the village of Valle, with a considera ble degree of obstinacy; after which, he retired with about six thousand men to the top of a mountain, surmounted with a Turkish mosque, originally built by the Saracens, and since converted into a Christian church, dedicated to St. Peter. As this commanded the four adjacent valleys, and was considered as the last and chief defence of the island, every thing depended on keeping possession of it. But the Corsicans were equally overpowered by numbers and by skill; and fifteen hundred of them having been nearly cut off, in an attempt against the French army at Ponte Nuovo, the final subjugation of the natives was now unhappily accomplished. Dumourier, who served on this occasion, with the rank of adjutant general, is liberal enough, in the Memoirs of his own Life, to pay the highest compliments both to the Corsicans and their chief. In respect to the former, he observes as follows: "It is astonishing, that this handful of islanders, destitute of artillery, fortifications, magazines, and money, should have kept France at bay during two campaigns, although she had no other enemies to cope with. But liberty doubles the valour and strength of man." "Paoli," says he, in another place, "has rendered his name illustrious, in consequence of the vigour with which he supported the cause of publick liberty among the Corsicans; but in truth, it was a little at the expense of their individual freedom. In the course of this war, he displayed great genius, and a noble consistency. Had he been endowed with military talents; had he known how to have instructed his countrymen in that species of hostility best suited to the natural bent of their genius, he would have destroyed our little army in 1768, and done us much more harm than we experienced in 1769." This celebrated chief had the good fortune to escape during the general VOL. II. confusion, with the loss of his library and his baggage. Having with some difficulty assembled a few of his faithful followers, among whom was his own brother he repaired to the seaside, and being accompanied by these on board an armed vessel, bearing the English flag, which had been provided for his reception, he was landed in Italy. After remaining a short time at Leghorn, he repaired to England, where he had many friends and admirers. Indeed, it was but a few days before his final retreat, that he had received a liberal subscription, from a number of private individuals, for the express purpose of enabling him to continue the war against France.* Immediately on his arrival, the patriots, at the eastern extremity of the metropolis transmitted a formal invitation to the general, to repair to the city, where an entertainment had been provided for him. Alderman Beckford, Mrs. Macaulay, alderman Fecothick, and a number of his friends and admirers were all present on this occasion, and expected his appearance with impatience: but the general, having received an intimation from the patriots of the west end of the town, that his presence would give offence to the court, he felt himself suddenly indisposed, and sent his secretary with an excuse. Meanwhile Paoli was presented to his majesty, at St. James's, and most graciously received. He was at the same time gratified with a pensiont for himself, while a liberal provision was made for his brother, signor Clemente Paoli, and also for his nephew, signor Barbaggio, the latter of whom had accompanied him to England, while the former resided in Italy. From this time forward, the exgeneral remained chiefly in London, leading the quiet life of a private gen The aldermen Beckford and Fecothick, together with Samuel Vaughan, esq. were the trustees. †Twelve hundred pounds per annum. R tleman, keeping a hospitable table, a carriage, and every thing appertaining to a man of fortune. Having been waited upon, soon after his arrival, by Mr. Boswell, the latter presented Dr. Johnson to him, on the 10th day of October, 1769. "They met with a manly ease," says Mr. B. "mutually conscious of their own abilities, and of the abilities of each other. The general spoke Italian, and Dr. Johnson English, and understood one another very well, with a little aid of interpretation from me, in which I compared myself to an isthmus, that joins two great conti nents." During the space of twenty-three years, Paoli enjoyed an honourable and secure asylum in Great Britain, where he, of course, expected to end his days. But the extraordinary events of the French revolution at length induced him to embark anew in the storms of civil strife. No sooner had the constituting assembly proclaimed liberty to the nation, than the fate of Corsica appeared to be meliorated, and a people so long oppressed, received a glimpse of freedom. On perceiving that his native country had become one of the departments of France, her ancient chief transmitted a letter to his fellow citizens, in which he expressed his congratulations on this event, but lamented, at the same time, that he could not rejoin them consistently with his gratitude and attachment to the British nation. Notwithstanding this, he took leave of his friends here, and repaired to Paris in 1792; having been well received by the party then in power, he pronounced a speech at the bar of the assembly, in which he observed, "that after a painful exile of more than twenty years, he now rejoiced to behold his country restored to the possession of her rights and privileges, by the generosity of the French * Life of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D. vol. й. p. 76. nation." He, at the same time, ex. pressed his readiness "to contribute, s as much as it was in his power, to the happiness of his fellow citizens." These sentiments being highly popular at that period, experienced general applause; and Paoli having taken the oath of fidelity in the face of the nation, was thus enabled to reinstate himself in all his former power and authority. Soon after this, he embarked for Corsica, where he was received with an extraordinary degree of attachment and respect. In consequence of this, he was elected mayor of Bastia, commander in chief of the national guard, and president of the department. In fine, he soon acquired more authority in the island than before its subjugation by the French. Notwithstanding this, he appears to have been still ambitious of its entire independence, and an epoch soon arrived, when he imagined that so desirable 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 enemies of the new republick with new hopes. The convention having been informed of his secret practices, immediately issued orders to Paoli, to repair to their bar, and defend himself against the accusations of his enemies: but he pleaded his age and infirmities, with a view of gaining time, and assured that assembly he would never be found defective in respect to his duty. To a second decree, more peremptory than the first, he replied in a different manner, and with more frankness: after which he repaired to Corte, the ancient capital, situate in the centre of the island, where, surrounded by his friends and adherents, he laughed at the proclamation which had been issued, declaring him a traitor, and setting a price on his head. On this occasion, however, a number of the most powerful families in Corsica declared against him; and Saliceti, Arena, Gentili, Casa Bianca, together with many of those who had sworn fidelity to the new constitution, and like himself subscribed the civick oath, publickly declared, that they could not assist in subverting those regulations, in favour of which they had taken so solemn a vow, in the face of Heaven and of mankind. On the other hand, the whole body of the clergy, disgusted at the late reforms, which had deprived them of a large portion of their revenues, sided with their ancient chief; and to these adhered all such as were eminently devoted to the church of Rome, a numerous and powerful class of men, who assumed to them selves the appellation of the sacred band. But as Paoli knew from long experience, that it was impossible to resist the power of France, alone and unsupported, he determined to call in the assistance of England, which at this period occupied Toulon, and waged war, with a degree of vigour and of bitterness, hitherto unexampled in the annals of that kingdom. He accordingly invited the British admiral, who had been recently foiled in an expedition against his native country, to invade it anew, with a fleet, accompanied by a body of troops, to whom he was prepared to give every possible succour, having been once more elected generalissimo, in a grand council of the nation. That officer, having first despatched colonel, now general sir John Moore.† together with the late major Koehler, to examine into the prospects and resources of the insurgents, an expedition sailed from the bay of Hieras, January 24, 1795, for the express purpose of driving the French out of the island. A body of troops having been landed under lieutenant general Dundas, the tower of Mortella was taken with some difficulty; after which, Fornelli was attacked with success, and St. Fiorenzo having been evacuated, Bastia and Calvi, also, yielded to the victors. Immediately after this, a general consulta was assembled at Corte; and Paoli having been elected president, the representatives of the nation unanimously voted the union of Corsica with the British crown. This propo sition having been readily accepted, on the part of sir Gilbert Elliot (now lord Minto) then his majesty's commissioner, he was immediately invested with the dignity of viceroy, A new constitution was soon after formed, which, if not exactly suitable to the genius of the nation, must be allowed to have been exceedingly favourable to liberty; for these subjects now received as a boon, many of those very privileges which the inhabitants of England had long demanded in vain as a right, particularly short parliaments, and an equal representation of the people. It might have been supposed, that the triumph of Paoli was complete, and his happiness placed on such a permanent basis, as never to be either ruffled or disturbed during the remainder of his life. But the fact, which proved directly the reverse, tends not a little to demonstrate the mutability of human happiness. A jealousy, how justly founded we are unable to determine, soon after took place between the British viceroy, and the Corsican chief, the result of which was undoubtedly connected with the future fate of the island. Paoli, however, on this occasion, cheerfully yielded to the force of circumstances, and was generous enough before his departure, to address à valedictory letter to his countrymen, in which he exhorted them to cultivate the friendship of the English, and remain firm in their allegiance to his majesty George III. These loyal effusions, however, during his absence, were attended with but little effect; for the natives, naturally inconstant, soon became disgusted with their new allies and protectors. Dazzled, also, at the same + Lately killed at the battle of Corunna. time, perhaps, with the splendour • Lord Hood. of the victories of their countryman Buonaparte, in Italy, and determined, above all things, on a reunion with France, it was at length deemed necessary, on the part of the English troops, to evacuate an island which has always proved destructive to every nation connected with it, either by friendship or by enmity. Meanwhile, a sad reverse of fortune attended on Paoli; for, by the failure of a commercial house at Leghorn, he lost the sum of five thousand pounds, which was all that he possessed in the world. In addition to this the payments of his pension had been suspended; and on his arrival in England, he was not received at court with so much attention, as heretofore. About this period, he was visited by the author of this article, who found him in an obscure lodging, above a shop in Oxford road, whence he at length removed into a small house in Edgeware road, on the right hand side, a little beyond the turnpike. The remainder of his life is one entire blank, totally devoid of incidents, until his de th, which had been preceeded by a lingering illness, on Thursday, February 5, 1807, in the 8 st year of his age. Few foreigners, however distinguished, have een so much caressed in England, as the late general Pasquale Paoli. By living in habits of familiarity with men of letters, his name and exploits acquired fresh celebri ty; and Boswell, Goldsmith, Johnson, Macaulay, Barbauld, and lord Littleton, although differing in almost every thing else, most cordially united in his praise Abroad, too, his reputation was greatly respected; and the eulogiums of such a man as Rousseau, then in the zenith of his reputation, was alone sufficient to ensure reputation throughout the rest of Europe. While his laurels were still green, it was usual to compare Paoli to Timoleon and Epaminondas: and it was appositely remarked by an English minister, that the same thing might have been said of him, as had been formerly uttered by the cardinal de Retz, in respect to the famous Montrose, "that he was one of those men who are no longer to be found any where, but in the lives of Plutarch." That the Corsican chief was a great man, cannot well be denied; but it is the opinion of those, who have enjoyed an opportunity of studying his character, that he was a politician rather than a soldier; that he shone in council more than in arms; and that the leading feature of his publick conduct, was a certain degree of Italian policy, which taught him to refine and speculate on every event. Ac Among his countrymen he was adored; and to support his superiority, he made use of those arts which have usually passed under the name of pious frauds. These, perhaps, appeared indispensably necessary for the government of barbarians! cordingly, like Numa, he pretended to a direct communication with the Deity, and also affected, on all occasions, after the manner of the heroes of old, to be surrounded by dogs of a particular breed, which were indeed necessary to preserve him from assassination. It is not a little remarkable, that Corsica, an island which seems to have been equally despised, both by the ancients and moderns, should have produced two men, one of whom engaged the attention of all Europe, towards the middle of the last centu ry, while another seems, unhappily for the repose of mankind, destined to regulate its fate, at the beginning of the present. * That this amiable chief should have persuaded an uncivilized nation, that he received intimations of future events from above, is but little surprising; but that he should have also persuaded one of the inhabitants of an enlightened country, is absolutely unaccountable. Let it be recollected, however, that some of the countrymen of Mr. Boswell, at that very period, actually believed in second sight. A brief Account of the Earliest Discovery of Diamonds in Brasil, together with some Particulars Relative to the Quality, &c. of those Precious Stones, the Laws respecting them, &c. &c. they were not the produce of the places wherein they were found, but were brought thither by the current of the river. Nevertheless, their source has not hitherto been discovered. Sanguine hopes are, however, entertain The weight of the Brasil diamonds is, ordinarily, from a grain to six carats. There are some, however, of greater size, and one has been found which weighs no less than forty-six carats. THERE was a time when diamonds were found only in the East Indies, principally in the lower part of Hindoostan; and during the period when the Portuguese were powerful in the east, the whole of the European commerce in diamonds was cared on this subject; as in mining seve ried on through Lisbon. These pre- ral mountains adjacent to the town, cious stones were brought from Goa, innumerable particles of a hard and which is adjacent to Golconda, where beautiful species of crystal have latethe famous diamond mines of the ly been met with. east are situated. The Dutch, having obtained the ascendency in India, deprived the Portuguese of a source of wealth which chance, however, soon restored to them. In 1729, the colonists of Brasil discovered those diamond mines, which at present supply the chief demand of Europe. Near the town of Serro do Frio, says Don Sarmento, in the government of the gold mines, there is a place called by the natives Cay-TheMeria, where, as well as in the little river named do Milho Verde, they have found gold for several years back. The miners who dig the gold in these parts, sift the earth, and the sand on the river's bank, for the purpose of separating the ore. In performing this operation, it frequently happened, that they found several stones, of which, at first, they made no account; and it was not till 1728, that a miner bethought himself of working or grinding the stones, the result of which was, that he found them to be diamonds. He thenceforward took care not to let one of them escape his attention, and the other miners, following his example, eagerly sought after these valuable gems. After having carefully searched the earth, they had recourse to the river, where they not only found the diamonds in greater abundance, but procured them with the utmost facility. Experience and a little reflection led them to imagine, that the diamonds came from a distance; that According to the author above named, in hue, solidity, and every other property, the Brasil diamonds are equal to those of the east; but there are few jewellers who hold this opi nion. It is observable, he adds, that the diamonds found nearest to the surface of the earth, being consequently exposed to the action of the air and the sun, are more strongly incrusted than the others, and, of course, lose more in the polishing. It is not absolutely certain, says Sarmento, that the diamonds of Brasil are brought down by the torrents; and such too, is the decided opinion of the author of "L'Histoire des deux Indes." From the moment that the Portuguese discovered diamonds in Brasil, they pursued their researches, and with such success, that one fleet from Rio Janiero brought home 1146 ounces. This abundant supply lowered the price of the article by three fourths; but the Portuguese minister adopted measures which quickly restored it to its original standard. A company, with an exclusive privilege to seek for, and to vend, the diamonds of Brasil, was instituted. And in order to limit its cupidity, it was allowed to employ no more than |