1807.] 
fition of the Britifh cabinet, which could 
alone have annnated the allied courts into 
action, he determined to fend: powerful ° 
reinforeements to Corlica. Thefe con- 
fifted of twenty battaligns, two legions, 
and twelve hundred mules; and the com- 
mand:of the whole’ was sig ai to the 
Count de Vaux. 
This officer anf6rturiataly happened 
not only to’be brave and active, but alfo 
to poflefs a mind well acquainted with 
all the refources of war, 
familiar with the fcene of action, and 
> well aware of all the faults committed by 
‘his predeceffor, who had only efcaped 
from difrace, and even from punifhment, 
by the perfonal attachment and regard 
‘of the monarch, in whofe debaucheries 
he had for many years eles ipated. 
The new cominander in chief, fearing 
aboye all things left the war fhould be 
protracted, determined to divide his army 
muito two columns, of about twelve bat- 
talions each, and by one grand move- 
ment put an end to the conteft, by the 
- complete fabjugation of the whale ifland 
‘of Corfica.. “Paoli, from this moment, 
forefaw that his country muft not only be 
overrun, but conquered. Tle, however, 
defended the bridge of Guolo, and the 
village of Valle, with a confidérable de- 
eree of obiti inacy; after which, he retired 
with about fix thoufand men to the top 
-of a mountain, furmounted witha Tur- 
kifh mofgue, originally built by the Sara- 
cens, and {ince converted into a chriftian 
church, dedicated to St. Peter. As this 
commanded .the four adjacent valleys, 
and was confidered as the laft and chief 
defence of the ifland, every thing de- 
‘pended on keeping poffelfion Di ie. aut 
the Corficans were equally overpowered 
by numbers and by ‘kill; and_ fifteen 
hundred of them having een nearly cut 
off, in an attempt agqiutt the French 
army at Ponte Nuovo, the final fubjuga~ 
tion of the natives was now unhappily 
accomplifhed. 
Dumourier, who ferved on this occa- 
flon, with the rank of Adjutant-General, 
“as liberal enough, in the Memoirs of \his 
own Life, to pay the hi cheft compliments 
both to the Corficans and their chief. 
In refpeét to the former, he obferves as 
follows: 
“Tt is aftonifhing that this handful of 
ilanders, deftitute of artillery, fortifica- 
’ trons, Magazines, and money, thould have 
kept France at bay during two campaigns, 
although fhe had no ‘other enemies to 
cope ae But hberty doubles - 
¥eiour and the firength of man.” - 
Memotrs-of the late General: Paoli. 
He himfelf was. 
the 
155 
“Paoli,” fays he, in-another place, 
“has rendered his name illuftrious, in 
confequence of the viyour with which he 
fupported the caufe ” of public | liberty 
among the Corficans; but in truth, it was 
a little at the expence of their individual 
freedam. In the courfe of this*war, he 
difplayed great genius, and’ a noble can- 
fiftency ; had he been endowed with mi- 
htary talents, had he known how’to have 
liftructed his countrymen in that fpecies 
of hotility beft {uited to the natural bent 
of their genius, he would have‘dettroyed 
our little ar my in 1768,.and done us much 
‘more harm than we experienced iti 1769.” 
This celebrated chief had the good 
fortune to efcape during the general con- 
fufion, with the lofs of his brary and his - 
baogage. Having with fome dithcult 
alfemmbled a few of his faithful followers, 
among whom-was his own brother, he 
repaired to the fea-fide, and being ac- 
companied by thefe on board an armed 
velfel, bearing the E nglith flag, which had 
een provi ided for his reception, he was 
landed in Ttaly: « 
| After remaining’a fhort time at Leg- 
horn, he repaired to England, where he 
“had many trends and admirers. Indeed, 
it was but a few days before his final re- 
treat, that he had received a liberal fub- 
{cription, from'a number of private indi- 
viduals, for the expreds purpofe of on 
abling bim to contimue the war agalnit 
France.* 
iiienclseeain on his arrival, the patriots, 
at the eaftern extremity of the metro- 
polis tranfinitted a formal invitation to 
the General, to repair to the city, where 
an entertainment had been provided for 
him. Alderman Beckford, Mrs. Macaue 
lay, Alderman Fecothick, and a number 
af his friends and admirers were all pre- 
fent on this ‘occafion, and expected his 
appearance with impatience: but the 
General having: received an intimation 
from the patriots of the weft end of the 
town, that his prefence would give offence 
to the court, he felt himfelf fuddenly in- 
““difpofed, and fent his fecretary with an 
excufe. 
Meanwhile Paoli was prefented to 
His Majefty, at St. jaimes’s, and moft 
eracioufly received. He was at the fame 
time gratified with a pention ¢ for himfelf, 
while a liberal provifion was made for his 
brother Signor Clemente Paoh, and alfo 
* ‘The nen Beckford and Fecothick, 
together with Samuel Vaughan, efq. were 
the truftees. 
+ Twelve hundred pounds per annum. 
Ue for 
