left on the mind of Rochfort was that France, alarmed at the unexpected display of vigour on the part of England, and being herself utterly unprepared, would yield. "Peace is certainly their present object," he wrote to Shelburne. "The very alarm the whole French nation is in at this moment is a strong voucher how much they dread a war, and it may be added that the Due de Choiseul is personally interested to prevent it."[1] "I do not believe," he went on to say, "that in any other situation than that they are in at present, they would have taken so soft a tone, and your Lordship sees how apprehensive they are of what the King keeps to himself in reserve, when the contents of the Treaty shall be known."[2]
On the 18th of June Shelburne received a copy of the definitive Treaty, which he at once submitted to the Cabinet.[3]
It was their unanimous opinion that it served only to confirm the idea that an absolute cession of the Island of Corsica to the French was intended. "I had a long conversation after the Cabinet," Shelburne wrote to Rochfort, "with the Count du Châtelet, with a view to discover if possible the motives of such a step. But hitherto his instructions do not appear to go beyond the arguments which have been already used to your Excellency, such as the right both France and Genoa have to conclude a Treaty between themselves as independent States, without
- ↑ Rochfort to Shelburne, June 2nd, 1768.
- ↑ Rochfort to Shelburne, June 6th, 1768.
- ↑ The material clauses of the Treaty were the following (Martens, tome i. 591).
"Article I. Le Roi de France fera occuper par ses troupes les places de Bastia, St. Florent, d'Algazala, Calvi, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, ainsi que les autres Places, Forts, Tours, ou Ports, situés dans l'Isle de Corse, et qui sont nécessaires à la sûreté des Troupes de Sa Majesté, et au but que se proposent le Roi et la Sérénissime République de Gênes, d'ôter tout moyen aux Corses de nuire aux sujets et aux possessions de la République.
"Article II. Les Places et Forts occupés par les Troupes du Roi seront possédés par S. M., qui y exercera tous les droits de la Souveraineté, et lesdits Places et Forts, ainsi que lesdits droits, lui serveront de nantissement vis-à-vis de la République de la dépense que le Roi sera obligé de faire, soit pour occuper, soil pour conserver lesdits Places et Forts.
"Article X. Toutes les concessions particulières, exemptions, franchises, ou priviléges dont jouissoient en terre ferme quelques peuples ou habitans de l'Isle seront abolis, et S. M. prendra en considération les dédommagements qu'elle pourra accorder spécialement aux habitans de St. Bonifacio, de Calvi et de Florent.
"Article II. (séparé). Si par la suite l'intérieur de l'Isle se soumettoit à la domination du Roi, S. M. s'engage envers la République de Gênes à n'en point disposer sans son consentement en faveur d'un tiers."
