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； 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。 Not but that if we consider the nature of the case； with coolness and deliberation； we must acknowledge the justice； and even sagacity； of employing for the service of the public； those malefactors who have forfeited their title to the privileges of the community。 Among the slaves at Ville Franche is a Piedmontese count； condemned to the gallies for life； in consequence of having been convicted of forgery。 He is permitted to live on shore； and gets money by employing the other slaves to knit stockings for sale。 He appears always in the Turkish habit； and is in a fair way of raising a better fortune than that which he has forfeited。
It is a great pity； however； and a manifest outrage against the law of nations； as well as of humanity； to mix with those banditti； the Moorish and Turkish prisoners who are taken in the prosecution of open war。 It is certainly no justification of this barbarous practice； that the Christian prisoners are treated as cruelly at Tunis and Algiers。 It would be for the honour of Christendom； to set an example of generosity to the Turks； and； if they would not follow it； to join their naval forces； and extirpate at once those nests of pirates； who have so long infested the Mediterranean。 Certainly； nothing can be more shameful； than the treaties which France and the Maritime Powers have concluded with those barbarians。 They supply them with artillery； arms； and ammunition； to disturb their neighbours。 They even pay them a sort of tribute； under the denomination of presents； and often put up with insults tamely； for the sordid consideration of a little gain in the way of commerce。 They know that Spain； Sardinia； and almost all the Catholic powers in the Mediterranean； Adriatic； and Levant； are at perpetual war with those Mahometans； that while Algiers； Tunis； and Sallee； maintain armed cruisers at sea； those Christian powers will not run the risque of trading in their own bottoms； but rather employ as carriers the maritime nations； who are at peace with the infidels。 It is for our share of this advantage； that we cultivate the piratical States of Barbary； and meanly purchase passports of them； thus acknowledging them masters of the Mediterranean。
The Sardinian gallies are mounted each with five…and…twenty oars； and six guns； six…pounders； of a side； and a large piece of artillery amidships； pointing ahead； which （so far as I am able to judge） can never be used point…blank； without demolishing the head or prow of the galley。 The accommodation on board for the officers is wretched。 There is a paltry cabin in the poop for the commander； but all the other officers lie below the slaves； in a dungeon； where they have neither light； air； nor any degree of quiet； half suffocated by the heat of the place； tormented by fleas； bugs； and lice； and disturbed by the incessant noise over head。 The slaves lie upon the naked banks； without any other covering than a tilt。 This； however； is no great hardship； in a climate where there is scarce any winter。 They are fed with a very scanty allowance of bread； and about fourteen beans a day and twice a week they have a little rice； or cheese； but most of them； while they are in harbour knit stockings； or do some other kind of work； which enables them to make some addition to this wretched allowance。 When they happen to be at sea in bad weather； their situation is truly deplorable。 Every wave breaks over the vessel； and not only keeps them continually wet； but comes with such force； that they are dashed against the banks with surprising violence： sometimes their limbs are broke； and sometimes their brains dashed out。 It is impossible （they say） to keep such a number of desperate people under any regular command； without exercising such severities as must shock humanity。 It is almost equally impossible to maintain any tolerable degree of cleanliness； where such a number of wretches are crouded together without conveniences； or even the necessaries of life。 They are ordered twice a week to strip； clean； and bathe themselves in the sea： but； notwithstanding all the precautions of discipline； they swarm with vermin； and the vessel smells like an hospital； or crouded jail。 They seem； nevertheless； quite insensible of their misery； like so many convicts in Newgate： they laugh and sing； and swear； and get drunk when they can。 When you enter by the stern； you are welcomed by a band of music selected from the slaves； and these expect a gratification。 If you walk forwards； you must take care of your pockets。 You will be accosted by one or other of the slaves； with a brush and blacking…ball for cleaning your shoes； and if you undergo this operation； it is ten to one but your pocket is picked。 If you decline his service； and keep aloof； you will find it almost impossible to avoid a colony of vermin； which these fellows have a very dexterous method of conveying to strangers。 Some of the Turkish prisoners； whose ransom or exchange is expected； are allowed to go ashore； under proper inspection； and those forcats； who have served the best part of the time for which they were condemned； are employed in public works； under a guard of soldiers。 At the harbour of Nice； they are hired by ship…masters to bring ballast； and have a small proportion of what they earn； for their own use： the rest belongs to the king。 They are distinguished by an iron shackle about one of their legs。 The road from Nice to Ville Franche is scarce passable on horseback： a circumstance the more extraordinary； as those slaves； in the space of two or three months； might even make it fit for a carriage