156 
for his nephew Signor Barbaggio, the lat- 
ter of whom, had accompanied him to 
England, while the former refided in 
Italy. 
From this time forward, the Ex-Gene- 
ral temained chiefly in London, leading 
the quiet hfe of a private gentleman, 
keeping an hofpitable table, a carriage, 
and every thing appertamig ta a man of 
fortune. Having been waited upon, foon 
after his arrival, by Mr. Bowell, the lat- 
ter prefented Dr. Johnfon to him, on the 
10th of October, 1769. “ They inet with 
a manly eale,” fays Mr. B.*” mutually 
confcious of their own abilities, and of 
the abjlities of each other. The General 
fpoke Italian, and Dr, Johnfon, Englith, 
and underftood. one another very well, 
with a little aid of interpretation from 
me, in which I compared myfelf to an 
ifthmus, that joins two great Continents.” 
During the {pace of twenty-three years, 
Paoli enjoyed au honourable and fecure 
afylum in Great Britain, where he of 
courfe expected to end his days, But 
the extraordinary events of the French 
Revolution at length.induced lum to em- 
bark anew in the ftorms of civil firite. 
No fooner had the Conttituting Aflem- 
bly proclaimed hberty tothe nation, than 
the tate of Cerfica appeared to be me- 
liorated, and a people fo long oppretied, 
received a glimpte of freedoin, On per- 
ceiving that his native country had be- 
come one of the departments of France, 
her ancient chief tranfmitted a letter to 
his fellow-citizens, in which he exprefled 
his conzratulations on this event, but la- 
mented at the fame time that he could 
not rejoin them contiftently with his gra- 
titude and attachment to the Bnitith 
nation. 
Notwithitanding this, he took lcave of 
his friends here, and repaired to Paris in 
1792; having been well received by the 
party then in power, he pronounced a 
fpeech at the bar of the afleinbly,in which 
he obferved, ‘‘ that after a painful exile 
of more than twenty years, he now re- 
joiced to behold his country refiored to 
the poffeilion of her rights and pri- 
vilecés, by the geperolity of the Preich 
nation.” He, at the fame time, expreiied 
his readinefs ‘‘ to contribute, as much as 
it was in his power, to the happinefs of 
his fellow-citizens.” — 
Thefe fentiraents being highly popular 
at that period, experienced general ap= 
plaufe: and Paoli having taken the oath 
of fidelity, in the face of the nation, was 
# Life of Samuel Johnfon, L.L.D. vol. ii. p. 76. 
Memoirs of the late General Paoli. 
{March J, 
thus enabled to reinftate himfelf, in all 
his former power and authority. Soon 
atter this, he embarked for Corfea, 
where he was received with an extraor- 
dinary degree of attachment and refpect.' 
In confequence of this, he was elected 
mayor of Baitia, commander in chief of 
the national guard, and pretident of the 
department; in fine, he foon acquired 
more authority in the ifland, than before 
its fubjugation by the French. 
Notwithitanding this, he appears. to 
have been till ambitious of its entire in- 
dependence, and an epoch foon arrived, 
when he jmagined that fo defirable an 
event might be effected with impunity. 
This was.the execution of Louis XVI. 
which divided the French nation into two 
parties, rendered a civil war exceedingly 
probable, and animated the cnemies of 
the pew republic with new hopes. ) 
The Conyention having been. informed 
of his fecret praétices, immediately ifued 
orders to Paoli, ta repair to their bar, and 
defend himfelf againft the accufations of 
his enemies: but he pleaded his age and 
infirmities, with a view of gaining time, 
and aflured that affembly, he would never 
be found defective in refpect to.his duty, 
Ta a fecond decree, more peremptory 
than the fift, he replied in a diferent 
manner, and with more franknefs; after 
which he repaired to Corte, the ancient 
capital, fituate in the centre of the ifland, 
where, furrounded by his friends and ad- 
herents, he laughed at the proclamation 
which had been iffued, declaring him a 
traitor, and fetting a price on his head, 
On this oceafion, however, a number 
of the moft powerful families in Corfica 
declared agaift him; and Saliceti, Arena, 
Gentlhi, Cafa Bianca, together with many 
of thofe who had fworn fidelity to the 
new conftitution, and like himfelf fub- 
{cribed the civic oath, publicly declared, “= 
that they could not ailift in fubverting 
thofe regulations, in favour of which they 
had taken fo folemn avow, in the face of 
Heaven and of inankind. 
On the other hand. the whole body of 
the clergy, difgufted atthe late reforms, 
which had deprived thent of a large por- 
tion of their revenues, fided with their an- 
cient chief; and to thefe adhered all 
fuch as were eminently devoted to the 
church of Rome, a numerous and power- 
fal clafs of men, who affumed to them~- 
felves the appellation of the jacred band. 
But as Paoii knew trom long experience, 
that it was impollible to refitt the power 
of France, alone and unfupported, he | 
aetermined to call in the afliftance of 
England, 
