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In the tenth century, William count of Aj-le created Roboard, a powei-ful noble of that
province, prince of Aiitibes, ere£ting it into a principality as a fief of Provence.
From that period till about tlie year 16O8 it was governed by different princes, who
bore the lânic title ; when Alexander, fon to Réné Grimaldi, one of their defcendants, fold
die principality to Henry the Fourth of France.
Its fortifications were greatly improved by Lewis the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, and
the moles which proteä the harbour completed by Lewis the Fifteentli.
The town is fortified with four in-egiilar baÄions à cavaliers, curtains, half-moons, and
covert-way.
A large baftion, of which the batteries are moftly en barbettes, and conftrufled in the
centi-e of the quay, with a furong fort, detached from the body of the place, flanked with
four fmall baftions, command the enü-ancc of the port by the direétìons of tlieir crofs fire.
The harbour, which was formerly more exteniive, and of a femi-circular form, the femidiametcr
of which extended to five hundred and fifty yards, is at prefcnt contradted and
irtegular, not exceeding one himdred in breadth, and tlu-ee bundled and fifty in width ;
owing to the ihallows incrcafijig continually by the vaft quantities of fand tliro\vn into the
fea by the Vax, at the time of its overflowing, and thus can-ied on by tlie waves into the
port.
Its depth varies confiderably, yet veflTels lie very fafe in the harbour ; but, as there is
not fufiicient water at tlie entrajice of it to admit of Ìhips of burthen, the commerce is not
extenfive ; confiiHng merely in wine, oil, fruits, and fait fifli, befidcs the coailing trade.
The town and fort of Antibes were befieged in 1746 by the combined powers of England,
Auflria, and Sardinia, but, after a bombardment of nineteen days, with two open
trenches, the Allies were forced to raife the fiege. See Voltaire's Hiftory of Lewis the
Fifteenth.
There is fome little difference in the climate from that of Nice, although fo near each
other ; which muß: be owing to the cold winds tlut blow from the Maritime Alps ; yet its
produdlions are nearly the fame, though not in fuch abundance, viz. oranges, citrons, olives,
raifins, figs, &c. &c.
In the back ground of the fubjefl: of the prefent view, on the right, is the city of Nice,
and the range of mountains belonging to the flates of Genoa. On the left, the town of
Antibes, from whence the high towers at the entrance of the harbour and the pier are confpicuous.
The quadrangular fort forms the principal objefl on the fore ground,
R E F E R E N C E S .
A The City of Antibes.
B Tlio Interior of llie Port.
C Part of the Harbour, wlicre the Watar is particalnrly
lliallow, owing to tJic vaft quantity of fami wailicd
in coiitiniially by tlie river Var.
D The quadrangulnr Fort mentioned in die dcfcriptioa of
Antibes, built on a rock which forms a peninfula.
E A Bnftion lituated on a rock in ilie centre of tlie mole,
wliicii projeits confiderably in tlie fe.-i, as does the
former, on which ftands tlie fort, and whofe crofs
lircs defend the entrance of tlic port.
F A handfome Stone Pier, wliich flieltere the velVels io
the harbour from eaft and foutii eaft winds.
G Two high Towers ereéled by the Romans for tlie proteilion
of the harbour.
H Parai)Ct with Embrafur«, to guard tlie fide of the
town towards the (ca.
A Ciiati Citadel.
K High Road to Nice.
L Spot where General Brown, who commanded the
Anftrians and Piedmontefe troops in 1746, erefted
his batteries to bombard the city.
M Church of Notre Dame de la Garde.
N Cape Guaroupe.
O Direft Road to tlie Bay of Gonijean, which is fituated
on the other fide of Notre Dame de la Garde.
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