica, che viene con

ifola,

quefto mezzo

nuta fare

rinfrancarfi

in Corfica,

delle graviflime fpefe, che era

maggiormente
nazione. Mettera in

e a metterfi cosi

te^-

in iflato

contro la
vifta nel
il grave torto fatto anni adietro alia
nazione colla refa in mano de' Genovefi della importante piazza
di Sanfiorenzo, confegnata dai Corfi alle fue truppe affine di
cuftodirla, chiedendo di tutto la convenevole indennizzazione.
Qtiinto. E perche quefta rimoftranza abbia maggiormente il
fuo effetto, fara pure incombenza di eflb Sig. Generale d'indin
rizzaHi alle potenze protettrici, ed amiche della nazione, fupplicandole a volerla coadiuvare colla loro mediazione preflb fua
Maefta Chriftianiffima, e a continuare alia nazione ftefla 1' alto
loro Padrocinio per la confervazione de' fuoi diritti, e prerogative di liberta, e indipendenza.
Sejlo. ElTendo venuto a notizia del fupremo governo, che.
qualunque privato indifFerentemente fi faccia lecito di devaftare
a fuo talento di qualuni pubblici bofchi, erigendovi fabbriche
que forta di legnami, nell' avvenire fi proibifce rigorolamente a
chiunque ogni nuova erezione di dette fabbriche, ed il taglio di
quallivoglia forta di alberi ne' bofchi liiddetti, fe prima non ne
avT3 ottenuta la licenza in ifcritto da concederfi dal folo fupre-?
di continuare la guerra

teinpo

ilio

fteffo

a S. Maefta

governo.

Gjufeppe

Maria Massesi

Gran-Cancelliere,

APPENDIX,
N^

?8f

VI. page 223.

GENERAL
E

E,

SUPREMO CONSIGLIO
D

T A T O

REGNO

JDEL

DI

CORSICA,

NOSTRI DILETTI POPOLI.

AI

FR A

le incefTanti graviiUme occupazioni, che leco porta il

governo de' popoli alia noftra cura commefli, una delle
principali noflre applicazioni maifempre e ftata quella di procurare alia gioventu del noftro regno un pubblico comodo onde
poterla iftruire negli ftudi delle fcienze divine ed uinane, ad
oggetto di renderla maggiormente utile al fervizio di Dio, e

della patria.

governo Genovefe tra le maflime della barbara deteftabil

con cui reggeva quefti popoli, fopra ogni altra, (i ati
tenne invariabilmente a quella di mantenergli nell' incoltura, e
e per quanto fioriflero le fcienze, e foflero in
nella ignoranza
pregio preflb le vicine nazioni, ed anche alcuni de* noftri nazi'onali dalla generofita de' principi d' Italia foflero prefceiti a
loftenere con alta riputazion di dottrina le cattedre piu ragguardevoli nelle univerfita di Roma, di Pifa, e di Padova, noi
pero eravamo miferamente coftretti a vedere in Corfica i piu
fublimi e perfpicaci ingegni, che la natura ha dati in ogni tempo, ed in gran numero nel noftro clima, o a languire fenza
cultura, e confumarfi nella ofcuritii, e nell* ozio, o a procacr
ciar con grave difpendio oltremare, e per le contrade d' Europa
II

politica

quel

comodo

di coltivarfi

che non era loro pcrmefTo di rinve?

nire nella lor patria.

La Provvidenza
fopra di noi
dilTipata

in

pero, che in

tante maniere ha manifeftati

piu fenfibili contrallegni della fua protezione,

gran parte quella nuvola

di ofcurita,

ha

che cotant^

APPENDIX.

282
ingiuriofamente

nare

il

coprlva, e noi fiamo

ci

mondo, che non era

a portata di difingaiiT

la Corfica quel

voleafi far credere da' Genovefi,

barbaro paele, che

nemico dei buoni ftudi, e delle

Icienze.

L' oggetto pertanto di quefto noftro editto e quelle di far

noto ai noftri amatiflimi popoli, che 1' imiverfita degli ftudi
ideata da gran tempo, e fraftornata fin qui dalle circoftanze
inopportune dei tempi,

fi
aprira il giorno tre del prollimo future Gennajo in quefta citta di Corte, luogo prefcelto nell' ultima general coniulta dello fcaduto Maggio, come il piu como-

do a tutta la nazione. Queft' opera tanto falutare, e generalmente bramata dai noftri popoli, non avra per avventura nel
luo cominciamento tutta quella perfezione, a cui (come tutte
che nate da piccoli principij, perche guidate
dal zelo e dalla giuftizia, hanno avuti notabiliflimi accrefcimenti) potra pervenire con qualche tratto di tempo, baftando ora a
le altre noftre cofe,

noi, che vi fiano le fcuole piu necelTarie, e le piu proporzionate

noIW

al prefente bifogno de'

abbiamo

tale efFetto

profefTori, che oltre

non per

^Itri titoli,

ma

1'

popoli.
i piu
valenti ed accreditati
benemeriti della nazione per molti

prefcelti

ellere

avidita di lucro, o per allettamenti di var

un puro e fincero zelo del pubblico bene,

jmpiegheranno ora di buon animo le loro ftudiofe fatiche ad
iftruire nella maniera piu defiderabile la gioventu, inlegnando
^ita,

portati da

giornalmente nelle pubbliche fcuole

dell' univerfita le fegncnti

facolta, e fcienze.

La Teologia

I.

Dommatica, ove

Scolaftica

rellgione, e le dottrine

della

con

il

Jjrevita e fodezza, e

cattolica

principii della

chiefa faranno fpiegate

profeftbre fara altresi una lezione fra

fettjmana di Storia Ecclefiaftica.

il.

La Teologia Morale,

in cui

daranno

11

precetti, e le

regole piu ficure della Criftiana morale, e in un giorno della

fettimana 11 fara la conferenza di un Cafo pratico relativamente
alle

materie infegnate,

IIL Le

Iftitute Civile e Canonica, ove fi moftrera 1' origine

vero fpirito delle leggi, per il miglior ufo delle medefime.
IV. L' Etica, fcienza utililTima per apprenderp le regole del

il

buon cuftome,
pieghi della

e la

maniera
civile, e

focieta

ben guidarfi nei

comprendera altresi

di

differenti

im-

la cognizione

del Diritto della Natura, e delle Genti.

V. La
filofofanti,

Filolbfia

il

f^^condo

profeflbre

fiftemi

dara

piu

altresi

plaufibili
i

dei

modern!

principii della

Mate-

matica.

VI. LaRettorica.
VII. Vi fara inoltre

II

comodo

di iftrulrll

neiia Pratica tanto Civile che Crimicale.

in lingua

volgare

APPENDIX.

283

Le ore per le difFerenti fcuole faranno diflribuite in maniera,

che clii vorra potra intervenire lo ftefTo giorno a diverfe lezioni,
che terraiino i profefTori nell' infegnai-e,
il inetodo
che baftera una mediocre cognizione della lingua Latina per !
intelligenza delle materie, alle quali \ orranno applicare.
Invitiamo pertanto tutti i glovani lludiofi del uoflro regno,
tanto ecclefiaftici che fecolari, a profittare di una occaCone si
vantaggiofa, che loro prefentiamo
e ibpratutto vogliamo perfuaderci, che con piu ardore, ed in maggior numero vorranno
concorrervi i giovani delle famiglie piu ragguardevoli e facoltofe, alia coltura dei quali efTendo principalmente dirette le noftre Ibllecitudini, avremo cura fpeciale, che vi fiano per loro
(cuole proporzionate, ad oggetto di fornirli delle necefTarie cognizioni per abilitarli alle pubbliche cariche di configlieri di ftato,
e fara tale

di prcfidenti, auditori, e confultori delle giurifdizioni e provincie, e agli altri

ragguardevoli impieghi della nazione,

ai quali

avendo elTi fpeciale diritto di alpirare, devono moflrare nel

tempo ftelTo un maggiore impegno di contradiftinguerfi nella
coltura de' buoni ftudii, per rendcrft atti a foftencrli con digni-p
ta : oltrediche ritrovandofi efli in vicinanza del fupremo goveryio, e prefTo fua eccellenza il Sig, Gcnerale faranno altresl a
portata di dar faggio del loro valore, e bravura in tutti gli incontri, che ne faranno loro prefentati per fervizio della loro patria.
Ed affine di maggiormente eccitare la loro emulazione, per
viepiu aumentare e proteggere i pubblici ftiidii, e favorire chi
gli coltiva, feguendo in cio la ma/Hma di tutti i faggi governi,
mifuj-e perche alle cariche
fi prenderanno da noi le piu efficaci
tanto civili che eccleliafliche del noftro regno fiano fempre pre-feriti quelli che avranno Icdevolmente fatto, o faranno attual-

mente

il

corfo dei loro ftudii in quefta noftra univerfita.

poi-

che fiamo rimafti gravemente commofli in vedere ogni anno ulcire dal regno un numero troppo grande de* noftri ecclefiaftici
per paflare in Terraferma a titolo di farvi i loro ftudii, reftando
ora evacuato quefto pretefto, facciamo loro fapere, che in 1' avvenire non fi concederanno piu paflaporti per Terraferma.
Si daranno finalmente gli opportuni provvedimenti per agevolare ai giovani ftudenti tutti i maggiori comodi in quefta citta, ed il minor difpendio, che fia pollibile tanto in riguardo agli
allogiamenti, che ai viveri, ed applicheremo a rintracciare i mezzi piu proprii, onde fupplire in qualche parte alia fuiliftenza dcgli ftudenti piu poveri.

perche quefto noftro editto per\'enga a notizia di tutti, vogliche fe ne trafmetta copia a tutti i Podefta maggiori del regpo, ordinando loro di pubblicarlo, ed affiggerlo ne' luoghi foliti,

amo

Dato

in Corte, ai

25Novembre, 1764.

Giufeppe

Maria Masse si

Gran-Cancelliere.

THE

JOURNAL
O F A

T O U

T O

CORSICA;
AND

MEMOIRS
o

PASCAL
OHm

PAOL

memenifle juvabit.

ViRC.

T.

THE

O U R N A L

TOUR
T O

CORSICA.
T TAVING
for

refolved to pafs fome years abroad,

my

inftruftion

and entertainment,

conceived a defign of vifiting the ifland of Cor-

wilhed for fomething more than juft the

fica.

common
rope

courfe of what

is

called the tour of

and Corfica occurred

which no body

elfe

had

feen,

me

actually fighting for liberty,

felves
tion,

a place

as

and where

what was to be feen no where

find

fhould

a people

elfe,

and forming them-

from a poor inconfiderable opprefTed nainto a flourifhing

When
M.

to

Eu-

and independent

got into Switzerland,

RoufTeau.

He was

he was

him never

went to

fee

then living in romantick

retirement, from whence,

better for

ftate.

perhaps,

it

had been

to have defcended.

at a diftance, his fingular

While

eloquence

filled

TOUR

288

our minds with high ideas of the wild philofo-

When

pher.

we know

He

alas

he came into the walks of men,

!

how much

me

entertained

was recommended

to

very courteoufly

for I

my honoured friend
whom I had the happi-

him by

the Earl Marifchal, with

nefs

thefe ideas fuffered.

of travelling through a part of Germany.

had heard that M. RouiTeau had fome

corref-

pondence with the Corficans, and had been defired to

him

aflift;

my

them

in

fcheme of going

had compleated

my

that he ihould give

He

forming their laws.

tour of Italy

me

immediately agreed to do

for

he faw that

brave iflanders was

as

tember for

that 1

warm

my Corfican

begged of him
tion,

which

without

So

let

it,

if

to fend

and on

thi-

the

own.

him from Rome,

in

month of Sep-

expedition, and therefore

me

the letter of introducI

fhould certainly go

and probably be hanged

as

a fpy.

for the confequences.

wild philofopher was a

my

I infifted

whenever

fo,

as his

fixed the

he refufed,

him anfwer

The

had

and

after I

my time of going
my enthufiafm for

I accordingly wrote to

April 1765,

them,

a letter of introdudbion.

fhould acquaint him of

ther

to vifit

I told

man

arrival at Florence in

ceived the following letter

of his word

Auguft,

re-

TO CORSICA.

289

A MONSIEUR, MONSIEUR BOSWELL,

A MoTiERS,

le

&c.

30 May, 1765.

LA

depuis votre depart d'

pondre a votre premiere

'

peine celui de repondre en peu de mots a la fe-

conde.

'

moment,

'

firez

'

fiter ces

former a Baftia, de

'

Regiment Royal

'

covado, ou

'

tres-galant

'

de

'

et je fuis fur qu'il

buera a vous

'

fatisfadbion.

foco, et

'

Pafcal de Paoli general de la nation, vous pou-

'

vez egalement

'

fur, connoiffant la nobleife

vous ferez tres-content de fon accueil:

pourrez

_'

orageufe

crife

011

Pour m'en
favoir la

je

me

ici,

Monfieur,

trouve,

m'a ote

le

tems de

et

lettre,

me

re-

laifTe

pour

tcnir a ce qui prefTe

le

recommendation que vous de-

en Corfe puifque vous avez

-,

le defir

de vi-

braves infulaires, vous pourrez vous in-

I'efprit

il

Italien

il

Buttafoco capitaine au
j

fuffira

a fa maifon a VefC'eft

fouvent.

de

montrer cette

lui

vous recevra bien,

lettre,

et contri-

faire voir I'ifle et fes habitants

Si

vous ne trouvez pas

lui

dire

montrer cette

lettre,

Butta-

M.

et je fuis

de fon caraftere, que

vous

d'Ecofie, et que

M.

avec

aller tout droit a

meme que

Mylord Marefchal

un

qui a des connoiffances et

que vous vouliez

lui

il

fe tient afifez

homme,

M.

etes

vous

aime de

Mylord Ma-

TOUR

290

un des plus

de

'

refchal eft

tion Corfe.

recommendation pres de ces MelTieurs que votre

propre merite, la nation Corfe etant naturelle-

'

ment

les

Au

zeles partizans

vous n'avez befoin d'autre

refte

******

ft

accueillante ct

Bons

promt

'

tout

et

heureux voyages,

Je vous embrafle, Monfieur, de

retour.

mon

coeur

To Mr. B O

W E L L,

MoTiERS,

THE

'

felf,

'

lowed

'

ter,

few words to your fecond.

to

'

dation which you afk for Corfica

ftormy

crifis

leifure

and hardly allows

is

which

your departure from

me any

what

May, 1765.

have found myhas not al-

this,

your

to anfwer

me

&c.

firft

let-

leifure to reply in a

To

confine myfelf

immediately prefTing, the recommen-

have a defire to

may

in

Rousseau,

the 30

'

fince

gaiete et

fante,

J. J.

que tous

hofpitaliere,

fi

etrangers y font bien venus et carefTes.

'

la na-

inquire

vifit thofe

at Baftia fQr

fmce you

brave iflanders, you

M.

* This man's planfibility impofed upon

Buttafoco*, cap-

M.

Roufleau and me.

But he has (hewn himfelf to be mean and treacherous j having

TO CORSICA:
of the Royal

Italian

Regiment

291
his

houfe

tain

'

at Vefcovado,

'

is

'

and genius

'

this

'

well,

land and

'

do not

'

M. Pafcal Paoli General of the nation, you

may in the fame manner fhew him this letter,
and as I know the noblenefs of his character,
I am fure you will be very well pleafed at your
reception. You may even tell him that you are

liked

'

that

'

lous partifans of the Corfican nation.

no other recommendation to

your own merit,

fo courteous

'

'

where he

will

and

letter,

and

it

He

refides pretty often.

be

am

fhew him

fufficient to

fure he will receive

will contribute to let

you

you

fee the

if-

inhabitants with latisfaftion. If you

its

find

is

man, and has both knowledge

a very worthy
;

-,

M.

Buttafoco, and will go diredlly

to

by

My

Lord Marifchal of Scotland, and

My Lord Marifchal

is

one of the moll zea-

thefe

You need

gentlemen but

the Corficans being naturally

and hofpitable, that

ftrangers

all

******

who come among them,

'

carelTed.

betrayed Cifinca to the French

ever be infamous.

for

are

which

welcome and

his

pofTefled

memory

of

book, are intreated to erafe what

editions

of

of him,

nrft edit,

this

They who

are made

tlae
I

will

former

have

laid

pages 360 and 361. and fecond edit, pages

562 and 363.

0,2

A TOUR

392
'

wifh you agreeable and

health, gaiety,

you,

Sir,

with

fortunate travels,

and a fpeedy return.

all

my

embrace

heart

John James Rousseau.

Furnilhed with thefe credentials,

to

tient

be with the

they Ihould have done.

was impa-

Chief.

illuftrious

me

charms of fweet Siena detained

The

longer than

required the hardy

air

of Corfica to brace me, after the delights of Tufcany.

I recoiled
ftate

with aftonilhment

how

little

the real

of Corfica was known, even by thofe

had good

accefs to

know

An

it.

officer

in the Britifli navy,

who had

of the

illand,

me

life in

going among thefe barbarians

his furgeon's

told

who

of rank

been in feveral ports

that I run the rilk of

;

for,

my

that

mate went alhore to take the diver-

fion of Ihooting,

and every moment was alarmed

by fome of the

natives,

who

with loaded guns, and

buflies

llarted

if

from the

he had not been

protected by Corfican guides, would have certainly

blown out

Nay

at

his brains.

Leghorn, which

is

within a day's failing

of Corfica, and has a conftant intercourfe with

it.

TO COR
I

it

found people who diffuaded

ther, becaufe

A.

29J

me from

Corfica,

Count Rivarola the Sardinian

himfelf a Corfican, alTuring

was then

that in the rudeft times

me moft

in the ifland.

countries.

going to

conful,

who

no Corfican would ever

had now been

good

fo

as to

many people

in feveral foreign

had found that I was able to accom-

my fellow-creatures

modate myfelfto

languages and fentiments.

would be a

in

and befides,

obliging letters to
I

thi-

that the ifland

The Count was

attack a flranger.

give

me

a very civilized ftate

in

going

might be dangerous.

was however under no apprehenfion

is

did not fear that

difficult talk for

of different

me

to

it

make myfelf

eafy with the plain and generous Corficans.

The

only danger

faw was, that

taken by fome of the Barbary

it

manded

to

might be

corfairs,

and have

among the Turks

a tryal of flavery

fpoke of

at Algiers.

commodore Harrifon, who com-

the Britifh

fquadron in the Mediterra-

nean, and was then lying with his Ihip the Centurion, in the
if the

me

He

affured

me, that

Turks did take me, they fhould not keep

long

good

bay of Leghorn.

but

in order to

as to grant

pafsport

meet the

and

me

as

corfairs,

it

prevent

a very

it,

he was fo

ample and particular

could be of no ufe

if I

did not

he faid very pleafantly when he

A TOUR

294
gave
*

it

me,

hope,

Sir,

it

fhall

to you.'

Before

my

Leghorn,

I left

tour was looked

my Court,

miffion from

thing,

and

the

till

failed

in affirming

make

a minifter

time fhould undeceive them.

from

Leghorn

as I did not

know how

in

Tufcan

Capo Corfo

me

was

and

trious Chief,
I ihould find

to

had been

after

pay

my

to Paoli.

territories

of

v;ith the illuf-

refpefts to the

French

if

it fafe.

Though from Leghorn

but one day's

failing,

to Corfica,

is

ufually

there was fo dead a calm

The

took us two days.

mofl tedious.

on the

was

afraid that

go forward

to

therefore refolved to land

the nation,

for wine.

the French general

affefted towards the Corficans, I

he might not permit

vefiel,

going to Baftia, becaufe

I preferred this to a veffel

it

it

very clofe young man,

as a

which was going over to

that

had a com-

difclaimed any fuch

allowed them to

I therefore juft

of mc,

if truly I

more they perfevered

was confidered

Italian politici-

to negotiate a treaty with

The more

the Corficans.

could obferve, that

upon by the

ans in a very ferious light, as

be of no ufc

However

firfl

day was the

there were

two or three

Corficans aboard, and one of them played on the

litra,

which amufed

me

good

deal,

Ac

fun-

TO CORSICA.
fet all

295

Ave

the people in the fhip fung the

with great devotion and fome melody.

Maria,

was

It

pleafing to enter into the fpirit of their religion,

and hear them offering up

their

The fecond day we became

and more

lively

The worthy Cor-

was proper

lefTon to a

young

traveller juft

They

me

thought

told

better acquainted,

and cheerful.
it

licans

evening orifons.

moral

give a

to

come from

Italy.

be

that in their country I fhould

treated with the greateft hofpitality

tempted to debauch any of

their

but

women,

if I atI

might

expe6t inftant death.

I

employed myfelf

which gave me great

hours in rowing,

feveral

I relilhed fully

fpirits.

my

approach to the iQand, which had acquired an unufual grandeur in

my

imagination.

can remember any thing,

'

malecontents of Corfica,

'

head.'

It

going to

About
in the

fee

As long

have heard of

'

as I

The

with Paoli at their

was a curious thought that

was juft

them.

feven o'clock at night,

harbour of Centuri.

Giaccomini of

this place,

mended by Count

to

we landed

learnt that Signer

whom
was

Rivarola,

had made a handfome fortune

was recom-

juft dead.

He

in the Eaft Indies

and having had a remarkable warmth

of liberty during his whole

fafely

life,

in the caufe

he Ihewed

it

in

A TOUR

2g6
the ftrongeft

manner

in his laft will.

He

bequeath-

ed a confiderable fum of money and fome pieces

.i

of ordnance,

charge to his heir,

and

-,

Upon

Leghorn.

could his heir enjoy

.

it

in

if

ever the ifland

be reduced under the power of the

Genoefe, he ordered him to

fefls to

alfo left

to live in Corfica, and be firm

in the patriotick intereft

fhoiild again

He

the nation.

to

retire

with

all his ef-

thefe conditions only,

his eftate.

was diredled to the houfe of Signor Giacco-

mini's coufin,

Signor Antonio Antonetti at

Mor-

The

prof'

about a mile up the country.

figlia,

pedl of the mountains covered with vines and olives,

was extremely agreeable

and the odour of the

myrtle and other aromatick fhrubs and flowers-

grew

that
I

all

around me, was very

walked along,

often

come fuddenly out from

wcre

all

armed,

faw

tion of the furgeon's

affafllns.

Even

the

alarmed me.

pany

ofto;

tliefe lines

and

as they-

frightened imagina-

mate had

raifed

carried

up

my

fo

many

baggage

been timorous might have

But he and

to each other.

to myfelf

the covert

how the

As

faw Corfican peafants

man who

was armed, and had

refrefliing.

As

it

were very good com-

grew

from a

dufl^y, I repeated

fine pafTage in

Ari-

TO CORSICA.
E

pur per felve ofcure e

297

calli obliqui

Infieme van, fenza fofpetto averfi.

Ariost. Canto

I.

Together through dark woods and winding ways

They walk, nor on

I delivered

their hearts fufp icion preys.

Signor Antonetti the letter for his

deceafed coufin.

He

read

mc

and received

it,

with unafiedted cordiality, making an apology for

my

hearty welcome.

{hewn

alfo

neft Swifs,

His true kindly

my

in taking care of

who

of a

hofpitalit)'

fervant,

was

an ho-

loved to eat and drink well.

had formed a ftrange notion that

me

but affuring

frugal entertainn:ent,

fhould fee

every thing in Corfica totally different from what I

had

feen in any other country.

quite an Italian one, with very

prints,

good

furniture,

and copies of fome of the famous pictures.

In particular,

was ftruck

copy from Raphael, of

done.

was therefore

furpriied to find Signor Antonetti's houfc

much

o-on.

There was no

To

St.

to find here a

fmall

Michael and the Dra-

necefllry^ for

fee the thing at all

its

beinor well

was what furprifed

me.
Sisnor Antonetti gave
paft,

me

and a very good bed.

an excellent

He

lig-ht re-

fpoke with great

ftrength of the patriotick caufe, and

with great

TOUR

298

veneration of the General.

The
hard

next day, being Sunday,

and

-,

was quite cafy, and

the opening of my Corfican tour.

much

liked

muft obferve that the Corficans with

are afraid of

all their refolution,

of

degree

effeminacy.

'

Sir,

faid he,

if

bad weather, to a

got indeed

but a juft enough account of

them

rained very

it

this,

droll

from one of

you were

as

poor as a

Corfican, and had but one coat, fo as that after

'

being wet, you could not put on dry cloths,

'

you would be

afraid

would not allow me

'

faid he,

Quando

to fet out while

trova fuori,

fi

'

di andare fuori e cattivo.

'

felf abroad,

'

deliberately out,

When

there

is

is

If a

it

Antonetti
rained, for,

patienza

man

no help for

it.

little

better,

panied Signor Antonetti and his family,

mafs

the parilh

in

building,

at

about half a quarter of a mile

which

to

ga

accomto hear

church, a very pretty

Signor Antonetti's parifh

to us,

him-

finds

But

ma

-,

too much.*

grew a

the day

Signor

too.'

prieft

little

off.

was to preach

was much pleafed,

being very

curious to hear a Corfican fermon.

Our
Pfalms
'

prieft did
:

'

very well.

Defcendunt

They go down

ad

His

text

infernum

alive into the pit.*

was

in

the

viventes,

TO CORSICA.
After endeavouring to

299

move our

paflions with

a defcription of the horroiirs of hell, he told us,

*

Saint Catharine

'

the moutJi of this dreadful pit,

flop

up,

it

into

of Siena wifhed to be

fo as

laid

might

that fhe

no more unhappy fouls fhould

my

fall

'

not the zeal of holy Saint Catharine.

But

'

what

it.'

I confefs,

it.

can

brethren,

you how to avoid

v/arn

on

have

do

He

then gave us fome good practical advice, and concluded.

The

weather being

now

cleared up,

whom

leave of the worthy gentleman to

He

a gueft.

me

gave

had been

a letter to Signor

Damiano

Commune at
a man with an afs

Tomafi, Padre del

village.

got

But fuch

gage.

took

Pino,

the next

to carry

my bag-

a road I never faw.

It

was ab-

folutely fcrambling along the face of a rock over-

hanging the

fea,

a foot broad.

me

fo

upon
I

a path fometimes not above

thought the

afs rather

man^

prevailed with the

portmanteau and other things on

Had
I

faw

this

formed

my

morning,

humour with

it,

as

tarn

nudum

turn

undique

to take

my

his back.

opinion of Corfica from what

I

might have been

in as

bad

Seneca was, whofe refleftions

in profe are not inferiour to his

'

retarded

epigrams

inveniri poteft,

quam hoc faxum

'

Quid

quid tam abrup?

quid ad copi-

A TOUR

300

quid ad homines im-

refpicienti jejimius?

'

as,

'

manfuetius

dius

'

confiflunt

corum

gravis

patria

quofdam abduxeric

'

found

fo bare, wliat fo

'

rock? what, more barren of provifions

more rude

'

the very fituation of the place

'

what

in climate

'

more

foreigners than natives here.

'

is

'

that even this place hath brought

away from

quid ad ipfum

Plures tamen

fitum horri-

loci

quam

peregrini

hie

cives

ufque eo ergo commutatio ipfa lo-

non

as

to

eft,

ut hie
(a).

rugged

its

quoque locus a

all

What

can be

around

as this

inhabitants

what

what

more

more intemperate

in

horrible

yet there arc

So

far then

a change of place from being difagreeable,

At Pino
fome

brifli

their country.'
I

was furprifed to find myfelf met by

young fellows

dreft like Englifh fail-

and fpeaking Englifh tolerably

ors,

fome people

had been often with cargoes of wine

well.
at

They

Leghorn,

where they had picked up what they knew of our

language, and taken clothes in part of payment
for
I

fome of

their merchandife.

was cordially entertained

Throughout
there

is

all

at

Signor Tomafi's.

Corfica, except in garrifon towns,

hardly an inn

met with

(^) Seneca de Confolatlone.

a fingle one,

TO CORSICA.
about eight miles from Corte.

cuflomed to the Corfican

houfe,

which one
vern.

did fo at Pino,

much

cofa

'

another.

was

fometimes

in a

publick

with the tone

the waiters at a taa variety

allying for

my

was ac-

face and fmiled, fay-

One

Signore.

altra,

of

perceiving

calmnefs and good nature,

dopo un

when Signora Tomafi

miftake, looked in

ing with

wanted,

in calling to

ufes

things at once

my

what

called for

Before

hofpitality,

and imagining

forgot myfclf,

301

'

Una

thing after

Sir.*

In writing

this Journal,

not

fhall

readers, with relating the occurences

ticular day.

much more

be

It will

tire

my

of each paragreeable to

them, to have a free and continued account of

what

moft worthy of obferva-

faw or heard,

tion.

For fome time,

had very curious

moflly on foot, and attended by

ftout

women, who

their heads.

order,

and roaring out,

had

full

T?ie

couple

of

baggage upon
prepared to

fet

could not help laughing, to

good people eager

The Women,

my

Every time that

out from a village,

fee the

carried

travelling,

to have

my

equipage

in

Le Donne, Le Donne.

'

Women.*

leifure

obferve every thing,

and the beft opportunities to

ir\

my progrefs

through the

A TOUR

302
I

illand.

was lodged Ibmetimes

fometimes

in

which

odd

at

little

my

being always well recom-

in convents,

mended from

The

place to place.

was

lay,

Canari.

at

But

firft.

in private houfes,

firft

It

convent

appeared a

foon learnt to repair to

dormitory as naturally as

had been a

if I

friar

for feven years.

The convents

were fmall decent buildings,

cd to the fober ideas of

The

religious

with God,*
thofe

who

whom

their pious inhabitants.

devoutly endeavour to

often

are

fuit-

with

treated

walk

'

raillery,

from

bufinefs prevents

pleafure or

thinking of future and more exalted objefts.

to be

found

temper the

convents,

in

fire

of

At Patrimonio
magiftracy.
tained

me

men of the
found the

The

would be of

ufe to

world.
feat

of a provincial

chief judge was there, and en-

Upon my

very well.

arrival, the

cap-

of the guard came out, and demanded who

was

at

experience of the fcrenity and peace of mind

little

tain

by

me

I replied

ferioufly,

'

Inglefe, Englifb.'

and then

regret and upbraiding,

ma

non

'

faid

Inglefe,

'

amici

'

were once our friends

'

more.'

le

I felt for

fono piu.

my

in

The

He

looked

a tone between

c'erana

Englilh

noftri
;

they

but they are fo no

country, and was abaflied

before this honeft foldier.

TO COR
At

Oletta

brother to

me with
power

I vifited

my

Count Nicholas Rivarola,

friend at

Leghorn.

make me eafy.

who thought better of

of the guard

at

He

received

found here a Corfican

the Britifh, than the captain

and willingly gave

which he

ternoon,

man

When

He

Patrimonio.

bombarding San Fiorenzo,

to a

303

great kindnefs, and did every thing in his

to

triots,

C A.

faid

in

me

talked of our

favour of the pa-

his horfe for the af-

he would not have done

of any other nation.

I

came

to

Morato,

had the pleafure of

being made acquainted with Signor Barbaggi,

who

is

him

to

The

mint of Corfica was

married to the niece of Paoli.

found

be a fenfible intelligent well-bred man.

I

got fpe-

cimens of their different kinds of money

in filver

in his houfe.

and copper, and was told that they hoped

year or two to ftrike fome gold coins.
Barbaggi's houfe was repairing, fo
in the convent.

But

in the

in

Signor

was lodged

morning returned to
and

we

breakfaft,

and had chocolate

had no

than twelve well-dreft difhes, ferved on

lefs

Drefden china, with a

wine,

and a liqueur,

all

at dinner

defert, different forts

of

the produce of Corfica.

Signor Barbaggi was frequently repeating to me,

that the Corficans inhabited a rude uncultivated

country,

and that they

lived

like

Spartans.

A TOUR

304
begged leave

to afk

could fhew

me

in his houfe

wherever

in

what country he could

greater luxury than

and

him

I faid

had fecn

fhould certainly

tell

went, what tables the Corficans kept,

notwithftanding their pretenfions to poverty and

temperance.

upon

good deal of pleafantry pafled

His lady was

this.

appeared to be agreeable,

From Morato

a genteel

woman, and

though very referved.

to Corte, I travelled through a

wild mountainous rocky country, diverfified with

Ibme large

my
or

fervant,

At

we

Corte

to one of
letter

got

had no

their necks,

as well as

fometimes

We

alTes.

round

valleys.

beafts for

little

but oftner mules

horfes,
bridles,

with which

me and

but cords fixed

we managed them

could.

waited upon the fupreme council,

whom, Signor Boccociampe,

from Signor Barbaggi.

was very

had

politely

received, and was conduced to the Francifcan

convent, where I got the apartment of Paoli,

who was

then fome

days journey beyond the

mountains, holding a court of fyndicato

at a vil-

lage called Sollacaro.

As

the General refided for fome time in this

convent, the fathers

than any

made

a better appearance

faw in the iQand.

attended by the

was principally

Priour, a refolute divine,

who

TO COR
had formerly been
a

lio,

me

in the

man of much

C A.

S05

army, and by Padre Giu-

who

addrefs,

ftill

favours

with his correipondence,

Thefe fathers have

lent garden.
in

good vineyard and an excel-

They have between 3 o and 40 bee-hives

long wooden cafes or trunks of

vering of the bark of the cork

with a co-

trees,

tree.

When

they

want honey, they burn a little juniper- wood, the

fmoak of which makes

take

an iron

crook

at

inftrument with

one end of

They

the bees retire.

it,

lliarp-edged

and bring out the greateft

part of the honey-comb, leaving only a

the bees,

who work

and plenty.

which

is

omnia

poflidentes.

et

poflefling all things.*

c.:

kill a bee.

them on the

often joked with

'

tak-

living in peace

at their eafe,

applied to their order

for

little

By

the cafe full again.

ing the honey in this way, they never

They feemed much

then

'

Nihil habentes

Having nothing, and

went to the choir with them.

text

The

yet

fervice was

condufted with propriety, and Padre Giulio play-

ed on the organ.

On the

great altar of their church

wood by

is

a tabernacle carved in

is

a piece of exquifite workmanfhip.

a Religious.

gentleman offered to give them one in

it i

Genoefe
filver for

but they would not make the exchange,

It

A TOUR

So6

Thefe fathers have no library worth mentioning

I

but their convent

large and

is

looked about with great attention,

could find any infcriptions

built.

v^^ell

to

if I

fee

but the only one

found was upon a certain ufeful

edifice

Sine neceflitate hue non intratCj

Quia

necelTaria fumus.

A ftudied,

rhiming, Latin conceit

marked upon

fuch a place was truly ludicrous.

I chofe to flop a while at Corte,
felf after

my

fatigues,

and to

to repofe

my-

fee every thing a-

bout the capital of Corfica.

The morning
French

my

arrival

here,

three

me.

The

deferters defired to fpeak with

foolifh fellows
I

after

was come

had taken

into their heads, that

it

to raife recruits for Scotland,

and

fo

they begged to have the honour of going along

me

with

fuppofe with intention to have the

honour of running off from me,

from

their

own

I received

as they

had done

regiments.

many

civilities

at

Corte from Signor

Boccociampe, and from Signor Mafitfi the Great

Chancellor,

whofe fon Signor Luigi a young

gentleman of
nefs,

my

was

fo

much

vivacity,

good

as to attend

condudour.

ukd

and natural

me

to call

polite-

conltantly as

him

my

gover-

TO CORSICA.
nour.

I liked

out of the

him much, for

as

307

he had never been

were entirely Corfican.

ifland, his ideas

Such of the members of the fupreme council

were

as

found

ral in

flay at Corte,

Gene-

ability, well calculated to affifl the

forming

and fagacious, men of penetra-

to be folid

and

tion

my

during

in refidence

his political plans,

and

in turning

to the bell advantage, the violence and enterprifes

of the people.

The

univerfity

was not then

fo I

fitting,

only fee the rooms, which were fliewn

Abbe

The

Valentini,

me by

whom

at his convent.

I vifited

the

of the univerfity.

procuratour

profeflburs were all abfent except one

chin father

could

CapuIt is

a tolerable building, with a pretty large colledlion

There

of books.

in the

is

nacle carved in wood,

church here

in the

manner of

the Francifcans, but

much

inferiour to

went up to the

callle

of Corte,

mandant very

As

civilly

wifhed to fee

to fee even the

fhewed

all

then three in the caflle

of

his wife

her fervants to flrangle a

was jealous
perpetrated

The com-

every part of

man

for the

who had

woman

it.

defired

There were

crimiinals.

a married lady

me

that at

it.

things in Corfica,

unhappy

a taber-

murder

hired one of

of

whom

fhe

and the fervant who had actually

this

barbarous action.

They were

TOUR

3o8

brought out from

their cells,

The murderer

with them.

that

of his wife had a

me he

ftupid hardened appearance, and told

at the infligation

his miftrefs,

deny

the torture,

tween

it

fervant was

at firil

accufed

upon which he was put

to

by having lighted matches held befingers.

his

He had

did

but was afterwards prevailed with to

accufation,

his

The

of the devil.

poor defpicable wretch.

might talk

This made him return to

what he had formerly

faid,

be a ftrong

fo as to

His hands were

evidence againft his miftrefs.

fo

miferably fcorched, that he was a piteous objedl.

I

afked

he

him why he had committed fuch

Perche era fenza

faid,

a bold and refolute fpirit.

She fpoke to

vant,

'

They can

as ftie

lady feemed of

great firmnefs, and denied her guilt,

a contemptuous fmile,

Becaufe

fpirito,

The

was without underftanding.'

a crime,

me

with

faying with

pointed to her fer-

force that creature to fay

what

they pleafe.*

The hangman of
Being held

in the

Corfica was a great curiofity.

utmoft deteftation, he durft not

live like another inhabitant

of the

ifland.

was obliged

to take refuge in the caftle,

he was kept

in a little corner turret,

juft
fire

room

for a miferable bed,

and

He

and there

where he had
a

little bit

to drefs fuch victuals for himfelf as

were

of

fuf-

TO
iicient to

CO R

keep him

alive

any intercourfe with him, but

backs upon him.

And

more

all

turned their

went up and looked

him.

at

dirty rueful fpe6lacle I never beheld.

He feemed fenfible of his fituation,

his

309

nobody would have

for

A.

and held down

head like an abhorred outcaft.

was a long time before they could get a

It

hangman

in Corfica,

the gallows was hardly

At

being fhot.

who

is

The

General

the punifbment

fo that

known,

criminals

all their

creature

laft this

whom

came with a meflage

a Sicilian,

who

of

I faw,

to Paoli.

has a wonderful talent for phy-

fiognomy, on feeing the man, faid immediately to

fome of the people about him,

Behold our hangman.'
the

man

if

'

My

father was a

man

myfelf, and

il

boia.

and

office,

his

grandfather was a hangman,

hangman.

am

Ecco

gave orders to alk

he would accept of the

anfwer was,

my

He

'

have been a hang-

willing to continue

was therefore immediately put

fo.*

into office,

He

and the

ignominious death diipenled by his hands, hath

had more

effefl

than twenty executions by

fire

arms.
It

is

remarkable that no Corfican would upon

Not

any account confent to be hangman.

greateft criminals,

upon

who might have had

that condition.

Even

the

their lives

the wretch,

who

for

3IO

TOUR

a paultiy hire, had ftrangled a

woman, would

ra-

ther fubmit to death, than do the fame aftion, as

the executioner of the law.

When

had leen every thing about Corte,

prepared for
I

my journey

out,

recolleded that

over the mountains, that

The

might be with Paoli.

I

nio-ht before

had forgotten

fet

to get a

paflport, which, in the prefent fituation of Corfica,

is flill

After fupper

a neceflary precaution.

therefore the Priour

me

walked with

the houfe of the Great Chancellor,

the paflport to be

me fome

to

When

neral confulta.

and ready

who

ordered

made out immediately, and

while his fecretary was writing

by reading

to Corte, to

it,

entertained

of the minutes of the gethe pajQport was finilhed,

put

to have the feal

to

it,

was much

The

pleafed v/ith a beautiful, fimple incident.

Chancellor defired a
the

room bv

us,

little

boy who was playing

to run to his mother,

the great feal of the kingdom.

fitting in the

fet

The

me

their gueft,

for

brinor

thought myfelf

out in very good order,

having excellent mules, and

treated

and

in

houfe of a Cincinnatus.

Next morning

guides.

me

acftive

clever Corl^can

v^orthy fathers of the convent

in

the kindeft

would

my journey

manner while

alfo give

fo they

me fome

who
was

provifions

put up a gourd of their

TO CORSICA.
beft wine, and

fome

311

My

delicious pomegranates.

Corfican guides appeared fo hearty,

that I often

got down and walked along with them, doing jufl

what

When we grew hungry, we

faw them do.

threw {tones among the thick branches of the

cheftnut trees which overfhadowed us, and in that

manner we brought down

we

with which

made us
firft

our pockets, and went on

filled

them with great

eating

thirfty,

we

a fhower of cheftnuts

relifh

and when

down by

lay

the fide of the

brook, put our mouths to the ftream, and

drank

fufficiently.

while,

one of the

was

It

being for a Httle

jufl:

prifca gens mortalium,

'

primitive race of men,* who ran about

woods eating acorns and drinking

While
village,

as

this

flopped to refrelh

my

water.

mules

at a little

When

an ambafladour going to their General.

fellow

among them

'

non credono

barbarians

'

God.'

'

faid he,

'

Dio

perche

'

Inglefe

a ftrong black

fono barbari

Englilh

grande.

don't believe

Excufe me.

him,

God, and
e nel

my country,

faid,

they

told

believe in

in

in

they are

the

Sir.

and

And why ?*

the

in

great

We

in Jefus Chrift too.

Papa

the

in

came crouding about me

the inhabitants

they were informed of

the

Pope

do

Um,

'

?'

No.

This was a puzzling

quellion in thefe circumftances

for there

was

TOUR

312

great audience to the controverfy.

would

try a

replied,

we

'

'

method of

my own,

thought

and very gravely

Perche fiamo troppo lontani.

are too far off.'

Becaufe

very new argument a-

gainft the univerfal infallibility of the Pope.

took however

and then

my

for

faid,

lontani

tanto lontana che Tlnghilterra

crpdono nel Papa.

as far off as

England.

'

lieve in the

Pope.

O,

'

volte piu

lontani

che

'

rimes farther off than Sicily.

and feemed quite

off very

well.

Too

La

Siciha e

in

Sicilia

Why

far off!

fi

Sicily is

Yet

in

Sicily they be-

faid

I,

noi fiamo dieci

la Sicilia

We

Aha

are

!'

faid

In this manner

fatisfied.

ten

he

got

much whether any of

queftion

It

opponent mufed a while,

Troppo

'

the learned reafonings of our proteilant divines

would have had

My journey
taining.

woods.

good an

fome immenfe ridges and

was

great health and

in

fully able to enter

men whom

rude

At

Baftelica

race of people,

me

in

their

into

found

had

own

-,

fpecies

for
?

and

in all quarters.
is

a large

the convent.

fpirits,

vaft

the ideas of the brave.

where there

/ranknefs and eafe

of

effed.

over the mountains was very enter-

paft

I
I

fo

a (lately

company

fpiritedr

to attend

liked to fee their natural

why

fhould

men

They juft came

be afraid

in

making

TOCORSICA.

31a

an eafy bow, placed tliemfelves round the room

where

was

themfelves on their

refted

fitting,

and immediately entered into converfa-

muilvets,

They

tion with me.

that

miferies

their

talked very feelingly of the

country

complained that they were

poverty.

happened

unufual flow of

at

fpirits

had endured, and

but

ftill

in a flate

of

that time to have an

and

one

as

who

finds

himfelf amongft utter ftrangers in a diftant country,

has no timidity,

harangued the men of

Baftelica with great fluency.

expatiated on the

bravery of the Corficans, by which they had purchafed liberty, the moft valuable of

all pofTeflions,

and rendered themfelves glorious over

Their poverty,

all

Europe.

might be remedied by

told them,

a proper cultivation of their ifland, and by enga-

ging a

in

little

member,

commerce.

that they were

But

much

bid them re-

happier in their

prefent flate than in a (late of refinement and vice-,

and that therefore they fhould beware of luxury.

What

faid

had the good fortune

to

touch

them, and fcveral of them repeated the fame fentiments

much

better than I could do.

They

expreffed their flrong attachment to Paoli,

all

and

called out in one voice that they were all at his

command.
long-

time here.

could with pleafure, have paffed a

At Ornano
the

TOUR

314
I

faw the ruins of the

Sampiero had

great

When

an Englifliman,

in the con-

told therri that I

Aye, aye,

'

where

They

refidence.

his

were a pretty droll fociety of monks

vent at Ornano.

feat

faid

was

one of them, as

was well obferved by a reverend bilhop, when

'

talking of your pretended reformation, Angli

'

olim angeli nunc diaboli.

'

angels

now

devils.'

honeft efFufion

of

took good care of

"When

me
I

all forts

My

of people in the

me

him

manity.

had the ftrongeft

alted a character

but

as

ifland,

to trouble

fmk

had held

they having

fomething above hudefire

to fee fo ex-

feared that I fhould be

unable to give a proper account

fumed

him had been

by the converfations

to

fathers

fight of Sollacaro,

ideas of

reprefented
I

The

zeal.

an

could not help being under

confiderabie anxiety.
greatly heightened

this as

in temporals.

came within

I at lail

Englifh formerly

looked upon

fpiritual

where Paqli was,

with

The

him with

why

a vifit,

nothing before him.

had pre-

and that

almoft

wilhed yet to go back without feeing him.

Thefe

iliould

workings of

to

fenfibility

employed

my mind

till

rode through the village, and came up to the

houfe where he was lodged.

TO CORSICA.
my

Leaving

my

fervant with

315

guides,

pafl

through the guards, and was met by fome of the

General's people,

who conduced me

into an anti-

chamber, where were feveral gentlemen

my

Signer Boccociampe had notified

I

was fhewn into Paoli's room.

and was ftruck with

alone,

He

He

was

He

Cisternal elegance

him.

in a

me what

prefented

and gold.

him

had flood

prince, but I never

fence of Paoli.

ufe,

make

to

He

it,

was

(hewed him

polite,

in the prefence

of

trial as in

have already

faid,

my

many

the pre-

that he

is

In confequence of his beafiafll-

he has formed a habit of ftudioufly ob-

ferving every

walked

for

but very

continual danger from treachery and

nation,

the

from count Riva-

a letter

had fuch a

great phyfiognomift.

little

my commands

from Roufleau.

in

in his

were

letter

ing

was then

refpedlable light.

and when he had read

complex-

more

rola,

referved.

fair

Corfican habit, but

might be of

government appear
aPKed

He

of the French, he thought a

arrival

He

found him

drefl in green

common

ufed to wear the

on the

of a

manly, and noble carriage.

year.

and open countenance, and a

ion, a fenfible, free,

fortieth

and

arrival,

his appearance.

and well made

ftrong,

is tall,

in waiting.

new

face.

backwards and

For ten minutes we

forwards

through the

TOUR

3i6

room, hardly faying a word, while he looked

me, with
if
.

keen and penetrating eye, as

a lledfaft,

he fearched

my

very foul.

This interview was for a while very fevere upon

me.
off,

was much relieved when

and he began

Corficans

'have

'

his referve

to fpeak more.

ed to addrefs him with

'

at

Sir,

lately vifited

this

wore

then ventur-

compliment

to the

am upon my travels, and

Rome. I am come from

feeing the ruins of one brave and free people

'I now

He

of another.*

fee the rife

my

received

compliment very gracioufly

but obferved that the Corficans had no chance of

being like the Romans, a great conquering nation,

who

lliould

Their

extend

fituation,

rendered

may be

its

empire over half the globe.

and the modern

this impofTible.

a very

But,

political fyftems,
faid

happy country.

He exprefled a high admiration of M.

whom

RoufTeau,

Signor Buttafoco had invited to Corfica,

to aid the nation in forming

It

Corfica

he,

M. de

feems

its

laws.

Voltaire had reported, in his ral-

lying manner, that the invitation was merely a

trick

told

which he had put upon Rouffeau.

me

that

when he underftood

this,

he himfelf

wrote to RoufTeau, enforcing the invitation.

this affair I fhall give a full

part of

my

Journal.

account

Paoii

in

Of

an after

TO CORSI C A.
Some of

the nobles

the room,

into

and

of

me

The

many of the

principal

He

Italian

France

told that

General did

He

came

me

the

had a table

having always a good

men of

the iHand with him.

cook who had been

Ions: in

but he chofe to have a few plain fub-

dilhes,

ftantial

we were

next him.

fifteen or fixteen covers,

had an

attended him,

in a little

dinner was ferved np.

honour to place

who

317

avoiding every kind of luxury,

and drinking no foreign wine.

I

felt

circle

on

myfelf under fome conftraint in fuch a

of heroes.

hiftory

that he

The

and on

was a

General talked a great deal

literature.

foon perceived

that his

fine clafllcal fcholar,

mind

was enriched with a variety of knowledge, and

that his converfation at meals
entertaining.

He now

was

inflrudlive

and

Before dinner he had fpoken French.

fpoke

Italian,

in

which he

is

very elo-

quent.

We retired to another
My timidity wore off.
thought of myfelf;

my

room
I

to drink coffee.

no longer anxioufly

whole attention was em-

ployed in liftening to the

illuflrious

commander

of a nation.

He

recommended me

Roftini,

who had

lived

to the care

many

of the

years

in

Abbe

France.

Signor Colonna, the lord of the manor here, be-

TOUR

3i8

ing from home, his houfe was afligned for

live in.

when
tion

was left by myfelf

me

to

near fupper time,

till

returned to the General, whofe converfa-

improved upon me,

whom

thofe about him, with

did the fociety of

as

gradually formed

an acquaintance.

Every day

felt

myfelf happier.

me

marks of attention were fliewn

Particular

as a fubjeft

of

Great Britain, the report of which went over to

and confirmed the conjedures that

Italy,

really

In the morning

an envoy.

colate ferved

up upon

the arms of Corfica.

ly with the General.

bility,

and whenever

dined and fupped conftant-

was

vifited

by

make

chofe to

all

remony

but he

One day when

Paoli's

own

infilled
I

me

treat

upon

rode out,

the no-

little

I was attended by a party of guards.

of the General not to

cho-

a filvcr falver adorned with

I
I

my

had

was

with fo

tour,

begged

much

ce-

it.

was mounted on

horfe, with rich furniture of crimfon

velvet, with broad gold lace,

marching along with me.

and had

my

guards

allowed myfelf to

indulge a momentary pride in this parade, as I

was curious to experience what could

really

be

the pleafure of Hate and diftindtion with which

mankind

are fo ftrangely intoxicated.

TO
When

ORSIC A.

returned to the continent after

my

greatnefs, I ufed to joke with

and

tell

319

them

that

all this

acquaintance,

could not bear to live with

them, for they did not

treat

me

with a proper re-

fpea.

My time pafled here in the moft

ner.

man-

enjoyed a fort of luxury of noble fentiPaoli became

ment.

agreeable

made myfelf known

more

me.

affable with

to him.

forgot the great

had every day fome hours

diftance between us, and

of private converfation with him.

From my
down

fetting out

firfl

every night what

on

this tour,

make

Of thefe

particulars, the

to myfelf,

muft

the event prove happy,

defenders of liberty.

The

my

furely be the

Paoli,

which

to record.

Talking of the Corfican war,

happy, we

might

moll valuable to

memoirs and remarkable fayings of

am proud

a felection at leifure.

readers, as well as

wrote

had obferved during the

day, throwing together a great deal, that

afterwards

Ihall

we

'

Ihall

faid he, if

Sir,

be called great

If the event Ihall prove un-

be called unfortunate

rebels.*

French objedled to him that the Corfican

nation had no regular troops.

have them, faid Paoli.

We

v;ould not

We fhould then have the

bravery of this and the other regiment.

fent every

fingle

man

is

as a

At

pre-

regiment himfelf.

TOUR

320

Should the CoiTicans be formed into regular troops,

we

fhould lofe that perfonal bravery which

produced fuch

aftions

among

has

another

us, as in

country would have rendered famous even a

Ma-

rifchal.
I

how he

afked him

fo fuperiour to intereft.

he

my

who

that he

that

intereft

and

to gain a

expeft
I

bia indicibile."
is

He

It is

have a foul

pofiTibly

not fuperiour, faid

name.

know

it.

Yet could

would be content

well

The

render this

be forgot-

to

have an unfpeakable pride, "

heart

'

does good to his country will gain

people happy,
ten.

is

could

Una

approbation of

fuper-

my own

enough.'

faid

he would have great pleafure in feeing

the world, and enjoying the fociety of the learned

and the accompliflied

him how with

ifland yet in a rtide uncivilized

and inftead of participating Attick even-

ings,

'

no6tes coenaeque

Deum,' be

nual courfe of care and of danger.

in

one

I aflced

thefe difpofitions, he could bear to

be confined to an
ftate

in every country.

line

of Virgil
't>*

in a conti-

He

Vincet amor patriae laudumque immenfa cupulo.

replied

TO CORSICA.
This uttered with the
ation,

open

at that

I aflced

manner, was

moment.

him

rably well.

his

have a ilatue of him

willied to

if

it,

When at Naples,

veral Irilh gentlemen

Having

which he did

who were officers

a great facility in

One could

pofielTed of the words,

call

tolefe-

in that fer-

acquiring lan-

But

as

he

ten years without ever Ipeaking

he fpoke very flow.

may

im-

he had known

guages, he learnt Englifh from them.

had been now

He

he underflood Englilh.

mediately began and fpoke

vice.

Italian pronunci-

and the graceful dignity of

very noble,

taken

fine

321

fee that he

it,

was

but for want of what

mechanical pradlice, he had a difficulty

in expreffing himfelf.
I

was diverted with his Englifh

fifted

library.

It

con-

of

Some broken volumes of

the Spedatour and

Tattler.

Pope's EfTay on Man.

Gulliver's Travels.

Hiflory of France, in old Englifh.

And
Barclay's
I

Apology

for the

Quakers.

promifed to fend him fome Englifh books*.

*

have fcnt him the

Addifon, of Trenchard,
favour of libertv.

Workj of Harrington,

of Sidney, of

of Gordon, and of other writers in

have

alfo

fent

liim

fome of our

befl

A TOUR

322

He

me how

convinced

language

for I took the liberty to fhew

Memorial which

from an

and he tranflated

with the greateft

him a

had drawn up on the advan-

tages to Great Britain

fica,

well he underftood onr

alliance wiih

memorial into

this

Cor-

Italian

He has fmce given me

facility.

more proofs of his knowledge of our tongue by

anfwers to the letters which

nour to write to him

have had the ho-

in Englifh,

and

by a very judicious and ingenious

fome of

He

in particular

criticifm

on

hiftory

of

Swift's works.

was well acquainted with the

Britain.

his

He

had read many of the parliamentary

number of the North

debates, and had even feen a

He

Ihewed a confiderable knowledge of

this country,

and often introduced anecdotes and

Briton.

drew comparifons and

He

allufions

faid his great obje6l

from

Britain.

was to form the Corfi-

cans in fuch a manner that they might have a firm

conftitution,

him.

'

Our

and might be able to

ftate, faid he,

quires the leading ftrings.

is

fubfill

young, and

am

and entertainment,

in

particular

of morality

Works

of Mr. Samuel Johnfon, with a compleat

;

beautiful editions

re-

fet

the

of the

and to the Univerfity of

and
Corte, I have fent a few of the Greek

of the

ftill

defirous that the

books

Speftatour, Tattler and Guardian

without

Roman

ClafTicks,

of the MefTieurs Foulia at Glafgow.

TO CORSICA.

323

Corficans fliould be taught to walk of themfelves.

me

Therefore when they come to

to

they fnould choofe for their Padre del

or other Magiftrate,
ter than I do,

I tell

them,

You know

bet-

Confider the confcquence of

your neighbours.

your choice, not only to yourfelves

in particular,

In this manner I ac-

in general.

cuftom them to

members of

Commune,

and honeft men among

the able

but to the ifland

whom

afic

feel their

own importance

as

the ftate.'

After reprefenting the fevere and melancholy

ftate

of oppreffion under which Corfica had fo

long groaned, he
try like

the

'

faid,

We

are

now to our coun-

prophet Elilhah ftretched over the

dead child of the Shunamite, eye to eye, nofe to

nofe,

mouth

to

warmth, and to
full health

mouth.
revive.

It
I

begins

hope

it

to

recover

Ihall yet regain

and vigour.*

I faid that things

and that we

would make a rapid progrefs,

fliould foon fee all the arts

ces fiourifh in Corfica.

'

and

fcien-

Patience, Sir, faid he. If

man who had fought a hard battle,

who was much wounded, who was beaten to the
ground, and who with difficulty cOiflHTift himfelf
you faw

up,

it

would not be reafonable

to afk

him

to

get

his hair well dreft,

and to put on embroidered

clothes. Corfica has

fought a hard battle, has been

T2

TOUR

324

much wounded,
and with

has been beaten to the ground,

difficulty

and fciences are

can

lift

The

herfelf up.

You

and ornament.

like drefs

arts

cannot exped them from us for fome time.

come back twenty

Ihew you

or thirty years hence, and we'll

and

arts

and concerts and

fciences,

femblies, and fine ladies, and we'll

in love

He
I

among

us.

deal,

when

was much furprifed to find him

comphfhed, and

was to

polite

fee a great

make you

affall

Sir.'

good

fmiled a

But

that

fo amiable,

ac-

told

for although

man,

him

knew

expefted to find a rude

charader, an Attila king of the Goths, or a Luit-

prand king of the Lombards.

I

obferved that although he had often a placid

fmile

upon

ed.

Whether loud laughter

his countenance,

be a fign of weaknefs or

but

men of finifhed

The
came

found him

to

his nobles

before
oli

and

this great

him

pay

my
in

may

man is

cannot fay

real great

behaviour, feldom

variety,

mind of

general fociety

in

rufticity,

have remarked that

he hardly ever laugh-

men, and

fall into

fay verfatility,

amazing.

it.

of the

One day when

refpeds to him before dinner,

much

around him,

with a circle of

agitation,

and a Corfican Handing

like a criminal before his judge.

immediately turned to mc,

am

Pa-

glad you J

TO CORSICA.
are

come.

You

Sir.

325

much

proteftants talk

againft

Behold here

our dodrine of tranfubftantiation.

the miracle of tranfubftantiation, a Corfican tran-

man who now

That unworthy-

Genoefe.

into

fubftantiated

me

ftands before

who

a Corfican,

is

has been long a lieutenant under the Genoefe, in

Capo

Andrew Doria and

Corfo.

greateil

all their

heroes could not be more violent for the republick

than he has been, and

Then

turning to the man,

makes
her

againft his country.*

ail
*

a rule to pardon the moft

it

when they

children,

I fhall

You

have a

you make

ftridt

efcaped.

He fpoke
fee that

terrible.

fumed

eye upon you

you know
this

as

is

your

and

ever

if

can be avenged of

with the fiercenefs of a

his

Yet when

come along

,'

as if

went

his

it

was over, he

to dinner,

brow,

one

once

all at

out

and was

'

re-

andiamo,

as cheerful

nothing had happened.

His notions of morality

are high

and

fuch as become the Father of a nation.

a libertine,

lion,

thoughts of vengeance were

his ufual appearance, called

and gay

fo,

Btit take care.

and from the awful darknefs of

could

themfelves,

the lead attempt to return to your trai^

terous pra6tices,
you.'

now

have

unworthy of

furrender

even when they are forced to do

cafe.

Corfica

Sir, faid he,

his influence

refined,

Were, he

would foon vanilh

for

326

men

TOUR

will never truft the

fociety to

one they know will do what

to fociety for his

his father

important concerns of

own

is

hurtful

He told me

pleafures.

had brought him up with great

that

ftridl-

and that he had very feldom deviated from the

nefs,

paths of virtue.

That

of feeling and

pafTion,

filled

this

was not from a

but that

his

defccEl;

mind being

with important obje6ls, his pafllons were

employed

in

more noble

licentious pleafure.

purfuits than thofe of

faw from Paoli's example

the great art of preferving

fiom the contagion of vice,

young men of

in

which there

is

fpirit

often

a fpecies of fentiment, ingenuity and enterprlfe

nearly allied to virtuous qualities.

Shew
rit in

young man

that there

virtue than in vice,

hold of him, during

paflion,

is

more

real fpi-

and you have a furer

his years

of impetuofity and

than by convincing his judgment of

all

the reftitude of ethicks.

One day

at dinner,

he gave us the principal

arguments for the being and attributes of God.

To

hear thefe arguments repeated with graceful

energy by the

illuftrious Paoli in the

heroick nobles, was admirable,

midft of his

never

felt

my

rnind more elevated.

I

took occafion to mention the king of Pruf-

fia's infidel

writings,

and

in particular his epiftle

TO COR

Paoli

to Marifchal Keith.

who

A.

327

often talks with

admiration of the greatnefs of that monarch, inftead of uttering any direft cenfure of

wrong

to be

look,

five
'

with a grave and moft expref-

faid

C'eft

une belle confolation pour un

vieux general mourant, "

" ne
'

'

ferez plus."

general

paufed a

in fo diftinguilhed a hero,

and then

little,

what he faw

It

En peu

de terns vous

fine confolation for

is

when dying, " In

little

an old

while you ihall

" be no more."

He

obferved that the Epicurean philofophy

had produced but one exalted charadter, whereas

Stoicifm had been the feminary of great men.

What
lines

he

now

of Lucan

Hi mores, haec
Seda

fibi

me

put

duri

finemque tenerc,

genitum

fe

impendere vitam.

credere muudo.

Lucan.
Thefe were the

thefe noble

immota Catonis

modum

fequi, patriaeque

fed toti

mind of

in

fuit, fervare

Naturamque

Nee

faid

ftri<5ler

Pharfal. lib.

ii.

I.

manners of the man.

And

this the

The

golden mean unchanging to purfue,

ftubborn courfe in which they ran

Conftant to keep the purpos'd end

in

view

Religioully to follow nature's laws.

And

To
JBut

die witli pleafure in his country's caufe.

think he

was not

born to be of

for himfelf defign'd,

ufe to all

mankind,

RowE.

380.

TOUR

32S

"When he was afked

if

he would quit the ifland

of which he had undertaken the protedion, fuppofing a loreign power fhould create him a
rifchal,

and make him governour of a province

he replied,
honeft,

Ma-

'

hope they

will believe I

or more ambitious

am more

faid he,

for,

to ac-

cept of the higheft offices under a foreign power

would be

To

to lerve.'

have been a colonel, a general or a mafaid

rifchal,

he,

would have been

fufficient for

my table, for my talle in drefs, for the

whom my rank would have entitled me to
would not have been

But

it

rit,

for this imagination.'

his

beauty
attend.

fufficient for this fpi-

Putting his hand upon

bofom.

He reafoned

one day

in the midft

of his nobles

whether the commander of a nation fhould be

married or not.
a

riil<:

that he

'

If he

may be

married, faid he, there

is

diftraded by private

and fwayed too much by a concern

ly.

If he

unmarried,

is

there

is

affairs,

for his fami-

a rifk that not

having the tender attachments of a wife and

dren,

When

he

may

I faid

my

own

chil-

ambition.'

he ought to marry and have a fon

to fucceed him,

have that

facrifice all to his

is

'

Sir, faid he,

fon will

what

fecurity can I

think and ad: as

do

TO CORSICA.
What

ofafon had

fort

Marcus Aurelius

He
'

one day when we were alone,

never willmarr)'.

tues.

with which

might

afTift

me

me

Ihould bring

But he Ipoke much

an

have not the conjugal

Nothing would tempt

woman who

what had

Cicero, and

?'

me

to

fa id

329

my

vir-

to marry, but a

an immenfe dowry,
country.*

in praife

of marriage, as

which the experience of ages had

inftitution

found to be the

beft calculated for the happinefs

of individuals, and for the good of fociety.

Had

he been a private gentleman, he probably would

have married, and

good a hufband and

am

fure

would have made

father as he does a

as

fupreme

magiftrate and a general. But his arduous and critical fituation

meftic

felicity.

would not allow him

He

and the Corficans

He

is

me

happy

and that he hoped to have a

foon after

mc

of marriage, told

pleafures were delufive and tranfient,

that I fhould never be truly

ried,

to his country,

are his children.

often talked to

licentious

wedded

to enjoy do-

my

had followed

till I

was mar-

letter

return home, acquainting

his advice,

from

him

me

that

and was convinced from

experience, that he was in the right.

^n engaging condefcention did

With fuch

this great

man

be-

TOUR

330
have to me.

If

could but paint his manner,

my readers would be charmed with him.

He has a mind fitted for philofophical

all

fpecu-

One evening

lations as well as for affairs of ftate.

he entertained us for fome time with

at fupper,

fome curious

reveries

and conjedlures

with regard to

ture of the intelligence of bcafts,

human knowledge was

which, he obferved

He

very imperfect.

as to the na-

in particular

as yet

feemed fond of

inquiring into the language of the brute creation.

He

obferved that beafts fully communicate their

and that fome of them, fuch

ideas to each other,

as dogs,

can form feveral articulate founds.

In

who

pre-

have been people

different ages there

tended to underfland the language of birds and

beafts.
v/e

Perhaps, faid Paoli, in a thoufand years

may know

as

this

well as

we know

which appeared much more difiicult

I

have often fince

this converfation,

felf in

fuch reveries.

cule,

would

If

it

were not

to

things

be known.*

indulged

my-

liable to ridi-

fay that an acquaintance with the

language of beafts would be a moft agreeable acquifition to

man,

as

it

Would enlarge the

circle

of

his focial intercourfe.

On my

return to Britain, I was difappointed to

find nothing
ry's

upon

this fubjedt in

Dodtour Grego-

Comparative View of the Sate and Faculties

TO CORSICA.
Man

of

331

with thofe of the Animal World, which

My

was then juil publifhed.

difappointment

in a

good meafure made up, by a

picture of fociety,

drawn by that ingenious and

however

v/as

worthy authour, which may be well applied to the

Corficans

There

is

a certain period in the

'

progrefs of fociety in

which mankind appear

to the greateft advantage.

In this period, they

'

have the bodily powers,

and

fund:ions remaining in full vigour.

bold,

'

berty and their native country.

'

are fimple,

their

'

though they

are greatly influenced

'

blood,

ftrangers.

'

mong them, though

'

'

the animal

all

They

are

ardent in the love of

aftive, ileady,

li-

Their manners

focial affeflions

warm, and

by the

ties

of

yet they are generous and holpitable to

Religion

is

univerfally regarded a-

difguifed

by

a variety of

fuperfcitions (a).^

Paoli was very defirous that I Ihould fcudy the

charadter of the Corficans.
he, the

me

more you

talk with

the greater pleafure.

their apparel.

find honour,

Hear
and

'

Go among them,
them,

you

will

and

abilities

You

among

poor men.'

(^)

do

Forget the meannefs of

their fentiments.

fenfe

faid

Frefacc to Comparative View, p. 8.

will

thefe

TOUR

532

His heart grew big when he fpoke of

His own great

trymen.

his coiin-

appeared to

qualities

unufual advantage, while he dcfcribed the vittues

of thofe for whofe happinels

employed.

'

faid he,

If,

whole

his

was

life

fhould lead into the

field

an army of Corficans againfl an army double

their

number,

me

let

country and of their brave forefathers,

fay that they would conquer,

not a

man

but

do not

am fure that
The Corfi-

of them would give way.

cans, faid he, have a fteady refolution that

amaze you.
It

is

the

them of the honour of their

to remind

Corficans,

fpeak a few words to

would

wifh you could fee one of them die.

a proverb

among

jritano la furca e la

the Genoefe,

fanno

"

The

foffrire.

me-

Corfi

Corficans

deferve the gallows, and they fear not to meet

There

He

compliment

a real

is

told

me, that

it.'*

to us in this faying.'

in Corfica, criminals are

put

to death four and twenty hours after fentence

pronounced

againfl:

them.

not be over catholick,

He

it is

A fergeant,
thus

"

faid he,

may

humane.'

feveral inftances

of

fpirit.

faid he,

defperate adions,

me

but

This,

went on and gave me

the Corfican
'

'

is

when

falute you.

wjio

fell

in

one of our

juft a dying,

Take

care of

wrote tq

my

aged

TO COR
In two hours

father.

A.

3^3

be with the

I fhall

who

reft

have bravely died for their country."

'

who had been taken

Corfican gentleman

prifoner

by the Genoefe,

dark dungeon,

where he was chained

While he was

ground.

was thrown into a

in

difmal fituation,

this

the Genoefe fent a mefiage to

would accept of
might have

it.

him, that

No,

'

ed purpofe to take the

'

turning to the fervice of

'

will not accept

countrymen even fufpefl that

'

moment

of

my
I

me

between relations

is

Corficans, they will give

for the

good of

country.

my

could be one

defy

Rome, Spar-

thirty years

of fuch pa-

Though

the affec-

exceedingly ftrong

up

But

he remained in his

triotifm as Corfica can boaft.

tion

I to ac-

would not have

And

Paoli went on
to fhew

he

opportunity of re-

firft

For

it.

unfaithful.'

Thebes

he

would be with a determin-

'

it

Were

he.

faid

cept of your offer,

ta or

if

a commiflion in their fervice,

dungeon.'

the

to

in the

their neareft relations

their country,

and

facrifice

fuch

as have deferred to the Genoefe.'

He
feeling

he,

to

gave

me

a noble inftance of a Corfican*s

and greatnefs of mind

was condemned to

me

die.

'

criminal, faid

His nephew came

with a lady of diftindion, that fhe might

folicit his

pardon,

''i.

The

nephew's anxiety

made

TOUR

334

him think

did not fpeak with fuf-

that the lady

and

ficient force

He

earneftnefs.

me

vanced, and addrefled himfelf to

*'

me

proper for

therefore ad-

"

to fpeak ?" as if he felt that

unlawful to make fuch an application.

go

"

on.

" may

beg the

my

of

life

**

ed, his relations will

*'

a thoufand zechins.

"

diers in

"

will agree that

"

will

*'

ifland."

We

if

He turned

granted.
left

me,

faying,

grant-

it is

Wfc

never return to the

are acquainted

Such

this cafe.

you

man of

to be a

You

is

my

will fay that giving

your uncle a pardon would be

I

If

be banifhed, and

nephew

with the circumftances of

of Furiani.

fiege

anfwered him.

nourable for Corfica,

him

will furnifh fifty fol-

Ihall

the

confidence in you, that

bid

a gift to the ftate of

my uncle fhall

engage that he

worth, and

uncle

make

pay during the

knew

was

it

with the decpeft concern,

Sir, faid he,

Sir, is it

jufl,

ufeful or ho-

promife you

it

fhall

be

about, burfl into tears, and

" Non vorei vendere

I'onore del-

"

la patria

"

the honour of our country fold for a thoufand

'

zechins."

per mille zechini.

And

would not have

his uncle fuffered.'

Although the General was one of the

members of

the court of fyndicato, he feldom

took

his chair.

ment

and

conflituent

if

He

remained

in his

any of thofe whofe

own
fuits

apart-

were

TO COR

C a;

235

determined by the fyndicato were not pleafed

with the fentence, they had an audience of Paolij

who
tice

a neceflary indulgence

The

me

infancy of govern-

in the

Corficans having been fo long in

a ftate of anarchy, could not

their

that juf-

This appeared to

had been done them.

ment.

them

to convince

never failed

all

at

once fubmit

minds to the regular authority of

They would fubmit

implicitly to Paoli,

becaufe

But fuch a fub-

they love and venerate him.

being governed by their paf-

miffion

is

fions.

They fubmit

in reality

to one for

whom

They cannot be

a perfonal regard.

perfedly civilized

juftice.

till

they have
faid

to be

they fubmit to the determi-

nations of their magiftrates as officers of the ftate,

entrufted with the adminiftration of juftice.

By

convincing them that the magiftrates judge with

abilities

and uprightnefs,

Paoli

accuftoms the

Corficans to have that falutary confidence in their

which

rulers,

is

ftability to the

neceflary for fecuring refped: and

government.

After having faid

'

cans,

what

Come,

I tell

much

faid he,

you.

There

in praife

you
is

fhall

of the Corfi-

have a proof of

crowd

room, waiting for admittance to me.

in

the

firft I

who chanced

fee,

and you

fiiall

to prefent himfelf,

in

the next
I will call

hear him.'

He

was a venerable

A TOUR

3^6

The

old man.

General Ihook him by the hand^

and bid him good day, with an

gave the aged peafant

eafy kindnefs that

encouragement

full

to his Excellency with freedom.

told

him

man

old

him
then

had been an unlucky tumult

that there

in the village

Paoli bid

The

not mind me, but fay on.

to talk

where he

lived,

and that two of

That looking upon

fons were killed.

his

this as

heavy misfortune, but without malice On the part

of thofe who deprived him of

willing to have allowed

But

his fons,

to pafs without inquiry.

it

his wife anxious for revenge,

That he gave

Excellency

his

the heat of enmity

among

any body fhould be puniflied

blood of

who was

his fons,

There was fomething

ment, while
full

at the

my

his neighbours,

as guilty

of the

really innocent

fo generous

of

it.

in this fenti-

fame time the old man feemed

of grief for the

touched

this trouble

might be taken,

to intreat that the greateft care

left in

had made an

them apprehended and pu-

application to have
nilhed.

he was

lofs

of his children, that

it

heart in the moft fenfible manner.

Paoli looked at

me

with complacency and a kind

of amiable triumph on the behaviour of the old

man, who had a flow of words and a

vivacity of

gefture which fully juftified what Petrus Cyrnaeus

hath

faid

of the Corfican eloquence

Dicercs

TO CORSICA.
'

omnes

'

they are

You would

bonos caufidicos.

efle

good

all

0,1,^

pleaders.'

found Paoli had reafon to wifh that

talk

much

with his countrymen, as

it

fnould

gave

The

genia.

'

changeable.'

ment

faid,

'

Sunt m.obilia Corforum

difpofitions

Yet

to Paoli

is

me

Thua-

higher opinion both of him and of them.

nus has juftly

fay

in-

of the Corficans are

after ten years,

their attach-

Nay,

as ftrong as at the firll.

they have an enthufiaflick admiration of him,

uomo mandato perDio a liberare

This great man whom God hath

'

Queflo grand'

'

la

'

fent to free

patria.

our country,' was the manner in

which they expreffed themfelves

to

me

concerning

him.

Thofe who attended on Paoli were

fenfe

and

abilities

in their different

Some of them had been

all

departments.

in foreign fervice.

of them, Signor Suzzoni, had been long

many.
.

to

my

among
all
.

He

men of

in

One
Ger-

fpoke German to me, and recalled

mind, the happy days which

that plain,

honeft,

nations in the world,

have pafl

brave people,

who of

receive flrangers

with

the greateft cordiality. Signor Gian Qiiilico Cafa

Bianca, of the moft ancient Corfican nobility, w^s

much my

friend.

regard to

the

He

inftrufled

Corfican

me

government.

fully

He

with

had

338

TOUR

even the patience to

down

an account of

with Paoli,
I received

man of

from the Abbe Roftini,

and diftinguifhed no

*
"

remembered

lefs

for

His faying of Paoli

the excellency of his heart.

deferves to be

wrote

enlarged and improved.

civilities

literature,

which from converfations

it,

I afterwards

many

by me while

fit

Nous ne

craig-

nons pas que notre General nous trompe ni qu'il

fc

laifle

We

tromper.

are not afraid that our

General will deceive us, nor that he will

himfelf be deceived.*

from Father Guelfucci

I alfo received civilities

of the order of Servites, a man whofe

virtues, united with a

nefs

talents

raifed

him

to the honour-

able ftation of fecretary to the General.

gentlemen here behaved to

obliging manner.

and

fmgular decency and fweet-

of manners, have

all the

let

We

me

Indeed

in the

moft

walked, rode, and went

a fhooting together.

The
lively

peafants and foldiers were

all

frank, open,

and bold, with a certain roughnefs of man-

ner which agrees well with their charader, and

The

is

far

from being

me

an admirable inftance of their plain and natu-

ral, folid

good

difpleafing.

fenfc.

General gave

young French Marquis,

very rich and very vain, came over to Corfica.

He

had a fovereign contempt for the barbarous

TO CORSICA.
inhabitants,

mifurato)

The
cule,

and flrutted about (andava a pafib

with prodigious

and faid,

'

airs

him with

Corficans beheld

The

339

Let him

of confequence.
a fmile of ridi-

alone, he

is

young.'

Corfican peafants and foldiers are very

;fond of baiting cattle with the large mountain

This keeps up a ferocity among them

dogs.

which

totally extinguifhes fear.

have feen a
run

Corfican in the very heat of a baiting,

in,

drive off the dogs, feize the half-frantick animal

by the horns, and lead

people did not feem
I

it

away.

much

The common

given to diverfions.

obferved fome of them in the great hall of the

houfe of Colonna where

was lodged, amufmg

themfelves with playing at a fort of draughts in

a very curious manner.

They drew upon

floor with chalk, a fufficient

the

number of fquares,

chalking one all over, and leaving one open, alternately

'

-,

and inftead of black men and white,

they had bits of ftone and bits of wood.

It

was

an admirable burlefque on gaming.

The

when

chief fatisfadtion of thefe iflanders

not engaged

in

war or

in hunting,

.that of lying at their eafe in the open

feemed
air,

to

be

recount-

ing tales of the bravery of their countrymen, and

finging fongs in honour of the Corficans,

gabft the Genoefe.

Even

in the night

and

a-

they will

340

TOUR

continue this paftime in the open

them

forces

The

to retire into their houfes.

Englifh am-

good peafants and

as the

foldiers ufed

me, became a great favourite among them.

to call

got a Corfican drefs made, in which

about

\vith

neral

did

an

me

wood and

air

of true

in the ifland,

all

of the

The
free

and

preferve

them

with his

of Corfican

even got one

all

with great care.

Numbers of them ufed

and eafy with me.

fee

me of a

in as they pleafed.

power

me

Corfican peafants and foldiers were quite

come and

to

The Ge-

whicK had often founded the alarm

fhelis

to liberty.

walked

and of excellent workmanfhip.

iron,

had every other accoutrement.

fatisfa6tion.

the honour to prefent

made

ov/n piilols,

to

morning, and juft go out

I

did every thing in

make them fond of the

them hope

Britifli,

my

my

and bid

They alked me

for an alliance with us.

a thoufand queftions about

I

The

ambafciadore Inglefe,

bafTadour,

unlefs rain

air,

country,

all

which

cheerfully anfwered as well as I could.

One day

my German tiute.
ral

vifitants.

To have told

Really gentlemen

and put on fuch

panies,

me play upon
my honeft natu-

they would needs hear

airs as

we do

in

play very

ill,

our genteel com-

would have been highly

ridiculous.

therefore immediately complied with their requeft.

I

gave them one or two Italian

airs,

and then

TO CORSICA.

541

fome of cur beautiful old Scots tunes, Gilderoy,

Corn riggs

the Lafs of Patie's Mill,

The

are

Bonny.

pathetick fimplicity and paftoral gaiety of

the Scots

mufick, will always pleafe thofe

The

have the genuine feelings of nature.

eans were charmed with the fpecimen^

though

may now

who

Corfi-

gave them,

fay that they were very indif-

ferently performed.

My

good

friends infilled alfo to have an

fong from

gliih

them

in

me.

endeavoured to pleafe

and was very lucky

too,

this

which occurred to me.

fung them

'

oak are our

fhips.

tranflated

into Italian for

I fee

men

it

fo

quercia,

in

that

Hearts of

'

Hearts of oak are our men.'

them, and never did

delighted with a fong as the Corfi-

cans were with the Hearts of oak.

'

En-

cried they,

quite a joyous

riot.

cruiting fea officer.

'

Cuore

bravo Inglefe.'

It

di

was

fancied myfelf to be a re-

I fancied all

Corficans aboard the Britifh

my

chorus of

fleet.

Paoli talked very highly on preferving the in-

dependency of Corfica.

'

We may,

foreign powers for our friends

Amici

We

fuori di

may make

cafa.

faid he,

but they muft be

Friends at arm's

an alliance,

have

but we

leno-th.

will not fub-

mit ourfelves to the dominion of the greateft nation in

Europe.

This people who have done

fo

TOUR

54*

much

would be hewn

for liberty,

by man,

rather than allow Corfica to be funk into

the territories of another country.

when

ago,

man

in pieces

a falfe

defign to yield

mmour

up

" What

Some

years

that I had a

Corfica to the Emperour, a

Corfican came to me,

agitation

was fpread

me

in great

many

blood of fo

fhall the

who have

and addreffed

*'

heroes,

*'

freedom of Corfica, ferve only to tinge the pur-

*'

pie of a foreign prince

I

facrificed their lives for the

!'*

mentioned to him the fcheme of an alliance

between Great Britain and Corfica.

Paoli with

pohtenefs and dignity waved the fubjed, by faying,

The

'

lefs afliftance

greater our glory.'

ment of

He
laft

mentioned the fevere

peace, in which the brave

and proper

faid with a confcious pride

He

however Ihewed
and

his great

could

could pofTibly do in

goodnefs to me, he replied,

gannate

il

feeling,

fuo corte.

refped for the

much

he wifhed

fee

to be in friendlhip with us.

I

He

did not expeft that from Great Britain.*

Britifh nation,

what

the

treat-

were called the Rebels of Corfica.

iflanders

Rebels

allies,

feemed hurt by our

He

his country.

proclamation at the

we have from

When

afked hirn

return for
'

all

Solamente

Only undeceive your

Tell them what you have feen here.

his

difin-

court.

They

will

TO CORSICA.
be curious to

afic

be like a

fica will

in

my

come from Cor-

man come from

I exprefTed fuch

would

A man

you.

hopes

as a

343

the Antipodes.*

man of fenfibility

fituation naturally form.

He

lead one Briton devoted to his caufe.

faw at

threw

out many flattering ideas of future political events,

imaged the
ed both

in

Britilh

and the Corficans

commerce and

ftriftly unit-

and defcribed

in war,

the blunt kindnefs and admiration with which the

generous

hearty,

would

people of England

treat the brave Corficans.

I infenfibly

got the better of his referve upon

My

this head.
rity,

common

flow of gay ideas relaxed his feve

and brightened up

member,

faid he,

the

his

humour.

little

Do

you

re-

who

people in Afia

were in danger of being oppreflfed by the great

king of Aflyria,
the

Romans

fpirit

they addreflTed themfelves to

and the Romans, with the noble

of a great and free nation, flood forth, and

would not
people,

fufier the great

defl:roy the little

no obfervations upon

piece of hiftory.

own

king to

but made an alliance with them

He made
his

till

It

was eafy

?*

this beautiful

to fee his allufion to

nation and ours.

When

the General related this piece of hifto-

was negligent enough not to

ry to me,

what

people he meant.

little

As

aflt

the ftory

him

made

A TOUR

344

a ftrong impreflion \ipon me,

Britain

my

upon

return to

fearched a variety of books to try

could find

it,

but

in vain.

my

liberty in

one of

would

me know

let

therefore took the

He

it.

beg he

to Paoli, to

letters

if I

told

me

the

little

people was the Jews, that the ftory was related

by

feveral ancient authours,

it

told with moft precifion

eighth chapter of the

firfl

but that

would

and energy

book of

find

the

in

Macca-

the

bees.

The

firft

book of

the Maccabees, though not

received into the Proteftant canon,

much

have read Paoli's favourite flory with

faftion,

allowed by

be an authentic hiftory.

the learned to

all

is

and, as in feveral circumftances,

it

fatif-

very

well applies to Great Britain and Corfica,

is

with great eloquence, and furnifhes a

model

for an alliance, I fhall

fine

make no apology

told

for tran-

fcriblng the moft interefdng verfes.

'

Now

Judas had heard of the fame of the

they were

mighty and valiant

'

Romans,

'

men, and

'

that joined themfelvcs unto them,

'

league of amity with

'

Mt
*

And

that
fucli

that

as

would lovingly accept

all

they were

was told him

alio

that

men

all

and make a

came unto them.

of great .valour.

of their wars and noble

ads which they had done amongft the Gala-

TO COR

C A.

345

and how they had conquered them, and

tians,

'

brought them under

'

And

tribute.

what they had done

country ot

in the

'

Spain, for the winning of the mines of the

'

ver and gold which are there.

'

And

that

by

had conquered

ry far from them.

'

It

all

the place, though

was told him

and brought under

kingdoms and

them.

'

But with

their

dominion,

as all that

were ve-

all

other

time refilled

and fuch

their friends,

upon them, they kept amity

much

it

they deftroyed

that at any

illes

conquered kingdoms both

'

how

befides,

'

and patience they

their policy

'

fil-

as relied

and that they had

far

and near,

info-

heard of their name were afraid

of them
'

Alfo, that

whom

they would help to a king-

'

dom,

would, they difplace

'

greatly exalted
'

and

thofe reign-,
:

whom

finally,

again

they

that they

were

Moreover, how they had made for themfelves

hundred and twen-

a fenate-houfe, wherein three

ty

the people, to the end that they might be well

ordered.

men

fat in

council daily, confulting alway for

A TOUR

34^
'

In confideration of thefe things Judas chofe

'

Eupolemus the fon of John

and Jafon the fon of Eleazar, and

'

Rome,

'

deracy with them.

*

to

And

make

the fon of Accos,

fent

them

to

a league of amity and confe-

to intreat

them

that they

would take

the yoke from them, for they faw that the king-

'

dom

vitude.
'

of the Grecians did opprefs

They went

therefore to

Ifrael

with

fer-

Rome, which was a

very great journey, and came into the fenate,

where they fpake, and

*

faid,

Judas Maccabeus, with

his brethren,

and the

people of the Jews, have fent us unto you, to

'

make

that

and

a confederacy and

we might be

peace with you, and

regiftered

your confederates

friends.

'

So that matter pleafed the Romans

'

And

this is the

copy of the

back again,

well.

epiftle

which the

tables

of brafs,

fenate wrote

and

have by them a memorial of peace and confe-

deracy.
*

in

fent to Jerufalem, that there they

Good

fuccefs

might

be to the Romans, and to the

people of the Jews, by fea and by land forever.

The fword

alfo,

and enemy be

far

from them.

TO CORSICA.
*

'

any war upon the Ro-

firft

mans, or any of their confederates, throughout

^ all their
'

'

come

If there

347

The

people of the Jews Ihall help them, as

the time
*

dominions,

ftiall

Neither

be appointed, with

ftiall

all their

heart.

they give any thing unto

make war upon them,

or aid

that

viduals, weapons,

feemed good unto the Romans, but they

'

keep

therefore.

money

their covenant,

or

them

them with

'

fliips,

as

it

hath
ftiall

without taking any thing

war come

firft

upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans

ftiall

'

help them with

'

time

'

In the fame manner

ftiall

all their

alfo,

if

heart, according as the

be appointed them,

Neither

ftiall

vifhials be given to

them that

take part againft them, or weapons, or money,

'

or

'

but they

<

without deceit.
*

ftiips, as it

hath feemed good to the Romans;

ftiall

keep

their covenants,

According to thefe

articles

did

and that

the

Ro-

mans make a covenant with the people of the

Jews.
*

Howbeit,

other,

'

thing they

ftiall

if

hereafter the one party or the

think meet to add or diminifli any

may do

it

at

their

pleafures,

^nd

TOUR

348
*

whatfoever they fhall add or take away, fhall

be

ratified.

And,

'

as

touching the evils that Demetrius

*:

doth to the Jews, we have written unto him,

'

faying,

'

heavy upon our friends and confederates, the

Jews

Wherefore

thou made thy yoke

haft

If therefore they complain any

we

do them

'

thee,

'

thee by fea and

will

by

I will venture to

pear,

in

Paoli faid,

'

If a

and

juftice,

againft

fight with

land.*
aflc

whether the Romans ap-

any one inftance of

truly great than they

more

do

their hiftory,

more

here.

man would

preferve the

gc-p

nerous glow of patriotifm, he muft not reafon too

much.

Marefchal Saxe reafoned

and carried

the arms of France into the heart of Germany,

his

own

country.

ad from

fentiment, not from

reafonings.*
'

Virtuous fentiments and habits, faid he, are

beyond philofophical reafonings, which

ftrong,

and are continually varying.

profelTours in
ety,
(ible,

it

Europe were formed

are not fo

If all the

into one foci-

v/ould no doubt be a fociety very refped-

and we Ihould there be entertained with the

TO CORSICA.
moral

beft

more

real

fome

little

Yet

lefTons.

I believe I lliould

virtue in a fociety of

might be

of thefe two

your

but the other

ons.

With

was

faid

Illius didla,

in deeds.'

me

This kind of converfation led

I

It

The one was power-

hujus fada magis valebant,

how much

'

mind

him

to tell

had fuffered from anxious

a

in

ifland.

as

focieties,

of Demoilhenes and Themiftocles,

ful in words,

find

good peafants

village in the heart of

faid

349

fpeculati-

naturally inclined to melan-

choly, and a keen defire of enquiry, I had intenfe-

metaphyseal refearches,

ly applied myfelf to

reafoned beyond
is

not given to

rendered

my

man

my mind

very heat of youth

'

omnia

vanitas'

depth, on fuch fubjeds as

to

know.

I told

told

him

comera obfcura, that

the

I felt

'

non

him

that

is

All

this,

alfo ftudied

know

have

the arguments

for fate and free-will, for the materiality

Ma

the

life.

melancholy.

is

metaphyficks.

guments for and

all

the

had almoft become for

faid Paoli,

materiality of the foul,

in the

weary with dull repeti-

ever incapable of taking a part in aftive

'

it

had

eft tanti,'

of one who has exhaufted

fweets of his being, and

tion.

and

and even the

and im-

fubtile ar-

againft the exiftence of matter.

lafciamo queftc difpute

ai oziofi,

leave thefc difputes to the idle.

But

let

us

lo tengo fempre

A T OU R

350

fermo un gran penfiero,

great objeft.

hold always firm one

never feel a

moment of

defpon-

dency.'

The

contemplation of fuch a charaSier really

exifting,

was of more fervice to me than

had

all I

been able to draw from books, from convcrfation, or from the exertions of my

own mind.

man

often enough formed the idea of a

ally fuch, as I could conceive in

But this

but do not

But

my

faw

of

was impoffible
have a

little

moments.

we

are taught
exift,

of milk, and Ihips of amber.

higheft idea realized in Paoli.

for

me, fpeculate

as I pleafed,

It

to

opinion of human nature in him.

One morning

remember,

came

him without ceremony, while he was

I

continu-

form of things which may

feas

had

beft

idea appeared like the ideas

in the fchools to

my

in

upon

dreffing.

was glad to have an opportunity of feeing him

in thofe

Duke

teafmg moments, when according to the

de Rochefoucault, no

valet de chambre.

That

man

lively

is

a hero to his

nobleman who

has a malicious pleafure in endeavouring to divefl

human

nature of

al views,

owned
hero.

its

dignity^

and exaggerating

that Paoli was every

by exhibiting
faults,

parti-

would have

moment of his

life

TO COR
me

Paoli told

had

from

view the important

in

holds

that

alked him

3^1

his earlieft years,

ftation

fo that his fentiments

great.

C A.

he

which he now

muft ever have been

how one of fuch

elevated

thoughts could fubmit with any degree of pati-

unmeaning ceremonies and poor

ence, to the

which he certainly was

courfe of genteel fociety,

obliged to do while an officer at Naples.

he,

managed

per una

fat

down

The

as I pleafed.

was known to be a

mirth

de bons mots,

layers of

I like is

fouffrir
I

who

pleafe

went and came

what

is

eafy and

long temps

les di-

cannot endure long the

fuperiour

is

lively

this great

much

lefs

that

than

repartees.

man's idea

of profelTed

if

company of pro-

appeared to me,

company of artificers employed

in

like a

fome very nice

work, which they are under a

ty of performing.

and yet

they would juft appear as they

fefled wits has always

difficult

They put them-

pain in order to pleale

naturally feel themfelves.

and

lin-

are continually ftraining for fmart re-

and

fclves to

of agreeable converfation to

marks,

faid

good things/

How much
wits,

O,

Ero connofciuto

eafily.

to play

Je ne puis

unaffedted.

talked and joked, and was merry

never

fieurs

very

tefta fmgolare,

gular man.

but

it

dif-

nccefll-

A TOUR

352

Though calm and

Paoli

is

fully

mafter of himfelf,

animated with an extraordinary degree of

Except when indifpofed or greatly

vivacity.

tigued, he never

fits

down but

fa-

He

at meals.

is

perpetually in motion, walking brifkly backwards

Mr. Samuel Johnfon, whofe com-

and forwards.

has by

prehenfive and vigourous underflanding,

long obfervation, attained to a perfed knowledge

of human nature, when treating of biography,

has this refledlion

There

are

many invifible

cir-

'

cumflances which, whether we read as inquiries

'

after natural

we

'

virtue, are

'

rences,

'

has not forgotten in his account of Catiline, to

'

remark, that "

'

*'

or

moral knowledge

intend to enlarge our fcience, or encreafe our

more important than publick occur-

Thus

Salluftf the great mafter of nature,

his

walk was now quick, and

gain flow," as an indication of a

accuflomed myfelf to mark the fmall

have

peculiarities

Paoli's being perpetually in moti-

ofcharadler.
his

Salluft alfo

Ever

(a).^

mindful of the wifdom of the Rambler,

nay

a-

mind revolving

fomething with violent comm.otion

tion,

whether

being

fo agitated that,

fays of Catiline,

'

as the

Neque

He

fame

vigiliis,

'

neque quietibus

'

quieted either by watching or by repofe,' are

(a)

fedari poterat.

Rambler,

No.

60.

could not be

TO COR

C A.

353

of his being as aflive and indefati-

indications

gable as Catiline, but from a very different caufe

The

confpiratour from fchemes of ruin and de-

Rome

ftru6lion to
liberty

and

the patriot

from fchemes of

felicity to Corlica.

me

Paoli told

that the vivacity of his

mind

was fuch, that he could not ftudy above ten minutes at a time.

'

like to break,

is

my lively

mi rompa,

tefta

he.

faid

My head

can never write

my own hand. In writing,

my mind, I call the Abbe

ideas with

they efcape
Guelfucci,

Come

La

from

Allons prefto,

quickly, take

my

pigliate

li

penfieri.

and he writes

like thatof

Themiftocles;

thoughts

them.*
Paoli has a
for

moft

and

memory

was aflured that he knows the names of

all

al-

the people in the ifland, their characters,

His memory

their connexions.

learning,

is

no

lefs

uncommon.

as a

He has

man of
the beft

part of the claflicks by heart, and he has a happy

talent in applying

them with propriety, which

rarely to be found.

This

to be reckoned pedantry.

Paoli

is

Ihewn to difplay

contrary.

talent

The
it,

is

is

not always

inftances in

which

are a proof to the

TOUR

354

have heard Paoli recount the revolutions of

one of the ancient

with an energy and a

ftates,

rapidity

which Ihewed him

fubjedl,

to

be perfedtly

acquainted with every

movement of

fpring and

to be mafter of the

the various events.

have heard him give what the French

catalogue raifonnee' of the

nervous and juft.

cife,

Une
moft diftinguifhed men

I regret that the fire

which he fpoke upon fuch occafions,

me, that

with

fo dazzled

could not recolleft his fayings fo as to

them down when

write

call

His charaders of them were con-

antiquity.

in

'

retired

from

his pre-

fence.

He

juft lives in the times

me,

faid to

mind

ma

'

young man who would form

his

muft not read modern memoirs

to glory,

ma

Plutarcho,

He

of antiquity.

Tito Livio

but Plutarch and

Titus Livius.'
I

have feen him

break out into

enthufiafm.
'

What

attitude,

as if

him

two

of

this.

their

hap-

inftances

that thoufands

And

!*

owe

throwing himfelf into an

he faw the lofty mountain of fame

'

There

the fummit), if I

ing a good

a fort of reverie, and

of the grandeft and nobleft

recolleft

a thought

you

before

fallies

pinefs to

fall into

is

my objedl!

fall, I fall at leaft

way up), magnis tamen

(pointing to

there

fpoint-

excidit aufis.*

TO COR

A..

s^s

ventured to reafon like a libertine, that

might be confirmed

DO

illuftrious a Preceptour.
feelino-s.

made

fo

light of m^oral

and
argued that confcience was va^ue
O

uncertain

by

in virtuous principles

was hardly any

that there

but

vice

what men might be found who have been guilty

of it without remorfe.

man who

But, faid he, there

has not a horrour at fome vice.

and

ferent vices
eft

'

on

imprefllon,

in aftratto e

il

different virtues
different

virtu

nutrimento dei noftri cuori.

But

is

the food of our hearts.'

Talking of Providence, he
that earneftnefs with which a

anxious to be believed

of an honeft man,
be perfuaded that

it is

God

'

faid

man

I tell

me

to

fpeaks

impoflible for

me

interpofes to give

in the

never

courage, trufting as

ventured to

obje(5l

and devout

fearchable.
I

revere

him

is

not to

freedom

in

When

moft defperate circumftances,

air,

'

did in Providence.*

But why has not

dence interpofed fooner

ferious

who

A people opprefled like the Corficans,

we were

with

you on the word

are certainly worthy of divine afliftance.

loft

Difflrons-

tlie

Ma

men;

no

il

virtue in the abftra6t,

to Corfica.

have

is

He replied

Provi-.

with a noble,

Becaufe his ways are un-

adore him for what he hath done,

what he hath not done/

X2

A TOUR

25^
I

gave Paoli the charader of

Mr. Samuel Johnfon.

friend

ed

men, fuch

riiat illuftrioLis

a few times

in the

fame age, though

globe,

re<rret-

humanity produces

as

of many

acres,

and when fuch

at the diftance

how

have been aftonifhed

revered

have often

in the revolution

fhould not fee each other

my

arife

of half the
they could

forbear to meet.

As

Heel fnarpneth

fo

fteel,

man

doth a

the

countenance of his friend,' fays the wife mo-

'

narch.

What

an idea

may we

not form of an

interview between fuch a fcholar and philofopher

Mr. Johnfon, and fuch a

as

legiflatour

and gene^

ral as Paoli

Mr. Johnfon's

repeated to Paoli feveral of

fayings, fo remarkable for ftrong fenfe

humour.

nal

When

now

told

thour affefbed

recollccfl thefe

Mr. Johnfon

and

origi-

two.

that a certain au-

in converfation to maintain,

that

there was no diftindlion between virtue and vice,

he

faid,

'

Why,

the fellow does not think

Sir, if

he fpeaks, he

lying

and

fee

not what

as

honour he can propofe to himfelf from having

'

the character of a lyar.

'

think that there

and

'

let

vice,

why.

is

is

no

Sir,

-,

But

if

diflinftion

when he

us count our fpoons.'

he does really

between virtue

leaves our houfes

TO CORSICA.
Of modern

infidels

and innovatours, he

are all vain

thefe

men, and

Sir,

'

themfelves at any expence.

ford fufficient food to their vanity

'

betaken themfelves to errour.

'

milk

cow which
and

I felt

357

will not af-

they have

fo

Truth,

gone to milk the

an elation of mind to

Sir,

is

no more

will yield fuch people

fo they are

gratify

will

Truth

faid,

bull.'

fee Paoli delighted

with the fayings of Mr. Johnfon, and to hear him

them with

rranflate

Italian

energy to the Corfican

heroes.
I

repeated Mr. Johnfon's fayings as nearly as

own

could, in his

peculiar forcible language,

which, prejudiced or

upon them

making any anfwer

fufficient

He

to find fault with him.

to

them

but

for

have taken

criticks

little

is

above

have found a

anfwer in a general remark in one of his

excellent papers

'

Diflference of thoughts will

produce difference of language.

He

that thinks

with more extent than another, will want words

of larger meaning.' (a)

I

hope

wherein

to

be pardoned for

pay a

juft tribute

this

digrcffion,

of veneration and

gratitude to one from whofe writings and converfation I

have received inflru6lions of which

perience the value in every fcene of

(a) Idler,

No. 70,

my

life.

I ex-

TOUR

25^

During

Paoli's adminiftration, there

few laws made

He

in Corfica.

which he has found very

have been

mentioned one
curbing

efficacious in

that vindidive fpirit of the Corficans, of

have

faid

work.

good deal

which

a former part of this

in

There was among the Corficans

dreadful fpecies of revenge, called

'

Vendetta

moft
traf-

verfa, Collateral revenge,'

which Petrus Cyrnaeus

candidly acknowledges.

It

had received an

injury,

was

this

If a

man

and could not find a pro-

per opportunity to be revenged on

?nemy

his

perfonally, he revenged himfelf on one of his ene-

my's

relations.

So barbarous

a pradlice,

fource of innumerable afTalTmations.

was the

Paoli

know-

ing that the point of honour was every thing to

the Corficans, oppofed

it

to the progrefs of the

blackefl of crimes, fortified by long habits.

made

a law, by which

it

was provided, that

collateral revenge fhould not

He
this

only be puniihed

with death, as ordinary murther, but the

memory

of the offender fhould be difgraced for ever by a

pillar

of infamy.

He

alfo

had

it

enafted that

the fame ftatute fhould extend to the violatours of

an oath of reconciliation, once made.

By
has,

thus combating a vice fo deftrudlive, he

by a kind of fhock of oppofite

pafTions,

re-

^juced the fiery Corficans to a flate of mildnefs,

TO COR
and he aflured
fenfible

that

C A.

359

now

they were

all

fully

of the equity of that law.

While

was

information was re-

at Sollacaro,

who

that the poor wretch

ceived,

woman

me

at the inftigation

fented to accept of his

of

ftrangled the

his miftrefs,

had con-

upon condition of

life,

becoming hangman.

This made a great noife

among

who were enraged

the Corficans,

creature,

and

faid their nation

Paoli did not think

glad of

this.

tribute to

fo.

He

be of

It will

form us to a

at the

was now difgraced,

faid to

fervice.

me,

'

am

It will

con-

We

jull fubordination.

liave as yet too great an equality

among

As

us.

we muft have Corfican taylours and Corfican Ihoemakers, we muft

I

The

alfo

have a Corfican hangman.'

could not help being of a different opinion.

occupations of a taylour and a fhoemaker

though mean,

are not odious.

met M. RoufTeau
port of

When

afterwards

England, and made him a

in

my Corfican expedition,

in thinking that it

he agreed with

to be able to fay that there

was not a Corfican but who would rather

become a hangman ; and he

with me, that

it

me

would be fomething noble for

the brave iflanders,

death, than

re-

might have a good

always a Genoefe fqr the

alfo

agreed

effedl to

hangman of

fuffer

have

Corfica.

A TOUR

360

muft however do the Genoefe the

me,

obferve, that Paoli told

had

juflice to

that even one of

them

fufFered death in Corfica, rather than confent to

When

become hangman.
enough

tural

in a Briton

I,

from a keennefs na-

born with an abhorrence

talked with violence againft the Ge-

at tyranny,

noefe, Paoli faid with a

moderation and candour

which ought to do him honour even with the

publick,

but

let

It is true the

'

re-

Genoefe are our enemies i

us not forget, that they are the defcendants

of thofe worthies, who carried

their

arms beyond

the Hellefpont.'

There

is

one circumftance

which I prefent to

ing

my readers with caution, know*

ridiculed, in an age

when

are fo fond of incredulity, that they

feem

how much

mankind

in Paoli's character

it

may be

to pique themfelves in contracting their circle of

belief as

much

infidel rage as

as poffible.

may

own

boafl;

fhort,

am

{hall return to a
I

confider this

well perfuaded that e'er

more calm philofophy.

cannot help thinking that though

fome improvements

fiiperiour degrees

where our

but a temporary mode of the human

underftanding, and

long we

But

in fcience,

and

we
in

of knowledge in things

faculties can fully reach, yet

we fhould

not aliume to ourfelves founder judgements than

^hofe of our fathers

I will therefore

venture to

TO COR
relate that Paoli

difcovered

Being very delirous of ftudying

prefumed upon

was

it,

this.

cha-

fo exalted a

his

the liberty of afking

as to take

3^1

and future events.

v^ay in which

radler, I fo far

A.

has at times extraordinary im-

preflions of diftant

The

goodnefs to me,

him a thoufand

queftions with regard to the moft minute and pri-

vate circumftances of his

Having aiked him

life.

one day when fome of his nobles were prefent, whether a mind, fo aftive as his,

and

if

Cafa Bianca

faid

with an

air

and tone which im-

plied fomething of importance,

he dreams."
his

meaning,

e-

he ufed to dream much. Signor

in fleep,

yen

was not employed

" Si,

fi

fogna. Yes,

And upon my aiking him to explain

he told me that the General had often

feen in his dreams,

what afterwards came to

pafs.

Paoli confirmed this by feveral inllances. Said he,

'

can give you no clear explanation of

ly tell

you

Sometimes

fadts.

it.

on-

have been miftak-

cn, but in general, thefe vifions have proved true,

I

cannot fay what

They

fpirits.

we do

be the agency of invifible

certainly

and there

that

God

their

knowledge

He

may

is

muft know more than

nothing abfurd in fuppofing

Ihould permit them to communicate

went

difquifition,

to us.'

into

on

moft curious and pleafing

a fubjed,

which the

late

inge-

A TOUR

362

Mr. Baxter has

nious

treated in a very philoro-

phical manner, in his Inquiry into the Nature of

Human

the

with

Soul

much

as

book which may be read

delight,

and furely with

more

who

endea-

advantage than the works of thofe

vour to deftroy our

to the

human mind, were

to furnilh

it

Belief

belief.
it

favourable

is

for nothing elfe but

An

entertainment.

infidel I

Ihould

think, muft frequently fuffer from ennui.

It

was perhaps

that

affeftation in Socrates to

know was

he had learned to

all

But

fay,

that he

mark of

knew

nothing.

dom,

to be fenfible of the limited extent of hu-

man knowledge,

to

furely

it

is

wif-

examine with reverence the

ways of God, nor prefumptuoufly

rejed;

any opi-

nion which has been held by the judicious and

the learned, becaufe
artifice,

by

has been

it

made

a cloak for

or had a variety of fidions raifed

upon

it,

credulity.

Old Feltham
counted of

'

contempt.

ftitious in all

of none

the ancients

'

Every dream

nor yet are

*.'

fays,

would

I
-,

all

is

to be caft

not to be

away with

neither be a Hoick, fuper-

nor yet an epicure, confiderate

And

after

obferving

how much

attended to the interpretation

* Feltham's Refolves, Cent.

I.

Refol. 52,

of

TO CORSICA.
dreams, he adds,

'

Were

it

s^3

not for the power

of the Gofpel, in crying down the vains

men,

pleafing to humanity, fhould fall fo quite to

ruin J.

it

The
rafter

would appear a wonder how a

which

have ventured to

The

When

figns.

had been many

relate,

univer-

inhabitants of that

much

afked one of them, if there

inftances of the General's fore-

feeing future events, he grafped a large

and replied,

his hair,

is

exprefs themfelves

ifland like the Italians,

fcience fo

myflerious circumftance in Paoli's cha-

fally believed in Corfica.

by

f of

'

bunch of

Tante, Signore, So ma-

ny. Sir/
It

may be

faid that the

General has induftri^

oufly propagated this opinion, in order that he

might have more authority

and ferocious people,

as

in civilizing

Lycurgus pretended

have the fandion of the oracle

ma

gave

with the
the

it

at

Delphos, as

to

Nu-

out that he had frequent interviews

nymph

Romans,

tions

a rude

Egeria, or as Marius perfuaded

that he received divine

from a hind.

But

communica-

cannot allow myfelf to

fuppofe that Paoli ever required the aid of pious

frauds,

f He means
if

ya-iiity*

Feltham's Refolves, Cent,

I.

Hefol. 52.

A TOUR

364

Paoli though never familiar, has the moft perfc6l eafe

of behaviour.

The

great charader.

This

is

diftance

fome of our modern nobility

nobility
rifon of

times,

now

is

what

it

little elfe

was

noblemen

mark of

and

referve

afFeft,

than a

is,

name

in

a real

which

becaufe

compa-

In ancient

in ancient times.

lived at their country feats, like

princes, in hofpitable grandeur.

They were men

of power, and every one of them could bring

hundreds of followers into the

Some of our modern no-

then open and affable.

bility are fo

They were

field.

anxious to preferve an appearance of

dignity which they are fenfible cannot bear an

examination, that they are afraid to

near them.

come

Paoli

not

is

fo.

into his apartment at

all

you come

let

Thofe about him

hours,

wake him,

help him on with his clothes, are pcrfe6tly free

from

reftraint

awed by

yet they

know

his real greatnefs,

their diftance,

and

never lofe their rcipec^

for him.

Though

thus eafy of accefs, particular care

taken againft fuch attempts upon the

illuftrious Chief, as

ployed affaffmation merely

certain

gain fo

of the

he has good reafon to appre-

hend from the Genoefe, who have

who would

life

is

in a political

much by

number of

fo often

em-

view, and

afTafTinating Paoli,

foldiers are continually on,

TO CORSICA.
guard upon him

and

as

flill

clofer guards,

fome

in his

five or

chamber, and fome

at the

outrde of the chamber-door.

all

They

He treats them with

and they are ftrongly attached to

great kindnefs,

him.

are extremely fagacious,

his friends

he

Of thefe

has fome faithful Corfican dogs.

lix fleep,

^65

and know

Were any

and attendants.

perfon

to approach the General during the darknefs of

the night, they would inflantly tear

Having dogs

for his attendants,

him

is

in pieces.

another cir-

cumftance about Paoli fimilar to the heroes of

antiquity.

tended

Homer

reprefents

Telemachus

Homer.

Two

fo at-

OdyflT. lib.

ii.

1.

n,

dogs a faithful guard attend behind.

Pope.

But the

defcription given of the family of Patro-

clus applies better to Paoli:

Evysa Tu yt uvkkti r^etfrs^ris; xuvU

Homer.

rxrixv.

Iliad, lib. xxiii.

1.

75.

nine large dogs domeftick at his board.

PoE*

Mr. Pope

in

the Odyfley,

is

troduced, as

it

his notes

much

on the fecond book of

pleafed with dogs being in-

furnilhes an agreeable inftance of

A TOUR

366

He

ancient

fimplicity.

thought

this circumftance

tion,

defcribing old Evander.

in

obferves

worthy of

his

Virgil
imita-

So we read of

Syphax general of the Numidians,

duos canes

that

'

Syphax

inter

Scipionem appellavit*, Syphax

flans,

{landing between two dogs called to Scipio.*

Talking of courage, he made

tin6lion

between conflitutional courage and cou-

rage from refleflion.

he,

a very juft dif*

Sir

Thomas More,

faid

would not probably have mounted a breach

fo well as a fergeant

who had

never thought of

But a fergeant would not on a

death.

have Ihewn the calm refolution of

Sir

fcaffold,

Thomas

More.'

On

this fubjeft

anecdote,
Italy.

At

me

a very remarkable

which happened during the

the fiege of Tortona,

of the army

Carew an

he told

the

laft

war in

commander

which lay before the town, ordered

Irifli

officer in the fervice

of Naples,

to advance with a detachment to a particular poft,

I mention this

on the authority of an excellent

Mr. Jofeph Warton

fcholar,

and one of our

beft writers,

on the ^neid

for I have not been able to find the pafTage in

Livy which he quotes.

in his notes

TO COR
Having given

his orders,

know you

Sir,

'

therefore put

'

confidence,

'

place you there to

'

mine below you.'

you upon

it

dreadful poll.

A.

367

he whifpered to Carew

man.

this duty.

you

make

men

his

you

drink to

to the

in filence to

the

there flood with an undaunted

draught of wine,
all

all.

countenance, and having called to one of the

diers for a

in

fpring a

Carew made a bow

on

He

enemy

the

have

I tell

certain death for

is

general, and led

to be a gallant

who

thofe

'

Here,

bravely

fol-

faid he,

in battle.*

fall

Fortunately at that inftant Tortona capitulated,

But he had thus a

and Carew efcaped.

full

op-

portunity of difplaying a rare inftance of deter-

mined

intrepidity.

cord an anecdote

with pleafure that

It is

fo

much

to the

gentleman of that nation, on which

fieftions are too often
it

little

I re-

honour of a
illiberal re-

thrown, by thofe of

whom

Whatever may be the

deferves them.

rough jokes of wealthy

or

infolence,

vious farcafms of needy jealoufy,

the

en-

the Irifh have

be,

highly re-

among

the Corfi-

ever been, and will continue to

garded upon the continent.

Paoli's

perfonal authority

cans ftruck

them with

me much.

have feen a crowd of

eagernefs and impetuofity, endeavour-

ing to approach him, as

into his

appartment by

if

they would have burll

force.

In

vam

did the

A
guards attempt to
called to
ricorfo.

them

No

TOUR
them

reftrain

in a tone

but when

of firmnefs,

Non

'

htf

c'e ord,

audience now,' they were huflied at

once.

He

one afternoon gave us an entertaining

fertation

on the ancient

He

of war.

art

dif-

obferved

that the ancients allowed of little baggage, which

they very properly called

as the

'

impedimenta

moderns burden themfelves with

,'

it

whereto fuch

a degree, that 50,000 of our prefent foldiers are

allowed as

much baggage

as

fufficient for all the armies

He

faid

ed, as

it

it

was good for

renders

was formerly thought

Roman

of the

foldiers to

empire.

be heavy arm-

them proportionably robuft ; and

he remarked that when the Romans lightened

their arms, the

made a very

troops

became enfeebled.

curious obfervation with regard to the

towers full of armed men, which

we

are told

borne on the backs of their elephants.

it

muft be

there

He

a miftake

for if the towers

would not be room

for

He

were
faid

were broad,

them on the backs of

elephants ; for he and a friend who was an able cal-

culatour,had meafured a very large elephant at Naples, and

made a computation of the fpace neceflary

to hold the

number of men

faid to

be contained in

TO COR
thofe towers,

making

A.

s^9

and they found that the back ot

the broadefl elephant

ter

would not be

fufficient, af-

the fulleft allowance for what might

be hung by ballance on either fide of the animal.

the towers were

If again
fall

the

for he did not think

Romans had

ftrous

machines

would

they

high,

at all probable, that

it

the art of tying on fuch

at

a time

mon-

when they had not

He

learnt the ufe even of girths to their faddles.

faid

he did not give too

gures on Trajan's

doubtedly

falfe.

pillar,

He

an opinion founded

credit to the

fi-

many of which were un-

faid

thofe towers were only

much

it

was

his opinion, that

drawn by the elephants

in probability,

and

the difEculties of that which has been

free

from

commonly

received.

Talking of various fchemes of

man of
him

fpirit

man

it

a very agreeable

fit

for a

mentioned to

that of being a foreign minifter.

he thought
a

and education;

life,

He

employment

faid

for

of parts and addrefs, during fome years of

In that fituation, faid he, a

his life.

'

inlenfibly

attain

to a greater

man

will

knowledge of men

and manners, and a more perfect acquaintance

with the politicks of Europe.

moted according

to

He

will

be pro

the returns which he

makes

They muft be

to his court.

without

own

or ornament.

fire

The

He

accurate,

He may

but he muft do

opinion,

defty.

home

miniftry at

it

goodnefs

in

mo-

was not
in his

in glo-

Ame-

where he had eftablifhed a people

rican colony,

and contentment, was happier than Alex-

in quiet

ander the Great

after deftroying

the conqueft of Thebes.

hiftory of

Alexander

who

his captains

any rate

is

Never was
defedts

him odious

how

fmall were

my

I v/as

in Corfica.

abilities,

at

to pofterity.

my

thoroughly fenfible of

while

as

for

-,

and aftions, and would

life

fo

own

obferved that the

obfcure and dubious

to render

wifli

He

multitudes at

divided his kingdom, were too

bufy to record his

knew.

fubjoin his

with great

and that Penn

diflincl:,

are proud.'

faid the greateft happinefs

but

ry,

TOUR

37<5

and how

I felt
little

Ambitious to be the companion of Paoli,

and to underftand a country and a people which

roufed

me

fo

much,

wifhed to be a Sir James

MacDonald*.
* Sir James

MacDonald baronet of

the

ifle

who

of Sky,

at the age of one and twenty, had the learning and abilitiei

and a ftatefman, with the accomplifliments of a

Eton and Oxford will ever remember him

of a

profeflTour

man

of the world.

as

one of their greateft ornaments.

He was well known

to the

moft di(tingui(hed in Europe, but was carried off from

their expedations.

Had

he lived a

with him to

He

little

vifit

died at Frefcati, near

longer,

Corfica.

Rome,

in 1

all

765,

believe I fhould have prevailed

TO CORSICA.
The

lad day which

ed of ineitimable value.
great and

ufually

fpent with Paoli, appearI

thought him more than

when

amiablcj

departure,

ihewed him

in

the

were

fervarits

mod

asjreeable

bringing in

night before

happened v/hich

the defert afrer

let fall a plate

Inftead of flying into a pafTion at

walnuts.

what the man could not help, Paoli

a fmile,
is

No

good

nuces.

country,

matter

,'

Tempus

eft

time to fcatter walnuts.

It

It

Ipargere
is

ma-

You muft go home to your own

and marry fome fine woman whom you

omen

I fhall rejoice to

really like.

This was a pretty

remony

at

Virgil's

Damon

hear of

it.'

allufion to the

Roman

weddings, of fcattering walnuts.

Mopfe novas

incide faces
:

tibi ducitur

tibi deferit

Thy

bride comes forth

The

walnuts

ew

envied hulband,

Sq

uxor.

Hefperus Oetam.

ViRG.

ili

ce-

fays,'

Sparge marite nuces

faid with

and turning to me,

fign for you, Sir,

It is

trimonial

When

li2:ht.

one of them chanced to

fupper,
T)f

incident

little

was upon

The

the eve of parting from him.

my

371

begin the

Eclog.

feftal rites

viii.

1.

30.

prepare the nuptial lights

now

thy

blifs is

nigh

Behold for thee bright Hefper mounts the fky

WARTOiT.

A TOUR

Z-j^

When
me

for

again aflced Paoli

my

any way to lliew him

in

and attachment, he replied,

your friend, and write to me.'

when he honoured me with

write not only as a

pher and a man of

hand, and

from

fcribc

faid,

my

As

that I

faid

too enthufiaftick.

hoped

He

took

as a philofo-

me by

the

I dare not tran-

private notes the feelings

I

am

a letter, he would

a friend.'

at this interview.

had

great refpe6t

commander, but
letters.

pofllble

Ricordatevi che lo

'

Remember

vi fia amico, e fcrivetemi.

that

was

if it

which

fhould perhaps appear

took leave of Paoli with re-

gret and agitation, not without fome hopes of

him again. From having known intimately

feeing

fo exalted a charader,

my

fentiments of

human

nature were raifed, while, by a fort of contagion,

felt

an honeft ardour to diftinguifh myfelf, and be

ufeful,

as far as

allow

and

my

fituation

was, for the

and

reft

of

abilities

my

would

life, fet

free

from a flavifh timidity in the prefence of great

men,
Paoli

for

where

fhall I find a

greater than

When
aood deal

I fet

out from SoUacaro,

indifpofed.

like the family of

fo that

my

pan

its

The

much decayed

mafter, was

From

myfelf a

old houfe of Colonna,

both wind and rain found

bed chamber.

I felt

this I

their

way

into

contracted a fe-

To CORSICA.

373
There

vere cold, which ended in a tertian ague.

was no help

for

it.

inconveniences, where

might well fubmit

I

had enjoyed

to

fome

much

fo

happincfs.

was accompanied a part of the road by a

who had

great fwarthy priefl,

He

Corfica.

and

was a very Hercules for ftrength

He

refolution.

took a

never been out of

and two other Corficans

garrifoned by no

caftle,

lefs

than

fifteen

Genoefe.

Indeed the Corficans have fuch a con-

tempt for

their enemies,

'

fay,

Bafterebbero

le

donne contra

Our women would be enough

This

efe.'

prieft

was

them

that I have heard

i

Genovefi,

againft the

a bluff, hearty,

Geno-

roaring fel-

low, troubled neitherwith knowledge nor care.

was ever and anon fhewing

could caper.

me, and

fat

He
in

me how

ftoutly his

He
nag

always rode fome paces before

an attitude half turned round,

with his hand clapped upon the crupper.

Then

he would burft out with comical fongs about the

know what

all.

feverifhnefs,

he

devil and the Genoefe, and I don't

In

fhort,

kept
I

me

laughing whether

was returning

road a

my

notwithflanding

little

to

would or

Corte

from the way

more upon the low country,

weflern Ihore,

but

no.

varied

my

had come, going

and nearer the

At Cauro

had a

My

environs.
fo I

TOUR

374

in

lodged

at

Ajaccio,

view of Ajaccio and

of

intervals

eafe,

which

obferving whatever occurred.

Cauro

who

em-

was

in the houfe of Signer Peraldi

me

received

lin.

me with fome

After they had Iliewn

me

and

airs,

up four of

my

at

airs

on the

vio-

their tafte in fine

me fome

original

defire, they

brought

improved mufick, they gave

Corfican

Be-

young Abbe of

fore fupper, Signor Peraldi and a

Ajaccio entertained

the guards of the magiftracy,

made them fhew me

a Corfican dance.

They thumped with

truly favage.

fprung upon their toes,

of

with great politenefs.

found here another provincial magiftracy.

its

ague was fome time of forming,

had frequent

ployed

fine

It

and

was

their heels,

brandifhed their arms,

wheeled and leaped with the moft violent gefticulations.

It

gave

me

the idea of an admirable

war dance.

During
I

this

journey

had very bad weather,

reclour of Cuttoli,

cannot forget the v/orthy

whofe houfe afforded

when wet

to

(liin,

of the

the fevcrity

made me

the

little

me

at firft

which

refift.

fuch a venerable hermit as

romances.

hofpitable

retreat,

and quite overcome by

ftorm,

able to

we

He

my

ficknefs

was

direftly

read of in the old

His figure and manner intereded

me

found he was a man well

re-

fight,

TO CORSICA;
the

i*pe6ted in

him

if]

me

gave

and that the General did

and,

the honour to

correfpond with

more

The

fubftantial

honeft Swifs was

pleafed to have

He

tinent.

of

liberal

He

him.

a fimple collation of eggs,

and wine, and was very

other

syis

cheftnuts

his

ham and

my

vidluals

to

by

time very well

this

fervant.

his face turned towards the con-

was

of feeing foreign

heartily tired

parts,

and meeting with fcanty meals and hard

beds,

in

an ifland which he could not compre-

hend the pleafure of

'

Si J'etois encore

une

fois

parmi ces montagnes de

If

own

retourne a

fait

in

my

thofe mountains of Swit-

on which you have had

I will fee

who

Ihall prevail

with

fo

me

many jokes,

to quit them.*

General out of his great politenefs, would

me

not allow

to travel

fen guards to attend

I

pais

dont monfieur

fuiffe

zerland,

The

mon

were once more at home

among

country,

me,

faid to

Je verrai qui m'engagera a

tant des plaifanteries,

les quitter.

He

vifiting.

made them

dioufnefs of

without a couple of cho-

me

in cafe

of any accidents.

my companions, to relieve the temy journey. One of them called

Ambrofio, was a flrange iron-couloured

creature.

He

wounds,

he was

the enemy.

had been much

coolly

He told

me,

in

intent

as a

war

fearlefs

carelefs

of

on deftroying

good anecdote,

that

having been fo lucky as to get a view of two

TOUR

376
Genoefe

exacStly in a line,

talked of

this, juft

no apprehenfion

Ambrofio

flred

was fure

but

to

march before me,

my

was upon

But

as ficknefs

head

guard how

that

de-

might

and called him

and once when he was

;'

to go,

at a

amazed

uomo

However by

Paoli had alfo been fo

of

prefent of one

animal.

ment
Paris.

one,

The
to be a

and

him

had formerly

all

am

good

and

forgec

as before.

as to

make me

to take an attach-

me

young

Auchinleck.

came upon

travelled

rived fafe after

friend,

made him

General has promifed

At Bogognano

maraviglio

him between Lyons and

I loft

at

I fell

dogs, a ftrong and fierce

his

guard

which way

can be fo ftupid.*

foon

But he was too old

to me,

block-

ftupido,

and we proceeded

humoui",

beftia,

Mi

'

fi

afterwards calling

fpeaking foftly to him,

ill

effer

man

brave a

that fo

fometimes

part of the country,

bravo puo

fi

at a lofs

and called to him

into a paflion,

che un

woody

wild

'

him.

treated

one's temper,

frets

myfelf,

forgot

know how,

don't

needed be under

him.

my

He

at once.

one would talk of fhooting

as

a couple of crows.

and

his aim,

them both through the head

fhot

fee

he took

my

the fame road

from Corte, where

fatigues.

My

I ar-

good

fa-

TO CORSICA.

3757

me

thers of the Francifcan convent, received

like

^n old acquaintance, and lliewed a kind concern

my

at

illnefs.

who

Chancellor,

my

fent

'

me

returned

among

be found

ci-

his

from beyond the mountains, from

his

who

fame time veryfor-

at the

is

ry for his indifpofition, which he

been occafioned by
flatters

In the

berty to fend

is

perfuaded has

He

his fevere journey.

that

himfelf,

repofed himfelf a
health.

Mr. Bofwell on

fervent Maflefi,

ever

of which

a note,

the higheft in Corfica.

iVIany congratulations to

return

to the Great

fpecimen of the hearty

jnfert a tranOation as a
vility to

refpecls

little,

when Mr. Bofwell has

he will recover his ufual

mean time he has taken

him

how-

the

li-

a couple of fowls, which he

hopes, he will honour with his acceptance, as he

will

need fome refrefhment

wiflies

him

Luiggi,

good night,

who

will attend

this

evening.

He

as does his little fervant

him to-morrow,

to dif-

charge his duty.'

My

ague

diftrefled

me

much,

fo

that I

confined to the convent for feveral days.

however, find myfelf weary.

was

did not,

vifited

by the

Great Chancellor, and feveral others of the

magiftrates, and
univerfity, a

was

civil

by Padre Mariani redlour of the

man of

learning and abilities, as

proof of which he had been three years

at

Madrid

TOUR

37S

charader of fecretary to the General of the

in the

Francifcans.
preffion of his,
fica, faid he,

ing at

all

remember

a very

on the ftate of

many

has for

his country.

now

are

after being fo feverely exhaufted,

time before fhe can recover

was

alfo vifited

fome

will take

perfecfb llrength.'

have made mention

in a for-

part of this book.

Indeed

my

it

But

clofed.

by Padre Leonardo, of whofe ani-

matino; difcourfe I

mer

Cor-

years paft, been bleed-

They

her veins.

eloquent ex-

fhould not have been at f

very reverend fathers had been

was not

all

lofs

though

my

fociety,

Icoked upon as a heretick.

in the leaft

Difference of faith was forgotten in hofpitality.

I

went about the convent

own

houfe

and the

as if I

had been

fathers without

priety of mirth, were yet as cheerful

in

my

any improas

could

defire.

had two furgeons to attend

Corfican and a Piedmontefe

Jefuit's

bark from the

me

and

me

to

go

found

thither.

it

little

did not how-

ever ejipeft to be effedually cured,

I

got a

till

was perfedlly

fhould

fafe for

There was a kind of truce be-

tween the Corficans and the French.

Paoli had

held tv/o different amicable conferences with

de Marboeuf

or apothecary's

fpiceria

jhop, of the Capuchin convent.

get to Baftia.

at Corte,

their

commander

in chief,

M.

and was

TO COR

Oil one of the days

that

I told

my

to

letter

my

ague difturbed

in

as well as to myfelf,

vels, written to

Mr. Samuel John-

a certain degree to
had, during

fome meafure facred.

to

him from the

That

Tomb

learning and piety,

as

ciples

knowing

that

may have been

of Melandhon, facred to

new wrote

however

had feen

ample

wifdom and

-,

which

his political prin-

common

of hu-

rights

gave him a fketch of the great things

in Corfica,

and promifed him

more

relation.

Mr. Johnfon was

here

him from

to

reprefented, he had always

a generous zeal for the

manity.

tra-

had written

the palace of Pafcal Paoli, facred to

,

my

him from Loca Solennia, places

in

liberty

to Corte,

revered friend, that from a kind

of fuperftition agreeable
him,

a letter of re-

walked frorn the convent

purpofely to write a
fon.

me

379

to him.

commendation

leaft,

C A.

gave

fo well with him, that he

me

pleafed with what I

for I received at Paris an anfwer

keep

you

as valuable charter.

will return to

'

return,

'

hope, unalterable friend.

fear

from me,

'

me.

No man

which have been formed

is

'

wrote

from him

When you

an unaltered, and

All that you have to

the vexation of difappointing

loves to fruftrate

expeftations

in his favour,

and the

tour

sSq
^

pleafure which

'

nals

degree of attention or difcernment will be fuf-

ficient to afford

'

take your chance.

hear you

'

feparated again.

'

'

noble curiofity has led where perhaps, no native

'

of

promife myfelf from your jour-

and remarks,

I at

fo great,

as

is

that perhaps

no

Come home however and

it.

long to fee you, and to

and hope that we

welcome

this

is

Ihall

not be fo long

Come home, and

expedl fuch

whom

a wife and

due to him

country ever was before.'

length

fet

out for Baftia.

went the

firft

night to Roltino, hoping to have found there

Signor Clemente de- Paoli. But unluckily he had

gone upon

a vifit to his daughter-, fo that I

had

not an opportunity of feeing this extraordinary

whom

perfonage, of

have given

count, for a great part of which I

to

fo full

am

an ac-

indebted

Mr. Burnaby.

Next day

reached Vefcovato, where

was

received by Signor Buttafoco, colonel of the Royal

Corficans in the fervice of France,

paft

with

whom

fome days.

As

various difcourfes have been held in

rope, concerning an invitation given to

feau to

come

to Corfica

and

Eu-

M. Rouf-

as that affair

was

conduded by Signor Buttafoco, who fhewed me

the whole correfpondence between

him and M.

TO CORSICA.
Roufieau,

of

am

3S1

enabled to give a diftind account

ic.

M.

Rouffeau

Du Contract
vation

'

entitled

in his Political Treatife,

Social, has the following obfer-

II eft

encore en Europe un pays ca-

pable de legiflation

La

de Corfe.

c'eft Tifle

va-

leur et la conftance avec laquelle ce brave peuplc

a fu recouvrer et defendre
bien que quelque
conferver.

J'ai

homme

fa

liberte meriteroit

fage lui apprit a la

quelque prelTentiment qu'un jour

cette petite iQe etonnera I'Europe (a).

yet one country

and that

is

in Europe, capable

the ifland of Corfica.

There

is

of legiflation

The

valour

and the conftancy with which that brave people

hath recovered and defended
well deferve that fome wife

them how

ment

to preferve

it.

that one day that

liberty,

its

man

would

fhould teach

have fome prefenti-

little

ifland will aftonifli

Europe.*
Signor Buttafoco,
RouflTeau, returning

upon

wrote to

this,

him thanks

for the

M.

honour

he had done to the Corfican nation, and ftrongly

inviting

who

him

to

come

over,

and be that wife man

ftiould illuminate their minds.

(/i)

Du

Contraft Social,

liv. ii.

chap. I.

TOUR

3^2

was allowed to take a copy of the wild phi-

lofopher's anfwer to this invitation

it is

written

with his ufual eloquence.

'

Monfieiir, de chercher a exct-

II eft fuperflu,

mon

pour

me prome tranf-

que vous

'

ter

pofez.

Sa

porte.

Je

'

noblement, bien vertueufement et bien heureufe-

ment employes.

zele

I'entreprife

croirois

ce trifte refte

compatriotes

Je croirois

que

aux votres

It

Ma vie
is

avoir bien

je pouvois rendfc
a vos braves

je pouvois concourir par quel-

fi

confeil utile

moi.

fi

meme

bon en quelque chofe

;

et

de mes jours bien

refte

la

* rachete Tinutilite des autres,

* et

Tame

feule idee m'eleve

aux vues de votre digne Chef

de ce cote

et

mon

fuperfluous.

la

done foyez fur de

coeur font a vous/

Sir,

endeavour to excite

to

my

'

to me.

and tranlports me.

'

my

'

happily employed.

well redeemed the inutility of

that are paft, if I could render thefe fad re-

mains of any advantage to your brave country-

'

men.

cur in the views of your worthy Chief, and in

zeal for the undertaking

The

very idea of

which you propofe

it

I ftiould

elevates

efteem the

days very nobly, very virtuoufly,

If

by any

my

foul

feft

of

and very

fhould even think that I

many of my days

ufeful advice, I

could con-

TO CORSICA.
*

yonrs.

life

So

and

you may be

far then

my

fure

My

of me.

heart are devoted to you.*

Such were the

firft

many

Yet

of RoufTeau.

effufions

before he concluded evert this

a great

3S3

firft letter,

he made

complaints of his adverfities and

perfecutions, and ftarted a variety of difficulties

as to the

The

propofed enterprife.

correfpondence was kept

up

fome

for

but the enthufiafm of the paradoxical phi-

time,

lofopher gradually fubfiding, the fcheme

came

to

nothing.

As

have formerly obferved,

M.

de Voltaire

thought proper to exercife his pleafantry upon

occafion of this propofal, in order to vex the

grave RoufTeau,

whom

to talk of

remember he ufed
fmile,

rical

Lad

,'

and

I find this

he never could bear.

call

him,

among my

taire's converfations,

when

'

him with

a faty-

Ce Gar^on, That
notes of

M. de

was with him

Vol-

at his

Chateau de Ferney, where he entertains with the

elegance rather of a real prince than of a poetical
one.

To
letter

have Voltaire's aflertion contradided by a

under

Paoli's

own hand, was no doubt

fufficient fatisfaftion to

From

RoufTeau.

the account which I have attempted to

give of the prefent conftitution of Corfica, and of

A TOUR

3?4

may

well

be conceived that

the fcheme of bringing

M.

RoufTeau into that

ifland,

Legiflator and General,

its illuflribus

it

was magnified

to an

extravagant degree by the reports of the continent.

no

It

lefs

was

faid, that

were implicitely

who

by the Corficans,

a Solon

than

RoufTeau was to be made

to receive

from him a code of

laws.

This was by no means the fcheme.

too able a

man

country to one

to fubmit

who was

Nay

in the ifland.

more regard

to

the legiflation of his

an entire ftranger to the

and

people, the manners,

in fliort to every thing

know

was

Paoli

well that Paoli pays

what has been

tried

by the expe-

rience of ages, than to the moft beautiful ideal

fyftems.

Befides, the Corficans were not all at

once to be moulded

at will.

They were

to

be

and by one law laying the

gradually prepared,

foundation for another, a complete fabrick of

jurifprudence was to be formed.
Paoli's intention

lum

was

to grant a generous afy-

to RoufTeau, to avail himfelf

talents

which appeared

of the

in his writings,

fhinino:

by confult-

ing with him, and catching the lights of his rich

imagination, from

many of which he might

improvements to thofe plans which

dom

had

laid

down.

his

derive

own

wif-

TO COR

A.

385
was to

principally in view,

But what he had

employ the pen of Roufleau

recording the he-

in

It is to

roick adtions of the brave iflanders.

be

regretted that this projed did not take place.

The

cf

father

made

large

Thefe

are

to thofe

prefent colohel Biittafoco

the

colle6tions

made by

the

Abbe

This, adorned with

fur-

a Hiftory of Corfica.

the

genius of RouOeau,
nobleft

monuments of

my

me to Baftia.
good warm town

accompanied

to enter a

was comfortable

after

would

Roftini,

times.

Sio-nor Buttafoco
It

back.

for

would have been one of the

modern

years

and when joined

carefully preferved,

ample materials

nilh

many

for

We

fatigues.

went to the houfe of

law here, with

Signor Morelli, a counfellor at
night
I was lodged for that
fupped.

whom we

Buttafoco,
a friend of Signor

by

in another part

of the town.

Next morning

waited on

Signor Buttafoco introduced

prefented
Paoli.

The

him

He

from
the letter of recommendation

gave

me

a moft

me

from thofe which

feme time accuftomed to

reception.

polite

pleafed
brilliancy of his levee

fcene fo different
for

M. de Marboeuf.
me to him, and I

fee.

it

was a

had been

It

was

like

TOUR

386
pa0ing

at

once from a rude and early age, to a

modern

poliflied

from the mountains of

age-,

Corfica, to the banks of the Seine.

My

ague was now become fo violent, that

me

got the better of

altogether.

it

was obliged

to aik the French general's permifTion to have x

me

chair fet for

Marboeuf was informed of

me

the goodnefs to afk

iliould recover

warm room

being

upon

My

faid

it,

he

-,

fervants will get

till

goodnefs of

circumftances

thefe

all

M.

de Marboeuf, to

to

have

you
fick

and we have an excellent phyfician.*

mention

de

he had

ill,

to ftay in his houfe

I infifl

for you.

my

and every thing proper for a

bouillons,

man

'

When M.

in the circle.

fhew the

whom

I Ihall

ever confider myfelf as under great obligations.

His

invitation

was given

a manner, that

found

M.

willingly accepted of

jufl:

it.

de Marboeuf a worthy open-

hearted Frenchman.

very

kind and cordial

in fo

remark,

It

is.

common and

that one of the moft agree-

able characters in the world

is

Frenchman who

has ferved long in the army, and has arrived at

that age

when

pered.

Such a chara6ter

the

fire

and judicious without

ter

of youth
is

is

properly tem-

gay without

feverity.

Such

levity,

a charac-

was the Count de Marboeuf, of an ancient

TO CORSICA.
family in Britanny, where there

387

more

is

plainnefs

He

of charader than am'^ng the other French*

had been Gentilhomme de

worthy King

He

la

Chambre

to the

Staniflaus*

took a charge of

He

near relation.

me

as if he

furnifhed

me

had been

my

with books and

every thing he could think of to amufe me.

While the phyfician ordered me

quiet,

M.

de Marboeuf would allow nobody to

me

go near me, but payed

As

grew

had

fo that I

at lall the

my

been prifoners

in

men

in

fome

fort

fome of them had

a defcendant of the

Douglas

near to Lyons.
lat

officers

a Chevalier de St. Louis,

name of Douglas,

trious houfe of

The

England, during the lad war.

One of them was

came and

fo-

honour of very

apartment.

were polite agreeable

fettled

my

with him more and more of his

large companies in

the

a friendly vifit alone.

he gradually encreafed

better,

ciety, bringing
officers

to be kept very

with me.

in

of

illuf-

Scotland, by a branch

This gentleman often

The

idea of our being

countrymen, was pleafing to us

both.
I

found here an Englifli

Cumberland.

When

through that country

married a foldier

woman

of Penrith in

the Highlanders
in the year

marched

1745, Ihe had

of the French picquets

Z2

in

the

TOUR

38&
very midft of

when

all

the confufion and danger, and

word he

Ihe could hardly underftand one

Such freaks

faid.

Sic vifum Veneri

will love fometimes take.

Formas atque animos

cui placet impares

fub juga ahenea

Saevo mittere cum joco.

HoRAT.

33,

whofe power controuls

So Venus

wills,

The fond

afFedtions

With

Od.

lib. I.

of our

fouls

fportive cruelty (he binds

Unequal forms, unequal minds.

Francis.

M.

de

la

tended me.

He

army

to the

at

office in Corfica

the ides.

who

Chapelle was the phyfician

He

had been

at-

feveral years phyfician

Minorca, and had now the fame

I called

him

the phyfician of

was indeed an excellent one. That

gayete de coeur which the French enjoy, runs

through

all

their profefTions.

phrafe of an Englifh

me,

'

common

foldier,

who

told

that at the battle of Fontenoy, his captain

received a (hot in the breaft, and

dier,

remember the

fell, faid

the fol-

with his fpontoon in his hand, as prettily

killed as ever I fee'd a gentleman.*

The

foldier's

phrafe might be ufed in talking of almoft every

thing which the French do.

prettily

cured by

M.

de

may

la Chapelle.

fay I

was

TO CORSICA.
But

think myfelf bound to relate a circum-

which fhews him and

ftance

389

Though he

teeleft IJght.

his nation in the

me

attended

greated affiduity, yet, when

am

phyiician to his

my

nobly paid by

army

with the

was going away,

he would not accept of a fingle Louis

Sir, faid he, I

gen-

d'or.

king.

'

No

am

If I can at the fame

here.

time, be of fervice to the people of the country,

who may come among

or to any gentleman
I

am

But

happy.

money.'

M.

us,

muft be excufed from taking

Brion the furgeon major behaved in

the fame manner.

As

foon as

walked about
was

had gathered a

as well as I

ftrength,

little

could

and faw what

Signor Morelii was

to be feen at Baftia.

He made me

markably obliging.

re-

prefents of

books and antiques, and of every other

relating to Corfica.

curiofity

never faw a more generous

man.

Signor CarafFa, a Corfican ofHcei in the

fervice

of France, with the order of

was

alfo

Having made

very obliging.

ftay in Corfica than I intended,

exhaufted, and he let

as I pleafed.

M.

me

have as

how

to

good people

exprefs

whom

a longer

finances were

much money

Barle, fecretary to

boeuf, was alfo very obliging.

not

my

Louis,

St.

M.

de Mar-

In fhort,

my

thankfulnefs to

faw

at Baftia.

know

all

the

A TOUR

^go

The French feemed to

the Corficans.
Of old,

much

thofe

were

illanders

indebted to the interpofition of France,

But

in their favour.

there have been

agree very well with

fingular

many

of Sampiero,

variances between them.

one happened

The

XIV.

ftnce the days

in the reign

of Lewis

Pope's Corfican guards in fomc

fie

of pafTion infulted the French ambalTadour

at;

The

Rome.
this

fuperb monarch refolved to revenge

But Pope Alexander VII.

outrage.

fore-.

feeing the confequences, agreed to the conditions

required by France

-,

which were, that the Corfi-

can guards fhould be obliged to depart the ecclefiaftical flate, that

the nation fliould be declared

incapable ever to ferve the holy

fee,

and, that

oppofite to their ancient guard-houfe,

jfliould

ereded a pyramid

their

infcribed

with

be
dif-

graceC^;.

Le

Brun, whole royal genius could magnify

and enrich every circumftance

in

honour of

his

Jbvereign, has given this flory as a medaillon

oi\

one of the compartments of the great gallery

at Verfailles.

Hiewing to

France appears with a

Rome

Rome, though

ftately air,

the defign of the pyramid

bearing a (hield marked S. P.

and

Q^R,

receives the defign with mofl fubmiflive humility,

(<7)

Corps Diploinatique anno 1664.

To CORSICA.
I

391

wi(h that France had never done the Corfi-

harm than depriving them of

.cans greater

honour of being the pope's guards.

and Maillebois cannot

eafily

the

Boiffeux

be forgotten

nor

can the brave iflanders be blamed for complaining that a powerful nation fhould interpofe to retard their obtaining entire pofleflion of their country,

and of undifturbed freedom,

M.

de Marboeuf appeared to conduft himfelf

He

with the greateft prudence and moderation.

told

me

fica.

tliat

He

he wilhed to preferve peace

had entered

into

in

Cor-

a convention with

Paoli,

mutually to give up fuch criminals

fhould

fly into

each others

not one criminal in

territories.

as

Formerly

hundred was punifhed.

There was no communication between the Corficans

and the Genoefe

and

if

a criminal could

but efcape from the one jurifdi(5bion to the other,

This was very

he was

fafe.

i^crimes

from impunity were very frequent.

this equitable

eafily

done, fo that

By

convention, juflice has been fully

adminiftered.

Perhaps indeed the refidence of the French in

Corfica, has,

upon the whole, been an advantage

to the patriots.

week

There have been markets twice

at the frontiers

of each garrifon-town,

where the Corfican peafants have fold

all forts

of

and brought

provifions,

crowns
fican

TOUR

392

in

good many French

which have been melted down

into Cor-

A celTation of arms

few years

money.

for a

has been a breathing time to the nation, to pre-

pare

itfelf for

one great

effort,

which

proba-

will

bly end in the total expulfion of the Genoefe.

little leifure

has been given for attending to civil

improvements, towards which the example of the

French has
of the

Many

no fmall degree contributed.

foldiers

and could

M.

in

were excellent handi-craftfmen,

inftruft the natives in various arts.

de Marboeuf entertained himfelf by laying

out feveral elegant pieces of pleafure ground

and fuch were the humane and amicable

tions

of

this

refpeftable officer,

that he

difpofi-

was

at

pains to obferve what things were moft wantea

in Corfica,

and then imported them from France,

in order to

Ihew an example to the inhabitants.

He introduced
toes,

in particular, the culture

of which there were none

his arrival.

This root

will

vice to the Corficans,

it

variety in their food

and

of confequence, be
cheftnuts,

-,

lefs

of pota-

in the ifland

upon

be of confiderable

will

make

fer-

a wholefomc

as there will thereby,

home confumption of

they will be able to export a greater

quantity of them.

TO CORSICA.
M.

393

de Marboeuf made merry upon the reports

which had been

circulated, that

was no

than

lefs

The Avignon

a minifter from the Britiih court.

gazette brought us one day information, that the

En;lifh

were joiner to

Commerce
cret

in Corfica,

out.

is

now

I fee

Idle as thefe

was

at

their fecretaries
*

It is

faid he, the fe-

you who

rumours were,

are to efta-

ai

it

a fadt that,

is

Genoa, Signer Gherardi, one of

of

very ferioufly told me,

ftate,

jamais vu.

tremble although

when

Bureau de

the motive of your defti-

Monfieur, vous m*avez

ne vous

Un

Bureau dc Commerce.*

blifli this

O Sir,

'

nation to thefe parts.

when

ellablifh

faitt

rembler quoique je

you have made me

Sir,

And

never faw you before.*

fmiled and aflljred him that

fimple traveller, he Ihook his head

was juft a

but

-,

faid,

he

had very authentick information concerning me.

He

then told

I travelled in

gold j

me

Corfica,

but when

preme Council
of black.*

with great gravity,

payed

at Corte,

was d reft

my
I

'

That while

in fcarlet

and

refpe(Els to the

Su-

appeared

Thefe important truths

in a full fuit
I fairly

own-

ed to him, and he feemed to exult over me.

I

was more and more obliged to

boeuf.

go

When I

was allowed by

to his Excellency's table,

M.

de Mar-

my phyfician,

to

where we had always

394

TOUR

a large company, and every thing in great mag-

was

nificence, he

not fuffer

me

fo careful

to eat

of me, that he would

any thing, or

tafte a glafs

He ufcd

wine, more than was prefcribed for me.

to fay,

'

am

me

'

make fome

to

We have

me

Itay with

him, faying,

an agreeable reception from

the occafion of

my

Paris,

at

think

after I left him.

the French charge d'affaires at

civilities

fick,

for a while, when in health.'

His kindnefs followed me

cured

very politely

taken care of you when

we have a claim to you

commander

He

you muft fubmit/

in chief; fo

preft

here both phyfician and

of

It

pro-

M. Michel,

Genoa

-,

and wa?

being honoured with great

by M. I'Abbe de Marboeuf

Confeiller d'etat, brother of the Count, and poffefTing fimilar virtues in private life.

Corfica with reludiance,

quitted

thought of the

from

Baftia,

I faid,

me

informing him of

my

was owing to

much

of fo

illuftrious Paoli.

his

when

wrote to him
illnefs,

having made

me

which
a

man

confequence, that inflead of putting

into a fnug little

room, he had lodged

me

in

the magnificent old palace, where the wind an4

rain entered.

His anfwer

much
blifh

fpirit,

it ;

to

my

that I

firft letter is

begged

which he granted

written with fo

his permifTion to
in

the genteeleft

pub-

man-

TO COR
'

ner, faying,
'

of the

Mr. Bofwell,

letter

lifli it,

if

A.

395

do not remember the contents of

but

have fuch a confidence in

that I

am

fure,

he would not pub-

there was any thing in

publick view

fo

from

it

improper for

my permifTion.' I am
my readers with an origi-

he has

thus enabled to prefent

nal letter

Paoli.

TO JAMES

W E L L,

Efq-.

OF AUCHINLECK, SCOTLAND.

STIMATISSIMO SICNOR BOSWELL,

RICEVEI
mi

confolo

la lettera

afTai

un valente medico

gufto de' paefi

noti^ia di eflerfi rimefla in

Buon per

perfetta falute.
di

colla

che mi favori da Baftia, e

colti,

lei

che cadde in

Quando

altra volta

mano
il

dif-

ed ameni lo prendefTe, e lo

portafle in queftainfelice contrada, procurero che

fia

alloggiata in

camere piu calde, e cuflodite di

quelle della cafo Colonna in SoUacaro

ma

ella

ancora dovra contentarfi di non viaggiare quando

la giornata, e la ftagione

cafa per attendere

il

vogliono che

tempo buono.

fi

refti in

lo refto ora

impaziente per la lettera che ha promeflb fcriverml

da Genova, dove dubito

quelle

dame non

di quarantena.

le

aflai

che la delicatezza di

abbia fatto fare qualche giorno

per ifpurgarfi di ogni anche piu

TOUR

39^

leggiero influlTo, che pofla avere portato feco dell'

aria di queflo paefe

nuto

il

e molto piu,

fe le fofTe

ve-

capriccio di far vedere quell' abito di ve-

hito Corfo, e quel bcrrettone, di cui

Corfi vogli-

ono

Genovefi lo

I'origine dagli elmi antichi,

ed

dicono inventato da quelii, che, rubando

da, non vogliano efTere conolciuti

tempo

alia ftra-

come

fe in

del loro governo aveflero mai avuta ap-

prenfione di caftigo

ladri pubblici

pero, che ella preflb avra

il

buon

le amabili, e delicate perfone,

defime, che
paflione,

il

Son

partito

con quel-

infinuando alle

cuore delle belle e fatto per

non per

il

ficuro

la

me-

com-

difprezzo, e per la tirannia

e cofi fara rientrato facilmente nella lor grazia. lo

ritornato in Corte ebbi fubito la notizia del fecre-

to fbarco dell' Abbatucci nelle fpiaggie di Solen-

Tutte

zara.

medefimo

fia

blica quiete

apparen^e fanno credere che

le

vcnuto con difegni oppofti

pure

fi

fi

feppe,

vefe cercava

Nel venire per Bocog-

che un capitano riformato Geno-

compagni per

afTafTinarmi.

riovenirne e vedendofi fcoperto

chia,

dove

fi

Non pore

pofe alia mac-

e ftato uccifo dalle fquadriglie

tenevano dietro

pub-

e conftituito in caftello, e

protefta ravvedimento.

nano

alia

il

montane. Queftc

che

gli

magiftrati delle provincie oltrainfidie

liminari del noftro

non fembrano buoni pre-

accomodampnto coUa repub-

TO COR
bllca di

A.

lo fto pafTando

Geneva.

quefta provincia di Nebbio. Verfo

trante andero per

Capocorfo, ed

1'

ifteflb

il

findicato a

lo

dell'

en-

oggetto in quella del

mefe di Febrajo facilmente mi

il

Ritornero poi in Corte alia

trattenero in Balagna.

primavera, per prepararmi

fulta generale.

il

397

all'

apertura della con-

In ogni luogo avro prefente la fua

amicizia, e faro defiderofo de' continui fuoi rifcon-

Frattanto ella

tri.

Suo

mi creda
amico

afFettuofiflimo

PATRIMONIO, 1
aj Decembre, 1765.

PASQUALE
MUCH ESTEEMED
I

Received

from
that

for

Baftia,

you

am much

PAOLI.

BOSWELL,

Mr.

the letter which

and

de'

you wrote

phyfician.

fell into

When

you

me

comforted by hearing

are reftored to perfeft health. It

you that you

to

is

lucky

the hands of an able

fhall

again be feized with

a difguft at improved and agreeable countries,

and

Ihall return to this ill-fated land, I will take

care to have you

lodged

in

warmer and

better

finifhed apartments than thofe of the houfe of

Colonna,
fatisfied

feafon

at Sollacaro.

not to travel

But you again Ihould be

when the weather and

require one to keep

the

within doors, and

TOUR

398

wait for a fair day.

letter

exped: with impatience the

which you promifed to write

Genoa, where

much

me from

to

fufpeft that the dehcacy of

the ladies will have obliged you to perform fome

days of quarantine, for purifying you from every

the leaft infeftion, which you

with you from the

more

fo,

if

air

of

country

this

you have taken

may have

the

whim

carried

and

flill

to fhew

that fuit of Corfican velvet* and that bonnet of

which the Corficans

will

have the origin to be

from the ancient helmets, whereas the Genoefe

fay

it

was invented by thofe who rob on the

highway, in order to difguife themfelves

as if

during the Genoefe government, public robbers

needed to fear punifhment.

that

you

will

thefe amiable

am

fure however,

have taken the proper method with

and delicate perfons, infinuating to

them, that the hearts of beauties are formed for

Gompafiion, and not for difdain and tyranny

and

fo

good
Corte,

you

will

eafily reftored to their

Immediately on

graces.
I

have been

my

return

to

received information of the fecret land-

ing of Abbatuccifj on the coaft of Solenzara,

All appearances make us believe, that he

*

By CorGcan

the ifland, which

velvet he
is

all

is

come

means the coarfe ItufFmade

fme velvet of Genoa.

f Abbatucci,

in

that the Corficans have in ftead of the

a Corfican of a very fiifpicious charaiJtcr.

TO

OR

A.

399

He

with defigns contrary to the public quiet.

however furrendered himfelf a prifoner

Jias

and protefls

caftle,

by Bogognano,
officer

He

his repentance.

learnt that

was feeking

As

at the

paffed

adifbanded Genoefe

afibciates

to

me.

affaffinate

could not fuccced, and finding that he was

betook

difcovered, he

where he has been

himfelf to the woods

(lain

by the party detached

by the magiftrates of the provinces on the other

in order to intercept him*

of the mountains,

fide

Thefe ambufcades do not feem to be good

preli-

minaries towards our accommodation with the re-

publick of Genoa.

am now

holding the fyndi-

cato in this province of Nebbio.

of next month,

Capo

month of February,

I Ihall

dence

in Balagna.

I fhall

the loth

the fame obje<?t,

fhall go, for

into the province of

About

Corfo, and during the

probably

fix

my

return to Corte in the

fpring, to prepare myfelf for the opening

General Confulta.

Wherever

my

Ihip will be prefent to

refi*

am, your

mind, and

of the
friend-

fhall

be

defirous to continue a correfpondence with you.

Meanwhile

believe

me

Your moft
PA
7,3

TR

o
O

December,. '765

to

be

affectionate friend

PASCAL PAOLL

TOUR TO CORSICA.

400

Can any

more condefcending, and

thing be

more

the fame time Ihew

ick mind, than this letter

at

the firmnefs of an hero?

With what

a gallant

pleafantry does the Corfican Chief talk of his ene-

mies

One would

think that the Queens of Ge-

noa Ihould become

they faw him^
I

to

am

Qweens

for Paoli.

If

fure they would^

take the liberty to repeat an obfervation

made

whom

Paoli

me

by that

illuflrious

of Paoli,

great

as the

Montrofe, "

one of thofe

found but

C'eft

un de

?I

les

men who

in the lives

'It

may be

Cardinal de Retz faid of the

ne trouve plus que dans

He is

minifter,

of Great Britain

calls the Pericles

faid

rival

ces

hommes qu'on

Vies de Plutarque.
are

no longer to be

of Plutarch."

END.

me-*

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