It ne’er was ruled by thee.”
On the contrary, in the event of a revolution at Nice, there would be little chance of getting away, by sea or land. My ideas, in this respect, were in some degree realized; a revolution did take place there, and for three days the greatest consternation prevailed, as there was an embargo laid upon all horses at Nice, in order to facilitate the movements of the king and his government; and at the same time not an English vessel off the port.
On arriving at Florence, it was my intention to regulate my future movements according to circumstances, and the alternatives of these it was not difficult to foresee. In the event of the Austrians being successful in the first instance, the war was certain to be of short duration; whereas, on the other hand, if the Neapolitans proved able to support the onset, there was little doubt but that the whole of Italy would be in arms, to assert its independence, and to compel a free constitution from its rulers.
Influenced by these considerations, I determined to proceed, nor have I found any reason to regret the decision.
CHAP. XII.
VOYAGE TO GENOA.
On the 26th of February, 1821, I left Nice in the Divine Providence felucca, of eleven tons, bound to Genoa, with a freight of passengers only, not having been able to procure a cargo.
Some time elapsed, after getting on board, before I felt able to inquire into the persons, or characters of my fellow-passengers; my mind was too deeply absorbed in the painful emotions, occasioned by taking leave of a family with whom I had so long and happily resided, and for whom I must ever entertain an affectionate regard. In time, however, I found that, besides myself, our vessel contained three English gentlemen, who, indeed, had taken their passage at my suggestion, instead of pursuing their journey to Genoa, over land, with mules, as they had intended. It was, however, their third attempt to get farther into Italy by sea. They had first endeavoured to reach Leghorn in an American vessel, which, on some account or other, put back to Villa Franca: after this they sailed for Civita Vecchia, but a contrary wind, and roughish sea arising, after they had left port a few hours, the master of the vessel became frightened, and notwithstanding, every argument to induce him to persevere, returned to port. In order to make progress, it is preferable to coast it in small vessels, rather than trust to the open sea in larger traders, for they never keep out in bad weather, if it is possible to reach a port.
Besides these gentlemen, our party consisted of three Frenchmen, and two ladies, one French, and the other an Italian.
After leaving the harbour, the wind was light and variable, and the water smooth, so that by dint of rowing and sailing, we proceeded at the rate of three miles an hour. On arriving off the town, and principality of Monaco, we stood towards the shore, and took on board three sailors, belonging to a Sardinian frigate, lying at Genoa, who had been visiting their friends at Monaco, and agreed to work their passage back to the former place.