under the command of the Marquis de Chauvelin, was sent to its assistance. These troops landed at Bastia, fiushed with the most sanguine hopes of victory, considering it impossible that so disorderly and ill accoutred an army as that of Paoli appeared to them, could long hold out against so numerous and well-disciplined a body as themselves. The event, however, proved that they were mistaken. In their first attack, indeed, they proved successful, and forced their enemies to relinquish the intrenchments, which they had formed on the heights of Croce, Maillebois, and St. Antonio; but being too highly elated with this advantage, they pursued their career with too little circumspection, and fell into a snare, which aoli, who had withdrawn his troops to the other side of the Guolo, had laid for them. They were suddenly attacked by five or six thousand men, under the command of Čiement Paoli, the brother of Pascal, and routed in all directions. Paoli immediately proceeded to lay siege to Borgo, a strong position, of which the French had obtained possession in their first successes, and which had been entrusted to the command of M. de Laide. Having no artillery, their menaces were regarded as impotent by their enemies, and treated with ridicule. The Corsicans, however, invested the place on the fifth of December, and blockaded De Lude and his troops so completely as to cut off all communication between him and the main body, and to deprive him of all supplies of water for himself and his men. At length his situation becaine so desperate, that M. de Chauvelin conceived it to be his duty to risque the safety of his whole army to endeavour to relieve him. Accordingly, an ill-conducted attack was made on the Corsicans, which terminated in their complete success. The French forces were driven back with the loss of about three hundred men, and De Lude obliged to capitulate with all the infantry, the colours of the royal legion, and four pieces of artillery, while the victorious Corsicans had not to lament the loss of one man in any part of the engagement. After this signal de eat, in which Paoli and his brave countrymen covered themselves with glory, M. de Chauvelin retreated in consternation to Bastia, leaving his conquerors in quict possession of the field they had so nobly won. The French commander soon afterwards returned home in disgrace, and Marbenf succceded him pro tempore. A suspension of arms was agreed upon between the new commander and Paoli; but Dumouriez, who served in the French army as adjutant-general, being at variance with Marbeuf, determin d not to remain idle. Under pretence that the Corsicans in opposition to Paoli, were not included in this treaty, he intrigued with several of the principal families among them, agreed to carry on the war at their head, and actually assaulted the post of Isola Rossa, and took the tower of Giralette by storm. This impotent warfare was, however, soon terminated; and the Corsican patriots had leisure to direct their thoughts to operations of greater consequence. Elated by their late successes, and willing to avail themselves of the favourable opportunity which the consternation of their invaders offered for the purpose, they entered into a regular and systematic conspiracy to destroy, or utterly to expel them from the island. "All the quarters occupied by the French were to be assaulted at one and the same time, and six battalions that wintered in Oletta were to be murdered by their hosts. This massacre did not take place, but the general attack was carried into execution. A battalion of the regiment of La Mark was surprised and cut off in the Patrimonio."* Reprisals ensued, and the war again broke out with increased violence.

Favourable as was the termination of this campaign to Paoli and his followers, they were too soon convinced that their victory had not secured them any lasting advantages. They had occasion to be justly alarmed by intelli_ence, that the Duke de Choiseul, considering the honour of France to be now at stake in the issue of the contest, had ordered a reinforcement of twenty batta lions and two legions, together with twelve hundred mules, to transport their baggage in the hilly countries, to be sent to Corsica; and that the chief com

Dand

Life of Dumouriez, vol. i. page 154. from which the preceding account of the campaign of 1768, has been chiefly derived. He was au eye witness, and Tuay therefore, in this instance, be admitted as competent authority.

mand of the whole had heen entrusted to the Count de Vaux, whose military talents and resolution Paoli well knew how to estimate.

On the arrival of de Vaux in the island, he formed his plan of operations for the campaign, and put his army into motion. He divided his troops into two columns, each containing twelve battalions, which commenced their march at the same time, the one by the camp of St. Nicholas, the other by St. Antonio. M. de Narbonne, who had twelve battalions under his command, was to act on the side of Ajaccio, while M. de Marbeuf was to proceed through the plain of Mariano, with the design of ascending along the Tavignano, and of co-operating with the other troops in menacing an attack upon Corte. In this plan the French commander aimed at embracing the whole of the island; and, being fully confident of success from the vast superiority of his army, it was his design to inclose and hem in the Corsican forces, and oblige them to submit. Desperate as the affairs of the islanders had now become, they did not despair, but appeared animated with life and vigour proportioned to the emergency, and determined to grasp the darling form of liberty while life or hope remained. To the formidable armament of their enemies they opposed a firm undaunted front at the bridge of Guolo and the village of Valle, tenaciously defending, and, as they retreated, dearly selling every inch of ground to the r foes. They afterwards took their station on a large plain, on the summit of a high hill, which, commanding the four adjoining vallies, might be regarded as the key to the whole island. Here they defended themselves with their accustomed bravery; but at length, after doing the enemy considerable injury, aud proving to them how determined a people could fight when their liberty depended upon the issue of the contest, they were defeated at Ponto Nuovo, with prodigious slaughter.

After this fatal action, the conquest of the island may be considered as compleated. Corte soon fell into their hands, and they considered themselves as without an army to oppose. The French commander now became anxious to obtain possession of Paoli's person, and with this view offered two thousand Louis d'ors for his apprehension, but without effect. The Corsican chief had now remaining with him no more than about five hundred of the heroes who had shared his dangers and his glory; and with this small body he was surrounded by a victorious army of four thousand men, from whom there appeared but one mode of escaping. Upon this expedient, hazardous as it was, he and his followers immediately determined. They rushed upon their foes with the impetuosity of lions roused to desperation, forcibly cut their way through their ranks, and avoided the humiliating doom which awaited them beneath the rod of their invaders. After lying concealed for two days in a convent near the shore, Paoli, with several of his friends, embarked on the 16th of June, 1769, for Leghorn, in an English vessel which had been purposely provided, having nobly acquitted himself of the high trust committed to him, and defended the liberties of his country to the last faint glimmerings and final disappearance of hope.

While flying from his native land with the melancholy consciousness that its freedom was irrecoverably gone, his reception at Leghorn could not but have proved highly gratifying to his feelings, as affording him the consolatory satisfaction, that the expectations of Europe respecting his conduct, and the efforts he would make, had not been disappointed; and that, while they deeply sympathised with him in the unfortunate termination of his struggies, they united to hail the splendid triumph of his virtue and patriot.sm over every temptation to surrender the liberties of his country. On his arrival at Leghorn, all the English ships in the harbour displayed their colours, and discharged their ar tillery, and the inhabitants, native and foreign, vied with each other in their testimonies of applause. He here resided, for a short time, in the house of Sir John Dick, the English consul, and afterwards pursued his way to London.†

At Corte, they found the library of Paoli, respecting which Dumouriez observes, there was not in it a single book which did not bear evidence of its having belonged to a man of genius and a politician.

+ During this last campaign, the situation of the Corsicans had excited much attention in England; and a considerable sum of money was raised for their

In England, Paoli found a ready and welcome asylum. When his arrival was known, the highest characters in the state were forward to pay him their respects, and to cheer him with their condolence and although the ministry had not taken any active or open part to assist his cause against the claims of France, they were not backward to render him that personal relief which his misfortunes required. He was, first of all, introduced at court, and the Duke of Grafton, who was then in the administration, obtained for him a pension of twelve hundred pounds a-year. To a man of Paoli's temper and economical habits, this generous donation was affluence; and he took care that it should not be wasted in vain and useless extravagance. His house and his table were at all times open to such of his brethren in adversity as had been able to reach England; and he cheerfully shared with them the bounty which had been designed for his individual support. Thus did Paoli improve the tranquil season of retirement. He supported his own misfortunes with magnanimity and resignation, and animated his compatriots and fellow-sufferers to similar fortitude, by his commiseration and example; and enjoyed the pleasing society of the great, the wise, and the good, to which his own genius, character, and conduct served to impart the liveliest interest.

At length, after an interval of twenty years, during which his country continued under the sovereignty and dominion of France, new prospects of patriotic utility opened to the exiled chief, and invited him once more to authority and command. The extraordinary revolution which had begun in France, and had, in a short period, changed the whole system of its government and policy, extended its influence to its remotest territories, and rekindled the embers of liberty in Corsica. The simple circumstance of a Frenchman appearing at Bastia in the year 1789, with the national cockade in his hat, revived in the breasts of the Corsicans the almost extinguished spark, which was instantly fanned into a blaze in every part of the country, and wrought a complete revolution, without the expence of one drop of human blood. Immediately after this, the rational convention passed a decrce, in which the island was recognised as a department of France, and therefore entitled to its privileges; and they proceeded to reorganize its government upon the principles of the French constitution. The restoration of Paoli was regarded as an indispensable part of the measures to be adopted, and an application to this effect was directed to him, both from the National Convention and his countrymen. How great soever his satisfaction might have been to behold the prospect of emancipation and liberty which opened to his long-oppressed country, he hesitated to return He considered it as still forming a part of France, and he could but ill reconcile his great mind to resume his station at the head of its affairs, while his government was to be subject to the control of a foreign power. But the earnest intreaties of his grateful countrymen, from whose hearts the interval of twenty years could not obliterate their deep sense of their obligations to his wisdom and valour, supported by the warm solicitations of the French assembly, finally prevailed. He resigned his pension, with feelings and acknowledgements to the generous people from whom he had enjoyed it, which reflected the highest honour upon the breast where every virtue seemed to be concentrated, and embarked once more for his native shores. On the 23d of April 1790, attended by deputies from Corsica, he presented himself at the bar of the national assembly at Paris. He was greeted on his entrance by shouts of rapturous applause; such was the enthusiasm communicated by the appearance of the great advocate of freedom to the breasts of those who were themselves but newly li berated from the shackles of oppression. The patriotic chief addressed the assembly with dignified composure, and impressive eloquence, in a speech expressive of the happiness he felt, after twenty years of exile from his country, to behold it once more about to be restored to the enjoyment of the sacred privileges

of

relief. The trustees appointed by the subscribers were Messrs. Aldermen Beckford and Trecothick, and Mr. Samuel Vaughan. Paoli, in a letter to these gentle. men, dated March 20th, 1769, acknowledges the receipt of these generous benefactions, and mentions his having appropriated them to the purposes for which they had been designed.

of freedom, and of his readiness cheerfully to co-operate with the ruling powers of France to render that enjoyment solid and permanently advantageous to his fellow citizens. Paoli now took the necessary oaths as a subject of the republic, and hastened to take upon himself the high and honourable charge to which he was called not only by Corsica and France, but by the unanimous voice of all Europe.

Hardly had he received the gratulations of his country on his return, and entered upon the duties of his new trust, before he found the whole of his prospects darkened and interrupted by the changes which were daily taking place in France, by the alternate ascendancy of different factions, and ultimately by the condemnation and execution of the king. The struggles of contending parties which at this time convulsed the whole of France, considerably affected public opinion in Corsica. In some of the pieves, or departments, the violence of party spirit broke out into open tumult, and it was soon discovered that there was a disposition in a very great part of the inhabitants to avail themselves of the unsettled state of politics in the mother country to break their connection with it, and to shake off the yoke by which they were subjugated. To this party Paoli, after seriously considering the precarious condition of the island and of his government while subjected to a country which was itself the theatre of constant disorder, and the prey of turbulent factions, gave bis powerful and commanding sanction. He was on this occasion joined by all the clergy of the country, who formed themselves into a military corps under the denomination of the sacred band. There was at this time a considerable body of French troops stationed in the different garrisoned towns. Finding that Paoli was taking measures to break from his allegiance, and being joined and instigated by some Corsican families who were at enmity with him, they formally took the field against him; but the force which he had been able to collect by the popularity of his cause and the universal attachment to his person, was so great, that he was not long in deciding the contest and vanquishing his adversarics. He was then invested with his original dignities of President of the Consulta, and Commander in Chief of the Island, dignities which he had held with the highest honour before his country had become a province of France. The national assembly were greatly enraged at this counter-revolution, and alienation of Corsica from its sovereignty and dominion: they denounced Paoli to be a rebel, set a price upon his head, passed a decree to cashier the Consulta or National Council, which he hadre-established, and annulled, at least in words, which was all they had the power to effect, the authority which had been confided to him. Paoli was, however, too much beloved by his countrymen to be betrayed by them, and they were likewise little disposed to attend to the mandates or tremble at the denunciation of a government too distracted and impotent to do them immediate injury. Paoli saw nevertheless that it would not be possible to resist with success the power of France when once seriously directed to reduce the island to subjection; and well knew that a voluntary submission would not be received without being attended with fatal consequences to maný individuals who had been instrumental in effecting its independence; be therefore resolved upon an alternative which appeared to him to promise the greatest security, and to hold out the fairest prospect of future tranquillity and happiness to his country, which was to obtain from his countrymen a voluntary surrender of the island to Great Britain. With this view he addressed a letter to them, dated from Furiani, May 1st, 1794, in which he explained at large his views and wishes, and advised that a meeting of the deputies should be held at Corte on the eighth of June following, to take into serious consideration the propriety of concluding the union which he proposed to them. In the conclusion of this letter be writes; "with respect to myself, my dearly beloved countrymen, after having devoted every moment of my life to your happiness, I shall esteem myself the happiest of mankind, if, through the meaus have derived from your confidence, I can obtain for our country the opportunity of forming a free and lasting government, and of preserving to Corsica its name, its unity and independence, whilst the names of the heroes who have spilt their blood in its support and defence, will be, for future generations, ob

jects

jects of noble emulation, and grateful remembrance."*. This assembly of the deputies took place on the 14th of June. It was opened by an eld quent speech from Paoli, who took a review of the different events which had transpired, and the measures which had been adopted by him since the separation of the last general Consulta in May 1793, explained the purpose for which they had been convoked, and directed them to the weighty measures on which they would have to deliberate. After voting their unanimous thanks to Paoli, and expressing their full approbation of his conduct, they proceeded to declare "the separation of Corsica from France, and with the same draninity, and with the strongest demonstrations of joy, voted the Union of Corsica to the Crown of Great Britain:" and it is added" that no national act was ever sanc tioned by a more unanimous proceeding on the part of those who were antho rised to do it, or by a more universal approbation, amounting to enthusiasm on the part of the people." All the proceedings on this occasion were conducted with the strictest order and propriety; no measure being adopted in haste, or settled without full and d spassionate consideration. The necessary previons arrangements being formally concluded, the government was transferred to the English Commissioner, Sir Gilbert Elliot (now Lord_Minto) who took (possession of it as viceroy for the King of Great Britain. Paoli had now resigned the dignities of office, and reduced himself to the rank of a private citizen. What his intentions might have been with regard to lus future residence, whether bi meant to pass the remainder of his days in his native country or elsewhere, it i now impossible to say; but it is stated that a coolness which, from some cause or other, had unfortunately taken place between him and the English viceroy, at once determined him to quit Corsica; and he returned to the hospitable shores of that country where he had before experienced the kindest reception, and esjoyed a long interval of comfort and happiness. Having had the misfortune to lose the bulk of his property by the failure of a house at Leghorn, to which he had entrusted it, he was unable, on his return to London, to command the Conveniences which his income had before placed within his power, and obliged for some time to live in the most private manner in an obscure part of the town. There is reason to believe, however, that when his pecuniary circumstances betame known, prompt measures were adopted to improve them, and that his pension was again restored, and continued to him to the last.

The eventful life of this truly great man, great in all those noble and benign qualities which impart dignity and honour to the living, and consecrate the memory of the dead, was closed, after a short but painful illness, on Thursday, the fifth of February; and he was buried on Friday, the thirteenth of the same mouth, without pomp or ostentation, in the burying ground of St. Pancras. Though dead, his name shall continue to exist while virtue has a friend. Future generations will contemplate his character with admiring wonder and veneration, and PAOLI shall be enrolled among those benefactors of their kind who have immortalized themselves by transcendant actions of benevolence.

Semper honos, nomenque tuam, laudesqué, manebunt !

JAMES CROWE, ESQ.

Died. On the 26th of Jamary, at Lakenham-house, near Norwich, in the 57th year of his age, James Crowe, Esq, F. L. S. one of the senior aldermen of that corporation, having served the office of sheriff in 1771, that of mayor in 1774, and again in 1797,

By the death of his brother in 1792, Mr. Crowe inherited the entailed éstaté of Lakenham, and was also possessed of considerable landed property in other parts of Norfolk, which it was his delight to improve by the most scientific and skilful attention to planting and agriculture in all their branches.

He had for near 30 years past studied the botany of Britain with indefatigable zeal, and with peculiar success. A penetrating eye, and no less sagacious and discriminating nind, fitted hint, in an eminent degree, for the study of VOL. I.

2 S

• Frederick's Corsica, page 60.

+ Sir Gilbert Elliott's Dispatch to Mr, Dundas.

nature.