This Republic was formerly very much inclin'd to espouse the Interests of Spain, when that Crown poffefs'd the Milanese, and the Kingdom of Naples, because most of the Genoefe Nobles had their Eftates in thofe Countries; but now that the fame are pafs'd under the Emperor's Dominion, the Republic is oblig'd to carry it very fair to his Imperial Majefty, or elfe the Doge might be fent for to Vienna, as he was once by Lewis XIV. to Versailles.

I was at Genoa when the Republic fent a Galley to Antibes, to meet the famous Cardinal Alberoni, who, after having experienc'd the Inconstancy of Fortune in Spain, went to Italy, with a Design to retire to the Duchy of Parma, his native Country. The Difgrace of this Cardinal furpriz'd all Europe, except the Duke of Orleans the Regent of France, who was the Author of it. During the Truce to which the Cardinal had prevail'd on the King of Spain to give his Confent, the Duke improv'd that Interval to negociate that Minister's Removal; and that he might fucceed the better in his Defign, he engag'd the Duke of Parma, who was the Queen of Spain's Father-in-Law and Uncle, to act in Concert with him, for inducing the King of Spain to put away his Prime Minifter. The Duke of Parma charg'd Scotti, his Minister at Madrid, to negotiate this Affair, in which he met at first with astonishing Obstacles; but at laft the Advantages he promis'd the Queen, on the Part of the Regent of France, both for herfelf and her Children, crown'd the Negociation with Succefs. The Cardinal was difmifs'd, perhaps, with more Precipitancy than he ought to have been, confidering the Attachment he had always fhewn to the Queen, and the Care he had

taken

taken to roufe Spain from the Lethargy into which that Crown was fallen when he was declar'd Prime Minifter. 'Twas on the 5th of January that Cardinal Alberoni found himself all at once abandon'd by every body, and oblig'd to fly from a Country where he had appear'd with more Authority than the King himself. The Order was fignify'd to him by Don Miguel Durand, Secretary of State, and was in the very Hand-writing of the King, who deliver'd it to the Secretary as he was going to the Pardo to hunt. His Catholick Majefty thereby order'd his Minister to concern himfelf no more with State Affairs, to leave Madrid in eight Days, and the Kingdom in three Weeks; and moreover, the Cardinal was forbid coming all that while to any Place where the King and Queen

were.

The Difgrace of this Minister cou'd not but be the more pleafing to the Duke of Orleans, because it happen'd at a Time when the Cardinal was taking his Measures for accommodating Matters with England; whither he had sent M. de Seiffan, formerly a Colonel in France, afterwards Lieutenant-General in Poland, and now Captain-General in Spain, to treat with my Lord Stanhope, who was then at the Head of the Af fairs of that Kingdom. M. de Seifjan embark'd at the Groyne, after having been detain'd there a good while by contrary Winds: When he was out at Sea, he met with a fevere Tempest, in which he had like to have been caft away; but at length he arriv'd at London. He went immediately to my Lord Stanhope, to whom he was known, and as he was going up Stairs, who should he meet coming down booted and fpurr'd, but the very Courier from France that brought VOL. IV. I

my

my Lord Stanhope Letters from the Abbot, afterwards the Cardinal, du Bois, acquainting my Lord of Cardinal Alberoni's Difgrace. M. de Seiffan, who knew nothing of the Change that had been made at the Court of Madrid while he was buffeted and tofs'd about by the Winds and Waves, went in to my Lord Stanhope, and told him, That he was come to furrender himself his Prisoner, because he came from Spain without a Paffport, unless he wou'd receive the Carte blanche he brought him for Peace, inftead of fuch Paffport. At the fame time he produc'd to the English Minifter the Full Power which he had from Cardinal Alberoni to treat of a Peace. My Lord Stanhope did not interrupt him; but when he had done fpeaking, he ask'd him if it had been long fince he left Madrid: M. de Seiffan telling him all the Delays that had happen'd in his Voyage, my Lord gave him the Abbot Du Bois's Letter to read. The Envoy of Spain was Thunder-ftruck when he ready this Letter, and faid thereupon to my Lord, That he had nothing to fay to all this, and that he refign'd himfelf to his Difcretion, to deal with him as he thought fit. My Lord anfwer'd him very civilly, That he should be forry to abuse the Confidence he had repos'd in him, by coming to him without a Paffport, and that he would leave him at his Liberty to return to Spain: which he did accordingly, without Delay.

'Twas faid that Cardinal Alberoni was fo piqu'd against the King and Queen of Spain, that he study'd Revenge; and that therefore as foon as he was got out of the Kingdom, he wrote to the Regent, to defire his Protection, and to affure him, that if he would be fo good as to give him Shelter at Paris, he would let him

into the Detail of the moft fecret Affairs of the Spanish Court. I do not think that any Credit ought to be given to Reports of this Nature, invented for no other End but to blacken the Reputation of a Minister in Disgrace. Be this as it will, the History of thefe Times, whether True or Falfe, does Honour to the Regent; for they fay that this Prince rejected the Cardinal's Offers, and contented himself with fending him a Paffport, that he might go to Italy. I faw him actually arrive there: He landed in the Dominions of Genoa, where his Eminency, depending on the Public Faith, and upon the gracious Reception he had from the Republic, which fent a Deputation to meet him, thought himself perfectly fecure. But Fortune, who was in full Cry after him to run him down, was not content with his being difgrac'd by the King of Spain; for the Pope wrote to the Doge and Senate, demanding that the Cardinal might be arrested; which was no fooner faid than done. Thus, in lefs than two Months, this unfortunate Cardinal faw himself banifh'd from a Court where he was the Difpencer of Favours, pillag'd upon the Road, and depriv'd of all his Papers, in danger of being murder'd by the Miquelets, and at last arrested in his own Country, where he arriv'd in Confidence that the Public Faith would have been his Safeguard. If any Events require Courage to fupport them, fuch as thefe do; but of this Virtue Cardinal Alberoni had an eminent Share, and I was always aftonish'd to fee with what Intrepidity he behav'd in his Adversity.

After I had stay'd a while at Genoa, I went to Sarzana †, and from thence to PISA §, which + See Vol. II. p. 143. § Se: Vol. II. p. 141.

is a City in the Dominions of Tuscany, with a University and an Archbishoprick, and was formerly a Republic of no fmall Confequence in the Mediterranean, till it was conquer'd by the Dukes of Tuscany of the Family of the Medicis, who have ever fince remain'd Mafters of it. The City of Pifa has pompous Buildings: The Metropolitan Church call'd the Dome, is of admirable Beauty: 'Tis built in the Gothic Order, and its Roof is fupported by 76 Marble Pillars : The Dome and Roof of the Choir are also painted in the Gothic Style. This great Church is hung all over with Crimson Velvet, adorn'd with broad Gold Lace: In this Church is a Chapel with a very magnificent Altar, the Antipendium of which, and the Tabernacle, are folid Silver of admirable Workmanship. Great Notice is alfo taken of the Gates of this Church, which are all of caft Iron, with very fine BaffoRelievo's upon them, representing Historical Paffages of the old Old Teftament. Near this

Church is the great Church-yard, which is encompafs'd with a Gallery, whofe Walls painted in Frefco reprefent the Hiftory of the City of Pifa. At a fmall Distance from this Churchyard is the Baptiftery, which is a Chapel built of a round Figure, in the Form of a Dome, fupported by Pillars of Oriental Granite, bigger and higher than ufual: The Pavement and Steps of the Altar are of very curious Stones inlaid in the Mofaic Manner; and the Preacher's Pulpit is an admirable Piece of Work of white Marble.

St. Stephen's Church is alfo worthy of the Attention of the curious Traveller, for its coftly Paintings, Gilding, Marble Statues, and particularly the rich Spoils taken from the Infidels. In this Church meets the Chapter of the Knights

of