Page:An Account of Corsica (1769).djvu/110

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AN ACCOUNT

disorders, and such a defect of good government, that the Pope thought proper to make it over to the Pisans, who were then in great power.

This grant was upon advantageous terms for the holy father, like the many grants of fiefs which he used to give to various princes, to beheld of the see of Rome. A learned Professour of the university of Pisa, has composed a very curious dissertation concerning the ancient dominion of his countrymen over Corsica. It is to be found in the 7th volume of the Essays of the Academy of Cortona.

The Pisans, while their republick flourished, and their force was considerable, maintained their authority over Corsica to very good purpose; and, as far as we can gather from different authours, the island enjoyed more repose and tranquillity during this period, than it has ever been known to enjoy.

But this calm was of short endurance; for the Genoese, irritated to find themselves now effectually excluded from an island on which they had long set their hearts; and being, over and above, the determined rivals of Pisa, a keen and obstinate war was carried on between these states; at last, the Genoese prevailed, in the famous sea-sight at Malora, near the mouth of the