102 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



That nation and its kinpr offer 

 you the advantages of a lasting 

 union and constant protection. 



The happy influence of our glo- 

 rious countryman, general de Paoli, 

 added to the resources of his genius, 

 and excited bv the dangers of his 

 own conntry, have accelerated this 

 happy event ; in short, brave Cor- 

 sicans, tue are free. 



By our constancy, firmness, and 

 courage, we have acquired the en- 

 joyment of the advantages we in- 

 herit from our ancestors, iilcTty and 

 religion. 



However, it would be but little 

 to have regained this noble succes- 

 sion, if our efforts and prudence 

 were unable to secure it for ever. 



To insure the success of those ef- 

 forts, and to direct our prudence, a 

 perfect union is nccessaiy ; our ge- 

 neral resolutions must be formed 

 with a view to our present situation 

 and our future expectations. 



The Corsicans must therefore 

 prescribe the form of administration 

 and government they choose to 

 adopt, enunciate, or approve of, 

 and the principles on which it is to 

 be established, or on which their 

 legislation is to be fixed. 



Finally, beloved countrymen, the 

 most important object is, a speedy 

 union of the people, and the last 

 act of the provisional administration, 

 you adopted, ordains us to support 

 the paternal and patnotic intentions 

 of general de Paoli. 



In this invitation we can give 

 you butafaint idea of the important 

 functions you will confide to your 

 representatives inthe next assembly ; 

 however, you no doubt knew the 

 indispensable necessity of adopting 

 measures for the mrintenance of in- 

 ternal tranquiUity, and of a form of 

 government adapted to our customs. 



powers, and situation, and finally 

 to the various relations -that will 

 hereafter be established between 

 Corsicans j the English nation and 

 their king feel, even more than 

 othcr^:, the necessity that such depu- 

 ties should be appointed among our 

 countrymc - p'. shall have given evi- 

 dent proofs of their patriotism, and 

 of their desire to act with a zeal 

 adequate to the nature and import- 

 ance of their mission, for establish- 

 ing and securing by the new ordqr 

 of things, not only for the prese;nt, 

 but in future, public feHcity. This 

 last consideration, in case you are 

 sensible of it, will, we are in hopes, 

 determine you to prefer one of the 

 most respectable heads of family in 

 each of vour respective communi- 

 ties, as a representative on such 

 solemn and important occasions in 

 council. 



In this union, which will form 

 the most memorable crisis of our 

 annals, the objects must be treated 

 with that form and order due to the 

 dignity of the reprec.^ntatives of a 

 free people. 



The ancient assemblies of our na- 

 tion, at the time of the glorious go- 

 vernment of its deserving general, 

 were only composed of one deputy 

 from each community. Finding it 

 necessary to avoid the inconveni- 

 ence of repeated elections, we have 

 thought it expedient in this circum- 

 stance to invite you to adopt this 

 ancient custom, chiefly on reflecting, 

 that as harvest is approaching, the 

 absence of chiefs from their fami- 

 lies, added to the expences of the 

 journey, and time spent in the elec- 

 tion, would be of prejudice to their 

 affairs and domestic interests ; the 

 people will therefore cstabhsh con- 

 stitutionally the number of its repre- 

 sentatives forthesuccessive re-unions, 

 .' -■ ■ The 



