James Boswell

“ There is no doubt, but by entering into society, mankind voluntarily give up a part of their natural rights, and bind themselves to the obedience of laws, calculated for the general good. But, we must distinguish between authority, and oppression; between laws, and capricious dictates; and keeping the original intention of government ever in view, we should take care that no more restraint be laid upon natural liberty, than what the necessities of society require. ”

“ They who entertain an extravagant veneration for antiquity, would make us believe, that the divine fire of liberty has been long ago exhausted, and that any appearances of it which are to be found in modern times, are but feeble and dim. They would make us believe that the world is grown old, that the strength of human nature is decayed, and that we are no more to expect those noble powers which dignified men in former ages. ”

“ Had Theodore had a little more prudence, and some better fortune, he, and his posterity, might have worn the crown of Corsica, upon the generous title of having delivered the island from oppression.
It has often been said, that Theodore was secretly supported by some of the European powers. But, from all that I can learn, there is no foundation whatever, for this conjecture. It is, indeed, a rare thing, to find a private gentleman embarking on his own bottom, in an enterprise of such a nature. ”

“ But we have a manly satisfaction in reading the history of the ancient Romans; even abstracting from their connections and their broils with other states. Their internal progress alone affords ample matter of speculation to a judicious and spirited observer of human nature. We love to trace the various springs of their conduct, and of their advancement in civilization. We contemplate with pleasure the ferments between the patricians and plebeians, the strong exertions of rude genius, the vigorous exercises and hardy virtues of men uncontrouled by timid subjection. ”

“ It is therefore no wonder that the world has at all times been roused at the mention of liberty; and that we read with admiration and a virtuous enthusiasm, the gallant achievements of those who have distinguished themselves in the glorious cause, and the history of states who were animated with the principle of freedom, and made it the basis of their constitution. ”

“ His manners were so engaging, and his offers so plausible, that he was proclaimed king of Corsica, before count Rivarola's dispatches arrived to inform the chiefs of the terms upon which he had agreed. He brought with him about a thousand zechins of Tunis, besides some arms and ammunition, and made magnificent promises of foreign assistance; so that the Corsicans, who were glad of any support, willingly gave into his schemes; and it must be considered, that there could be no great harm in allowing a man the name of king, since they had always the power of restraining his authority. ”

“ The origin of every nation is, as Livy says, 'Poeticis decora fabulis [1] , Adorned with 'poetical fables.' These are always amusing to the imagination, when neither tedious, nor too extravagant. We love to be led on in a gradual progress, and to behold truth emerging from obscurity, like the sun breaking through the clouds. Such a progress makes a part of our own nature, which advances from the dawnings of being in our infancy, to greater and greater intelligence. ”

“ I have been led into these reflections from a consideration of the arguments by which ingenious men in the refinement of politicks have endeavoured to amuse mankind, and turn away their attention from the plain and simple notions of liberty.
Liberty is indeed the parent of felicity, of every noble virtue, and even of every art and science. Whatever vain attempts have been made to raise the generous plants under an oppressive climate, have only shewn more evidently the value of freedom. ”

“ The Genoese sent troops to support their collector, and the Corsicans assembled in large bodies to defend themselves. The tumult encreased. A spark was sufficient to kindle the generous flame, in a people, who had so often glowed with the enthusiasm of liberty; and in a very short time, the whole island was in motion. ”

“ They will confider that I am the first Briton who has had the curiosity to visit Corsica, and to receive such information as to enable him to form a just idea of it; and they will readily make allowance for the enthusiasm of one who has been among the brave islanders, when their patriotick virtue is at its height, and who has felt as it were a communication of their spirit. ”

“ I fay nothing of the ruins of Mariana and Aleria, the two Roman colonies which stood on this plain; for as Corsica was much disregarded by the Romans, they did not think it worthy of having any of their taste and magnificence employed in it: so there are no vestiges of ancient grandeur. As however, even the dregs of the Romans could not be without some skill in the arts, several antiques, such as rings, and seals with engravings on precious stones have been found here, and sometimes pretty good ones. ”

“ In reviewing these strange and rapid revolutions, which this island has undergone, we may join with Seneca [12] in reflecting on the mutability of human affairs, and be silent on the changes which happen to individuals, when we contemplate the vicissitudes of a whole nation.
The Genoese having obtained the undoubted possession of Corsica, they were eager to enjoy their power, and thought they could not fully enjoy it, but by exercising the most severe dominion. What we have long anxiously desired, acquires in our minds an imaginary and extravagant value ”

“ There are, indeed, who from the darkest prejudice, or most corrupt venality, would endeavour to reason mankind out of their original and genuine feelings, and persuade them to substitute artificial sentiment in place of that which is implanted by God and Nature. They would maintain, that slavery will from habit become easy, and, that mankind are truly better, when under confinement and subjection to the arbitrary will of a few. ”

“ By their industry and activity, they beautified and enriched their possessions, and built very good houses, doing every thing with a taste, altogether new in Corsica.
But their neighbours, the natives of the island, did not live in great harmony with them. Perhaps, in this, envy may have had some share; for their vines and their olives, their herds and their flocks, were, by care and skill, much superiour to those of the Corsicans. But besides, the islandders looked upon the Greeks as auxiliaries of the Genoese, to whom they, from time to time, swore fidelity ”

“ From having been long depressed, like a strong bow recovering its elasticity, they rose with renewed vigour. Man, woman and child, may be laid to have engaged; for very young boys took the field; and even some of their women, like those of Sparta, shewed their valour in battle. Many of the religious also carried arms; and, as if actuated by a kind of universal inspiration, every foul was ardent against the tyrant.
Gaffori and Matra, now obtained the government of Corfica, under the title of Protectours of the kingdom. Gaffori was a man of distinguished talents. ”

“ Porto Vecchio is a spacious haven, capable of containing a very large fleet. It is five miles long, above a mile and a half broad, has a great depth of water, and a good bottom, and being landlocked on every side, is well sheltered from storms. I may add, that nature has placed a high and rocky mountain like a stately column to point it out at a great distance. In short, Porto Vecchio may vie with the most distinguished harbours in Europe.
The only objection to it, is the badnecs of its air, occasioned by the marshy grounds which lie in its neighbourhood. ”

“ All Europe being now in agitation, she thought proper to recall her troops from Corsica. They accordingly quitted the island, in the end of the year 1741, leaving it in perfect submission and quietness; as was said of the Romans by Galgacus, the ancient Scottish chief, in his famous speech, upon the Grampian mountains: 'Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant [24] . Where they make a desart, they call it peace'
The French, indeed, knew the Corsicans too well, to believe, that they would submit to Genoa, when left to themselves. ”

“ They admire a piece of painting, where the colours are delicately blended, and the tints, which point out every particular object, are softened into each other, by an insensible gradation. So in a virtuous state, there should be such a mutual confidence between the government and the people, that the rights of each should not be expressly defined. ”

“ So early as the 1200, mention is made of Pietro Colonna, the eight of the name. The branch which settled in Corsica, continued long in great splendour, enjoying the noble fief of Istria; but, by the confusions and troubles which the island has been thrown into, by the bloody contests between the Genoese and the patriotick Corsicans, that family hath suffered prodigiously, and its possessions are reduced to a very narrow compass. The present head of the family, is a worthy, sensible man, and very zealous in the great cause. I was lodged in his house at Sollacaro, where I found Pascal Paoli. ”

“ After various struggles, which the plan of this work does not allow me to relate, the Greeks were forced to leave their possessions, and retire to Ajaccio, where they now support themselves tolerably by their labour: and being convinced of the tyranny of the Genoese, wait with impatience for their total expulsion from the island; and hope from the generosity of Paoli and the Corsicans, that protection and encouragement which they deserve. ”

“ They permitted nothing to be exported from the island, but to Genoa, where, of necessity, the Corsicans were obliged to sell their merchandise at a very low rate; and in years of scarcity, the island was drained of provisions by a fort of legal plunder. For the inhabitants were forced to bring them to Genoa, so that actual famine was often occasioned in Corsica.
The Genoese did every thing in their power to foment internal dissensions in Corsica, to which the people were naturally too much inclined. These dissensions occasioned the most horrid bloodshed. ”

“ There are in Corsica, a great many mines of lead, copper, iron, and silver. Near to San Fiorenzo is a very rich silver mine, yielding above the value of 5l. sterling out of every 100 lib. weight of ore. The Corsican iron is remarkably good, having a toughness nearly equal to that of the prepared iron of Spain, famous over all the world. It is said that the true Spanish barrels are made of iron which has been worn and beaten for a long time in heads of nails in the shoes of the mules, who travel with a flow and incessant pace along the hard roads. ”

“ There are large traces of uninhabited land in Corsica, mostly covered with woods; to some parts of which the peasants resort in summer to feed their cattle, and to gather chestnuts, making little sheds for themselves to lie under. There is hardly such a thing as a detached farm-house to be seen in the island, like what are scattered every where over Great Britain ”

“ When the Austrian troops entered Genoa, the young counts Rivarola were set at liberty. Count Antonio, the eldest, my very good friend, is a major, in the service of the king of Sardinia, and consul general for that sovereign in Tuscany. Count Nicholas, the other, lives at Oletta in Corsica, but is of so delicate a constitution, that he cannot serve his country as he would wish to do. Both the brothers have the spirit of their father. ”

“ Perhaps the limits between the power of government, and the liberty of the people, should not be too strictly marked out. Men of taste reckon that picture hard, where the outlines are so strong, as to be clearly seen. ”

“ Corte is situated part at the foot, and part on the declivity of a rock, in a plain surrounded with prodigious high mountains, and at the conflux of two rivers, the Tavignano and Restonica. It hath a great deal of rich country about it, and a wonderful natural strength, being hemmed in by almost impassable mountains and narrow defiles, which may be defended with a handful of men, against very large armies. ”

“ Whereas, the Genoese were a nation of republicans just in the neighbourhood of the islanders; who had long been their enemies; who had made so many cunning, and impotent attempts to seize upon the island, that although, by the unexpected course of events, they were now mailers of it, the Corsicans could not look upon them with any respect. And as it has been always remarked that the foreign subjects of a little republick, are much worse used, than those of a great kingdom; they had reason to expect nothing but avowed tyranny from Genoa. ”

“ If the ten thousand Greeks have gained immortal honour, because they were opposed to the armies of the Persian monarch, Shall not the Corsicans be found deserving of glory, who have let themselves against a republick, which has been aided at different times by the power of France, and by that of the empire of Germany? ”