The Virginia Gazette

It would seem either that the French are not serious in their Design of assisting the Genoese to reduce the Island of Corsica, or that the Malecontents of that Island are mad; for they seem to be so little afraid of being again reduced under the Power of the Genoese, that having lately taken a Felucca with 21 Men on board, belonging to the Genoese, they hung them all up in Sight of the Garrison of Bastia, in Revenge for the Genoese having lately hanged some of their Men.

The brave Corsicans continue to receive frequent Assistance from their King. On the 15th of January, a Vessel without Colours brought thither several of his Confidents and Domesticks, together with 6 Foreign Officers, a great many Chests fill'd with Arms, both mounted and unmounted, and, 100 Tons of Powder, Lead, Iron, Steel, and other Ammunition: They deliver'd Letters from Theodore to the chief Men of the Country, who were so pleased with the Contents, that they order'd Te Deum to be sung, and Bonfires and Illuminations to be made all over the Island. About a Week afterwards landed Count Colonna, who is much esteem'd there, and with him 14 German Officers, and more Ammunition. It is reported, that he has brought along with him the necessary Orders for making an Attempt upon Bastia: As to the Place of Theodore's Residence at present, it is a Mystery unknown to every Body but the Four Principal Chiefs.

The Week after Colonna's Arrival, he made an Attack on the Fortress in the Isola, which continued with great Briskness and Obstinacy on both Sides, until at last the Genoese were obliged to surrender at Discretion. The Assailants lost 2 Lieutenants and 72 Soldiers, and only 49 of the Garrison remain'd alive: The Officer who commanded it, writes to the Marquis de Rivarola at Bastia, that he and his 49 Men are Prisoners of War, and are treated with great Humanity by the Malecontents; but that his Lieutenant,
A Corsican by birth, being discovered to be one of those concerned in a conspiracy against the life of the Baron de Newhoff a little time after his arrival in the island, had but a quarter of an hour allowed him to prepare himself for death; that his execution had been very cruel; that they began it by cutting out his tongue, and chopping off his hand; that they then fastened him to the top of a post, placed in the midst of a heap of wood built up as for a bonfire, and that in this manner they burnt him alive. The officer adds, that he and his 49 men were forced to be present at the execution; after which Count Colonna addressed himself to the officer and his men in the following words: The lieutenant is punished with so much rigour, for having not only been a perjured traitor to his king, but also a rebel to his country. As to you, we intend to treat you as prisoners of war, and with the humanity becoming Christians; we hope your masters will act the same way by us if occasion offers.