39^ LETTER FROM A FRENCH OFFICER 



conclude, it fhould feem as if Corfica was the only 

 country in Europe on which that nation can wreak its 

 vengeance, by making a diverfion againfr. us. Why 

 elfe fhould they continue to pay Paoli his penfion of 

 two thoufand pounds fterling ? his name indeed is now 

 no more than a tattered ' fcarecrow, no longer of any 

 great fervice ; the utmofc it could do might be to ftir 

 up fome enthufiafts of Niolo to throw us into cliftur- 

 bance, if we were not too ftrong in the ill and. 



Niolo is a bafon of two miles in breadth and four in 

 length ; it lies between the provinces Vico, Calvi, and 

 Corte, and is in a manner confined by the latter. It 

 has the figure of a boat. All its inhabitants have a fa- 

 vage look, and their manners are much more rude than 

 thofe of the other parts. They lead a paftoral life, ro- 

 ving about the iiland the whole year through with 

 their flocks and herds, which their own diflricl is as lit- 

 tle able to fupport as themfelves. This channel, how- 

 ever, is of great utility in time of war ; as it has but 

 four entrances, where any one with a handful of peo- 

 ple might defend it againft an army of 10,000 men. 

 Thefe polls then rrmft be fir ft fecured in cafe of. an at- 

 tack. Thefe entrances are extremely difficult. They 

 are narrow paiTes hewn in the rock, leading to fteep 

 overhanging precipices. The Corficans are fully fen- 

 fible to the advantages of this tract of country. It was 

 here where the lafY infurrection happened. It might 

 have been productive of bad confequences, had not the 

 Niofcfc begun their attempt before their project was 

 ripe for execution, and that without firfr. taking pof- 

 feffion of the four paiTes ; fo that when they would 



* have 



