Uno sguardo intelligente. Genova alla metà del XVIII secolo nelle relazioni del conte di Lavriano.

The essay aims to present three lengthy and exceptional reports written by the Piedmontese ambassador to Genoa between 1753 and 1760, both through a brief contextualization and a complete transcription of the texts. Giuseppe Maria Gioacchino Ferrero (1722-1771), better known in contemporary documents solely as the Count of Lavriano, had a long career as an ambassador, first in Genoa and later in Lisbon, before concluding his life as a reformer of the University of Turin. Lavriano, a member of one of the most important families in Savoyard Piedmont, during his Genoese experience, had the opportunity to observe with great attention both the functioning of the Republic’s institutions and the economic and social aspects of the city. From these observations arose the three reports presented here. The first two, both from 1757, were elaborated in response to the affair concerning the interruption of commercial traffic between Genoa and Spain, desired by the minister Wall and decreed by King Ferdinand VI. They are respectively titled: Reflections on the advantages that trade in Nice could derive from the current interruption of trade between Genoa and Spain, and Information sent by the royal minister to Genoa, Count of Lavriano, regarding trade, manufacturing, etc. The third report, on the other hand, more typical for its political characteristics, was composed and delivered by the diplomat at the end of his mandate under the title: Report of Count of Lavriano upon his return from Genoa.