The Present Town Of Villa Franca Was Built And Settled In The
Thirteenth Century, By Order Of Charles II.
King of the Sicilies,
and count of Provence, in order to defend the harbour from the
descents of the Saracens, who at that time infested the coast.
The inhabitants were removed hither from another town, situated
on the top of a mountain in the neighbourhood, which those
pirates had destroyed. Some ruins of the old town are still
extant. In order to secure the harbour still more effectually,
Emanuel Philibert, duke of Savoy, built the fort in the beginning
of the last century, together with the mole where the gallies are
moored. As I said before, Ville Franche is built on the face of a
barren rock, washed by the sea; and there is not an acre of plain
ground within a mile of it. In summer, the reflexion of the sun
from the rocks must make it intolerably hot; for even at this
time of the year, I walked myself into a profuse sweat, by going
about a quarter of a mile to see the gallies.
Pray remember me to our friends at A - 's, and believe me to be
ever yours.
LETTER XV
NICE, January 3, 1764.
MADAM, - In your favour which I received by Mr. M - l, you remind me
of my promise, to communicate the remarks I have still to make on
the French nation; and at the same time you signify your opinion,
that I am too severe in my former observations. You even hint a
suspicion, that this severity is owing to some personal cause of
resentment; but, I protest, I have no particular cause of
animosity against any individual of that country. I have neither
obligation to, nor quarrel with, any subject of France; and when
I meet with a Frenchman worthy of my esteem, I can receive him
into my friendship with as much cordiality, as I could feel for
any fellow-citizen of the same merit. I even respect the nation,
for the number of great men it has produced in all arts and
sciences. I respect the French officers, in particular, for their
gallantry and valour; and especially for that generous humanity
which they exercise towards their enemies, even amidst the
horrors of war. This liberal spirit is the only circumstance of
antient chivalry, which I think was worth preserving. It had
formerly flourished in England, but was almost extinguished in a
succession of civil wars, which are always productive of cruelty
and rancour. It was Henry IV. of France, (a real knight errant)
who revived it in Europe. He possessed that greatness of mind,
which can forgive injuries of the deepest dye: and as he had
also the faculty of distinguishing characters, he found his
account, in favouring with his friendship and confidence, some of
those who had opposed him in the field with the most inveterate
perseverance. I know not whether he did more service to mankind
in general, by reviving the practice of treating his prisoners
with generosity, than he prejudiced his own country by
patronizing the absurd and pernicious custom of duelling, and
establishing a punto, founded in diametrical opposition to common
sense and humanity.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 129 of 276
Words from 66488 to 67025
of 143308
