The Virginia Gazette

May 21. We have advice from Corsica that the Baron de Neuhoff having made himself master of the whole island by the reduction of Bastia, has been acknowledged, proclaimed, and crowned king with the usual forms. The ceremony was performed in the open fields in the midst of his troops and a vast concourse of people. His crown indeed was only a wreath of laurel; but what he wanted in the richness of his diadem was made up in the shouts of the spectators, to whom he was shown in triumph, being carried about on the shoulders of his general officers. He has taken the style of Theodore I, king of Corsica. By his coronation oath, he is not to give any employs, civil or military, to foreigners, nor introduce any foreign troops, except a corps of 1500 men which is allowed him for his guard; nor to lay any tax on the people without the consent of the senate of eighteen. The estates belonging to the Genoese are to become forfeited to the new king, as are likewise those of all other persons who do not submit to and acknowledge King Theodore within a term of twenty days, to be reckoned from his coronation.

London, June 2. A placard published by the republic of Genoa concerning the affairs of Corsica.

We the Doge, governors, and procurators of the republic of Genoa, etc., having learnt that a certain famous person dressed like a Turk has landed in our kingdom of Corsica on the side of Aleria, where he repaired with some ammunitions of war on board a little vessel commanded by Capt. Dick, an Englishman; that this man, though unknown, had yet found means to insinuate himself with some chiefs of the malecontents, who finding their interest in it have contrived to make it agreeable to the people; that the same person had distributed arms among them, some powder, and several pieces of gold, and amused them with the hopes of a speedy and powerful succour: As all these circumstances are contrary to the public tranquility, and as it imports us to provide therein for the good of our Corsican subjects, we have thought it proper to inform them of the true quality and condition of the man, conformable to the proofs and evidences which we have of them.

He fetches his original from one of the cantons of Westphalia, and calls himself Baron Theodore de Neuhoff. He professes extraordinary skill in chemistry, the Cabala, and astrology; by means of which sciences he pretends to have found out the most important secrets, though he be nothing in reality but a vagabond, and in very indifferent circumstances. In Corsica he goes by the name of Theodore. Under the same name he appeared at Paris towards the end of the year 1729; from whence he retired after having abandoned his wife, an Irish woman by nation, whom he had married in Spain, and by whom he had one daughter, whom he abandoned likewise. Thence running through the world, he disguised his name and nation. At London he was a German, at Leghorn an Englishman, and at Genoa a Swede; taking one while the name of Baron de Napier, and at another that of Smithmer or Niesen, and sometimes that of Schmittberg, as it appears by his passports and by other authentic pieces which have been sent to us from divers places, and which we have in our custody.

Under these different names it is that he has found means to live at the cost of others. It is well known that about the year 1727 in Spain he embezzled the money which had been advanced to him in order to his raising a regiment of Germans as he had engaged to do. Having fled from Spain, he put tricks in divers places upon English, French, Germans, and many other persons of different nations. Wherever he bubbled people he took great care to conceal his rogueries, which after his departure appeared plainly. A letter written by a German gentleman from Lisbon on the 20th of February last is an evident proof of it.

Some time since he borrowed of the bankers Jabach at Leghorn 515 pieces of eight, which he promised to repay at Cologne. His creditors finding themselves cheated put him into prison. He got out in some months having by some artifice procured the master of a vessel to be bound for him, as it appears by the account of his discharge passed at Leghorn on the 6th of September last in the presence of notary John-Baptist Gumano; and in order to his being cured of an illness he contracted in gaol, he was put in the hospital of St. Bagno in the same town. From thence he went to Tunis where he practiced physic and held several secret conferences with the chiefs of the infidels. He managed so as to get arms and ammunition from them, with which he transported himself into Corsica, accompanied by Christopher, brother of the physician Buongiorno at Tunis; and by three Turks, one of them named Mahomet, formerly a slave in the galleys of Tuscany; by two young men of Leghorn, Attiaman and Bondelli, fugitives from their fathers' house; and by a Priest of Porto Ferrajo, whom the Missionary Fathers of Tunis thought fit to send at a Distance for good Reasons.

In Consequence of what is said above, and forasmuch as this Man has dar'd to thrust himself into the Government of Corsica, and turn aside our Subjects maliciously from the Fidelity which they owe to their natural Sovereign: since besides, it may be fear'd that a Man whose Conduct and Maxims are so deprav'd, may create great Trouble among our Subjects ; we have judg'd it convenient to publish the aforesaid Account, and to declare, as we do declare by this Placard, that the aforesaid pretended Baron de Neuhoff, actual Author of new Insurrections, Seducer of the People, Disturber of the public Tranquility, is guilty of High Treason and Rebellion, and as such, deserving of all the Punishments prescrib'd by our Laws, forbidding all Persons whatever to have any Correspondence or Commerce with him ; and declaring worthy of the Same Punishments, guilty of Rebellion, and Disturbers of the public Repose, all those who shall lend him any Succour or Assistance, or who shall follow him, in order to increase the Revolt, and trouble the Quiet of our People. Done in our Royal Palace, the 9th of May. Sign'd, Giuseppe Maria.

Three more Ships without Colours are arriv'd at Corsica with Troops, and vast Quantities of Arms and Ammunition. The Title of Viceroy, which the Baron at first took upon himself, implied his acting under some Principal, and all Eyes were turned toward Spain; but the supreme Royalty which he has now assum'd, has thrown the World into a new Surprize, and an Impatience to have the Springs of so extraordinary an Event discover'd.