THEODORE ANTHONY I. KING OP CORSICA. 
general assembly offered him the crown, not as any sudden act, into 
which they had been surprised, but w'ith all the precaution that peo- 
ple could take to secure their freedom and happiness under it. Theo- 
dore, however, contented himself with the title of governor-general. 
In this quality he assembled the people, and administered an oath for 
preserving eternal peace among themselves; and severely did he exact 
obedience (o this law. 
He was again offered the title of king : he accepted it the 15th of 
April, 1736, was crowned king of Corsica, and received the oath of 
fidelity from his principal subjects, and the acclamations of all the 
people. The Genoese, alarmed at these proceedings, publicly declared 
him and his adherents guilty of high treason ; caused it to be reportr 
ed, that he governed in the most despotic manner, even to the putting 
to death many principal inhabitants merely because they were Ger 
noese ; than which nothing could be more false, as appears from the 
manifesto in answer to the edict. Theodore, however, having got 
together twenty-five thousand men, found 'himself master of a country 
where the Genoese durst not appear. He carried Porto Vecchio, and. 
May the third, blocked up the city of Bastia, but was soon obliged to 
retire. He then separated his force, was successful in his conquests, 
and came again before Bastia, which soon submitted to him. His 
court grew brilliant, and he conferred titles of nobility upon his prin- 
cipal courtiers. 
Towards July, murmurs were spread of great dissatisfaction, arising 
from the want of Theodore’s promised succours: on the other hand, 
a considerable armament sailed from Barcelona, as was supposed, in 
his favour; at the same time France and England strictly forbade their 
subjects in any way to assist the malcontents. September the second 
Theodore presided at a general assembly, and assured his subjects 
anew of the speedy arrival of the so much wanted succours. Debates 
ran high ; and Theodore was given to understand, that before the end 
of October he must resign the sovereign authority, or make good his 
promise. He received in the mean time large sums, but nobody knew 
whence they came ; he armed some barks, and chased those of the 
Genoese which lay near the Island. He now instituted the order of 
Deliverance, in memory of his delivering the country from the do- 
minion of the Genoese. The moneys he had received, he caused to 
be new coined ; and his affairs seemed to have a promising aspect, 
but the scene presently changed. . 
In the beginning of November, he assembled the chiefs, and declar- 
ed that he would not keep them longer in a state of uncertainty, 
their fidelity and confidence demanding of him the utmost efforts in 
their favour, and that he had determined to find out in person the suc- 
cours he had so long expected. The chiefs assured him of their de- 
termined adherence to his interests. He named the principal among 
them to take the government in his absence, made all the necessary 
provisions, and recommended to them union in the strongest terms. 
The chiefs, to the number of forty-seven, attended him in the utmost 
respect, on the day of his departure, to the water-side, and even on 
board his vessel ; where, after affectionately embracing them, he took 
his leavt?, and they returned on shore, and went immediately to the 
