France, a style which to men then living implied
ownership. King of the French was selected as the new form; should
they add "and of Navarre"? Salicetti, with consummate diplomacy, had
already warned many of his fellow-delegates of the danger lest England
should intervene in Corsica, and France lose one of her best
recruiting-grounds. To his compatriots he set forth that France was
the best protector, whether they desired partial or complete
independence. He now suggested that if the Assembly thus recognized
the separate identity of the Pyrenean people, they must supplement
their phrase still further by the words "and of Corsica"; for it had
been only nominally, and as a pledge, that Genoa in 1768 had put
France in control. At this stage of the debate, Volney presented a
number of formal demands from the Corsican patriots asking that the
position of their country be defined. One of these papers certainly
came from Bastia; among them also was probably the document which had
been executed at Ajaccio. This was the culmination of the skilful
revolutionary agitation which had been started and directed by
Masseria under Paoli's guidance. The anomalous position of both
Corsica and Navarre was clearly depicted in the mere presentation of
such petitions. "If the Navarrese are not French, what have we to do
with them, or they with us?" said Mirabeau. The argument was as
unanswerable for one land as for the other, and both were incorporated
in the realm: Corsica on November thirtieth, by a proposition of
Salicetti's, who was apparently unwilling, but who posed as one under
imperative necessity. In reality he had reached the goal for which he
had long been striving. Dumouriez, later so renowned as a general, and
Mirabeau, the great statesman and orator, had both been members of the
French army of occupation which reduced Corsica to submission. The
latter now recalled his misdeed with sorrow and shame in an
impassioned plea for amnesty to all political offenders, including
Paoli. There was bitter opposition, but the great orator prevailed.

The news was received in Corsica with every manifestation of joy;
bonfires were lighted, and Te Deums were sung in the churches. Paoli
to rejoin his own again! What more could disinterested patriots
desire? Corsica a province of France! How could her aspiring youth
secure a wider field for the exercise of their powers, and the
attainment of ambitious ends? The desires of both parties were
tempor