702 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



at that time by those who were best 

 acquainted with the situation of 

 their country, aiul rejected the pro- 

 posal of an union, which would 

 indeed have contributed more effec- 

 tually to the tranquillity and secu- 

 rity of Genoa, but which would then 

 have appeared to be merely the ef- 

 fect of gratitude, and the recollec- 

 tion of the calamities she had en- 

 dured. — Since that period, Genoa 

 has been convinced that her welfare 

 is no longer compatible with her in- 

 dependence, and that, in conse- 

 quence of the change in the state of 

 all Europe, she had become too 

 weak to make head against the ex- 

 ternal attacks of armies or fleets, 

 and to suppress internal commotions. 

 After many years of difficulty and 

 inquietude, she implored his impe- 

 rial and royal majesty, ^^ho had al- 

 ready undertaken to preside over 

 the destinies of France, likewise to 

 direct those of the Ligurian repub- 

 lic, and to unite all parties under a 

 constitution better adapted to the 

 state of tlie country and its old inha- 

 bitants. Genoa, accordingly, re- 

 ceived a gorcrnuicnt whose form 

 and regulations were sanctioned by 

 the experience of many centuries, 

 and whose fundamental principles 

 were carefully examined and ap. 

 proved by the representatives of the 

 state of Genoa, who were cliarged 

 to take upon thei. selves that labour. 

 But this new attempt, made with 

 the concurrence of all, was not at- 

 tended with any bettor success. Ge- 

 noa was incapable of having either 

 a, government, a marine, foreign 

 commerce, or internal police. She 

 possessed not even the povvcr to ex- 

 terminate a banditti, who are still 

 plundering a portion of her territo- 

 i;ies, and who even kept the inhabi- 

 tants of the adjoining French depart- 

 ipieuts in a continual state of alarm. 



— From all these fruitless exertions 

 to improve her internal situation, 

 Genoa learned that tne cause of her 

 imbecility, and the means of pre- 

 venting her total annihilation, were 

 to be sought abroad. Genoa, which 

 subsisted entirely by commerce, has 

 lost it in consequence of tho aggran- 

 dizement of all the commercial pow- 

 ers. Numerous ports, which 20 

 years ago were scarcely known, and 

 others which boast the peculiar pro- 

 tection of their respective govern- 

 ments, have Tied with each other in 

 diminishing the prosperity of the 



port of Genoa. New maritime 



states were created by the late war. 

 Venice, whose trade had fallen to 

 decay, is now the depot of the com- 

 modities of a great empire. The 

 same power has acquired a great 

 extent of coast, and gives animation 

 to the ports which nature has so 

 richly distributed along it. The 

 harbours in the republic of the Se- 

 ven Islands, will soon be of far 

 greater importance than they were 

 under the government of Venice. 

 The English, now masters of India, 

 have made Malta a new depot for 

 their merchandize. — While this com- 

 petition arose round Genoa, she be- 

 held the remnant of her commerce 

 exposed to the depredations of pi- 

 rates, and excited the envy of En- 

 gland, which nut only refused to 

 consider Genoa as an independent 

 state, but employed every possible 

 measure to drive her to despnir; 

 which incessantly insulted her ; 

 which, during the late war, cut out 

 of the harbour two French frigates, 

 and massacred their crews, and 

 treated her just as she pleased du- 

 ring the blockade. Before En- 

 gland had declared this war against 

 Genoa, when Upper Italy was 

 yet subject to several sovereigns, 

 the maritime commerce of Genoa, 



aatt 





