4^2 OP THE REPUBLIC OP GENOA. 



growth. What they gain by the exchange of money 

 is very considerable. The nobility engage particularly 



in this buflnefs. > 



The chief fupport of the republic and the general 

 credit of the Genoefe is their St. George's bank, [la ca- 

 fa di S. Georgio]. It has a revenue of more than ten 

 millions, and pays three per cent. At various times, on 

 urgent occaiions, the republic has relinquifhed a part 

 of its public revenue. It forms a little republic, almoft 

 independent, the members whereof are the proprietors 

 of flock, having its own magiftrates, laws, and councils. 

 In the year 1 746. it advanced the republic nearly live mil- 

 lions of dollars, and the loan which it then took up is 

 laid to be already paid. In 1751. it was near upon 

 breaking ; but not only the lenate, which laid an ad- 

 ditional capitation tax on the fubjects for the fpace of 

 twenty years, and made over to it the receipt of the 

 duties and other tributes, for paying the loan at that 

 time contracted, and to give the creditors a compe- 

 tent fecurity, but like wife the nobility, who fupported 

 it with great capitals, perfectly reftored it to its former 

 credit. However, with all this, Genoa will never rife 

 again to its aatient profperity arid vigour, 



"anecdote of boissy. 



I THINK it may not be unserviceable in our 

 times once more to call to mind and to relate the fol- 

 lowing hiftory ; as an admonition to young people who 



ftart 



