[17] Cardinal Grimani succeeded Cardinal Bentivoglio in the Legateship of Bologna, as soon as the present Pope had created him a Cardinal; but he died in the Legateship, and his Holiness conferr’d it upon John Baptist Spinola, whom he had just before advanc’d to the Purple.
[18] Nevertheless there is a Difference between these two Families: The Duke Ferdinand the last Survivor of that of Kettler, but of the Family of Medicis there are Princes still living, who have an incontestable Right to the Succession; for ’tis certain, that Bernard de Medicis, the eldest Brother of Pope Leo XI. descended from Juvenco de Medicis, Brother of Sylvester Clarissimus, the Head of the present reigning Branch, which Bernard de Medicis was the Son of Ottaviano, the last Standard-bearer of Florence in 1528. This Bernard purchas’d the Barony of Ottajano near Mount Vesuvius in the Kingdom of Naples, to which he transferr’d this Branch of the Medicis; and the present Prince of Ottajano, and Duke of Sarno, who married Theresa, Daughter of Charles Prince of Acquaviva, is his Great Great Grandson.
[19] The Count de Charni signs N. d’Orleans C. de Charni. He is a Bastard of the Orleans Family, but by whom is not known. He has advanc’d himself at the Court of Spain, and is now Commandant of Naples, and Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom.
[20] This Prince went thro’ France, and arriv’d at Florence the Beginning of the Year 1732.
[21] This young Prince died in 1734, as his illustrious Uncle did in the Year following.
[22] The Spaniards took it at the Beginning of the War, and ’twas the first of their Exploits.
[23] Giafferi did all he could; but was obliged to submit to Force, the Republic being assisted by the Troops which the Emperor had assembled in Lombardy, to oppose the Enterprizes he was then apprehensive of from the Spaniards. Giafferi was arrested, but by a great deal of Art and Cunning he obtain’d his Freedom, after the Genoese thought the Corsicans were disarmed, destitute of Leaders, and reduced to a Sense of their Duty; and he retired to Tuscany. But the Corsicans being no better treated than they were before their Accommodation, took up Arms again, upon which Giafferi procured them all manner of Assistance, and actually returned to that Island, and put himself at the Head of the Malecontents, who seemed to have a fair Chance of regaining their Liberties. They were so uppish in Expectation of foreign Assistance, that they rejected some new Concessions made to them by the Genoese, in Dec, 1734, declar’d Aitelli General of the Forces, and one Costa, a Man of great Intrigues, General-Auditor of the Island; and, at the same time, made Proposals to the King of Spain to take them under his Protection, having renounced all Subjection to the Republic of Genoa, declar’d themselves a free and independent People, and resolv’d to defend their Liberties to the last Man. At length they receiv’d some Recruits of Money and Ammunition by one Theodore, who call’d himself the Baron de Neuhoff, and arriv’d in March 1736. on Board an English Ship from Tunis; but in the Name of what Power he acted, is as yet a Mystery. He had the Success to be proclaim’d King of Corsica, and Copper Money was coin’d there with his Effigies; but he has since been obliged to abandon the Island; and the French have taken upon them to accommodate Matters between the Genoese and Corsicans. It must be left to Time, to shew whether the Genoese will have Reason to be pleased with this formidable Mediation. After all, that Republic has too much Cause to remember the Saying of Prince Lewis of Wirtemberg, who, when he return’d with the Imperial Troops from suppressing the former Rebellion, told them, That the Island was not worth the Expences which the Republic had been at in reducing the Corsicans, and what they must be at continually to keep them in Subjection.
[24] The Prince had a Kindness for Mademoiselle de Cumiane, before she was married to the Count de St. Sebastian, when she was Maid of Honour to Madame Royale. She was afterwards a Lady of Honour to the Duchess of Savoy, and at last Tire-Woman to the Princess of Piedmont, late Queen of Sardinia. She has been a Widow since 1723. After she was married to the Count de St. Sebastian, she still preserv’d the King’s Friendship and Esteem, and was always in great Credit with him. When she became a Widow, the old Flames of Love broke out again; the King gave her an Apartment at Court, where he cou’d see her without being seen, and he took Care of her Family.
[25] ’Tis said, that the real Motive of this Abdication was his Perplexity on Account of the Succession of Parma and Tuscany, and the Introduction of the Infante Don Carlos into Italy. They say he had enter’d into Engagements relating to this Affair, first with the Court of Vienna, and afterwards with Spain; and it not being possible for him to satisfy either of those Courts without exposing himself to the Resentment of the other, he resolved to abdicate, at least for a Time, because he knew of no other Way to extricate himself from the Dilemma.
[26] The Abdication was performed the 3d of September, in the Castle of Rivoli. The declar’d Motives, were the Fatigues of a Reign of fifty Years, the Infirmities of old Age, and the Necessity of some Interval of Retirement, between a Throne and a Tomb.