The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. / From the Accession of George III. to the Twenty-Third Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria

Chapter 486: CORSICA ANNEXED TO THE CROWN OF ENGLAND.

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About This Book

The volume traces British political, parliamentary, and military developments from the accession of George III through the early nineteenth century, chronicling changes of ministry and cabinet, debates over colonial taxation and the American conflict, parliamentary controversies involving figures such as Wilkes and Warren Hastings, questions of Catholic relief and slave-trade abolition, and responses to the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, including major naval and continental campaigns, the union with Ireland, and domestic legislation on finance, civil liberties, and parliamentary reform.

CORSICA ANNEXED TO THE CROWN OF ENGLAND.

The nation was somewhat consoled for this failure by the annexation of Corsica to the crown of Great Britain; an event which, from its political importance, was a topic of ministerial exultation. After the disaster at Toulon, Lord Hood sailed to this island, which was in a state of revolt against the government. He landed three thousand soldiers and marines, and these nearly effected the reduction of the island by the capture of Bastia, which capitulated on honourable terms. Calvi, the only remaining-stronghold of the republicans, was then besieged, and on the 1st of August it surrendered to the British arms. Paoli and the aristocratical party then offered the cession of the island to the King of Great Britain, which was accepted. Efforts were made to confer the blessings of the British constitution on the rude islanders, but they were not successful; while one party looked to England, the other cast their eyes on France.