388 LETTER FROM A FRENCH OFFICER 



iflanders it is owing, that they have fo often changed 

 their mailers. Co die a has been fucceffively the pro- 

 perty of the Ligurians, the Phocaeans, the Tyrrhe- 

 nians, the Hetrurians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, 

 the Goths, the Saracens, the Pope, the Genoefe, the 

 Pifans, and the kings of Arragon, Sardinia, and 

 France. They chofe themfelves a king in the perfon 

 of the famous baron Theodore, a German, who was af- 

 terwards expelled, then recalled, and again driven out, 

 till at length he died in trouble anddiftrefs at London; 

 where Paoli, either more difcreet, or better fupported 

 by circumflances, at prefent enjoys a handfome main- 

 tenance, though without the hope of ever regaining 

 the efteem and confidence of his countrymen. The 

 Corficans, finding the yoke of the Genoefe utterly 

 infupportable, that republic faw itfelf compelled to 

 cede the ifland to the crown of France, which has been 

 at the expence of much blood and treafure to fecure 

 its poffeffiori. 



Notwithftanding the ill opinion that is generally en- 

 tertained of Corlica, yet it appears to merit the atten- 

 tion of the crown on two considerations. 



In the firft place, becaufe the poffeffion of it would 

 put the enemies of France in a condition to do great 

 damage to her trade and navigation, by cruiling to the 

 heights of Antilles, Toulon, Marfeilles, &c. Secondly, 

 becaufe this place is fo excellently calculated to be the 

 prime ftaple of the Levant, and the magazine of the 

 whole mediterranean trade. Antilles is no more than 

 forty french miles from it. 



Conlidered in this point of view, and without paying 

 any regard to what it has coft or frill cofts, it fhould 

 > 4 almoft 



> 



