the life of horatio lord nelson-第12节
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rtified towns； and must in a short time have been expelled。 France was indebted some millions of livres to Genoa： it was not convenient to pay this money； so the French minister proposed to the Genoese； that she should discharge the debt by sending six battalions to serve in Corsica for four years。 The indignation which this conduct excited in all generous hearts was forcibly expressed by Rousseau； who； with all his errors； was seldom deficient in feeling for the wrongs of humanity。 〃You Frenchmen〃 said he； writing to one of that people； 〃are a thoroughly servile nation； thoroughly sold to tyranny； thoroughly cruel and relentless in persecuting the unhappy。 If you knew of a freeman at the other end of the world； I believe you would go thither for the mere pleasure of extirpating him。〃
The immediate object of the French happened to be purely mercenary： they wanted to clear off their debt to Genoa； and as the presence of their troops in the island effected this； they aimed at doing the people no farther mischief。 Would that the conduct of England had been at this time free from reproach！ but a proclamation was issued by the English government； after the peace of Paris； prohibiting any intercourse with the rebels of Corsica。 Paoli said； he did not expect this from Great Britain。 This great man was deservedly proud of his country。 〃I defy Rome； Sparta； or Thebes；〃 he would say； 〃to show me thirty years of such patriotism as Corsica can boast！〃 Availing himself of the respite which the inactivity of the French and the weakness of the Genoese allowed； he prosecuted his plans of civilising the people。 He used to say； that though he had an unspeakable pride in the prospect of the fame to which he aspired； yet if he could but render his countrymen happy； he could be content to be forgotten。 His own importance he never affected to undervalue。 〃We are now to our country；〃 said he； 〃like the prophet Elisha stretched over the dead child of the Shunamite；eye to eye； nose to nose； mouth to mouth。 It begins to recover warmth； and to revive： I hope it will yet regain full health and vigour。〃
But when the four years were expired； France purchased the sovereignty of Corsica from the Genoese for forty millions of livres； as if the Genoese had been entitled to sell it； as if any bargain and sale could justify one country in taking possession of another against the will of the inhabitants； and butchering all who oppose the usurpation！ Among the enormities which France has committed； this action seems but as a speck； yet the foulest murderer that ever suffered by the hand of the executioner has infinitely less guilt upon his soul than the statesman who concluded this treaty； and the monarch who sanctioned and confirmed it。 A desperate and glorious resistance was made； but it was in vain； no power interposed in behalf of these injured islanders； and the French poured in as many troops as were required。 They offered to confirm Paoli in the supreme authority； only on condition that he would hold it under their government。 His answer was； that 〃the rocks which surrounded him should melt away before he would betray a cause which he held in common with the poorest Corsican。〃 This people then set a price upon his head。 During two campaigns he kept them at bay： they overpowered him at length； he was driven to the shore； and having escaped on shipboard； took refuge in England。 It is said that Lord Shelburne resigned his seat in the cabinet because the ministry looked on without attempting to prevent France from succeeding in this abominable and important act of aggrandizement。 In one respect； however； our country acted as became her。 Paoli was welcomed with the honours which he deserved； a pension of L1200 was immediately granted him； and provision was liberally made for his elder brother and his nephew。
About twenty years Paoli remained in England； enjoying the friendship of the wise and the admiration of the good。 But when the French Revolution began； it seemed as if the restoration of Corsica was at hand。 The whole country； as if animated by one spirit； rose and demanded liberty； and the National Assembly passed a decree recognising the island as a department of France； and therefore entitled to all the privileges of the new French constitution。 This satisfied the Corsicans； which it ought not to have done； and Paoli； in whom the ardour of youth was passed； seeing that his countrymen were contented； and believing that they were about to enjoy a state of freedom； naturally wished to return to his native country。 He resigned his pension in the year 1790； and appeared at the bar of the Assembly with the Corsican deputies； when they took the oath of fidelity to France。 But the course of events in France soon dispelled those hopes of a new and better order of things； which Paoli； in common with so many of the friends of human…kind； had indulged； and perceiving； after the execution of the king； that a civil war was about to ensue； of which no man could foresee the issue； he prepared to break the connection between Corsica and the French Republic。 The convention suspecting such a design； and perhaps occasioning it by their suspicions； ordered him to their bar。 That way he well knew led to the guillotine； and returning a respectful answer； he declared that he would never be found wanting in his duty； but pleaded age and infirmity as a reason for disobeying the summons。 Their second order was more summary； and the French troops； who were in Corsica； aided by those of the natives； who were either influenced by hereditary party feelings； or who were sincere in Jacobinism； took the field against him。 But the people were with him。 He repaired to Corte； the capital of the island； and was again invested with the authority which he had held in the noonday of his fame。 The convention upon this denounced him as a rebel； and set a price upon his head。 It was not the first time that France had proscribed Paoli。
Paoli now opened a correspondence with Lord Hood； promising； if the English would make an attack upon St。 Fiorenzo from the sea； he would at the same time attack it by land。 This promise he was unable to perform； and Commodore Linzee； who； in reliance upon it； was sent upon this service； was repulsed with some loss。 Lord Hood； who had now been compelled to evacuate Toulon； suspected Paoli of intentionally deceiving him。 This was an injurious suspicion。 Shortly afterwards he dispatched Lieutenant…Colonel （afterward Sir John） Moore and Major Koehler to confer with him upon a plan of operations。 Sir Gilbert Elliot accompanied them； and it was agreed that； in consideration of the succours； both military and naval； which his Britannic Majesty should afford for the purpose of expelling the French； the island of Corsica should be delivered into the immediate possession of his Majesty； and bind itself to acquiesce in any settlement he might approve of concern… ing its government； and its future relation with Great Britain。 While this negotiation was going on； Nelson cruised off the island with a small squadron； to prevent the enemy from throwing in supplies。 Close to St。 Fiorenzo the French had a storehouse of flour near their only mill： he watched an opportunity； and landed 120 men； who threw the flour into the sea； burnt the mill； and re…embarked before 1000 men； who were sent against him； could occasion them the loss of a single man。 While be exerted himself thus； keeping out all supplies； intercepting despatches； attacking their outposts and forts； and cutting out vessels from the bay；a species of warfare which depresses the spirit of an enemy even more than it injures them； because of the sense of individual superiority which it indicates in the assailantstroops were landed； and St。 Fiorenzo was besieged。 The French finding themselves unable to maintain their post sunk one of their frigates； burnt another； and retreated to Bastia。 Lord Hood submitted to General Dundas； who commanded the land forces； a plan for the reduction of this place： the general declined co…operating； thinking the attempt impracticable with… out a reinforcement of 2000 men； which he expected from Gibraltar。 Upon this Lord Hood determined to reduce it with the naval force under his command； and leaving part of his fleet off Toulon； he came with the rest to Bastia。
He showed a proper sense of respect for Nelson's services； and of confidence in his talents； by taking care not to bring with him any older captain。 A few days before their arrival； Nelson had had what he called a brush with the enemy。 〃If I had had with me 500 troops；〃 he said； 〃to a certainty I should have stormed the town； and I believe it might have been carried。 Armies go so slow that seamen think they never mean to get forward； but I daresay they act on a surer principle； although we seldom fail。〃 During this partial action our army appeared upon the heights； and having reconnoitered the place； returned to St。 Fiorenzo。 〃What the general could have seen to make a retreat neces… sary；〃 said Nelson； 〃I cannot comprehend。 A thousand men would certainly take Bastia： with five hundred and the AGAMEMNON I would attempt it。 My seamen are now what British seamen ought to bealmost invincible。 They really mind shot no more than peas。〃 Gener
