An Account of Corsica/Journal

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An Account of Corsica, the journal of a tour to that island, and memoirs of Pascal Paoli. (3rd edition)
James Boswell

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London: E. and C. Dilly, pages 287–400

1524201An Account of Corsica, the journal of a tour to that island, and memoirs of Pascal Paoli. (3rd edition) — JournalJames Boswell

THE

JOURNAL

OF A

TOUR

TO

CORSICA.

HAVING resolved to pass some years abroad, for my instruction and entertainment, I conceived a design of visiting the island of Corsica. I wished for something more than just the common course of what is called the tour of Europe; and Corsica occurred to me as a place which no body else had been, and where I should find what was to be seen no where else, a people actually fighting for liberty, and forming themselves from a poor inconsiderable oppressed nation, into a flourishing and independent state.

When I got into Switzerland, I went to fee M. Rousseau. He was then living in romantick retirement, from whence, perhaps, it had been better for him never to have descended. While he was at a distance, his singular eloquence filled our minds with high ideas of the wild philosopher. When he came into the walks of men, we know alas! how much these ideas suffered.

He entertained me very courteously; for I was recommended to him by my honoured friend the Earl Marischal, with whom I had the happiness of travelling through a part of Germany. I had heard that M. Rousseau had some correspondence with the Corsicans, and had been desired to assist them in forming their laws. I told him my scheme of going to visit them, after I had compleated my tour of Italy; and I insisted that he should give me a letter of introduction. He immediately agreed to do so, whenever I should acquaint him of my time of going thither; for he saw that my enthusiasm for the brave islanders was as warm as his own.

I accordingly wrote to him from Rome, in April 1765, that I had fixed the month of September for my Corsican expedition, and therefore begged of him to send me the letter of introduction, which if he refused, I should certainly go without it, and probably be hanged as a spy. So let him answer for the consequences.

The wild philosopher was a man of his word; and on my arrival at Florence in August, I received the following letter:

A MONSIEUR, MONSIEUR BOSWELL, &c.

A Motiers, le 30 May, 1765.

’LA crife orageufe 011 je me trouve, Monfieur, depuis votre depart d' ici, m'a ote le tems de repondre a votre premiere lettre, et me laifTe a peine celui de repondre en peu de mots a la feconde. Pour m'en tcnir a ce qui prefTe pour le moment, favoir la recommendation que vous defirez en Corfe -, puifque vous avez le defir de vifiter ces braves infulaires, vous pourrez vous informer a Baftia, de M. Buttafoco capitaine au Regiment Royal Italien j il a fa maifon a Vefcovado, ou il fe tient afifez fouvent. C'eft un tres-galant homme, qui a des connoiffances et de I'efprit •, il fuffira de lui montrer cette lettre, et je fuis fur qu'il vous recevra bien, et contribuera a vous faire voir I'ifle et fes habitants avec fatisfadbion. Si vous ne trouvez pas M. Buttafoco, et que vous vouliez aller tout droit a M. Pafcal de Paoli general de la nation, vous pouvez egalement lui montrer cette lettre, et je fuis fur, connoiffant la nobleife de fon caraftere, que vous ferez tres-content de fon accueil: vous pourrez lui dire meme que vous etes aime de Mylord Marefchal d'Ecofie, et que Mylord Marefchal eft un des plus zeles partizans de la nation Corfe. Au refte vous n'avez befoin d'autre recommendation pres de ces MelTieurs que votre propre merite, la nation Corfe etant naturellement ft accueillante ct fi hofpitaliere, que tous les etrangers y font bien venus et carefTes.

*******

Bons et heureux voyages, fante, gaiete et promt retour. Je vous embrafle, Monfieur, de tout mon coeur

J. J. Rousseau.

To Mr. BOSWELL, &c.

Motiers, the 30 May, 1765.

↑ This man's plausibility imposed upon M. Rousleau and me. But he has shewn himself to be mean and treacherous; having

[1] This man's plausibility imposed upon M. Rousleau and me. But he has shewn himself to be mean and treacherous; having

[1]