The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-05
The Island of Corsica.


We omitted to say in our remarks upon the
date of NAroLxos's birth, published yesttr-
asy. that we obtained the historical informa-
,ion therein con tanned from the translation of
a German work entitled, "Oorsica pieinr-
eeoue. historical and social, with a sketch OF
the early life of NAroLgoN, and an account OF
the BosArARrR. PAoLI, Pozzo III BonGo, ana
other rsr,ncipai families, suggested by tour
in The Island in 1882" The writer calls him.
self FERDINAND CRSGoRovIus, but an Engtish
Review suggests that this may be nom de
,,5u,us and indeed /; sounds very much like one.
The translator is Dir. EDWARD JOY MORRIS,
long and favorably known to the public as an
autpor. The work itself is one Of the most re-
markabe of the day, betraying degree OF
talent in the writer, which the Review allnded
10 does not hesitate to describe as Of The very
highest order The field is almost entirely
new, and quite as full Of interest as 1t is OF
novelty. IL is strange, that among all the
writers who have attempted the life Of Ma
PoLgoS-and they amount, by computations
TO several thousand-not one ever thought OF
visiting the country in which he was born,
and studying upon the spot the pee uliar man
ners of the people of whom he was one, and
whose habits social condition, and turn OF
thought, must have had such a powerful in
fiuence upon the formation of his character
Ii is obvious that there were traits in that
character which il was impossible to read by
the light Of continen tai civilization and habits
of thought. But the mystery vanishes as soon
as we read this book, and find what manner CT
people they We're among whom he was reared.
what principles he imbibed from the social
atmosphere which he breathed in his child
hood, and to what political impressions his
boyhood was subjected.
From the cradle to the grave from Ajaccio
to ST. Helena, NAPOLEON was a gen uine, una
dulterated Corsican, with all the virtues, all
The great qualities and all the faiiings OF the
extraordinary race from which he spIang.-
Nor when We say thus much, do we mean to
cast any reflection either upon NAPOLEON
or the land OF his birth There are no
people upon the face OF the earth who have
greater reason to be proud of their country
than the Corsicans. There is no spot of earth
so small as Corsica which has produced so
great a number of heroes, if we except Attica
alone Some of these were of the very loftie 81
character. SAMPIBRo may rank with WAL
LACK, and PAoLI might almost be ella ssed with
WASHINGTON But besides these, the greai
names of Corsica are almost innumerable.-
They all bear striking family resemblance 10
each other. Dauntlest courage, undying and
unyieldiug patriotism, energy that never
tired. hope that never forsook, fortitude tina
bore up under any amount of suffering, pride
like that of LUCIrKR, fiery passions fierce
vindictiyeness, these were the characteristics
OF them all, rendering them capable at once
of the noblest and most violent deeds, read y
10 sacrifice at moments warning, all that lie
dear upon earth at the call OF country, or to
perpetrats deeds too fearful to think of, under
the instigation of momentary passion
The condition of the island, even at the pre-
sent moment, is well calculated to foster that
original character and that fierce spirit of in
dependence for which the Corsicans, in spite
Of the sheer Of Seneca, have at all times been
distinguished. 1t very much resembIes-es-
pecialIy among the mountains-that state Of
society described by SCOTT in the novel of
Earerly, in which the heads of certain great
families held the power, and discharged the
functions of Independent monarchs. Like
ROB Roy, when man becomes desperate,
either for his crimes his misfortunes. he
takes to the "naacchia " or thicket, and turns
bandit levying black mail on all the rich pro-
prietors in the neighboring country. Like the
Scottish Highlander, the Corsican pursues 4
teud, or as he calls 1t the "Vsndetta, - to the
tenth generation. In all ages, it has been
land Of blood, shed on private quarrel. The
historian FILLIPPINI, himself Corsican, says
that within a ertain period, comprising not
more than u quarter of a century, twenty
eight thousand persons in Corsica fell by the
dagger, and frem 1921 to 1852, upwards of
three thousand fell in the same way. 1t seems
10 great pity that the French government
does not lake efficient measures to put a stop
to these practices, and to ciyiliZe throughout
an island which wants nothing but civiliza-
lion to make its people the first in the world.
Results of the Visit.
no laa6 of no fit