Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-03
Il Geographical diserihtisn ofthe
ISLAND OF ELBA.

L hSh SuCu uidl dS DNndpdTtC, dfter
being tumSfed from the most powerful
throne in Europe, is driven to humble pti.
vate retreat, it is impossible not TO follow
him with interest, and to feel curiosity even
about tho very habitaticn fee which he has
| changed place and a kingd m
| It's size is considerable. being about sixty
| miles in circumference its very name has
been Thought of sufficient Importance to ex-
cite the controversial powers of several
writers-some of whom trace its etymolo
| gy 20 the Greeks, Some to the Romans, and
some to the Hebrews. The great curiosity
of the place seems 10 be its mines Of Ircn.
one OF which is an entire mountain, oompos.
edo all that material. These, it appears,
] deserve to be called inexhaustible, as we'll
now asin the days of Virgil. And here b.
naparte may speculate on the probable de :
! 'igns OF nature, whether she has been SO ex>
noerantly fertile with this powerful metal.
Tor the destruction or for the preservation of
mankind, TO NOW down armies, or to emf itch
the earth with the fruits of agriculture.
The population is not very abundant !:
consisting lately OF about twelve thousand
inhabitants, which number is four hundred
| more ihan the number in 177Ss The peo-
pie are SAID to be brave, active, fond CT a.
por. attached to their raiive soil, and hos
ptaoie 10 strangers but they are all fat
terers We apprehend that Bonaparte
will have 70 objection to this feature in their
character. They are said also 10 be simple.
! superstitious, crcdulcas, and ford of he ex.
trayagant and the marvellous. To such
people It must be perfect treasure TO have
among them such resident as the Ex-E.n,
| peror, whose rise aud fall outs,rip the won
| GERS OF romance, and make the widest po-
etc actions look Like the dull sobriety of ev.
v..6 kAt -
bust
/ The Productions of the soil are hume, ouc
aud excellent. Tie orange tree, the vine
the Give, and the fig flourish there in album
dance indeed they have every fruit ex
cspt the apple Plants of all S. -, both the
ussIui and tae picturesque, are :, be found
IN this island. The climate is temperate
ana saiubNous NOR are they visited with
those frishtfal infections with which the
delights of southern skies are sometimes
counterbalanced-the hurricane and the
earthquake. Their streams are numerous.
and their waters delicious I; and the dseas,
eS OF the Climate find remedy in the min
erai fuuntains which spring from the earth.
lhere are two hospitals -eie at Longone,
the other a. Porto-Ferraio, which are said
| 10 be we'll aired aud weli attended
The city OF Porto -Ferrajo stands upon
4
| sm't bay, above fertile vally strewed
with Country houses. Its streets are most
Ut them terraces cat Of the rock me hou-
ses handsome, TIE population 5000. It's
port is Capable OF receiving vessels OF tie
! iineI but, with CertaiR MS, is dan ernus
| o. entrance. Its citadel and Notifications
ale very strong, and the possession of the
CITY highly important, as was Clearly prov
ed IN the war Terminated by the treaty Of
| Amiena, during whicht1e 2 it;Sil held Fer
rajo with 1000 men. Near the city on the
SUNNI, of q steep rock, is a small tower,
called Prostuina, so situated as 10 be iTn>
pregnaSle.
rne town of Porto Longone; FIVE miles
east OF Ferrajo, takes its name from tie
shape OF its port, which is starry and long.
The town is divided into the upper and
lower. The latter, along the port. IS in
habited by fishermen, mariners and mer.
chauts, The upper town is comprised
within the citadel This, on the top of a
mountain, IS very strong by nature as we'll
as by art. The entrance of the port is de
tended by a fortress built on a tongue of
La pr citing ito Inc sea.
Abe political history of the island is of
course connected with that OF LAZY, and acA
cording to the result of the various wars ~
which that Country has been engaged, E.ba
has passed through the dominion Of many
masters The E ruscans were the first
known possessors then the Phecians /;
then the people of Populonia. 1t mex, felt
to the lot OF the Carthaginiaus, the cong err
ors of the sea afterwards il was suboued
by tAe Romans, the conquerors OK The world.
Ii became immedia ely useful to its new
masters, and after the dreadful battle of
Fhrasymepe, helped to save its new coun>
try by furnishing arms equip feet. In
due time the Goths took possession of it.
and during the civil wars Of Italy, it had a
new tyrant every half Gentry. 1t at length
was settled, for a long time, under the Duke
OF Tuscany until, at the revolution, il fell
into the devouring vor ex Of the French am.
bitlou. The French, We s0ppo {, are still
fhe possessors at least we are not aware
hat it has been conquered from them, tho
probably it may be ceded by negotiation.
Upon the whole, there seems some taste
a. his chOosiag as a retreat that place
which has been perpetually the victim to
the desolatIons OF war, and where, while
from the top Of Mont Casana he views the
place Of hisobirth, and the Italion scenes of
bis extraordinary fame, he may learn at
once, patience from the humbleness of his
origin, and a salutary regret from the re,
les r.