On The Other Hand,
Baron De Leutrum, Who Was At The Head Of A Large Body Of
Piedmontese Troops, Had It In His Power To Block Up The Passes Of
The Mountains, And Even To Destroy This Road In Such A Manner,
That The Enemy Could Not Possibly Advance.
Why these precautions
were not taken, I do not pretend to explain:
Neither can I tell
you wherefore the prince of Monaco, who is a subject and partizan
of France, was indulged with a neutrality for his town, which
served as a refreshing-place, a safe port, and an intermediate
post for the French succours sent from Marseilles to Genoa. This
I will only venture to affirm, that the success and advantage of
great alliances are often sacrificed to low, partial, selfish,
and sordid considerations. The town of Monaco is commanded by
every heighth in its neighbourhood; and might be laid in ashes by
a bomb-ketch in four hours by sea.
I was fortunate enough to be recommended to a lady in Genoa, who
treated us with great politeness and hospitality. She introduced
me to an abbate, a man of letters, whose conversation was
extremely agreeable. He already knew me by reputation, and
offered to make me known to some of the first persons in the
republic, with whom he lived in intimacy. The lady is one of the
most intelligent and best-bred persons I have known in any
country. We assisted at her conversazione, which was numerous.
She pressed us to pass the winter at Genoa; and indeed I was
almost persuaded:
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