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The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Extract of a letter from Scotland dated June 1801 describes French invasion of Tuscany and Leghorn as a ploy to plunder English warehouses worth 70-80 million livres. General Dupont imposed a 2 million livre contribution, later reduced but siphoned funds, sealed warehouses, demanded corn, and violated agreements, forcing English to leave within days.
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Extract of a letter received by a gentleman in this city (who is concerned in a commercial establishment in Leghorn) from one of his partners in Scotland, dated June 1801.
"I received a letter from your brother yesterday, dated 8th ultimo. He mentions that the moderation of the French on entering Leghorn, was merely a snare to catch the unwary, and that the main object in invading Tuscany, was to pay their army out of the plunder they expected to find in the English warehouses, which they had calculated at 70 or 80 millions of livres. A contribution of 2 millions of livres was laid on the inhabitants on condition that all public and private property should be respected:-- This was laid on by Gen. Dupont, who afterwards reduced it to one million, with 200,000 livres secretly to his private purse--500,000 to his officers, and 40,000 livres to the Commissaries Ordonnateurs for their trouble and friendly offices. Scarcely was this agreement completed, when a commission of five arrived, with full powers from the commander in chief to sequester all enemy's property, and the warehouses were all sealed up, which seals could only be taken off by a bribe of 150,000 livres, and it was agreed that such a report should be made as would lead to a final settlement; and no further search was to be made after enemy's property. This was no sooner done than a demand was made to furnish 110,000 sacks of corn for the army--value 3,300,000 livres, to be paid by the million, laid on Leghorn by Gen. Dupont, and the balance out of the contributions levied on Florence, Pisa and different parts of Tuscany. This was the fourth violation of the capitulation; and lastly, the English were ordered to leave the place in six hours, and Tuscany in two days."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Leghorn, Tuscany
Event Date
8th Ultimo (May 1801)
Key Persons
Outcome
contribution of 2 million livres reduced to 1 million with siphoned funds; warehouses sealed and unsealed via 150,000 livres bribe; demand for 110,000 sacks of corn valued at 3,300,000 livres; multiple violations of capitulation; english ordered to leave leghorn in six hours and tuscany in two days.
Event Details
French entry into Leghorn presented as moderate but was a snare to plunder English warehouses estimated at 70-80 million livres. Gen. Dupont imposed 2 million livre contribution on inhabitants conditional on respecting property, later reduced to 1 million with 200,000 to his purse, 500,000 to officers, 40,000 to commissaries. Commission sequestered enemy property, sealed warehouses, lifted seals for 150,000 bribe. Demand for 110,000 sacks of corn for army, paid from contributions in Leghorn, Florence, Pisa, and Tuscany. Fourth violation of capitulation; English expulsion ordered.