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for carriages (although fuppofed to have formed a part of Uie ancicnt Via Aureliana), and
the extreme fteepncfs of Mont Alban, this litUe excurfion inufl be efFeaed on horfes or
mules; and, as the latter are by far the fafeft, I would particularly recommend them, in
pi-elerence to the firft. Never ftiall I forget with what plcafvu-c I made my lall trip to
Viila-Franca, and the beaxitiful and inchanting view I enjoyed from die environs of the
fortrefs of Mont Alban, which ftands on the mountain contiguous to the road: in faft, I
know of none to equal it, either for extent or variety of objedts (all fantaftically beaxitiful),
except the one feen from the Charti'cufe at Naples.
The town of Viila-Franca is in itfelf fmali, containing about fix himdred fouls only,
and nothing to recommend it but its harboixr. It appears to have been built and fetdcd
in the thirteenth century by Charles the Second, King of the Sialics, and Count of Provence,
in order to refiit the Saracens, who at that time infefted the coail; but in confequence
of the county of Nice, having paffed to the Houfe of Savoy, Emanuel Phihbert, in
order to fecure the harbour more effedtually, built the fort about the middle of the fixteenth
century, together widi a part of the mole which covers the ancient dock, which has
fmce been confiderably inereafed by Charles Emanuel the Third, and tie prefent King of
Sardinia.
Although this town may not be deemed particularly ancient, yet Ptolemy feems to
mention that die port exifted in the time of the Romans, under die name of Herculis
Portus; but not, as many geographers have fuppofed, Herculis Monseci, which is undoubtedly
what we now call Monaco; for in his geogi'aphy we read thus: " Poit vaxum,
funt Nicse, Herculis Portus, Trophajum Augufti Monieci Portus," &c.
The bay of ViUa-Franca is fufficiently extenfive to admit one hundred ihips of die
hne, perfeiUy fafe, a good bottom for anchorage, and Iheltered from die wmds by the
fhipendous lateral mountains, which nearly furround it. It is alio ibrongly defended
by the crofs-fires of die numerous batteries, which are advantageoully placed at its entrance.
Aldiough his Sardinian Majelly had only two frigates and a few galleys, neverthelefs
the dock-yards where die latter are conftrufted, were worth feeing, as were likewife die
magazines, rope-yard, barracks, and buildings allotted for thofe unhappy beings who
had forfeited dieir tide to die privileges of the community.
The improvements which have within thefe few years taken place in thefe buildings,
for dieir eafe and convenience, having met with greater fuccefs than might have been
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expeited, I fliall here give a flight dcfcripdon of them, as it may prove equally beneficial
to fimUar lituations in other countries.
The medical people appointed to infped the care of the flaves, having obferved in 1782
an extreme mortality amongll thefe poor wretches, reported, that if there was not an immediate
change in the form of their buildings, they mull unavoidably perifh, owing to the
very confined ftate in which they lay, and the mepliitic air diey were continually refpiring,
and with which the whole of the building was impregnated.
Various plans were inftandy taken into conliderarion, and the following adopted. It may
however be previouily neceflary to obferve, that the naked planks or boards (for there were
feveral) which ferved them to lie on before the new regulations took place, were originally
laid in one ftraight line, or in the.ihape of a long parallelogram, on which they were obliged
to huddle or crowd together, to the number of forty or more, and in fo faiall a compafs,
that die air, being immediately impregnated with the moft peflilential effluvia, not only
occalioned frequent deaths, but that extreme mortality which manifcfted itfelf in 1782; it
was therefore found neceffary to admit a current of air into die different buildings, and
change the form of thofe boards from long to circular.
This was immediately done. The diameter of the circle made by thefe circularly
arranged planks, is about fourteen feet, and raifed nearly two from die ground by pillars.
In the centre is a wooden column, furrounded by an iron bar, to which were fixed the
chains of fixteen or feventeen flaves, which was dien the limited number. They thus fonned
as many radii round the central point, which has the double advantage of keeping thefe
poor wretclies linked together by the foot (for it would be impoihble for any one of diem
to efFcft, or even attempt, his efcape, without alarming the reft), and ferving as a conduitor
to the mephitic air towards a large ventilator placed at the top of each building. Since the
above improvements were executed, and more attention paid to dieir healdi, thefe miferable
beings have at leaft had fonie fmall alleviadon of Uieir hard fate, and few of them in
comparifon have died.
Eallward of the bay of Viila-Franca is the pcnlnfula of St. Ofpitio, or Hofpice; at the
extremity of which is a beautiful fanal, or light-houfe, much efteemed by feamcn in
general, not only for its advantageous fituation and utilitj', but for its great height and
folidity. Still more to die eafl ftands a fmall tower, widi cafemates and a few pieces of
cannon, the fire of which crofles widi thofe placed towards the north near Boze, and ferve
to defend die gulph of St. Ofpitio, famous for the tunney fifhery. The right of this fifhery
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