378
WILLIAM, EARL OF SHELBURNE
CH. X
guards in the Court. He received us with great kindness and affability. If the short time I stayed with him will entitle me to pronounce upon character, I should not scruple to say, he is indeed a very great man. His conversation was elegant, sensible, and discovered vast knowledge of men and things. But I shall confine myself to give my Lord Shelburne the substance of what passed between us relative to the affairs of Corsica, hoping his Lordship will excuse the preceding detail of the journey, which I give merely as affording a better idea of the people than I could perhaps convey in another method, not presuming that in any other light it could be interesting.
I had taken the precaution to carry along with me a letter from Mr. Holford,[1] recommending me to the General's civilities, and assuring him that he might open himself to me in full confidence, as far as he judged proper. I begun with telling him that I had left England very lately, that the affairs of Corsica were then much the object of public attention; that the English nation in general were much disposed in his favour; that for my part I visited him from mere curiosity and from an earnest desire to serve him if it lay in my power; that I proposed soon to return to England, and should be able to convey safely and directly to the Ministry whatever he thought proper to impart. He said he was much obliged to the people of England; that he was conscious their own interest, jealousy of France, and even sympathy with a people struggling for their liberties, must operate strongly for him with the bulk of the nation, yet he had small hopes of the producing good effects till he had some indication of the sentiments of the Ministry upon their affairs. I told him that I could not take upon me to say with precision what their sentiments might be, but this I was sure, that they were too enlightened and too attentive to the interests of the nation, to let the affairs of Corsica pass over in indifference, and that I was even convinced they were disposed to interfere as far as the honour and safety of Great Britain would permit. As to the rest, he must know that in Governments like ours, the sentiments of the people must have no small influence upon the Councils of the State. He then seemed to hint, as if he suspected that I had some commission for him which I was only to open according as I found his situation to be. I protested to him in the strongest and most solemn manner that I had no commission of that sort, and repeated to him again, that as a private man he would find me a true and hearty friend ready to serve him; that I could find means to convey his wishes to the English Ministry, and begged he would open himself to me without reserve. He then said, he- ↑ English Consul at Genoa.
