li: I
CONTINUATION OF NICE, &c.
ALTHOUGH the county of Nice has been annexed to the Houfe of Savoy for more than
four hundred years, it ncverthelefs appears, that Avhcn the French invaded tliis province
in 1792, they itili enjoyed moil of the privileges granted by Amedsus the Seventh, in
1388; a f a f t which has been corroborated by the teftlmonv of feveral of the moil refpeilable
inhabitants of the country. Thofe privileges were fo firmly eftabhihed, and,
indeed, refpefted by the dukes of Savoy, or kings of Sardinia, who have fucceeded each
other, that they have never thought proper (either through prudencc or policy) to
infringe on thofe rights, or lay fimilar taxes and impofts on tlie Niffards equal to thofe
of their other provinces, though their authority might have been full as abfolute as in
Piedmont or Savoy. As a proof of my aflertion, the whole country of Nice, in 1790, was
exempt from real or pcrfonal impolls, that is, from both land and poll tax ; for his Sardinian
Majefty's annual revenue from the whole province, did not, at that time, exceed
twenty-feven thoufand pounds ilerling, or about five hundred and forty thoufand Piedmontefc
livres ; which is very trifling, if we take into our confidcration the local fituation and
refources of the country. This revenue, which has in fome degree increafed fince the late
improvements in the harbour, firft proceeded from the duties p ^ d at the Douane, or
Cuilom Houfe, on all merchandize exported and imported by land. Secondly, The 'droits
du port,' levied in the harbour of Nice and Villa Franca, on all veflels who touched or
anchored at either of thofe ports, in proportion to their tonnage, befides what all foreign
veflels were obliged to pay that paflcd between the ifland of Sardinia and the coaft of Nice
going to the eaftward, when exceeding a certain ftipulated burden, on pain of being
feized.
The Englifh and French were, however, exempted, having paid a certain fum of
money to the king of Sardinia.
This privilege had been fecured to his prcfent Majefty's father by the treaty of Utrecht in
1713, on condition tìiat he ihould ereft fanals, or light-houfes, along tlie coaft of Nice and
the ifland of Sardinia. There were alfo other impofts which %verc not lefs profitable, called
' droits d'entrée,' or duties on provifions, &c. brought into the coxmtry; fuch as la gabelle
r i !
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