152 | Memoirs of the late General Paoli. 
Paoli appears.to have been formed by 
nature to attain the hearts and fuftrages 
er his countrymen, for his deportinent 
was grave and prudent, and his judg- 
ment was matured by reflection rather 
than by age, while his patriotifm was un- 
queftioned, and his eloquence fuperior 
to that of any of his rivals. He was 
accordingly unanimoully chofen gene- 
raiijfime, na full affembly of the peo- 
ple, when he had but attained the 29th 
year of his age. This joyful event was 
mamediately ‘announced, ‘by means of a 
proclamation, “in the name of the fu- 
preme and general council of Corfica, 
addrefled to the beloved people of that 
nation,” 
White Houfe, July 15, 1755. It was 
there fiated, “ that having determined 
on the eleétion of one political and ge= 
neral chief, the voices had been unani- 
mous in favour of Pafquale Paoli, a 
man whofe virtues and abilities ren- 
dered him particularly worthy. He had 
exprefied great reluctance,” “it was add- 
ed, “to accept of the command, but 
had at length been prevailed upon to 
take upon himfelf the government; in 
the conduct of which he was to be ai- 
fitted by two counfellors of fiate, and 
one of the moft reputable perfons fro 
each diftri¢ét, all of whom were to be 
changed once a month.” 
Paoli was accordingly entrufied with 
the fole management of public affairs, 
both civil and military, and foon obtain- 
ed fuch an afcendancy over the minds 
of the people, that they implicitly al- 
fented to every thing propofed in his 
name. As his * patrimony was extremely 
lender, it became abfolutely neceflary 
that he fhould obtain a fetiled revenue. 
His expences were aceordingly provided 
for, by means of an annual tax, called 
“* Il pane del generale.” 
The fituation of the ifland, in refpeét 
to its internal gevernment, being very 
unpromiing, this chief new-modelled 
the laws, difcouraged affaffinations, im- 
ported arms, and eftabliihed the appear- 
ance, if not reality, of fubordination. 
In addition to all this, he inttituted 
fchools, erected an univerlity at Corte, 
and actually laid the foundation of a 
maritime power; or, at leaft, what-was 
eontidered as fuch in that part oi the 
Mediterranean, although it only cenfitt- 
* It confifted folely, as has been confident- 
fy faid, of a houfe and Sarden at Roitino, the 
piace of his birth. 
dated from St. Antonio of the 
ok 
rs 
{ March f, 
ed, in 1760, of a few feluccas, under 
tle command of Count Peres, who was 
henceforward defignated under the pom= 
pous title of High Admiral of Corfica. 
In 1761, the doge and fenate of Ge- 
noa, perceiving the change lately effect- 
ed among the natives by the good con- 
duct of one man, fent a deputation toa 
general confulta, conyoxed at Veico- 
vato, fer the exprefs purpofe of propof- 
Ing terms of accominodation ; but as 
the pulfe of liberty now beat high, it 
was unanimoutlly refolved never to make 
any peace with the enemy, unlefs on 
the exprefs condition of Corfica being 
‘guaranteed in the full enjoyment. of its 
mdependence. A memoriai te the fame 
effect was alfo addrefled, at the fame 
time, to all the fovereigns ‘of Europe. 
At length, in 1768, this petty and 
tyrannical republic, being now in defpair 
of ever bending the Corhcans again t@ 
its yoke, actually determined to difpdte 
of the iland to the beft bidder. Ac- 
cordingly, the fovereiguty was transferred 
to France (at leaft, fo far as fuch a trans- 
fer can be eftcemed legal), for the fum 
of forty millions of livres, a large por- 
tion of which was however deducted as 
an antecedent debt. 
But Paoli, although greatly alarmed, 
was not utterly difmayed by this cetiion. 
On the contrary, he aroufed and pre- 
pared the {pirit of his followers for a 
‘frefh contention, and animated them to 
perfevere, with additional, zeal, im the 
defence of their liberties and indepen< 
dence againit all oppofers. He, at the 
fame time, folemnly promifed never to 
abandon the caufe, but either to tri- 
umph or fall at the head of his country-. 
men ! 
This-heroic refolution, coupled with 
the juftice of the caufe in which he had 
embarked, obtained for him the efteem 
and regard of every lover of humanity 
throughout Europe. He had already 
added to his reputation, by driving the 
Genoefe from the open country, fhutting | 
them up in the maritime towns, and be- 
fiezing the city of St. Fiorenzo; which 
he was only prevented from taking pol- 
feffion of by the ignorance of his coun- 
trymen in refpect to the attack of for- 
tified places, as well as the total want of 
cannon of every  defcription, without 
which it was utterly impotlible to make 
any unprefiion on a town defended ac- 
cording to the modern rules of war: : 
But the fituation of thefe brave if- 
landers was foon altered for the worfe; 
as 
