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inary； as those slaves； in the space of two or three months； might even make it fit for a carriage； and the king would not be one farthing out of pocket； for they are quite idle the greatest part of the year。
The gallies go to sea only in the summer。 In tempestuous weather； they could not live out of port。 Indeed； they are good for nothing but in smooth water during a calm； when； by dint of rowing； they make good way。 The king of Sardinia is so sensible of their inutility； that he intends to let his gallies rot； and； in lieu of them； has purchased two large frigates in England； one of fifty； and another of thirty guns； which are now in the harbour of Ville Franche。 He has also procured an English officer； one Mr。 A； who is second in command on board of one of them； and has the title of captain consulteur； that is； instructor to the first captain； the marquis de Mi； who knows as little of seamanship as I do of Arabic。
The king； it is said； intends to have two or three more frigates； and then he will be more than a match for the Barbary corsairs； provided care be taken to man his fleet in a proper manner： but this will never be done； unless he invites foreigners into his service； officers as well as seamen； for his own dominions produce neither at present。 If he is really determined to make the most of the maritime situation of his dominions； as well as of his alliance with Great…Britain； he ought to supply his ships with English mariners； and put a British commander at the head of his fleet。 He ought to erect magazines and docks at Villa Franca； or if there is not conveniency for building； he may at least have pits and wharfs for heaving down and careening； and these ought to be under the direction of Englishmen； who best understand all the particulars of marine oeconomy。 Without all doubt； he will not be able to engage foreigners； without giving them liberal appointments； and their being engaged in his service will give umbrage to his own subjects： but； when the business is to establish a maritime power； these considerations ought to be sacrificed to reasons of public utility。 Nothing can be more absurd and unreasonable； than the murmurs of the Piedmontese officers at the preferment of foreigners； who execute those things for the advantage of their country； of which they know themselves incapable。 When Mr。 Pn was first promoted in the service of his Sardinian majesty； he met with great opposition； and numberless mortifications； from the jealousy of the Piedmontese officers； and was obliged to hazard his life in many rencounters with them； before they would be quiet。 Being a man of uncommon spirit； he never suffered the least insult or affront to pass unchastised。 He had repeated opportunities of signalizing his valour against the Turks； and by dint of extraordinary merit； and long services not only attained the chief command of the gallies； with the rank of lieutenant…general； but also acquired a very considerable share of the king's favour； and was appointed commandant of Nice。 His Sardinian majesty found his account more ways than one； in thus promoting Mr。 Pn。 He made the acquisition of an excellent officer； of tried courage and fidelity； by whose advice he conducted his marine affairs。 This gentleman was perfectly well esteemed at the court of London。 In the war of 1744； he lived in the utmost harmony with the British admirals who commanded our fleet in the Mediterranean。 In consequence of this good understanding； a thousand occasional services were performed by the English ships； for the benefit of his master； which otherwise could not have been done； without a formal application to our ministry； in which case； the opportunities would have been lost。 I know our admirals had general orders and instructions； to cooperate in all things with his Sardinian majesty； but I know； also； by experience； how little these general instructions avail； when the admiral is not cordially interested in the service。 Were the king of Sardinia at present engaged with England in a new war against France； and a British squadron stationed upon this coast； as formerly； he would find a great difference in this particular。 He should therefore carefully avoid having at Nice a Savoyard commandant； utterly ignorant of sea affairs； unacquainted with the true interest of his master； proud； and arbitrary； reserved to strangers； from a prejudice of national jealousy； and particularly averse to the English。
With respect to the antient name of Villa Franca； there is a dispute among antiquarians。 It is not at all mentioned in the Itinerarium of Antoninus； unless it is meant as the port of Nice。 But it is more surprising； that the accurate Strabo； in describing this coast； mentions no such harbour。 Some people imagine it is the Portus Herculis Monaeci。 But this is undoubtedly what is now called Monaco； the harbour of which exactly tallies with what Strabo says of the Portus Monaeci neque magnas； neque multas capit naves； It holds but a few vessels and those of small burthen。 Ptolomy； indeed； seems to mention it under the name of Herculis Portus； different from the Portus Monaeci。 His words are these： post vari ostium ad Ligustrium mare； massiliensium； sunt Nicaea； Herculis Portus； Trophaea Augusti； Monaeci Portus； Beyond the mouth of the Var upon the Ligurian Coast； the Marsilian Colonies are Nice； Port Hercules； Trophaea and Monaco。 In that case； Hercules was worshipped both here and at Monaco； and gave his name to both places。 But on this subject； I shall perhaps speak more fully in another letter； after I have seen the Trophaea Augusti； now called Tourbia； and the town of Monaco； which last is about three leagues from Nice。 Here I cannot help taking notice of the following elegant description from the Pharsalia； which seems to have been intended for this very harbour。
Finis et Hesperiae promoto milite varus； Quaque sub Herculeo sacratus numine Portus Urget rupe cava Pelagus； non Corus in illum Jus habet； aut Zephirus； solus sua littora turbat Circius； et tuta prohibet statione Monaeci。
The Troops advanc'd as far As flows th' Hesperian Boundary； the Var； And where the mountain scoop'd by nature's hands； The spacious Port of Hercules； expands；
Here the tall ships at anchor safe remain Tho' Zephyr blows； or Caurus sweeps the Plain； The Southern Blast alone disturbs the Bay； And to Monaco's safer Port obstructs the way。
The present town of Villa Franca was built and settled in the thirteenth century； by order of Charles II。 king of the Sicilies； and count of Provence； in order to defend the harbour from the descents of the Saracens； who at that time infested the coast。 The inhabitants were removed hither from another town； situated on the top of a mountain in the neighbourhood； which those pirates had destroyed。 Some ruins of the old town are still extant。 In order to secure the harbour still more effectually； Emanuel Philibert； duke of Savoy； built the fort in the beginning of the last century； together with the mole where the gallies are moored。 As I said before； Ville Franche is built on the face of a barren rock； washed by the sea