The Virginia Gazette

Bastia, May 12. A French Man of War has taken near Cape Corse, 2 Barks laden with Arms and Ammunition for the Rebels. The Officer that was lately assassinated in his Bed, was the Major of the Regiment of Auvergne. Two Corsicans who committed this Action having been arrested, the Marquis de Maillebois is determined to have them broke upon the Wheel, to intimidate the Inhabitants of this Place, which a numerous Garrison does in no sort hinder from shewing on all Occasions their Hatred of the French; of which the following Story is a Proof: The Day that the Marquis de Maillebois arrived here, a Captain being commanded to meet him, and wanting a Horse, gave Orders to hire one at any Price; one of the Inhabitants being applied to for that Purpose, insolently refused to lend his Horse; and perceiving that it would be taken by Force, he killed it, saying, he chose rather to lose every Thing, than to do the French any Service; for which he was sent to Prison and put into a Dungeon. This Animosity of the Inhabitants appears the more strange, because the French spend much Money, observe an exact Discipline, and, were it not for some Gallantries, neither the Officers nor the Soldiers give the least Reason to be complained of. The Cause therefore of the Corsicans of this Place shewing such Hatred to the French, must arise from their being prevented by them from acting like the rest of their Country Folks. Some who have been made Prisoners by the Rebels relate, that every one of them always goes armed with a Musket, two or more Pistols, and a Poniard; that their Priests are armed in the same Manner; that there are very frequently Quarrels amongst them, which commonly end in Murder. If the Murderer escapes, Revenge is taken by assaulting some of his Relations or Friends. That an Inhabitant of Biguglia, lately married, having had some Familiarities with a Girl in the Neighbourhood, her Relations threatened to kill him; to prevent the Consequences of their Resentment, he murdered his Wife and married the Girl; and that, in Short, being restrained by no Laws, they commit the most shocking Crimes with Impunity. They write from Calvi, that 2 French Officers going home one Night, were stabbed in several Places with Poniards, and were at the same Time told by them who did it, that in that manner they treated People who cut down their Olive Trees, alluding to those cut down near Monte Maggiore. The Marquis de Maillebois is already weary of being in this Island: He finds that it must either be abandoned, or that by means of a powerful Army it must be entirely destroyed.