ly supported the conquerors in an
attempt, honorable to both, to retain as much of Paoli's system as
possible. But the appointment of an intendant and a military commander
acting as royal governor with a veto over legislation was essential.
This of necessity destroyed the old democracy, for, in any case, the
existence of such officials and the social functions of such offices
must create a quasi-aristocracy, and its power would rest not on
popular habit and good-will, but on the French soldiery. The situation
was frankly recognized, therefore, in a complete reorganization of
those descended from the old nobility, and from these a council of
twelve was selected to support and countenance the governor. The
clergy and the third estate were likewise formally organized in two
other orders, so that with clergy, nobles, and commons, Corsica became
a French _pays d'etat_, another provincial anachronism in the chaos of
royal administration. The class bitterness of the mainland could
easily be and was transplanted to the island; the ultimate success of
the process left nothing to be desired. Moreover, the most important
offices were given into French hands, while the seat of government was
moved from Corte, the highland capital, to the lowland towns of Bastia
and Ajaccio. The primeval feud of highlanders and lowlanders was thus
rekindled, and in the subsequent agitations the patriots won over by
France either lost influence with their followers, or ceased to
support the government. Old animosities were everywhere revived and
strengthened, until finally the flames burst forth in open rebellion.
They were, of course, suppressed, but the work was done with a savage
thoroughness the memory of which long survived to prevent the
formation in the island of a natural sentiment friendly to the French.
Those who professed such a feeling were held in no great esteem.

It was perhaps an error that Paoli did not recognize the indissoluble
bonds of race and speech as powerfully drawing Corsica to Italy,
disregard the leanings of the democratic mountaineers toward France,
sympathize with the fondness of the towns for the motherland, and so
use his influence as to confirm the natural alliance between the
insular Italians and those of the peninsula. When we regard Sardinia,
however, time seems to have justified him. There is little to choose
between the sister islands as regards the backward condition of both;
but the French department of Corsica