to retard the execution of the king's edicts. The king concluded the bufinefs of this memorable day by a fhort fpeech, in which he obferved, that they were now informed of his pleature, and from their zeal for the public good, and attachment to the true principles of monarchy, he expected they would exactly conform to what he had prescribed; and promifed them his protection and countenance, as long as they worthily filled the places which they occupied, and did not attempt to enlarge the bounds of the power which was granted to them. Thus by a fortunate concurrence of circumstances, has Lewis the XVIth. been enabled, not only to shake off the odium which had been incurred by the violent meafures of his grandfather, but to convert it into a fource of popularity for himself; while at the fame time, without deftroying the name of parliaments, he has rendered them, to all appearance, much more fubfervient than before. He has at leaft drawn a fixed line, which their authority is not to tranfgrefs, whereas before it was indefinite. It remains to be feen, whether the parliament gained more by the evident neceflity the court has been under of restoring them to their functions; or loft, by the terms on which that restoration has been obtained. The chatelet, and fome other boards or tribunals appertaining to the parliament, were afterwards reftored. Notwithstanding the fufferings they had undergone, and the ftrict terms to which they were now bound, the recalled members did not forget the fpirit of the VOL. XVII. ancient parliament. Some bickerings foon took place between them and the king, upon the subject of remonftrating and regiftering, to which the doubtful or different interpretation, which fome paffages in the late ordinance were capable of, afforded a foundation. These matters were foon fettled by the king's authority and his anfwer to one of these remonftrances, "That he must be obeyed," was conclufive. The archbishop of Paris having again begun to renew the troubles which he had excited in the late reign, by the refufal of the facraments, the king fent for him to Verfailles, and is faid to have spoken to him in the following terms-"The king my grandfather "exiled you feveral times for the "troubles you occafioned in the "ftate; I fent for you to tell you, "that if you relapfe, I fhall not "exile you, but give you over to "the rigour of the law." The unfortunate island of Corfica has, during the prefent year, afforded a dreadful scene of blood and cruelty. The unhappy natives of that devoted ifland have experienced every degree of punishment which the most determined tyranny is capable of inflicting. Racks, gallies, tranfportation from their country, and all thofe connexions that are dear to mankind, with perpetual flavery in the French Weft-India iflands. These cruelties, founded on opprettion and injuftice, have much difgraced the character of the French, as a civilized and humane nation. For, though the barbarous fierceness of the Corficans fhould be brought in juftification, and fhewn to be reftrained by none of those conven[C] tions tions which cuftom has established among mankind, the caufe of its exertion, the defence of their natural rights and liberties, will, in a great meafure, exculpate them with respect to its irregularity, while the original flagrant and uncoloured injuftice and ufurpation on the other fide, takes away every claim of the right to retaliation. It has been given out, that a plot was formed by the natives to cut off all the French in the island on Afcenfion day; but that this horrid defign was fortunately difcovered by a young woman to a Frenchman who was her gallant. As no detail of this plot has been given, which might naturally have been expected as a palliation of the fucceeding cruelties, this circumftance, together with the apparent improbability of its difcovery, and the marks it carries, of being founded on the hiftorical fact of the Sicilian vefpers, all join to render its authenticity very doubt ful. It however appears, that the averfion of the natives to the French is fo invincible, that no benefits can difguife, nor fear reftrain its effects; and the conduct of the latter fhews, that they confider extermination as the only remedy for this mortal antipathy. It would be ufelefs, as well as befide our purpose, if we were even furnished with the means, to enter into any particular detail of the various efforts which have been exerted in the courfe of the year, by thofe intrepid defenders of their country, and affertors of their liberties, whom the lawless ufurpers of their rights ftigmatize under the odious appellation of banditti. It would offer too great a wound to humani ty to repeat the cruelties that have been exercised. It will be fufficient to obferve, that a small, but sharp and bloody war, fuch as fuited the weakness of the people, and the nature of the country, has been carried on in all the faftneffes and mountainous parts of the island. That the defection was fo general, that it appears a great part, if not the whole of the Corfican regiment, which had been raised on purpose by France, as a provifion and employment for reftlefs and daring fpirits, and to engage the nobility in its interefts, joined the malcontents. That the lofles of the French were fo confiderable, that they were neceffarily reinforced by feveral regiments, and that their communications between the different parts of the ifland were frequently cut off. And that the war at length finally degenerated, through the weakness and deftruction of the natives, (after many acts of the most defperate valour, which required only a fplendid fcene of action, and learned people, to be handed down to the admiration of future ages,) into the nature and refemblance of a general hunting, in which a large portion of country is furrounded by a great body of armed men, who narrow the circle by degrees, until every thing within it becomes an inevitable prey. We wish for the honour of human nature, that the account publifhed of the conduct of the French in the Pieve of Niolo, might have been a mifreprefentation. The information, however, feems fo accurate, and the circumftances are fo particularly fpecified, befides the declaration of the unknown author, that that if any of the facts were controverted, he would establish them by authentic documents, that its being fuffered to pafs without queftion or contradiction, affords too much reafon to believe it authentic. It appears that the inhabitants of the Pieve of Niolo, from their courage, averfion to flavery, and the natural ftrength of their country, had continued fingle and unconquered, in the general fubjugation of Corfica. That their central fituation, from which the approaches were tedious and difficult, operating with the caufes we have affigned, had rendered all the efforts of the French for their conqueft, fince that period, equally fruitless. And that threats of the fevereft punishments, even of a general deftruction, having been repeatedly applied in vain, to intimidate thefe heroic affertors of the liberties of their country, the influence of religion was at length proftituted, to bring them to a fubmiffion. luntarily fubmitted to the French government. A body of troops were accordingly admitted peaceably into the diftrict, who had no fooner taken poffeffion of their natural defences, than they treacherously feized forty-two of the principal inhabitants, and who had formerly been the most active and brave in the defence of their country. Amongst thofe, who were thus bafely circumvented, were one of the two chief magiftrates and judges of the diftrict, and two nephews of the very meffenger of peace, the wretched prieft, Aquaviva. Of these unhappy victims, eleven, whofe names are fpecified, including the judge and the prieft's nephews, expired upon the rack, amidst the weeping eyes and bleeding hearts of their deluded friends, who in vain obtefted heaven and earth to avenge this perfidy. The furvivors of this devoted number, were fent to augment the For this purpofe, Aquaviva, groans and increase the afflictions one of their priests, a powerful of their countrymen, who already and popular preacher, was first filled the dungeons of Baftia. Nor deceived himself, and then render- was the fate of the remaining ined an inftrument to the deception habitants of Niclo much happier. and ruin of his friends and country. A bitter fenfe of the loffes they had men. This man was perfuaded formerly fuftained in various conto hold out the olive branch to the flicts with this miferable people, people; and his perfuafive elo- unfortunately prevailed with the quence, upon a subject to which French, over every fenfe of humareligion fo happily applied, and nity and juftice. The whole diffor which cale and fecurity were trict was ruined and destroyed, the prompt advocates with his auditors, houfes burnt, and the cattle carried was foon productive of the defigned off in triumph by the foldiers as effect, and the Pieve of Niolo, up- a prey. One Capracinta was reon the most clear and folemn affumarkable for defending his house rances, not only of a full and unli- fingly againft his numerous affailmited pardon for their paft refift- ants, and after killing feveral of ance, but of kindness and friend- them, perifhed unfubdued amidst thip for their prefent conduct, vo- the flames. [C] 2 A ceffion A ceffion of the island of Corfica to the King of Sardinia, or fome exchange to the fame purpose, have been much fpoken of during the course of the year. That ifland has certainly been hitherto a bitter morfel to France; and fuch a meafure were much to be wished for the fake of humanity. The proceedings we have related do not, however, feem to indicate any fuch intention. Many who confider the fate of Corfica, Dantzick, and Poland, will obferve with regret, that the spirit and love of liberty, which had for fome ages honourably dif tinguifhed a very few nations in Europe, no longer furvive, or must at leaft conclude, that they have loft much of their pristine vigour, as it is evident that thefe events would not have been fuffered to have taken place at an earlier period. CHA P. IV. Declaration of war between Spain and Morocco. Moors befiege Melilla, and Penon de Velez, without fuccefs. Spanish manufactories. Inquifition deprived of its dangerous powers. Italy. Troubles in Sicily happily composed. Difference between the King of Sardinia, and the Republic of Venice. Death of the Pope. Emperor of Morocco declares war against the Dutch. A Singular war, without an avowal of ill will, or a pretence of injury, has taken place between Spain and the Emperor of Morocco. In the place of those ufual foundations or colours for a war, the Moorish prince, in a letter which he wrote to Sept. 19th. the King of Spain has 1774. fubitituted a compliance with the laws of the Alcoran. If he found himself fufficiently ftrong, these laws were fufficiently reconcileable to found policy. He fhews, that his fubjects and the Algerines have determined, that no Chriftians fhall poffefs fettlements on their coatis; that they have called upon him, as endowed by God with great power and force, to fulfil that injunction, which requires that the latter thould not be fuffered to hold territorial poffefGions in Mahometan countries; and that he was bound to a compli ance with this requeft. He profeffes a continuance on his fide of peace, and of friendship, and takes pains to thew, that his attacking the fettlements in Africa is no contravention of either; thus endeavouring to establish a diftinction, between a war against the Spanith forts, and a war with the king and nation in general. As a religious obferver of the late treaties of peace, he declares, that he will punctually fulfil their terms; and that the Spaniards fhall continue to enjoy a free liberty of trade, intercourfe in his ports, and protection and fecurity in his dominions, unless they force him to a contrary conduct by entering into a war; but even in that cafe, he will grant them four months for the removal of their perfons and effects. Other papers which were publifhed about the fame time by his order, order, and figned by his Jewith fecretary, carried the diftinction between a partial and general war to a fill greater length, and ferioufly recommended to the Spaniards, inftead of attempting the defence of their African pofleflions, to follow the example now fet by his matter, and to exert their utmott force in driving the English out of Gibraltar. All these papers teemed with an affectation of moderation, juftice, and humanity. The emperor's letter, together with the commencement of hottilities against the garrifon of Ceuta, which were announced by the officer who delivered it, and immediately fucceeded his return Oct. 23d. to the Moorith camp, were anfwered by the court of Madrid with a declaration of war. This breach of peace did not, however, prevent the Spanish monarch from difplaying an inftance of lenity and humanity, which was equally becoming the character of a chriftian prince, and confiftent with the principles of policy. Some fmall time previous to thefe tranfactions, a number of Spanish captives had been obtained . from the regency of Algiers by the Emperor of Morocco, who lent them under the care of an Alcaide to Carthagena; in return for this act of generofity and mercy, the king ordered that the Alcaide fhould not only be prefented with the fubjects of Morocco who had been taken aboard Algerine veffels, but also with the old and wounded Algerines, who groaned out their wretched lives in captivity. however happened, that thefe un fortunate people had not yet departed for their respective countries; but the king commiferating It their fituation, and properly confidering the hardship, that an event in which they were no ways concerned thould be the means of perpetuating their mifery, ordered that the former intention in their favour should be ftill fulfilled. Whatever other views might have predominated in the cabinet, it is evident from the moderate terms in which the declaration is couched, that this war was by no means withed for by the Spanish court. And notwithstanding the continual armaments which have been carried on in the ports of that kingdom, their garrifons upon the coafts of Africa feem to have been much neglected; nor were they upon this occafion fupplied with the alacrity which might have been expected. Indeed, it has long been a matter of furprize, that Spain, which has upon certain occafions entered wantonly into very dangerous and expenfive wars, fhould fo long have fuffered her trade to be harraffed, and her coafts infulted, by the piratical states of Barbary, On the other hand it is evident, that the Emperor of Morocco has totally mistaken the nature and extent of his force; and that his loofe, il difciplined troops, whatever effects they might produce in a defultory field war, are totally incapable of carrying on fieges. His artillery, and knowledge in its application and ufe, are equally defective. Upon the whole, it may not be too much to fay, that whatever might be the fate of leffer places, either of the fortresses of Oran or Ceuta, is in itfelf capable, if properly garritoned and provided, to baile the united force and kill of all Africa. [C] 3. The |