A Very
Small Expence Would Bring The Secrets Of This Cavern To Light.
They have nothing to do, but to make a breach in the wall, which
appears uncovered towards the garden.
The city of Cemenelion was first sacked by the Longobards, who
made an irruption into Provence, under their king Alboinus, about
the middle of the sixth century.
It was afterwards totally destroyed by the Saracens, who, at
different times, ravaged this whole coast. The remains of the
people are supposed to have changed their habitation, and formed
a coalition with the inhabitants of Nice.
What further I have to say of Nice, you shall know in good time;
at present, I have nothing to add, but what you very well know,
that I am always your affectionate humble servant.
LETTER, XIV
NICE, January 20, 1764.
DEAR SIR, - Last Sunday I crossed Montalban on horseback, with
some Swiss officers, on a visit to our consul, Mr. B - d, who
lives at Ville Franche, about half a league from Nice. It is a
small town, built upon the side of a rock, at the bottom of the
harbour, which is a fine basin, surrounded with hills on every
side, except to the south, where it lies open to the sea. If
there was a small island in the mouth of it, to break off the
force of the waves, when the wind is southerly, it would be one
of the finest harbours in the world; for the ground is exceeding
good for anchorage: there is a sufficient depth of water, and
room enough for the whole navy of England. On the right hand, as
you enter the port, there is an elegant fanal, or lighthouse,
kept in good repair: but in all the charts of this coast which I
have seen, this lanthorn is laid down to the westward of the
harbour; an error equally absurd and dangerous, as it may mislead
the navigator, and induce him to run his ship among the rocks, to
the eastward of the lighthouse, where it would undoubtedly
perish. Opposite to the mouth of the harbour is the fort, which
can be of no service, but in defending the shipping and the town
by sea; for, by land, it is commanded by Montalban, and all the
hills in the neighbourhood. In the war of 1744, it was taken and
retaken. At present, it is in tolerable good repair. On the left
of the fort, is the basin for the gallies, with a kind of dock,
in which they are built, and occasionally laid up to be refitted.
This basin is formed by a pretty stone mole; and here his
Sardinian majesty's two gallies lie perfectly secure, moored with
their sterns close to the jette. I went on board one of these
vessels, and saw about two hundred miserable wretches, chained to
the banks on which they sit and row, when the galley is at sea.
This is a sight which a British subject, sensible of the blessing
he enjoys, cannot behold without horror and compassion.
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