Page:An Account of Corsica (1769).djvu/114

 The Genoese were the worst nation to whom Corsica could have fallen. The Corsicans were a people, impetuous, violent and brave; who had weathered many a storm; and who could not have been governed, but by a state of which they stood somewhat in awe, and which, by humanity and proper encouragement, might have conciliated their affections. Whereas, the Genoese were a nation of republicans just in the neighbourhood of the islanders; who had long been their enemies; who had made so many cunning, and impotent attempts to seize upon the island, that although, by the unexpected course of events, they were now mailers of it, the Corsicans could not look upon them with any respect. And as it has been always remarked that the foreign subjects of a little republick, are much worse used, than those of a great kingdom; they had reason to expect nothing but avowed tyranny from Genoa.

Accordingly the Genoese, who were themselves in an unstable, and perilous condition, seeking the protection sometimes of one powerful state, and sometimes of another, did not treat the Corsicans with that gentleness and confidence, which alone could have secured their attachment and obedience, by insensibly leading