ANCIENT AND MODERN
MALTA.
" Ce Rocher héroïque, en hauts Faits si fertile,
« Qui voit fumer de loin le Sommet de l'Etna,
" Malthe.
« Les Lauriers seuls sembloient y croitrė
« Sans Culture.”
Homme des Champs.
VOL. I.
IN TWO BOOKS.
ܙܪ '
Printed by T. DAVISON, White-friars.

2
2
Isle of Cefalonia
38 League
88
Three Thousand Maltese Cannes
Island of Rhodes
223 Sea Leagues
50 100
300
500
2000
2000
3000
of the
Sea Leagues of Three Thousand Fathoms
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250 Sea Leagues
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CHEVRLOUIS de BOISGELIN,
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20
communicated to the
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Magdale
S
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Fome Piet
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Menzele
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TA
Tripoli 64. Leagues
M
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D I T E R R A N Z
A
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4 V
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sambi
Cape Zerbi 50 Leagues
E. Coast of C. Bon 51 Leagues
E last of Barbary 67 Leagues
64 ledde
old Tripoli
Published as the Aet tirects, June 4th 1904,DV G. & J. Robinson, Paternoster Row.
'4 bv .
1
2-60
ANCIENT AND MODERN
MALTA:
CONTAINING
A FULL AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT
might be
OF THE
PRESENT STATE OF THE ISLANDS OF
1
MALTA AND GOZA,
THE HISTORY OF THE
KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM,
ALSO
A NARRATIVE OF THE EVENTS WHICH ATTENDED THE
CAPTURE OF THESE ISLANDS BY THE FRENCH, AND THEIR
CONQUEST BY THE ENGLISH:
ใ
AND
AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING AUTHENTIC STATE-PAPERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS.
I
BY LOUIS DE BOISGELIN,
KNIGHT OF MALTA.
"De tous les Ordres qui prirent Naissance à l'Occasion des Guerres de la Terre Sainte,
celui de ST. JEAN est le seul qui, conservant l'Esprit de sa première Institution, a toujours
continué depuis à défendre la Religion."
HENAULT,
ILLUSTRATED WITH
A large Chart of the Islands; Views, Portraits, Antiques, fc.
IN TWO VOLUMES. .
VOL. I.
.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR RICHARD PHILLIPS, No. 8, BRIDGE-STREET, BLACK-FRIARS.
1805.
d
Bui:..
?
DEDICATION.
$
i
1
WERE I to publish the history of a
monarch who, not merely satisfied with attend-
ing to the prosperity of his kingdom, and making
his people happy, is likewise desirous of restoring
to less fortunate sovereigns those dominions of
which they have been unjustly deprived; or that
of a young prince who, scarcely mounted on his
throne, appears to possess the same sentiments,
and occupies himself in pursuing the same object;
I should undoubtedly offer the tribute of my
labours to his Britannic Majesty, or the Emperor
of Russia: but being about to present to the Reader
the annals of an order the naval combats of which
make so striking a figure in every page of this
History, I do not hesitate a moment in dedicating
1
AVNI ? 22.-33
it to
dirim
THE BRITISH NAVY,
which has produced so many celebrated heroes,
whose brilliant exploits may be said to rival even
those of ancient chivalry.
ADVERTISEMENT.
*
✓
.
DURING the blockade of Malta by the English, whose speriour
navy and able officers left little room to doubt that it would shortly
be rescued from the hands of the French, and from those of the
rebels who had delivered it into their possession ; the idea struck me,
that, unmindful of the sovereigns who, for nearly three centuries,
had reigned over Malta in so glorious manner, this island was at
that moment regarded merely as a military post, of the same nature
as that of Gibraltar. This reflection first induced me to write the
History I now present to the Public, which, as will plainly appear,
was completed before the signing the definitive treaty :--this treaty
has proved the fallibility of my opinion on various points ; I, how-
ever, think it a duty to publish those opinions in their original state,
hoping at the same time, that such a proof of frankness and sub-
mission to superior judgments will entitle me to the indulgence of
the able negotiators of a peace, which, by securing the tranquillity
of Europe, is cheaply purchased at the expence of still more im-
portant sacrifices.
!
1
PREFACE.
.
AT a time when Malta makes so conspicuous a figure on the
political scene of Europe, in the midst of the numerous govern-
ments overturned by the most astonishing revolution which
has hitherto been recorded in the annals of history, I have
been induced to believe that it would be both useful and en-
tertaining to comprise in one single work every thing' most
deserving notice relative to that celebrated island, now be-
come an object of universal attention ; to add all those
circumstances which timidity and a mistaken idea of poli-
tics have hitherto concealed in all the modern histories of
Malta ; to throw a ligħt on those events which have been mis-
represented by premeditated malice, or ill explained through
inattention; and to lay before the world all that has been
passed over in silence, either from a degree of ignorance
scarcely pardonable in an author, or from motives of self-
interest still more culpable. For this purpose, I find it neces-
sary to divide my work into two parts :—the first of which will
:
include the geographical description of the island, together
+
VOL. I.
a
-
ii
PREFACE.
.
with the different monuments of the arts still remaining, the
government, administration, natural history, trade, and finances;
the second will contain the history of the knights of Malta
from the time of their departure from Rhodes to the begin-
ping of the nineteenth century.
The authors who have supplied the most curious informa-
tion on the subjects contained in the first part of this History,
are Abela, Ciantar, Houël, La Borde, and Boccone : but their
works are now become extremely scarce. I have comprised in
a single volume the most interesting particulars (independ-
ent of the history of the knights) given by those authors, and
have added several others which have either escaped their
notice or did not enter into the plans of their respective
?
works.
1
a
The second part contains a brief account of the knights
for the first two centuries after the institution of the order; in
which I merely take notice of some of the most striking fea-
tures in their history, in order to describe with accuracy the
interesting circumstances which preceded and accompanied
the surrender of Malta to the French. This appears to me still
{
1
PREFACE.
iii
U
more necessary, since all the authors who have treated of
this unhappy event have either expressed themselves with
an indecent virulence, disgusting to a reader of taste, or
given way to a.decided spirit of party offensive to all lovers
of truth.
I have therefore added to the particulars taken from the
works quoted in the following catalogue, others which have
been communicated to me by persons of the most respectable
characters and the strictest veracity, who were themselves
witnesses of most of the facts related in this History, and
whose names I extremely regret that I am not permitted at
present to make public.
܀
A principal part of my design in the following work has
been, to give to the world an exact relation of the cruel cata-
strophe of Malta, unfold the guilt and atrocious injustice of
the most dangerous government hitherto known; and prove,
,
that the order of Malta has for years past distinguished itself
for piety and military exploits in as illustrious a manner as
during the most renowned ages of ancient chivalry.
a 2
.
2
A
.. iv
PREFACE.
i
This order has therefore surely a right to resume a post
hitherto so honourably filled, but of which it has been depriv-
ed by the reign of tyranny ;-that reign which overturned
all those religious, civil, and military institutions, which had
ever comforted the afflicted, and assured the tranquillity and
happiness of mankind.
:
1
t
)
A
.
.
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{
I
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V
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}
CONTENTS
.
OT
THE FIRST VOLUME.
R
EXPLANATION of same terms peculiar to the order of Malta.
Page ix
Value of the money, weights, and measures, in Malta, compared with those of
England.
xii
Catalogue of the principal works written on Malta and the knights of St. John of
Jerusalein
Supplement to the Catalogue.
xlii
XV
1
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1
BOOK I.
AN ACCOUNT OF ANCIENT AND MODERN MALTA. .
CHAPTER I.
The first authors of antiquity who have written on Malta. Different changes in
the government. Monuments left by the nations to which, at various times,
the island has been subject.
1
CHAP. II.
Situation of Malta. Description of the ports, towns, old city, and edifices; judi-
cial and civil government; the grotto of St. Paul; the city Valetta ; its situa-
tion, foundation, principal edifices, curious monuments both in painting and
sculpture. The university; its functions, utility, and abuses in the admini-
stration.
20
>
I
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAP. III.
Malta divided into two parts. Description (by way of itinerary) of the most re-
markable places: as the Boschetto; ancient ruts; mountains and fountains
in the neighbourhood of Cazal Zebug; St. Anthony's; ruins of Ghorghenti;
Hagiar Kan; excavation near Makluba; ruins of a Greek house at Casal
Zorrick; ancient tower at Gudia; Kasar ; ruins of the Temple of Her-
cules.
44
CHAP. IV.
ܪ .
Goza not sufficiently fertile to supply its inhabitants with corn without foreign
assistance. Form of government established in that island, which only con-
tains six casals. Description of the most interesting objects of curiosity, viz.
the castle; Rabbatto; the grotto in the Biasi garden; Quaccia ; ruins of an
-ancient edifice; Giants Tower; Zebug; Alabaster Quarry ; Convent of
Capuchin friars; port St. Paul; Grotto; Clock-maker's Salt-works; extra-
ordinary phenomenon; Mushroom Rock; dangerous manner of catching
birds and fish; Sasso di San Paolo.
60
CHAP. V.
Description of the Maltese; their dress ; ancient customs; Ceremonies observed
at weddings and funerals; diversions called La Cocagna and La Cucciha
li
Maltese language; Maltese sonnets.
77
CHAP. VI.
Fertility of the soil in Malta: manner and time of cultivating it. Growth of cot-
ton; orange-trees. Bees; remarkable animals; dogsmasses--sheep; sur-
prising fruitfulness of the latter. Manner of shooting different birds of
passage and falcons. Population ; wonderful encrease of the inhabitants ;
commerce, provision of corn; custom-houses, speronares; adventurous
spéculations of the Maltese merchants.
101
CHAP. VII
The climate of Malta ; degrees of heat and cold; principal winds. Nature and
form of the rocks in Malta and Goza ; influence of the sea on these rocks;
their daily diminution. Grottoes and subterraneous places on the sea-coast.
Principal fossils in Malta and Goża. Earth found in Malta of the same qua-
Plants of Malta. Culture of fig-trees by caprification.
Description of a peculiar species of caterpillar.
lity as kaolin.
1
117
i
:
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:
CONTENTS.
Yii
155
158
170
Catalogue of the principal Plants, the natural growth of Malta.
List of some of the scarcest and most curious Plants of Malta.
156
Catalogue of Plants which, according to Cavallini, grow in Malta and Goza.
Explicatio Nominum Authorum.
Catalogue of several Plants which, according to Forskäl, grow in Malta, particu-
larly near the Saltworks, together with the distinguishing characteristics of
the said plants, published by him under the title of Florula Melitensis, 173
Catalogue of the different kinds of Fish on the coast of Malta, according to a
learned Physician of that island.
177
BOOK II.
ON THE CONSTITUTION AND FINANCES OF THE ORDER OF MALTA.
:
CHAPTER I.
o
Constitution of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, from its original foundation to
the present times. Changes it has undergone. The legislative and exe-
cutive power, in whom vested. The authority of the grand-master, how far
limited. Extent of the said authority over the knights. To what degree the
order was dependent on the pope and other Christian powers. Independence
the principal basis of its government. Its right of sovereignty acknowledged,
and its rank assigned in the different courts in Europe. Places in the gift of
the grand-master.
181
CHAP. II.
Government of the knights over the Maltese. Laws to which they were sub-
jected under the dominion of the kings of Sicily. Amendment of their
situation. Employments to which they might pretend. Their association
with government. The formation of a language composed of Maltese greatly
favoured by France. Consequences which must infallibly result from such an :
innovation
a
198:
CHAP. III..
The order divided into different classes. Proofs of nobility requisite to be ad-
mitted into the first; proofs of being free citizens necessary to enter into the
}
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viji
CONTENTS.
3
1
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'second. Inns. Egard, the name of a tribunal of justice for trying the
knights; the manner in which it was composed; why assembled. The
ceremony of depriving a knight of the habit; that of restoring it to him.
How far their obedience was required. Reception of a donat, or a brother
de stage.
211
CHAP. IV.
1
Its origin;
A general and analytical table of the order of St. John of Jerusalem.
formation and administration ; priories, bailiwics, and commanderies. Baili-
wic of Brandenburg; its separation from, and reconciliation with, the order
of Malta. Election of the bailiff. Reception of the knights. Situation of
its property. Association of the order of Malta with knights of a different
religion approved by the sovereign pontiff.
A general statement of the commanderies in the bailiwic of Brandenburg.
241
260
CHAP. V.
A general chapter ; how composed ; manner of assembling it ; of deliberating,
; and collecting votes; affairs treated therein ; time of its duration. Ordinary,
complete, secret, and criminal councils. Manner in which the dignities of
the order were divided among the different languages. Names of the places
in the gift of the grand-master and council. Election of the grand-master;
his revenue.
265
List of the inagisterial commanderies which formed a part of the grand-master's
revenue.
286
í
CHAP. VI.
On the finances of the order. General observations on the science of finance.
Meaning of deficit. Origin of loans. Venerable chamber of the common
treasury ; in what manner composed ; its functions ; arrangement of the ac-
counts ; general receipt ; explanation of the articles which compose it. The
annual produce, on an average of ten years. Contingent of each language.
Income of different foundations fallen into the treasury; their amount, and
;
how employed. Explanation of the articles which form the general expences
of the order; their annual amount, on an average of ten years.
A com-
parison between the balance of the treasury in April, 1779, and April, 1789.
A table of receipts and expences.
287
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ix
1
Explanation of some Terms peculiar to the Order of Malta.
.
.
1
BROTHERS-all those who were professed in the order.
Convent--the residence of the grand-master, or his lieutenant: it like-
wise comprehended the church, the infirmary, and the inns of the
eight languages.
Statutes-the rules of the order, which were to be constantly observed,
unless they were revoked by a general chapter. These ordinances,
however, only lasted from one chapter to another; except those,
indeed, which were very expressly confirmed,
Inn-a term well known to the French, Spaniards, and Italians: it
signified a place where the brothers ate together, and where the dif-
ferent nations were assembled.
Piliers“the eight conventual bailiffs, who acted as chiefs and presi-
dents of their respective languages, and as such were termed pillars
or supporters.
Bailiffs-amongst whom were included the conventual and capitular
bailiffs, the priors, and the castellan of emposta. The term bailiff
signified in old French the prefect, or administrator of houses or
any other estates ; for which reason our predecessors gave the name
of bailiff or bailiwic to the commanderies. An estate, or any
other property, let for a term of years and on certain conditions, is
at this present time called bail in France.
Marshal. This was the title of the conventual bailiff of the venerable
language of Auvergne: it was a military term borrowed from the
German by the French, and signified the tribune or commander of
a great body of soldiers.
Turcopolier--the title of the conventual bailiff of the venerable language
of England: it took its name from the Turcopoles, a sort of light
horse, mentioned in the history of the wars carried on by the
Christians in Palestine.
b
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VOL. I.
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X
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a
Council. Whenever this term was simply used in our statutes, or in the
books belonging to the chancery, it only implied the ordinary
council.
Egard—a French term, signifying consideration or respect. This tri-
bunal was a very ancient one, indeed the first established in the
hospital.
Renfort--was taken from the same language, and meant corroborative,
or strengthening
Renfort of renfort-implied doubly corroborated.
Castellan of emposta-meant nearly the same as priors: whenever
aš
priories were mentioned, that castellany was understood to be
implied.
Congregation, or assembly-French terms of the same signification. The
latter meant a meeting of brothers to treat concerning the affairs
of the order
Commanderies---comprised the priories, castellany of emposta, bailiwics,
demesnes, houses of the members, lands, estates, and all other
kind of property belonging to the order.
Livings.-Whenever these were mentioned, either in the statutes or in
the pope's bulls, they meant ecclesiastical livings either with or
without a cure of souls.
Mortuary—the revenue of a commandery, from the moment of the
commander's decease to the 1st of the following May.
Vacancy--the produce of the commandery for the next year after the
expiration of the mortuary. This was the property of the treasury.
Arrears-old debts, or any part of those debts left unpaid.
Treasury dues--the effects of deceased brothers, mortuary, vacancy, re-
sponsions, taxes, pensions, passage fees, and arrears.
Chevisement--was derived from the old French word chevir (to manage),
that is to say, to undertake an enterprise with hopes of success.
The first commandery obtained in right of seniority was likewise
so called.
Mutition-another old French word, signifying nomination or pronun-
ciation; from mutir, to mute, to name, to pronounce. The bro-
, .
.
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xi
}
.
thers employed this term in the different languages when they
declared the person on whom a vacant commandery had been
conferred.
Fiernauds--were the last persons who had been "professed, and who
might properly be called freshmen. It is also an old French' word
very much used in the holy wars, to distinguish the Christians who
came from beyond the seas from those who were born of christian
parents in Palestine; the latter being called Polans, and the former
Fiernauds.
Language-the term employed in the order of Malta to express
nation.
Collect—from the Latin colligere, to collect together. This expression
was made use of when the brothers assembled to discuss different
matters which particularly concerned their language or inn.
Plaintema French term (complaint), requiring no explanation.
Solde, pay-from the word sol (penny), which the French, Spaniards,
and Italians, used among themselves, and which meant a kind of
coin employed for paying the army.
Caravan--in the Syriac and Arabic tongues signifies a company of men
who entered into a partnership for the purpose of trading together.
But in the order of Malta this term was employed in former times
(and indeed ever after) for the brothers who were chosen to be
distributed into different garrisons; likewise for those on board
the galleys, and who were sent in companies to other places.
Disappropriement-divestiture or deprivation of property; and this took
place when a brother made his declaration of all his goods and per-
sonals, of every kind.
Parents. In the proofs produced by the brother knights, this term
comprised father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother, both on
the father's and mother's side.
;
.
-
7
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>
1
xü
::
Value of the Money, Weights, and Measures, in Malta, compared
with those of England.
MONEY.
THEY reckon in Malta by scudi, or crowns of 12 tarins each.
A tarin is 20 grains. The crown also is subdivided into 24 carlini,
containing 240 grains or 1440 piccioli.
A crown is exactly two shillings, and a tarin two pence.
This money is of different value ; being sometimes of silver, and
sometimes of copper. The silver is worth 50 per cent more than the
copper.
The current coin are louis d'or (with the grand-master's effigy) of
8 crowns, or 16 shillings; crowns of 12 tarins; pieces of 8, 6, 4, and
tarins; of 15, 10, 5, and 1 grains worth of silver.
1
I
I
2
1
FOREIGN COINS CURRENT IN MALTA,
With their value in silver and copper.
Value in copper.
Value in silver.
!
56 tarins
84 tarins
32
Spanish pistole
Sequins and ducats .
A livournine
Spanish piastre
1
I
15
16
48
23
24
According to this evaluation, the Maltese silver crown contains 27
as of fine gold, or 382 of fine silver ; and the copper crown 18 as of fine
:
gold, or 255 of fine silver: the former, therefore, is on a par with 381
Dutch sols, and the latter 25 ditto. The Dutch sois is worth about
one penny.
I
1
1
:
;
1
xiii
THE WEIGHTS MOST IN USE IN MALTA.
a
I
गु
.
7
7
The rotolo weighs about two pounds and a half.
The cantaro or quintal of 400 rotoli makes 156 pounds, Amster-
dam weight: 100 pounds Amsterdam commercial weight make 108
English avoirdupois: 100 pounds English avoirdupois make 91 pounds
of Amsterdam commercial weight.
The Sicilian weights being much used in Malta, it is necessary to
remark, that in that island there are two sorts of cantaro; the one called
peso grosso or alla grossa, and the other peso sottile or alla minuta: the
difference between these two is a little more than 10 per cent.
A salma is equal to 25 pounds.
!
.
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
1
The canna is divided into 8 pans, of 9 inches 8 lines each. It
measures 6 feet 5 inches 4 lines. The foot is 11 inches 2 lines
English measure.
LIQUID MEASURES IN MALTA AND SICILY.
a
Caffi is employed for oil, and weighs 19 pounds.
Salma, a wine measure, containing 18 quartonts; and a quartont
12 cartucci.
Salma, a liquid measure in the kingdom of Naples, contains 10
stars. A star is 32 pignotoli or pots, and each pot is about a Paris
.
pint; consequently a salma contains about 320 Paris pints, which make
nearly 650 English pints.
MEASURES FOR DRY GOODS.
Salme, à corn measure, makes 3. Leghorn sacks: the Leghorn
sack of wheat contains 162 pounds, and a sack of flour 150 ditto. An
--
.
-
mond
xiy
I O
IT
Amsterdam last contains 64. Maltese salmes. One hundred Leghorn
pounds make 69 7s Amsterdam commercial pounds, which make 1087
English avoirdupois.
The salme at Palermo is divided into 16 tomoli, which are divided
into 4 mendits. Ten salmes make an Amsterdam last. This kind of
salme weighs 2 cantari and 64 rotoli alla minuta.
2
T
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2
XV
Catalogue of the principal Works written on Malta and the
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, methodically classed accord-
ing to the Order preserved in the Table of Contents.
My original plan was to have noted in the margin the different historians from whom I
have taken the facts and observations which will be found in this work; but fearing to over-
charge it with quotations, I thought it more advisable to give a list of the authors I have
consulted, and to place them in such regular order as may tend to a more exact knowledge of
the works published on the order of St. John of Jerusalem, and the islands of Malta and
Goza,
1
..
ANCIENT AND MODERN MALTA.
FIRST DIVISION. .
>
The ancient Geography of Malta and Goza.
HOMER Odyss. book vi. and vii.
Strabo, book vi.
Diodorus Siculus, book v. chap. 9.
Pliny, book iii. chap. 8. book v.
Ovid, Fast. book iii.
Ptolemy, book iv. chap. 3.
Pomponius Mela, book ii. chap. 5.
Solinus, chap. 32.
Martianus, Capella, book vi.
Apollonius, Argonauticon, book iv.
Thucydides, book vi.
Callimachus, the grammarian.
ng
".
3
A
}
:,
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Xvi
i
SECOND DIVISION.
Modern Geography of Malta and Goza.
Abela, Malta Illustrata, vol. I. This work is translated into Latin by
Ant. Scinero. Printed Burman.
.
Printed Burman. Vol. XV.
Ciantar, Malta Illustr. vol. I.
Cluverius, book ii. chap. 26 and 16, Géogr. Ancient Sicily.
Fascelli, Decad. book i. chap. 1.
Malthe, par un Voyageur François, première Partie.
Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malthe, chap. 2 and 4.
Schoeneuman, Dissertation sur la Géographie d'Homère, page 25.
.
Schlichthors, Dissertation, même sujet, page 13.
Borde (de la), Voyage pittorésque de Naples & de Sicile, vol. IV.
Hoüel, Voyage pittorésque des Isles de Sicile, de Lipari, & de Malthe,
vol. IV.
Madame Dacier, Note sur la première Livre de l'Odissée d'Homère.
}
}
THIRD DIVISION.
1
Ancient Monuments, Statues, Basso-Relievos, Edifices, and Ruins.
Abela.
Ciantar.
Malthe, par un Voyageur François, 1791.
Recherches Historiques et Politiques.
Hoüel, Voyage pittoresque.
Borde (de la), Voyage pittorésque de Sicile, &c.
I'Abbé Navarro (Fr. Giac.) Notizia di tre Bassi-Rilievi in Marn. 1778,
in quarto.
Castelli, Numismat. Vet. Sicil.
:
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{
$
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$
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FOURTH DIVISION.
Maltese Medals with Phænician Inscriptions
Malthe, Voyageur François, 1791.
Abela & Ciantar.
Borde (de la), Voyage pittorésque, with engravings of the Maltese and
Goza medals.
Hoüel.
Recherches Historiques et Politiques, with engravings of the ancient
Maltese and Goza medals.
Malthe, Voyageur François, with exact engravings of medals.
Testa Ferrata (Giaco Marquis), Disserta. de Epigra. Templi Proserpinæ.
Mal. in quarto, 1759.
FIFTH DIVISION.
Authors who have made Mention of ancient Monuments and Medals with
Punic and Phænician Characters, with their different Explanations.
>
Scaliger, Epistola ad Ubertum, quæ 362 ordine est breviterque Facta
Linguæ Punicæ explicat.
Barthius (Gas.), Judicium de Sententiâ Scaligeranà Legendum, &c.
Reinesius (Thomas), Defensio Sententiæ Scaligeri contra Barthium..
Selden.
Samuel Petit.
Rheinfeld.
Bochart, Geographia Sacra.
Bourguet (Louis), Dissertazione sopra l'Alfabéta Etrusco.
Castelli, Nuorism. Vet. Siciliæ.
Spanheim.
Monfaucon, Palæographia Græca, et Antiquit. expliq. vol. II.
VOL. I.
C
xvin
Bernard.
Clerc (le), Bibliothèque Choisie, vol. XI. and XVII.
Fourmont (Michel), Dissertazione sopra una Inscrizione Fenico trovata
in Malta, vol. III. Acad. de Cortone.
L'Abbé Barthélémi, Mém. Acad. Inst. et Belles Lettres.
Swinton, Philosophical Transactions, vol. LX.
Beyer, Linguæ de los Fenicos.
Pellerin.
Dutens, Explication de quelques Médailles.
Venuti, Saggi dell' Academia di Cortona, vol. I. Dissertazione sopra
alcuni Medaglie Maltesi.
Boze, Mémoires de l'Académie, vol. IX.
Guyot de Marne, Dissertazione sopra un' Inscrizione Punica e Greca.
Journal de Trevoüx, 1736.
Saggi, del' Academia di Cortona.-Several volumes.
Agostini, Dialoghi delle Medaglie.
Borgia, Dissertation sur une ancienne Inscription trouvée à Malthe en
1749, in quarto.
Agius (I. Pierre), Sur les Pierres Sépulcrales trouvées au Goze. Rome,
1766, une Feuille Volante.
Paruta.
Lastranosa, de los Medagli Disconosc.
.
1
SIXTH DIVISION.
1
Geographical modern Maps of Malta and Goza which have been published,
besides the large Atlasses.
The principal are as follow.
Lafreri. Rome, 1551. Id. Venice. Id. 1565, larger than the first.
Zenoï (Domenico), 1566, at Venice, with the position of the
occasioned the raising of the siege of Malta.
Homan, a Latin map at Nuremburg. A new one since published, with
a view.
army which
t
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5
i
Wit, Amsterdam.
Sculter, Augsbourg.
Rossi. The same in his Mercurio Geographico.
Vouillemont (de), 1662; very incorrect.
Covent and Moftiet. The same as that by de Wit.
Beaulieu, with a border, 1646.
Patrini (Paulo de).
Coronelli, 1689.
Van Keulen, a Dutch marine map.
Aa (Vander), a Latin map.
Berrey, a French map.
Cavallini (I. B.) Leghorn, 1642.
Valk and Peter Schenk, Amsterdam. Latin,
.
Pauli (Sebastiana), Latin map.
Furlanetto (Giace. Maria), Italian map.
Duval, 1664, French.
Dapper.
Palmeus, 1751, since copied in English, and drawn anew in France.
Jaillot, 1781.
Capitain, 1798.
5
SEVENTH DIVISION.
The principal Plans of the City of Malta, comprehending under that Title
the City Valetta, La Sangle, the Burgh, Mola, and the Fortifications
which surround these three Towns; together with all the other Forts
or strong Places in the Islands of Malta and Goza.
Borde (de la), Voyage pittorésque de Sicile.-Two plans of the city of
Malta ; the one geometrical, and the other a bird's-eye view.
Palmeus.-- This is the most exact, 1751 and 1757.- Plan of the city
Cambray, in Goza.
Coliquon, with the new and old fortifications.
Furtanetto.
C2
.
:
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Xx
Berrey, Les Villes, Forts, & Châteaux, de Malthe, 1724,
-Succhielli (Filippo), Valetta, Cita Nova di Malta. · A Siennes .
Lauro (Lauro), Plan of La Valetta. Ital. 1631.
Raignault and Douillier, Plan of La Valetta. Ital.
Rabel (J. Briot.), Plan of the new City of Malta. Latin.
Mortier (Pierre), Plan of La Valetta.
l'alumbi Novarien, Plan of Fort St. Elmo, called St. Ermo, 1566.
Merian, Plan of the City Valetta.
Coronelli, Plan of the City of Malta, in which are traced out some For-
tifications intended to be made, 1688.
Danet, Plan of the City of Malta, without Fort Manuel.
Langres (de).
.:
1
1
EIGHTH DIVISION.
$
Travels and particular Descriptions of the Islands of Malta and Goza.*
Quintin (F. I.) Insulæ Melitæ Descriptio, ex Commentariis rerum quo-
tidianarum, Lugd. 1536, in quarto.
Id. in folio, per Vander Aa.
Lauro (Giacomo), Pianta et breve Historia della Nobilissima Isola di
Malta, in quarto, with a Plan of the City Valetta and the Grand
Caraque of the Order. --Small volume.
Fontanus, de Bello Rhodio, Libri tres, quibus adjuncta Insulæ Melitæ
descriptio in Fol. -in Italian, quarto, 1516, Venezia.
Megiserius (Jeron), propugnaculum Europæ. Small volume, in German
Leipzig, 1606.--The same translated into French by Jean Jacquelin,
printed at Porentrui, 1611, in duodecimo.
Scinerius (Joan. Antonius), Descriptio Melitæ, translated from the
Italian, at Leyden, in folio-Vander Aa.
1
* I make no mention in this place of the different books of geography containing descrip-
tions of Malta and Goza: I will only say, that I have not seen one that was not in many respects
erroneous.
1
3
.
xxi
a
1
Niderstadt, Malta vetus et nova, printed at Helmstadt, 1660.-Small
volume.
Anonymous, New Account of Travels through Malta, with a Descrip-
tion of that Island, by, a French Gentleman, 1679.--Small volume.
Da Sylva Freire Manoel Thomas Balio de Leca.
Relaçam de Estado prezente da Ilha de Malta. Lisboa, 1751, in quarto.
Porcacchi (Thomaso), Descrizzione dell'Isola di Malta in the
work. L'Isole piu famose del Mondo, p. 58. Venice, 1575, in
quarto.
Solis (Julio Cesare), dell'Isola di Malta, in the work entitled Descriz-
zione di Malta, Isole famossissme, p. 7. Padua, 1646, in quarto.
Veryard (M. D.) Voyage en Hollande, France, Italie, Malthe, 1682.
Dryden, Travels to Sicily and Malta.
Marmot, Descriptio Afric. Liv. ii.
Dapper, Description of Malta, in the work already quoted. Descrip-
tion of Africa, translated, in folio, Amsterdam, 1686.
Du Mont, Voyage en France, Allemagne, et à Malthe. A la Haye,
1699, in duodecimo.
Motraye (de la), Voyages en Europe, en Asie, et en Afrique, 1727, in
folio.
Brydone, a Tour through Sicily and Malta. London, in octavo, two
volumes.
Swinburne.
Hoüel. The work already quoted.
Borde (de la), Voyage pittoresque de Sicile.
Abela, above-mentioned work.
Ciantar, ditto.
Riedsel (le Baron), Voyage en Sicile et Grande Gréce.
Borch (Comte de), Voyage en Sicile et à Malthe, two vols. fig.
Malthe, par un Voyageur François, 1791.
Mimant, Notices Historiques sur Malthe, copied from the preceding
work.
Malthe Corse et Gibraltar, 1797. An almost exact copy of the work
entitled-Malthe, par un Voyageur François.
I
xxi
Feuillée (le Pere la), Journal des Observations Physiques, volume I.
page 41.
Anonymous, Neuestes Gemälde von Malta, or New Picture of Malta,
two small volumes in duodecimo, 1799.
NINTH DIVISION.
Natural History, Climate, and physical Constitution, of Malta and Goza,
Abela..
Ciantar.
Dolomieu (Commander).
Hoüel, Voyage pittorésque.
Malthe, par un Voyageur François, 1791.
Recherches Historiques et Politiques.
Bocone (Paul), Icones et Descriptiones Variarum Plantarum Sicilæ,
Melitæ, Galliæ, et Italiæ, &c. 1674, in quarto.
Theatro Sheldoniano.
Id. Museo di Fisica e di' Esperienze variato e decorato di Osservazioni
naturali, Venet. 1697, page 56, fig. of the Fungus Melitensis Tube-
rosus, page 69. Dissertation on the Fungus Melitensis, page 58.
Observations on the Maltese Earth. Observations on the Glosso-
petra of Malta.
Cavallinus (Phil.), Pugillus Meliteus, seu Notitia Plantarum in Melita
et Gaulo Insulis. Rome, 1689, in duodecimo.
Nierembergus, de Melita, Insula et Lapide Sti. Pauli.
e
e
34
TENTH DIVISION.
Maltese Language.
Majus (I. Henr.) Specimen Linguæ Punicæ. Dissertation of thirty-six
pages.
xxiii
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Reinesius (Thomas), Instrumenta Linguæ Panicæ, Errori Populari,
Arabicam et Punicam eandem Opposita. Altenburgi, 1637, in
quarto.
Agius (Canonica Giov. Franc.) della Lingua Punica presentemente
usata da Maltesi ja Roma, 1750, in octavo"; in due dissertazioni:
la prima intit. Dell Origine della Lingua Punica presentemente
?
usata da Maltesi; la seconda intit. Del Vantagio che puo appor-
tare a tutti la Lingua Punica presentemente usata da Maltesi.
Id. Nuova Scuola di Grammatica per agevolmente apprendere la Lin-
gua Punica Maltese.
.
Id. Idea d'un Dizionario della Lingua Punica Maltesc.
Gebelin (Court de), Monde Primitif.
Vassallo, Dictionnaire Grammaire Malthese. A Rome.
ELEVENTH DIVISION.
Government, Constitution, Laws, and Statutes, of the Order of St.John of
Jerusalem.
:
Stabilimenta Rhodiorum Militum Ord. St. Joannis Hieresolym. Ve-
nice, 1495, in folio: per Bernardinum Stagninum de Monte Fer-
rato. Ditto, Ulmæ, 1496, in folio.
Stabilimenta Militum S. Ordinis Divi Joannis Hieros. Salamant. 1534,
in folio.
Statuta ordinis Domus Hospitalis Hierusal. Romæ, apud Antonium
Bladum, 1556, in fol. 23d June. Ditto, Romæ, 1556, 3d August.
Regla de los Cavelleros de Milicia del Hospital de St. Jean Baptiste de
Jérusalem, in octavo, without the name either of town or printer.
Statuti Tradotti dal Cav. Fra. Paolo del Rosso in Fiorenze, 1570, in
octavo.
Nova Statutorum Ordinis St. Johannis Hierosolymitani. Madrid,
,
1577, in folio.
Statuta Hospital. Hierusal. Romæ, 1588, in folio.
Χxiv.
1
Statuti della Religione de Cavalieri Gierosolimitani, tradotti dal Cava-
lier Fra Paolo del Rosso. Fiorenze, 1567, in octavo.
Gli Statuti della Santa Religione di San Giov. Gerosol. tradotti da
Giacomo Rosio. Romæ, 1589, in quarto.
Volume che contiene gli Statuti della Santa Religione Gieros. 1676, by
Bartolomeo Cotte, in folio. Ditto, 1719, by Ant. Stronico, in
folio.
Lomellini, Gli Statuti della sacra Religione; con le Ordinazione dell’Ca-
pitolo Generale celebrato 1603: aggiunto gli Privilegi, edizmodo
di dar la Croce, in quarto.
Montoya (Gaspard de), Stabilimenta Militum Sacra Ordinis de Sancto
Joanne. Hierosol.
Boyssat (Baudouir et Naberat), in L'Histoire des Chevaliers de l'Ordre
de St. Jean de Jérusalem. Paris editions of 1629, 1643, and
1659. There is a translation of the institutions and statutes of
the orders.
Descluseaux (Commandeur), Recueil des Priviléges de l'Ordre:
Lambert (Chevalier), Recueil des Privileges de l'Ordre.
Borgo Forte, Gli Statuti della Santa Religione Gerosol. Vertot has
translated them into French.
Vertot, Histoire de l'Ordre de Malthe-quarto volume. Traduction des
Statutes de l'Ordre de Malthe, et un Traité de son Gouvernement.
Codice del Sacro Militare Ordine Gierosolimitano riordinato, per Co-
mandimento del Sacro Generale Capitolo, celebrato nell' Anno
1776, Sotto gli Auspici di sua Altezza Eminentissima il gran
Maestro Fra. Emmanuel de Rohan, 1782, in folio. Printed at
Malta-505 sheets.
Compendio delle Materie conten. nel Codici del Sacro Militare Orn
dino Gierosolimitano. Printed at Malta, 1783, in folio-162
sheets.
Garavita (Grand-prior of Lombardy), Compendio Alfabetico de Statuti
della Religione Gierosol. 1718, in folio.
Escanno (Ferdinando), Propugnaculum Hierosolimitanum, sive Religi-
onis Militaris Sancti Jols. Hierosol. Militiæ regularis Compendium.
1
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XXV
1
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Osterhausen (Christian von), Statuta Ordnungen und Gebrauche des
Ordens St. Johannis von Jerusalem. Frankfort, 1644, by Joh.
David Zinnerra, in octavo.
Osterhausen (Christian von), Bericht dessen was zu Erhaltung des
Ordens St. Johannis von Jerusalem vonnothen. Secunda editio,
Augspurg, 1650, per Andrean Aperger, in octavo. Id. Frank-
fort, 1694, by Joh. Dav. Zinnerra, in octavo.
Osterhausen (Christian von), Vortreflickheit des Maltheser Ordens
Augsbourg, 1752, by Eberhard Klett, typis Andr. Arpergen, in
octavo.
Brettevil (J. B. Bailli de), Lettera ad un Amico sulle Leggi e Governo
della Religione Gerosolym. Lucca, 1763, in octavo.
TWELFTH DIVISION.
Ordinances and Military Regulations.
Statuti ed Ordinazioni del Emmo, Gran-Maestro F. Alofio Vignacourt,
sopra gli Armamenti. In Malta, e Ristampati, in Messina. 1658.
Rigolamenti militari fatti per le serviggio particolare del Regimento
di Malta. 1776, Malta, in octavo.
Ordinanze militari fatti per Ordine di sua Altezza Eminentissima.
Malta, 1776, in octavo.
Ordinanze militari per regolare il Servizzio delle Piazze, Fortezze, et
Castelli di Malta: 1777, in quarto.
.
$
THIRTEENTH DIVISIO N.
!
A General History of the Order, and the Grand-Masters.
Pantaleon (Henri), Historia militaris Ordinis Johannitarum, Rhodiorum
aut Melitensium Equitum. Basileæ, 1581, in folio.
d
.
VOL. I.
i
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xxvi
3
Rosio (Giacomo), Istoria della Santa Religione e Milizia di San
Giovanni Gerosolimitano. Three volumes in folio. First edition
at Rome, 1594, with two first parts. Second edition at Naples,
1684. Venetian edition, 1695.
Pozzo (Il Commentatore Fra. Bartolomeo), Istoria della Santa Re-
ligione di San Giovanni Gerosolimitano. At Verona, 1703: Venice,
1715, two volunies in quarto.
Avvertimento a chi leggi l'Istoria del Commend. Fr: Bartol, del Pozzo.
Cologne, 1705, in octavo.
Boyssat (Seigneur de Licieu), Histoire des Chevaliers de l'Hôpital de
Saint Jean de Jérusalem. Lyons, 1602, in quarto, two volumes.
Ditto, par Jean Baudoin. In folio, a fine edition at Paris.
Ditto, par F. A. Naberat, Conseiller et Aumonier de la Reine.
Ville (Jean Claude de la), Histoire de l'Ordre Religieux de St. Jean
Hospitalier et Militaire.
Funes (Juan Augustin de), Cronica de la Réligion de St. Jean
Bautista di Jerusalem. Parte I. en Valencia, 1626, Parte II. en
Saragoça, 1639, in folio.
Ditto, rie Origine Equitum Melitensium. In French, 1605, in quarto.
Vertot (l'Abbé de), Histoire des Chevaliers Hospitaliers de St. Jean de
Jérusalem, appellés depuis les Chevaliers de Rhodes, et aujourd-
hui les Chevaliers de Malthe. Four volumes in octavo, 1726 : six
volumes, duodecimo, Paris, 1761 and 1772. (In the duodecimo
edition there is a list of the knights received into the three lan-
guages of France, which is omitted in the quarto edition.) An
English translation in folio, two volumes, with the same en-
gravings as in the Paris quarto edition : the names have been left
in the original French. Edition in duodecimo, five volumes, in
London, 1763. Ditto, at Edinburgh, in five volumes, 1770.
Paoli (Paulo Antonio), dell' Origine ed Instituto del Sacro Militare
Ordine di San Giov. Battista Gerosolimitano, detto poi de Rodi,
oggi di Malta. Rome, 1781, in quarto.
Lauro. See above, division Geography.
mm
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xxvii
.
Pacciaudi (Paolo Maria), Memorie di Gran-Maestri del Sacro Ordine
Gerosolimitano. Three volumes, quarto, 1780, Parma.
Quintino (Giov.), Epitome delle Vité de Gran-Maestri della Religione
Gerosolim.
Mafullik Cöm.f. Geronimo), Vite de Gran Maestri, della Religione
di S. Gio. Ġeros. 1636. Naples, 1636, in folio.
Fontana (Conte Aldigherio), Origine della Religione Gerosol. con la
serie de suoi Gran-Maestri. Bologna, 1709, duodecimo.
Anonymous. Cronologia de Gran-Maestri della Religione Gerosol. con
breve Compendio Istorico ed il Ritratto di ciascheduno, in-
tagliati a Bulino da Girol. Rossi. Rome.
Brancadori (Gio. Bapt.), Cronologia de Gran-Maestri; con loro ri-
tratti,
FOURTEENTH DIVISION.
Histories and particular Accounts of the first Siege of Rhodes in 1480.
Caorsinus (Guliel.), Obsidionis Rhodiæ urbis Descriptio. In quarto, 1480.
Another edition, Ulmæ, 1496.
Kay (John, Poet-laureat), The Siege of the noble and invincible City
of Rhodes. In folio.
Anonymous. Historia von Rodis, wie Ritterleute sie sind gehalten mit
dem Tyrannischen Kayser, Maehomet, 1513, in folio, Strasburgh.
Dupui (Merri), Relation de Siege de Rhodes en 1480.
Guazzo (Marco), Istorie ove si contengono le Guerre di Maometto
con la Signoria di Venezia, e l'Assedio di Rodi. Venice, 1545,
>
octavo.
FIFTEENTH DIVISION.
>
Siege and Capture of Rhodes in 1522.
Fontanus (Jacob), de Bello Rhodio libri tres. Rome, 1525, in folio.
Paris edition, 1540. Italian edition, Venice, 1545.
d 2
1
***
Xxviii
online
Christoval de Arcos, La muy lamentable Conquista y cruenda Batalta
y
de Rhodas nuovamente sacada de la Lengua Latina, en Castel-
lano. 1526, in folio, at Seville. Translation of Fontanus's work
in a folio edition, at Valladolid.
Anonymous. Wahrhaftige Neue Zeitung der Belagerung der Stadt
Rhodis. In folio, with neither date nor printer's name.
Bourbon (Chev. F. Jacques Betard de), La grande et merveilleuse
Oppugnation de la noble Cité de Rhodes. Paris, 1525, quarto, .
Tercier, Mémoires sur la Prise de la Ville et de l'Isle de Rhodes en 1522,
dans le 26. Tome des Mémoires de l'Académie d’Inscriptions et
Belles Lettres.
Resequier (le Bailli de), Dissertation sur la Trahison imputée à
d'Amarat, Chancelier de l'Ordre, in 12mo..
SIXTEENTH DIVISION. .
.
Sieges of Malta.
:
.
Villegagnon (Nicolas Durand, Commandeur de), De Bello Melitensi.
Paris, in quarto, 1552. French translation, by N. Edvard,
Lyons, 1533, in octavo. There is an account of the plague in
Tripoli in this work.
Salazar (Pietro de), Historia de la Guerra de Africa, con la Destruccion
de la Villa de Monaster y Isla del Gozo. Printed at Naples, 1552.
Baildi (Capitaine), Descrizzione della Assedio di Malta. Translated
into Spanish, 1567, in quarto.
Cressin, Vrai Discours de la Guerre et Siege de Malthe, par les Turcs,
contenant Lettres. du reverend Prieur de l'Eglise. Paris, 1565,
15 sheets.
Vendosme (Gentil de), dell' Istoria di Malta e Successe della Guerra
seguita fra quei religiosissimi Cavalieri e il Potentissimo Gran
Turco, con la Descrizzione dell' Isola. In octavo, 1565, Paris.
Translated into French. Paris, 1567.
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xxix
Ulloa (Alphonso), Istoria dell' Impresa di Tripoli ed il Successo dell'
Armata Turchesca venuta sopra l'Isola di Malta. 1505.
Vincenti Castellani, Forosempronio, de Bello Melitensi Historia. 1566,
in duodecimo.
Hieronymi Comitis:Alexandrini, Commentarii de accerrimo et omnium
difficillimo Turcarum Bello in Insulam Melitam gesto. Ven.
1566, in octavo. Ditto, Commentarii, in octavo, 1566, Norim-
bergæ.
Joan Anntonii Viperani, de Bello Melitensi. Historia. Perugia, 1564,
1
in quarto
Grangé (Claude), de Bello Melitensi a. Solimano Turcarum principe
gesto Commentarius. In octavo, 1582. Ditto, Commentarius
de secundo Bello Melitensi, 1783, in quarto, Montalbani.
Anonymous. La Levée du Siege de Maltħe par les Turcs, defendue
par
le Grand-Maître La Valette, 1566. Paris, in octavo.
Cirni (Anton. Franc. of Corsica), Commentarie ne quali si descrive la
Guerra ultima di Francia, e l'Historia dell' Assedio di Malta,
1567. Rome, in quarto.
Coelii Secundi Curionis, de Bello Melitensi Historia. 1568; Basileæ.
Ditto, Joh. Valette Melitensis Principis; Epistola summam ejus-
dem Belli complexa. Basileæ, 1567, in octavo.
Folietta (Ubertus), de sacro foedere in Solimum libri quatuor, ejusdem
variæ Expeditionis in Africam; cum Obsidione Melitæ. 1587, in
quarto, Genuæ. Ditto, in Italian, 1598, in quarto.
Juvara; de Turcarum contra Melitenses Bello. 1565, octavo, Melitæ
Osorio (D. Diego de Santistevan), primiera y seconda Parte de las
Guerras de Malta, y Toma de Rodas, 1599. Madrid, in duo-
decimo.
Sans (Cav. Ippolité), La Maltea, en que se Tratta de la famosa Defensa
de la Religione de S. Juan en la Isla de Malta. 1582, in octava,
,
Valencia.
Anastage (Cav. Fra. Vincenzio), Lettere sopra lo Stato dell'Assedio,
di Malta, inserted in the third part of his History of Perugia
--
1
S
XXX
:
SEVENTEENTH DIVISION.
Maps and Plans of the Siege of Malta, during the Grand-Mastership of
La Valette.
La Freri, Disegno dell'Isola di Malta, come al presente si trova
assediata. In Roma, 1565, folio, Volante. Ditto, Melita Insula
D. Pauli : quondam Hospita, nunc Militiæ Hieros : Sedes cum
C. C. Circiter Trirennium. Classe Maximisque Cepiio a Turcis
Obsideretur. 1602, folio volume.
Disegni della Guerra ed Assalti dati dall' Armata Turchesca all' Isola
di Malta, l'Anno 1565.
l'Anno 1565. Dipinti da Malteo Perer d'Aleccio
ed intagliaté da Antonio Franusco Lucini. Bologna, 1631,
folio.
Le Porte di Malta di nuovo Ristaurate dopo l'Assedio degli Infideli.
Folio volume.
EIGHTEENTH DIVISION.
Capture of Malta by the French, and the Conquest of that Island by
the English.
Maisonneuve (la), Les Annales Historiques de l'Ordre. Souverain de
St. Jean de Jerusalem, depuis 1725. Petersburg, 1799, in
octavo.
Mayer (le Chev.), Révolution de Malthe en 1798, vol. in quarto,
printed 1799.
Boisredon Ransijat (formerly secretary of the treasury to the order,
and afterwards ex-president of the French government of Malta),
Journal du Siege et Blocus de Malthe. In octavo. Paris, 9th
year of the republic.
Loras (Bailli de), Maréchal de l'Ordre. Lettre datée de Trezza en Sicile;
1
.
i
"..
xxxi
par les
contenant une Description de la Prise de Malthe
François.
Tigné (Bailli de), Gd. Prieur de Champagne, Lettre apocryphe, datée
de Malthe, du 21 Juin, 1798; contenant la Relation de la Prise
de Malthe en 1798.
NINETEENTH DIVISION.
Descriptions and Accounts of the different Maritime Expeditions in
which the Men-of-war and Galleys of the Order have been engaged,
since the raising of the Siege of Malta, under the Grand-Mastership
of La Valette.
1
Villegagnon (Nic. Durand, Commandeur de), Caroli V. Imperatoris
Expeditio in Africam ad Argeriam. Paris, 1542, in quarto.
Cimi (Ant. Franc.) Successi dell' Armata della Maestà Catholica all'
Impresa di Tripoli di Barbario Florence, 1560, in octavo.
Anonymous. La Presa del Pignone, e l'ordine che ha tenuto la
Maestà del Re Filippo a prenderla. Milan, 1564, in quarto.
Anonymous. News from Malta, written by a gentleman of that Island,
who formed the desperate plan of assaulting, and taking by sur-
prise, two castles belonging to the Turks. London, 1603, in
quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione del Conflitto seguito contre Vasselli Corsani e
la Presa fatta dalle Galere della Santa Religione. A Rome, ad
Istanza di Gio. Elmi.
Anonymous. Relazione del Combattimento fatto del Generale Aldo-
brandino, Gran-Priore di Roma, con la Galere della sua Religione.
1619. Viterbo, in duodecimo.
Malatesti (il Conte fra Gabriello Viano de), Vera Relazione di due
Impresi fatte delle Galere di Malta, nel 1620. Messina, 1620,
in quarto.
Anonymous. Avviso nuovo della Presa della Citta de S. Maura fatta
dalle cinque Galere il di 25 di Maggio, 1625 (25th of May). Roma.
14
B
܀
.
xxxii
+
:
Anonymous. Relazione del Viaggio e Presa di due Galeoni di Tu-
.
nesine fatta dalle Galere di Malta, al uimo di Ottobre, 1628,
(last day of October).
Anonymous. Relation des Combats du Maréchal Cremaux, Général
des Galères de l'Ordre de Malthe. Lyons, 1629.
Anonymous. Relazione della Vittoria delle Galere di Malta, ai 19
Luglio, 1634 (19th July).
Anonymous. Relazione della Presa che hanno fatta le Galere della
Religione di Malta, ai 13 Giugno, 1638 (13th June). Rome, in
quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione della gloriosa Impresa fatta in Barbaria, dalle
Galere. Rome, 1640, in quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione del Viaggio e Presa delle tre Galeotte e
Vasselli d'Infideli fatta dalle Galere della Religione Gerosol. in
Levante, 1641. Rome, in quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione del Combattimento delle Galere di Malta,
1644. Rome, in quarto.
Alfieri (Francesco), Discorso Panegirico ed Istorico in Occasione
della Riportata Vittoria contra Turché nella Morèa. 1685, in
quarto, Milan.
Anonymous. Seconda Relazione del Combattimento navale tra le
Squadre di tre Galere della Religione di San Giov. Gerosol. e la
Squadra di sei Vascelli Corsari Algerini. Printed in Malta, in
quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione del Combattimento e de Predazione delli due
Sciabecchi Algerini sottomessi dalla Squadra delle Galere di
Malta, 1752. Venice, in quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione della Vittoria ottenuta da quattro Galere
Maltesi sopra sei Sciabecchi Algerine, 1762. Naples, in octavo.
Anonymous. Relazione del Combattimento segiute il di 4 Agosto,
1764 (4th Aug.) tra tre Galleotte del Gran-Maestro e quattro
Galeotte Tunesine. 1764, Malta, in quarto. Rome, 1764, in quarto.
Anonymous. La Presa di una Galeotta Tripolina, 1765. Malta, in
quarto.
.
:
*1
:
2.
xxxiii
Anonymous. Relazione venuta da Malta della Presa di una Galeotta
Tripolina il di 5 Agosto, 1765 (5th August). Rome, 1765,
quarto.
Anonymous, Relazione venuta da Malta della Presa di uno Sciabecco
Corsaro Algerino fatta dalle Galere della Religione Gerosolimit.
Rome, 1766, in quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione della Presa fatta e Vittoria riportata da una
Galeotta della Religione Geros. sopra di una Galeotta Tunissina,
1775. Rome. In quarto.
e
TWENTIETH DIVISION.
1
Privileges granted to the Order.
i
!
Privilegia et Immunitates Ordinis S. Joannis Hierosolymitani Rhodianæ
Militiæ a Sumnis Pontificibus concessa. Leipsick, 1520, folio.
Privilegia Ordinis S. Joan. Hieros. Rome, 1564, folio.
, ,
Litteræ Pii Papæ V. Confirmationis Privilegiorum Militum S. Joannis
Hieros. Aned. Acta facta in S. S. Tridentina Synodo, 1563. By
F. D. Martinum Royas de Portalrubes. In folio, without the
printer's name.
Bosio, Li Privilegi della Sacra Religione di S. Giov. Gerosol. 1589.
Small volume, in quarto.
Bullarum Religionis S. Joannis Hierosol. cum Annotationibus ad
Marginem Vulgari Lingua. Rome, 1628, quarto, in Typogr.
Cameræ Apostol.
Privilèges des Papes et Princes de la Chrétienté accordés à l'Ordre de
Malthe, recueillis par le Chevalier Lambert. , Paris, 1626. In
quarto.
Privilèges recueillis par le Chevalier de Closeaux. Second edition.
Paris 1649. In quarto. Ditto, augmentés par le Commandeur
Eścluseaux. Paris, 1700. In folio.
Sommaire des Privilèges octroyés à l'Ordre de St. Jean par les Papes, Em
pereurs, Rois, et Princes, tant en Hierusalem, Margat, Ptolemaide,
+
VOL. I.
ie
>
:
3
xxxiv.
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i
$
1
Rhodes, qu'à Malthe, du vivant de tous les Grands-Maîtres, avec
leurs Portraits, et Planches des dites Cités. Par Frère de Naberat,
Commandeur du Temple d'Ayen. In folio. At the end of the
History of Malta; in folio ; translated from Baudoin.
Privilèges des Chevaliers de l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem dit de
Malthe, accordés par les Souverains des Pays Bas, et confirmés
par sa Majesté Imperiale, Charles VI. Folio. (Privileges of the
Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, granted to them
by the Sovereigns of the Low Countries, and confirmed by his
Imperial Majesty, Charles VI. Folio).
Lettres Patentes du Roi Henri II. de 1549; de Charles IX. de 1566:
portánt Confirmation des Privilèges accordés à l'Ordre de Saint
Jean de Jérusalem par Richard Roi «l'Angleterre, l'An 1194;
et Philippe Auguste en 1219-1717. Paris, in folio.
Gregorii, P. P. XIII. Reductio quarundam litterarum Pie V. prð
Militibus Sancti Joan. Hierosol. ad terminos Decretorum Concilii
Tridentini. 1580, Rome, in folio.
Benedicti, P. P. XIV. Literæ Apostolicæ super Confirmatione et
Innovatione Privilegiorum Ordinis, S. Joannis Hierosol. 1753,
Rome. Ditto, Lettera Apostolica con cui si confirmano e e
rinnovano i Privilegi dell' ordine Gerosol. con alcune dichia-
razione ed ampliazione. In octavo. Ditto, Publicatio Bullæ
ac Decisionum a S. Congregatione Consilii Tridentini ema-
natarum, quarum vigore definitur visitandi potestas Archie-
piscopi Pragensis in Ecclesias Parochiales Ordinis Melitensis, &c.
Folio. Prague.
Privilegi della Sacra Religione di S. Giovanni Gerosolimitani con
Indice Volgare. Imp. Magistratus, in folio page, 1789.
*
1
>
--
XXXV
TWENTY-FIRST DIVISION.
Works which treat on the Election and Deposing of the Grand-Master;
with those on the Diplomatic Affairs and Politics of Malta.
1
Urbani, P. P.VIII. Constitutiones de Electione Magni Magistri. Rome,
1628, in quarto, ex Typogr. Cam. Apost.
Ceremoniale. Della Sant di N. S. Urbano, P. P. VIII. sopre l'Eliz-
zione del Gran-Maestro. In Rome, 1635, in quarto.
Oldradi (de Ponte), Consilium utrum Conventus Hospitalis Hieros.
ex causa possit deponere Magistrum suum, si Confederationem
faciat cum inimicis Fidei Christianæ, 1320. See Consilia et
Responsa del nominato Giureconsulto, colle aggiunte di Rinaldo
Corso: stampate a Venice, nel 1585; ex Officina Damicani
Zenari.
Saussure (M. de), Mémoire sur l'Attentat commis par une partie des
Chevaliers de l'Ordre de Malthe contre le Grand-Maître La Cassière.
See Tom. XIII. Mém. de l'Académie des. Inscriptions et Belles
Lettres.
P. Sebastiano Pauli, Codice Diplomatico dell'ordine Gerosol, raccolto
ed Illustrato dal. in Lucca, 1733, 1737. Two volumes in folio.
Georgisito (Petri), Regesta Chronologico Diplomatica. Frankfort
and Leipsick, 1720, in folio, vol. IV.
Dupuy (Pierre), Histoire de l'Ordre des Templiers, Ouvrage qui
pourra servir de Supplément à l'Histoire de l'Ordre de Malthe,
auquel on a uni une partie des biens de celui des Templiers.
Brussels, 1751, in quarto.
Campomanes (D. Piedro Rodriguez), Dissertationes Historicas del
Orden de los Templarios; y un Appendice, en que se pone la Regla
de esta Orden, Diferentes Privilegios; con notas tocantes non
solo a esta Orden sino a las de S. Juan. Madrid, 1747, in
a
quarto.
e 2
I
xxxvi
1
!
Jumee (Jacques de, Chev.), De l'Originė, Progrès, Institutions, et
Ceremonies, du Chev. de l'Ordre de Malthe. Paris, 1604, in
3
octavo.
~
مر
Argens (Le Chev. Duc Boyer d?), Reflexions Politiques sur l'Etat et
les Devoirs des Chev. de Malthe. La Haye, 1736.
Descrizione delle Formalità colle quali si portò alla Prima Udienza il
Bali, F. Gio. Battista Spinola, Ambasciatore d'Ubidienza,
per
il
suo Gran-Maestro e Relig. Gerosol. alla Santità di N. S. Innocenzo
Papa XIII. Rome, 1722,, in quarto.
Relazione delle Formalità colle quali si portò alla prima Udienza il
Bali, Barone di Scheden, Ambasciatore della Religione Gerosol. al
Sommo Pontefice, l'Anno 1731. Rome.
Relation du Cérémonial qui s'est pratiqué le Jour de l’Audience donnée
par sa Majesté très Chrétienne à Mons. le Bailli de Mesmes, Am-
bassadeur de l'Ordre de Malthe. Paris, in folio.
Relazione del Solenno Ingresso del Bali F. Lauro le Tonnelier de
Breteuil, Ambasciatore della Religione Gerosol. presso Clemente,
P. P. XIII. Malta, 1759.
Relation de la Fonction solennelle de l'Estoc et du Chapeau envoyé
par le Pape à D. Antoine Manoel de Vilhena, Grand-Maître.
Paris, 1725, in quarto.
Ditto, Relation de la même Cérémonie sous le Grand-Maître Pinto,
Rome, 1774, in quarto.
Ditto, sous Ximenes. Malta, 1774, in quarto.
Villebrune, Mémoires Historiques et Politiques sur les vrais Intérêts
de la France et de l'Ordre de Malthe, précédé d'une Lettre à un
Ex-Constituant pour servir d'avis à tous les François. Paris,
1797.
Mayer (le Chevalier), Considérations Politiques et Commerciales sur
la Nécessité de maintenir l'Ordre Souverain de Malthe, In quarto,
1797.
Bonnier, Recherches sur l'Ordre de Malthe, suivie d'une Lettre du
Citoyen Merlin, Ministre de la Justice, au Ministre des Re-
lations Extérieures, sur le même sujet.
N
}
1
xxxvii
.
&
.
1
Anonymous. · Essai Critique sur l'Histoire des Ordres Hospitaliers et
Militaires de Jerusalem.
Magri (Carlo), Il Valore Maltese difeso contra le Calunnie di Giro-
lamo Biusoni. "Rome, 1667, in octavo.:
Preseñit State of Sicily and Malta; extracted from M. Brydone and
Swinburne.
Moncal (le Chevalier de), Abrégé des Mémoires pour la Réunion de
la Grande-Maîtrise de l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem à la
Couronne.
Malthe Suppliante aux Pieds du Roi contre l'Auteur de l’Abrégé des
Mémoires pour la Réunion.
Pougé (de), Instructions sur les Devoirs des Chevaliers de Malthe.
Anonymous. Mémoire. Historique sur l'Ordre de Saint Antoine de
Viennois, avec une Consultation touchant la Réunion de cet
Ordre à celui de Malthe. In quarto, Paris.
Anonymous. Traité préalable passé entre l'Ordre de Saint Jean de
Jérusalem et l'Ordre Hospitalier de Saint Antoine de Viennois.
1775, Paris, in quarto.
Prima 'et. Secunda Bulla Pii VI. de Unione Ordinis Sancti Antonii
Viennensis Ordini Sanctæ Joan. Hierosol. 1777, Paris, in quarto.
Lettres Patentes du Roi du 30 Mai, 1777; portant l'Union de l'Ordre
de St. Antoine de Viennois à l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem.
Paris, in quarto. Ditto, autres Lettres Patentes du 25 Juillet,
1777. Paris, in quarto.
Décret de Mons. le Trésorier de la Sainte Chapelle portant Fulmination
et Publication des Bulles du Pape Pie VI. relative à l'Union de
l'Ordre de St. Antoine de Viennois à l'Ordre de St. Jean de
Jérusalem. Paris, in quarto.
Déduction des Droits des Chevaliers de Malthe sur l'Ordination
d'Ostrog. 1773, in folio. Translated from the Polish.
Réponse à l'Ouvrage ci-dessus, in folio. The same in Polish and in
Latin.
Réflections sur un Ecrit des Chevaliers qui a pour Titre, Deductio
Jurium, &c. In folio.
1
1
#
xxxviii
Resequier (Bailli de), Lettre sur l'Histoire de Malthe par Vertot. See
.
Mercure de France, 1766.
Réplique à la Réponse contre la Déduction des Droits des Chevaliers de
Malthe sur l'Ordinatie d'Ostrog. By Matthieu Ustrzyche.
Rapport de la Commission nommée par la Délégation de la République
pour reconnoître les Prétensions des Chevaliers de Malthe sur les
Biens ci-devant du Prince d'Ostrog. In folio.
Lettres sur la Négociation de l'Affaire de Malthe en Pologne. London,
1775, in octavo. (Letters on the Negotiation of the Maltese
Business in Poland.)
1
TWENTY-SECOND DIVISION.
¿
The Lives of many pious Persons of the Order ; with the History of
some of the Grand-Masters and Knights.
1
Anonymous. Le Immagini de Beati et Santi della Santa Religione de
S. Giov. Gerosolim, con un brevissimo Compendio della Vita e
de Miracoli loro. Rome, 1622, octavo. Another edition,
Palermo, 1633, octavo. Ditto, translated into French by Bau-
doin, Paris, 1631, folio.
,
Feo (Lorenzo), Vita di S. Ugone Commendatore. Geneva, 1483.
The same by Giancardi, a Capuchin. Ditto, .by Verdura, I. B.
Geneva, 1665.
Anonymous. Compendio della Vita e Miracoli di S. Ugone. Genoa,
1753, octavo.
Papebrochio (P. Daniel), de B. Gerlando Equite Hierosolym. Synopsis
Historica. A Latin translation of the Italian work of Bosio. See
Acta Sanctorum, Mense Junii. Tom. III.
Guercia (Bartol di Giov. della), Vita del B. da Villamagna. Ditto,
by Monzecchi, 1709. Ditto, by Brocchi (Gius.), Lucca, 1750,
in quarto.
Brocchi (Gius.), Vita del B. Pietro da Imola Cavaliere Gerosol. See
Tome II. delle Vite de Santi e Beati Fiorentini.
:
xxxix
)
Celso Maffei, Vita Sanctæ Toscanæ Viduæ Ord. S. Joann. Hieros. cum
Commentario. See Tome III.
Pozzo (F. Bartol. dal), la Vita di Santa Toscana Translated from the
Latin of Celso Maffei. ' Verona, 1721, in duodecimo.
Pazzi (Silvani), la Vita di S. Ubaldesca.. Printed in Italian.
Ditto, translated into Latin. See Acta Sanct. Mens. Maij,
:
Tome VI.
Mesplede (Louis), Vie de la bienheureuse Vierge Fleur, Religieuse de
St. Jean de Jérusalem. Paris, 1625, octavo. Ditto, in Latin.
See Acta Sanct. Mens. Junii, Tome VI. Ditto, Le Blanc (César),
Vie de Sainte Fleur. A Toulouse, 1649, quarto.
Thomas d'Aquin (le Père), Vie de la Mère Galiotte de Genouillac,
Reformatrice des Réligieuses de l'Ordre en France. Paris, 1633,
octavo.
Appolinare (de S. Gaeteno), Il Cavaliere Romito, Storia del P. Am-
brosio. Naples, 1693, quarto.
Perfitti (Angelo), Il Contemplativo Cassinese Ideato nella Vita del
P. D. Luigi Carafa. Naples, 1664, quarto.
Anonymous. Raggualio della del Commendatore F. Arrigo Rondi-
nelli. Venice, 1721, octavo. Bologna, 1739, octavo.
Anonymous. L'Idea del Cavaliere Geros. mostrata nella Vita di
F. Agostino Grimaldo ed Rosso. Messina, 1662, in quarto.
Genssaucourt (Matthieu), Martyrologie de Malthe; two volumes,
folio. Paris, 165. The arms blazoned of the knights men-
tioned, are engraved in this work.
Valbonay (Marquis de), Recherches sur Raymond du Puis, Tom. VI.
Mémoires de Littér. et d'Hist.
Bonhours (le Père), Histoire de Pierre d'Aubusson. Paris, 1676,
quarto. Another edition in folio. Another in duodecimo. Paris,
1677. At the Hague, 1739, in duodecimo. Ditto, translated
into English ; London, 1679, octavo.
Pereyra (da Liina Cav. Antonio), Acciones de la Vida de Fluiz Mendes
de Vasconcellor Gran-Maestro. Lisbon, 1672, in octavo. Ditto,
translated into the Castilian tongue; 1731, Lisbon, in quarto.
xl
4
Ruffi (Antoine de), Vie du Chevalier de la Costa à Aix. 1655, in
duodecimo.
Calemard (Marc Antoine), Histoire de la Vie du F. Jacques de
Cordon à Evieu, Chevalier de l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem et
Commandeur. 1644, Lyons, quarto.
Anonymous. Vie de M. Gabriel Dubois de la Ferté, Chevalier de
Malthe. Paris, 1712, in duodecimo.
Anonymous. Notizia dell' Esemplarissima Vita del Ord. de Caval. di
Malta. Rome, 1947, in duodecimo.
.
Vincenzio (Venuti), Vita del Balio F. D. Gaetano, Bonanno et E.
Filinger.
Anonymous. Vita penitente di F. Domenico Jarente de Cabanes la
Bruyère, Caval. del l'Ord. Geros. Rome, 1766, quarto.
Salvino Salvini (Canonico), Vita di F. Leone Strozzi, Priore di Capua,
del Ord, Geros. publicata dal Manni, tom. XV. delle Osservaz,
sopra i Sigilli Antichi.
i
Zilioli (Alessandro), Vita del Commendatore Annibal Caro. Padua,
1735, octavo.
Vernazza (Giuseppe), Vita di Benvenuto da St. Giorgio, Cavaliere
Gerosol. Torino, 1780, quarto.
!
TWENTY-THIRD DIVISION
1
1
Different Accounts of the Conspiracy of the Slaves and Priests.
(M. A.), Mustafa Bascia di Rodi Schiavo in Malta, o sia la di lui
Congiura Descritta. Naples, 1751, quarto.
Anonymous. Another account, in Italian, of the same conspiracy.
Rome, 1749 ; and Venice, 1749, in quarto. Bologna, 1749. The
same in French. Paris, 1749, in quarto.
Anonymous. Relazione di quanto é occorso nell'Isola di Malta in
Congiuntura della Ribellione di una Truppa di Sacerdoti e
Chierici, 1775, nella Stamperia di S. A. S. in quarto. The same
in octavo, without the printer's name.
.
xli
Anonymous. Réflections sur la dernière Emeute de Malthe, suiviés
de Remarques Politiques. Amst. 1776, octavo.
Among the great number of authors which compose the above
catalogue, I have found the following the most particularly useful :-
Abela; Houël; Malthe, par un Voyageur François; Mayer, Re-
cherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malthe ; Bosio; Paciandi; Se-
bastian Paoli; Vertot; Ransijat, L’Art de vérifier les Dates. Whenever
any fact appeared to me particularly interesting, consequently worth
preserving, I have not scrupled to copy it literally from one or other
of the above-mentioned historians.
:
VOL. I.
f
xlii
I
-
1
ܪ
i
!
SUPPLEMENT TO THE CATALOGUE.
i
Pamphlets published on Malta during the Assembly of les Etats Généraux
(States-General); together with those printed since that Time, with
Quotations and Observations.
j
$
1
Observations de la Chambre de Commerce de Marseilles sur diverses
Questions qui lui ont été faites par un Député de l'Assemblée
Nationale, relativement au Decret de cette Assemblée concernant
les Biens de l'Ordre de Malthe. In quarto, 10 pages.
1
.
;
“ The board of trade at Marseilles will never forget the services
rendered to France by the order of Malta in 1728, when the state of
Tripoly had the insolence to declare war against the French nation.
The same board will also constantly remember, that the bailiff de
Boccage, in 1734, procured assistance from the order for some Mar-
seilles vessels richly laden, which had taken refuge in Malta; that
the chargé d'affaires, in 1742, acquainted France with the armament
preparing at Tunis; and that the chevalier de St. Tropis, in returning
from Portugal, escorted the vessels sailing to Marseilles beyond Cadiz,
they being apprehensive of being taken by the Algerines; and that he
afterwards anchored off the Hyeres islands for some days, in order to
offer the same escort, as far as Malta, to the vessels ready to sail from
Marseilles to the Levant. The armed vessels of the order continually
sailing through those seas, forced, in some measure, the states of
Tripoly, Algiers, and Tunis, to hoist the French colours; and con-
stantly opposed any views the people of those different nations might
have of building vessels for the transport of their merchandise and
other productions. One hundred and fifty vessels, indeed often still
,
more, with ten or twelve men, are employed in trading on the coasts
of Africa
1
4
>
1
1
xliii
1
i
" It is impossible, without denying the different facts related both
in ancient and modern history, not to acknowledge the services ren-
dered to France in particular by the cruising armaments of the order,
in all the wars between that nation and the states of Barbary.
“ France · fúrnished cloth for clothing the Maltese troops, the
slaves, and the crew for the galleys; likewise drugs for the use of the
hospitals, a variety of articles for the arsenals, and provisions of dif-
ferent sorts.
“ Five hundred vessels were employed in the Levant trade. The
returns were estimated at thirty millions of French livres.”
}
}
1
Observations de la Chambre de Commerce de Guienne, par l'Ordre de
Malthe. In quarto, three pages.
This board approves all the observations made by that of Marseilles,
and hopes that the national assembly will, in its wisdom, prevent those
misfortunes which must inevitably attend the destruction of the order
of Malta.
}
!
Rapport des Députés extraordinaires des Manufactures et du Com-
merce de France, auprès de l'Assemblée Nationale, sur l'Ordre de
Malthe. Signés par les Députés des Villes de Paris, Marseilles,
Bourdeaux, Bayonne, Nantes, L'Orient, Rouen, St. Malo, Le
Havre, Dieppe, Dunkerque, Lisle, Lyon, Amiens, Sedan, Elbeuf,
& la Rochelle. In quarto, seven pages.
.
In this report it is said, " The marine, or navy of Malta, may be
regarded as a maritime marechaussée (guard), always upon the watch,
and acting the part of a guardian. During the war Malta was in-
estimable, as it served for an asylum for the trade and navy of France :
it was also a nursery for excellent sailors.
“ Marseilles alone sent nearly to the value of thirty millions of
French livres of the productions of France to the Levant, together
with twenty-five millions of the different manufactures.
“ « In America, or in India, its commerce with Spain, Italy, and
...
f2
1
1
xliv
the north, is immense. Several French ports send thither for six
millions of cod.” This report was made on the 11th of August, 1790.
Observations au Corps Législatif pour des François devenus Membres
de l'Ordre avant la Révolution. In quarto, 24 pages.
In this is the following passage, quoted from a letter written by
the chargé d'affaires from Malta to all the members of the Order :
+
Paris, July 11, 1791.
“ In consequence of the principles which the grand-master avowed
in his letter of the 4th of February, 1790, and which his most eminent
highness is well pleased to find have been conformed to in your
capitular assemblies; his eminence, at this present time, authorises
;
me to request you to enjoin all the members of our order, novices, pro-
fessed knights, and knights by favour, whether resident or not in
France, if submitted to your jurisdiction, not to take part in
any
manner whatsoever in the troubles, nor in any steps which may be
taken contrary to the operations of the national assembly, on pain of
incurring the penalties inflicted by our laws."
Article fifth of the law of the 19th Sept. 1799.
Those French who, being received in Malta till this present day,
have any pretensions to the benefices of the order situated in France,
shall receive, by way of pension, ten per cent of the money advanced
for their reception.
Same law-Article the eighth.
The above pensions, current from the first three months, shall be
regularly paid every three months by the receiver of the district in
which the pensioners shall fix their residence; and those who remain
in Malta shall be paid by the receiver for the district of Marseilles.
Examen rapide d'un Ecrit, entitulé Opinion sur les Demandes de quel-
gues François restés attachés à l'Ordre de Malthe, et qui ré-
1
.
Xlv
A
clament des Biens personnels sous Prétexte qu'ils sont Etrangers et
à l'Abri de l’Emigration. Brochure, en quarto, de 32 pages;
signée de plusieurs Chevaliers, les mêmes en grande Partie
que
ceux de la Brochure ci-dessus.
Rapport et Projet de Décret sur l'Ordre de Malthe, au Nom des Comités
diplomatiques et des Domaines, par T. C. Vincent, Député du
Département du Gard. Le 8e Septembre, 1792, en quarto, de
l’Impr. Nation. 22 pages.
In which are the following passages :
First, The knights who enjoy benefices belonging to Malta cannot,
without great injustice, be entirely deprived of a revenue acquired at
much expence, and by the most essential services rendered to the
French nation, as their history proves most unequivocally.
Second, A declaration was made by the order, on the 13th of
December, 1789, before Gibi and Mortineau, notaries at Paris, of the
amount of its possessions in France.
The order enjoyed in France a clear revenue of 4, 284,651 French
livrés, after having deducted one tenth of the original value, for the
expences of administration. One ninth must therefore be added to
the neat produce, to make up the whole of the revenue, which amount-
ed to 4,760,753 French livres.
On the other side, the produce of the possessions of the Antonines is
315, 126 French livres. The whole of the acknowledged revenues is
5,075,879 ditto.
The responsions paid by the French possessors of benefices amounted
to 962,686 French livres. For pensions to the Antonines, 276,880
ditto. In all, 1,747,158 French livres. That is to say, a round sum
,
,
of one-third of the revenue.
Third, The port of Malta and the hospital are, doubtless, very ad-
vantageous to France, but they are equally open to all other powers.
When Henry the Eighth in England, and the protestant princes
in Germany, disposed of the possessions of the order, did Malta
xlvi
܂
declare war against them? Were the ports and hospital shut against
them? Were they treated by the knights in a different manner from
the French?
(Page 14.) When France was at war with the other powers, a
decree of the council of the order was passed, that only four vessels
of each belligerent squadron should enter at a time into the port of
Malta to water. No exception therefore existed in favour of Eng-
land. The plan of the decree, in twelve articles, is at the end of the
.
report.
1
P. A. Laloy, Dernières Réflections sur les Articles des Projets de Ré-
solutions concernant la Suspension et l’Accumulation des Ventes
de Domaines Nationaux, lesquels Articles étoient relatifs à quel-
ques François restés au ci-devant Ordre de Malthe, dans la
Discussion continuée sur les, Demandes de ces François qui
réclamoient des Biens personnels sous le Prétexte qu'étant
Etrangers ils n'avoient par dû recevoir l’Application des Loix sur
l'Emigration; servant de Réponse à un Memoire publié par ces
François, et distribué aux Membres du Corps Legislatif, sous le
Titre d'Examen rapide d'un Ecrit.
1
-
Pétition des François attachés à l'Ordre de Malthe, présentée le pre-
mier Jour Complémentaire de l'An 4, ou 1794.
1
M. l'Abbé de la Baste, Réclamations Officielles en Sauve-Gardes et
Garanties pour l'Ordre Souverain de Malthe, redigées en Latin
et en François. Brochure, de 17 pages, (1792).
Mayer, Les Intérêts de la France liés à l'Existence de l'Ordre de
Malthe. Brochure, de 18 pages.
In which are quoted interesting passages from the memorials of
the board of trade of Marseilles and Bourdeaux, consulted by the
Constituent Assembly in 1790, on the importance of the relations to
be preserved with the order of Malta.
:
"܀
xlvii
Mayer, sur la Souveraineté de l'Ordre de Malthe. Brochure, de 15
pages.
A message from Lewis XVI. to the Constituent Assembly on the
10th of September, 1790, is quoted in this pamphlet; in which the
order is styled--a power to which the trade of the nation ought daily
to acknowledge its obligations.
Mention is also made of a particular occasion, when Lewis XV. de-
clared, that, if circumstances required it, he would make the sacrifice
of an annual subsidy to ensure the existence of the order.
In all ports and fortified towns the general of the galleys received
the same honours as the general officers of the most powerful sove-
reigns; in the siege of Tunis, of Pignon, and, indeed, on other
occasions.
The standard of the order took place of those of the dukes of Savoy
and Tuscany, and the republic of Genoa. (See Bosio, Part III.
Book vii. Sect. 23.)
)
1
i
Vatel, Droit des Gens. Prélim. F. 18.
:
Neither a superior nor inferior degree of power can make any dif-
ference in this particular. A small republic is equally a sovereign
state with the most extensive and powerful kingdoms.
Mr. Smitmer, conventual chaplain of the order of Malta, and canon
of the metropolitan church (St. Stephen's) at Vienna, was reputed
to have in his library the most curious collection existing of books,
maps, and manuscripts, relative to the history of the knights of St.
John of Jerusalem. The catalogue has been since printed ; once in
Italian, in 1781, and the second time in German, in 1802.
I have fortunately had an opportunity of examining this rare col-
lection, and the kindness of those persons to whom it was committed
has enabled me to gain information, which I might elsewhere have
sought for in vain.
}
1
܀
3
xlviii
Few of the works contained in the first five divisions of my cata-
logue are mentioned in that of Mr. Smitmer's, who had not interested
himself so much about ancient Malta. I therefore believe my list of
historical books to be much inore complete ; indeed, I have reason
to think few articles are wanting.
It may, perhaps, be objected, that I have not given a list of the
different manuscripts I have consulted; but they were given me
in confidence, and cannot be mentioned without the permission of
those who intrusted me with them. The manuscripts contained in
public libraries will be placed in a separate article in a work I purpose
writing on the knights of St. John of Jerusalem during their re-
sidence at Rhodes.
:
.
}
i
1
:
!
.
LIST OF PLATES, 8c.
>
Vol.
I.
Page
4
I. ,-
1.
60
18
(
0
܀
} Interior and plan of tombs in the Benjemma mountains
-2,
45
1
55
46
1
1
69
I
a
Map of Malta, Goza, &c. facing the title
Birds-eye view of the city and port of Malta, with the
key
Plate I.
:)
II.
Antiquities
III.
IV.J
V. fig. 1,
3,
VI. fig. 1,
Remains of a house in the Grecian style of architec-
ture, at Casal Zurick
2, Birds-eye view of the rock in which is the grotto of
Calypso
VII. fig. 1,
View of the extraordinary fountain occasioned by the
Clock-maker's Salt-works
2, 3, Plan of an ancient building in a circular form called
Tadar Nadur Jozira
VIII. Remains of an ancient edifice called the Giant's Tower
IX.
View of the Mushroom Shelf, or Rock
X.
Ancient tomb. Bichon, or Maltese dog. Dress of
the Maltese women. Remains of the Cotoner
XI.
Fungus Melitensis
XII.
Portrait of Raymond du Puis
XIII. A professed knight in the habit worn at his reception
Portrait of prince Ferdinand of Prussia
La Valette, facing the title
Alof de Vignacourt
Birds-eye view of the city and port of Messina, facing
the title
Portrait of Emanuel de Rohan
XIV.
A nun of the order of St. John of Jerusalem
54
1
64
1
1
1
72
79
73
111
184
221
254
II.
165
3
i
III.
1
1
1
223
1
VOL. I.
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3. City Valetta..
4. Church of St John.
5. Palace of the Grand Master
6. Fortifications of the Storiana
7. Port Marsa: Murreit.
8. Island of the Lazaretto
9. Fort Manuel
10. Powder Magazine
11. Capeor Point Dragut
12. Fort Tigne .
13. Bastón or Platform of St John.
4. Bastion or Port Castille
15. Quai or Moto of the great
Port
16. Storchouses for the Men of War.?
Gallis of the Orders
17. Frantainaf Neptune.
18. The new Horehoues of Lascaris Aito.
19. Fort Ricasolina
20. House of the Commandant of Rucasoi
21. Low Battery for the defence of the entrance of the?..
22. The Port of the English.
23. Castle J. Angelo...
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24. Victorious City thefirst residence of the Knights
.
25. Arsenal for the Gallica
26. Port St Margaret.
27. Port of the Gallis.
28. Seninsula of la Sangle
9. Port of the French
30. Eetróme point of the Coradin
31. End of the Sört called ta Marsa
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}
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
}
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+
BOOK I.
1
:
AN ACCOUNT OF ANCIENT AND MODERN MALTA.
i
CH A P T E R I.
The first Authors of Antiquity who have written on Malta. Different
Changes in the Government. Monuments left by the Nations to
which, at various Times, the Island has been subject.
Nations.
Monuments in Malta and Goza.
|
Phæacians
Plinicians
Greeks
>
Carthaginians
Romans
Vandals and Goths
Arabs
Normans
Germans
French
Spaniards
Ancient tombs.
Medals, vases, &c.
Altars, statues, medals.
Base and shaft of chandelier with in-
scriptions.
Inscriptions, basso-relievos.
Statues of bronze.
Medals, or rather gold coins.
Nothing remains of these nations but
some title deeds relative to church
endowments.
A
THE most ancient author who mentions Malta is Homer, in
his Odyssey, where it is called the Isle of Hyperia, which, ac-
cording to fabulous history, was originally inhabited by the
VOL. I.
B
HISTORY OF MALTA.
а.
;
Phæacians, a race of giants *. The Phoenicians, to whom the
navigation of the Mediterranean almost entirely belonged,
landed in Hyperia about 1519 years before Christ, and finding
the island of great importance to their trade, they seized upon
it, and established a colony, which soon became powerful and
considerable. They introduced the worship of their own pe-
culiar gods, together with those of Egypt and Persia ; such as
the Tyrian Hercules, to whom the Greeks in after times
gave
the
name of Alexicacos, or Averter of Ills; Juno, in honour of whom
was built a temple in the space now existing between the castle
St. Angelo and the city Vittoriosa ; as also Mithras, Isis, Osiris,
and Mercury. The latter was particularly revered as the pro-
tector of commerce, to which the Isle of Hyperia (then called
Ogygia) principally owed its riches and population. It was
governed by kings; and many medals or Punic coins are pre-
served in the museum of the library of Malta, together with
two monuments, on which may be perceived letters in Punic
characters,
Industry and commerce made great progress among the
Greeks, and extended themselves to Sicily, and a part of Italy,
where were founded some celebrated colonies in an extent of
country, to which they even gave the name of the larger Greece.
They drove the Phænicians from Ogygia, took possession of it
* Some authors have attributed the building of different edifices to this people, on account of
the enormous stones of which they are composed; and have also imagined, that many tombs
!
of more than ordinary size were erected in these fabulous times.
more
.
-
HISTORY OF MALTA.
3
1
themselves 736 years before Christ, and called it Melitaion ;
whether on account of the excellent honey it produced, or in
honour of the nymph Melita, the daughter of Nereus and Doris,
we cannot pretend to determine,
The Greeks, being accustomed to navigate along distant
shores, and there found their colonies, according to the oracles of
Apollo, established the worship of that god in every place they
visited, and engraved his effigy, horses, and lyre, upon all their
coins. They dedicated a temple to him in Melita, in the
very
place which is now a square before the Town-house in the city
Notable. They created a high-priest, by the name of Hierothites;
and afterwards established Archons to govern the island, with
power like that of those who afterwards presided in the govern-
ment of Athens. There is not the smallest trace remaining of
the Temple of Apollo ; and the only ruins existing of Grecian
architecture are those of a castle called Ghorgenti or Agrigenti,
in honour of Phalaris the tyrant, of the town so named. Some
excavations made in a hill called Benjemma, intended for a ·
burying place for the inhabitants, may also be deemed Grecian
remains* to be seen in Malta.
Amongst a variety of antiquities of that time in the
museum of the public library is a square altar dedicated to
Proserpine, on the sides of which are sculptured two men
offering a fish to that goddess (Pl. I. fig. 3): the front represents
the emblem employed by the Syracusians to describe Sicily;
.
:
* See Chap. III.
1
B2
$
1
}
para
1
HISTORY OF MALTA,
.
this consists in a head, out of which issue three legs, with
the feet so disposed as to form the extremity of the three
angles of a triangle. There is likewise a statue of Hercules
(Pl. IV. fig. 4) of white marble, in high preservation. The
god leans upon his club, and is crowned with poplars. This
statue, most probably, decorated a temple near the port of
Marsa-Sirocco.
Many medals still remain, some of which bear on one
side the effigy of Juno (Pl. I. fig. 1), and on the reverse either
a tripod of different shapes, or a lyre with the word Melitaion.
There are others in bronze more curious, and of a larger
size: these have the figure of an Isis or Juno, the head-dress
composed of numerous small triangles (Pl. I. fig. 2), with the
flower or double fruit of the lotus on the top of the head, at the
back of which is the word Melitaion, and in front either an ear
of corn to mark the fruitfulness of the island, or a caduceus
hung round with a double vestment, the symbol of the com-
merce of the inhabitants, and their excellent method of manu-
facturing cotton. There is also a small coin struck from one of
these medals, stamped with a head, to distinguish it from some
false money coined about that time. On the reverse of these
medals is a Genius crouched, with wings on the shoulders and
heels; he wears a mitre on his head, and holds a scourge in each
hand (Pl. I. fig. 3). This is the Genius of Commerce, of which
his attitude and attributes are the emblem-Power, Dispatch,
and Confidence.
7
1
t
.
1
1
i
>
.
.
1
.,
HISTORY OF MALTA.
5
6
4
1
About 528 years before the Christian era, the Carthaginians
disputed the possession of Melita with the Greeks, and for some
time divided it betwixt them; but the Greeks were in the end
obliged to yield-up their power to the Carthaginians. The in-
habitants, however, neither abandoned their dwellings nor their
gods; and both the Greek and the Punic or Phænician lan-
guages were equally spoken in Melita.
The riches of Carthage flowed to Malta, and rendering its
situation still more important, made it an object so interesting
to the ambition and cupidity of the Romans, that it engaged
their attention in the first Punic war; it was therefore plundered
by Attilius Regulus, and seized upon by Cornelius. The Romans,
however, lost it soon afterwards, and never recovered it till
the naval victory gained by C. Lutatius, 242 years before Christ,
had produced a peace, which was granted to the Carthaginians,
on condition of their giving up to the Romans all the islands in
their possession between Africa and Italy. T. Sempronius, at
the beginning of the second Punic war, was the first who en-
tirely established the Roman dominion in Melita.
The only Punic monuments remaining in Malta are two
pieces of marble (Pl. II, fig. 3 and 4), supposed to have been the
base and shaft of a chandelier, with a Phænician inscription
on each; and the same inscription in Greek. These have fre-
quently been explained; but the only good translation is by
the learned Abbé Barthelemy, and is as follows:- We, Ab-
“ dassar and Asseremor, the sons of Asseremor, the son of Ab-
1
.
GC
worden
1
A
។
6
HISTORY OF MALTA,
66
>
1
“ dassar, having made this vow to our lord Melcrat, the tutelar
“6 divinity of Tyre; may he bless and guide us in our uncertain
6 way! Dionysius and Serapion of the city of Tyre, the sons of
Serapion, to Hercules surnamed Archegetes.”—This inscription
shews that the Hercules worshipped in Melita bore the surname
of Archegetes during the government of the Carthaginians. (The
meaning of this title is chief or conductor.) He was also called
Melkartos * or Melcrat, which signifies a powerful king.
Though the names in the Greek and Phænician inscriptions
are different, this only proceeds from a common custom in the
East; where individuals, as well as towns, have not only an
Eastern, but a Greek name, by which they are distinguished by
turns. The same brothers are therefore meant in the record
upon the monuments, though the language is different; the
Phænician inscription indeed adds one more dégree to their
genealogy
It is thought these brothers who made the vow to Hercules
were sailors, who returned thanks to that god, the protector of
the commercial city of Tyre, for having conducted them safely
into the port of Melita. They likewise invoked him to grant
them in future prosperous voyages.
The possession of Melita was of too great importance to a
power which aspired to universal empire over the Mediterra-
nean, for the Romans to neglect any possible means to preserve
it. They had driven away the Carthaginians, but they wished
1
* This word in Hebrew signifies king of the earth.
1
-
HISTORY OF MALTA.
7
>
1
>
.
to gain the friendship of the Greeks, who composed a con-
siderable part of the inhabitants : they, therefore, permitted
them to continue their ancient customs, and still called the
island Melita: they made it a municipium, allowing the inha-
bitants to be governed by their own laws; though they sent a
;
pro-prætor who depended on the prætorship of Sicily, and
in whose name they struck some medals.
The Romans particularly encouraged commerce and manu-
factures; cotton and linen cloths were so famed for fineness,
and the nicety with which they were finished, that they were
regarded at Rome as an article of luxury.
The greatest attention was paid to improving and beautify-
ing those temples, which were esteemed the pride of Melita, and
to which both sailors and merchants repaired to offer incense to
the protecting gods of their island and their trade. The altars
of these gods long continued to be respected, but they were
too rich to escape the rapacious hands of different depredators.
A general officer belonging to Massinissa king of Numidia ar-
rived at Melita with a fleet, and stripped the Temple of Juno of
some curious works in ivory, which he presented to his sovereign.
No sooner was that prince informed from whence they came,
than he hastened to restore them; but the less scrupulous Verres
seized upon them afterwards, and they contributed * not a little
1
to adorn his magnificent gallery.
i
2
.
* See Abbé Fraquier's description of the Gallery of Verres --Memoirs of the Academy of
Inscriptions, Vol. X.
1
}
}
1
.
.
}
S
HISTORY OF MALTA.
“
.
}
There are no ruins now existing either of the temples erected
at that epoch, or of the theatre near the Temple of Apollo:
there have indeed been found, at the bottom of the Marsa,
some remains of a vast mole which bounded the
port.
Among the monuments which evince the dominion of the
Romans over the island, and the privileges continued to be
granted to the inhabitants by the emperors, are medals, in-
scriptions, and statues. There are none of the former with the
effigy of the emperor. Some have a head of Juno (Pl. I. fig. 1)
on one side, with the Greek word Melitaion; and on the reverse
a curule chair, with the following inscription,–C. Arruntanus
Batb. Propre : others the Juno's head without the Greek word,
with a tripod and the Latin word Melitaion (Pl. I. fig. 1) on
the reverse. Some of the inscriptions indicate the Temple of
Proserpine being repaired. There is an inscription in the Town-
house of the city Notable, which mentions the repairs of the
Temple of Apollo (PL. III. fig. 1 and 2), and the public theatre
being enlarged.
In the marquis Barbaro's cabinet of curiosities is the head
of Augustus (Pl. IV. fig. 5) in basso relievo*, and the bust+of An-
tinous (Pl. IV. fig. 6); and in the grand master's gallery a female
wolf in alabaster (PI. IV. fig. 4) giving suck to Romulus and
Remus. These pieces of Roman antiquity were found at dif-
ferent times when Malta and Goza were ransacked, together
with a large sepulchral lamp (Pl. I. fig. 5), of a beautiful curious
1
}
* Of Maltese stone.
“
1
---
1
1
HISTORY OF DI ALTA,
9
form : likewise a round piece of marble (Pl. I. fig. 4), the use
of which is unknown: the sculpture on one side represents a
griffin with its paw on the head of a ram, and on the other a
theatrical mask.
On the division of the Roman empire, the island of Malta
fell to the lot of Constantine ; religious disputes arose, and en-
gaged the attention of all parties. The energy which distin-
guished the ancient masters of the universe was destroyed, and
they were unable to resist the swarms of barbarians who, in the
beginning of the fifth century, issued from the North; ravaged
the empire, and subdued the greatest part of it. The empire
being thus dismembered, the Vandals seized upon Sicily in 454;
and next took possession of Malta, from which they were driven,
ten years afterwards, by the Goths. The island, whilst under
the oppressive rod of these barbarians, could not possibly
flourish, nor could its trade be preserved.
It appeared once more to raise its head under the reign of
Justinian, who sent Belisarius to wrest Africa from the Vandals.
This general landed in Malta in 553, and took possession of the
island, which he reunited to the empire, and thus again made
it of
very
essential use to all commercial nations. The fate of
Goza was always the same with that of Malta.
These islands became afterwards still more rich; but, the
emperors not allowing them the same privileges they enjoyed
under the ancient Romans, they never entirely recovered their
former splendour.
។
.
VOL. I.
0
1
10
HISTORY OF MALTA.
.
.
The Greeks who still remained to defend Malta, and to
share its commerce, unfortunately possessed nothing in common
with their ancestors but their name, except, indeed, their pride;
but being devoid of all their ancient virtues, they soon contrived
to draw upon themselves the enmity of the other inhabitants,
who at last sacrificed them to the Arabs.
The catacombs * still existing near the old city may be
reckoned among the ancient monuments of that time.
. These
were originally intended for sepulchres; but their number was
afterwards' considerably increased, particularly when the dif-
ferent heretical sects became so numerous throughout the em-
pire : they then most probably served as asylums for individuals
of each sect, who wished to escape the bloody persecutions of
the others; mutual hatred being the only passion which in-
fluenced the actions of all. Since that time the inhabitants
have flown to them for refuge, whenever the barbarians invaded
the country.
The only Gothic monument remaining in Malta is an in-
scription in the church of St. Agatha, in the city Notable. There
are no remains of the three centuries which intervened between
the reign of Justinian and the capture of the island by the Arabs,
but one epitaph preserved in the museum of the public library,
and a small, but curious, bronze figure (Pl. III. fig. 4) found at
Goza, which we shall notice in the
proper place.
According to the Cambridge Chronicle, the Arabs seized
1
а.
* See Abela, for the plan of these catacombs.
.
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.
4
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NIISTORY OF MALTA.
11
*
upon
in
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Malta in 870. They were resisted in the bravest manner
by the Greeks, three hundred of whom, being shut up in the
city Notable, were burned to death by the other inhabitants.
The Arabs then made their entry into that town, not as con-
querors, but as friends and brothers : they, however, were driven
from thence the same year, and the Greeks remained masters
of the islands thirty-four years.
The Arabs took possession of Malta and Goza a second
time, when they exterminated all the Greeks, though they
acted with great clemency towards the rest of the inhabitants.
The wives, and children of the Greeks were even sold by .
them for slaves; and thus reduced to obey those whom they
were born to command. Their land was likewise divided
among the Arabs, who established a government dependent
upon the emir of Sicily. During the whole of the time they in-
habited Malta, they treated the Christian religion and its mi-
nisters with proper respect, and were humane and just in their
conduct towards the inhabitants, upon whom they laid no taxes.
To supply the want of that resource, they armed cruizing vessels
every year, which brought them in very considerable prizes.
This perilous manner of gaining riches naturally pleased
the Maltese, a brave and active people, who were at that period
deprived of a large portion of their land by foreigners, and were
unable to supply their wants by commerce, which, owing to the
distress of the times, became every day less important. The
Arabs having thus instructed them in piracy, their own
C2
{
а.
.
1
.
12
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
experience perfected them in the business; and the Maltese
became, indeed still are, the ablest corsairs in the Medi-
terranean.
i
Some golden medals remain as monuments of the abode of
the Arabs in Malta, two of which are in the marquis Barbaro's
cabinet of curiosities. There is likewise a large sepulchral stone
with Arabian characters, in the possession of baron Xara.
The Arabs reduced the circumference of the city Notable,
to enable them to fortify it more easily; and built a fort, where
the castle St. Angelo now stands, to guard their vessels on
entering the great port.
The Normans took possession of Malta in 1090, and per-
mitted those Arabs who chose to quit the island to carry away
the whole of their property. Those who remained were allowed
the free exercise of their religion, on condition of paying an
annual tribute to the prince: they also insisted that all Christian
slaves captured at sea should be restored to liberty: after which
count Roger (Pl. III. fig. 5) returned to Sicily. Some Arabs
who had taken refuge on an eminence called Kalua Ia Bahria,
so fortified by nature that it was impossible to approach it
but through a defile, attempted to surprize the chiefs of the
island whilst at divine service on a holiday; but they failed
in their enterprize, and every Arab was soon afterwards sent
out of Malta. The Normans gave up the island to the
Germans, on account of the marriage between Constance heiress
of Sicily and Henry VI. son of the emperor Frederick Barba-
1
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
13
rossa.
Malta was erected into a county and marquisate; but
it was depopulated by the havock of war, and its trade entirely
ruined, which reduced it to a state of the greatest misery. For
à considerable length of time it was inhabited by soldiers alone,
and had no other capital than the fortress which defended the
port; but at length Frederick II. having taken possession of Ce-
lano in Calabria, in 1224, sent to Malta the unfortunate inha-
bitants of that place, who, by dint of industry both by land and
sea, once more, in some degree, enriched the island. History
takes notice, that William, surnamed the Fat, admiral of Sicily,
and his descendants, were counts of Malta ; but it does not
.;
appear that any of its lords contributed to the happiness of
their vassals. The Maltese remained seventy-two years subject
.
to the emperors of Germany.
Charles of Anjou, brother of Lewis IX. king of France,
who was king of Sicily, made himself master of Malta ;
and it was in this island that John Procida formed the con-
spiracy, which was followed by the well-known affair of the
Sicilian Vespers. A change of sovereigns immediately took
place in Sicily, but Malta continued faithful to the French.
Two years after, Roger admiral of Arragon attacked Corneille,
who commanded the fleet of Charles, near Malta; and the death
of the French general decided the battle in favour of the Arra-
gonians, who took advantage of their situation to disembark in
the port Marsa Musceit, and possessed themselves of the whole
island. The inhabitants of the town surrendered at diseretion;
>
:
1
1
14
HISTORY OF MALTĄ,
a
A
:
and their conquerors insisted upon provisions and 2500 crowns
by way of contribution. The fortress still held out; but the
Arragonians arriving a few months afterwards with a formidable
army to blockade it, the inhabitants pressed the besieged to
surrender, and the French were obliged to capitulate. Charles
made an effort to retake the island; but a naval combat between
the two fleets, to which he was witness, destroyed his hopes for
ever, and firmly established the empire of his enemies.
All that remains of the government of the Norman, Ger-
man, and French princes, consists, according to the spirit of
those times, in pious foundations. They endowed churches,
and the cathedral was founded by the Normans. It is needless
to mention the title deeds of the other church endowments: the
most ancient are those at the burgh of Malleha and at Casal
Tartani: the latter no longer exists.
The island of Malta, as appears from the foregoing pages,
had long suffered from the discord which reigned between its
successive sovereigns; and it groaned still longer afterwards
under the tyranny of different individuals to whom the kings of
Arragon, and the kings of Castille who succeeded them in 1414,
ceded it in title of fief: it thus became either the appanage of
some illegitimate son of their prince, the reward of one of his
favourites, or the price of personal services done to the sovereign,
rather than of those rendered to the crown.
The Maltese, under the reign of Lewis, son of Peter II.
vainly imagined they had succeeded in procuring the islands of
1
á
i
1
4
1
$
HISTORY OF MALTA,
15
i
Malta and Goza to be attached to the Sicilian monarchy without
power of alienation ; they having been twice since that time
mortgaged for sums lent to their princes.
These islanders, weary of coniplaining, though too loyal to
revolt, determined, at their own expence, to free themselves at
once from the shame they felt at seeing their sovereign con-
stantly making a traffic of his territories; and likewise from the
unjust and frequent claims made upon them by the different
governors so continually placed over them. They therefore
made a generous effort, and offered king Alphonso to discharge
themselves the 30,000 forins for which the island was pawned :
this the king accepted, in 1428 ; and promised in return, that
the islands of Malta and Goza should never, in future, be se-
parated from the kingdom of Sicily: he even permitted the in-
habitants, in case of a breach of promise, to oppose him by force
of arms, without such conduct being deemed either disobe-
dience or rebellion ; but this permission did not extend to the
liberty of choosing another sovereign.
The government of Malta, after it was united to Sicily,
consisted of a council termed popular; which appointed to all
places in the administration, and chose the members of the tri-
bunal. This council was composed of all the nobles, and the
heads of the villages or casals*: the members were approved
by the sovereign, who was always regarded as supreme chief in
matters of justice. In other branches of the administration,
i
* Hamlets,
1
+
16
HISTORY OF MALTA.
the Maltese had seldom any share. A person high in the mili-
tary line was appointed to execute the laws, to maintain a
proper police, and to defend the island. The poverty of this
people was so great, that Sicily was obliged to furnish them at
a very moderate price with the common necessaries of life : it
was therefore impossible to tax them highly; so that in 1516
the two islands of Malta and Goza only paid the trifling sum
of forty-one ducats to the treasury.
Goza and Cumin were always attached to the fate of
Malta : the ancient name of the former is unknown; but it was
called Gaulos whilst in the possession of the Greeks. Cumin
was distinguished by the name of Hephæstias.
Among the most remarkable monuments at Goza, are the
remains of an edifice built with enormous stones, commonly
called the Giant's Tower; various medals, one of which bears
a helmet, with a crescent under it, on one side; and on the
other a warrior with a buckler and javelin, having in front a
star, and behind the word Gauliton (Pl. I. fig. 2). This designates
Castor and Pollux, divinities ever favourable to mariners. There
are likewise a variety of inscriptions preserved in the castle,
together with a mutilated statue. Julia Augusta, the mother
of Tiberius, is named Ceres in one of these inscriptions upon
marble. A very curious monument found at Goza, and preserved
in the museum at Malta, is a small bronze figure (Pl. III. fig.
3 and 4), representing a lame beggar* without a beard, seated
a
>
* See Chap. IV.
f
}
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
17
ground,
>
in a kind of basket: he rests his left hand on the
which, on that account, as it appears, is covered with some-
thing resembling a sandal; and he presents a cup with the
other: the rags which serve him for clothing as low as the
knees, are fastened round him by a cord, and a cloak, like that
of a pilgrim, is hung on his shoulders. The whole of this figure
is covered with characters, some of which are Greek, some
Etruscan, and others those of an unknown language. The
monogram of Christ may be plainly distinguished; and the
letters which precede it form in Ionic @rnet for ETTIIH, which
joined to the monogram signifies The Lord is struck. This
figure holds upon his arm the feet of another figure, which have
been broken off and lost. According to all appearance, the
former represents one of those sectaries who, in the second and
third centuries, employed themselves in imagining a kind of
arithmetical theology, according to which they pretended
that the letters of the alphabet, particularly those which ex-
pressed numbers, contained the power that created the uni-
verse; and became, as they asserted, even the physical cause
of its production. The principal proof on which they relied in
defence of this absurdity was, that Jesus Christ had himself said,
I am Alpha and Omega. It was customary with these heretics,
in consequence of this extravagant and ridiculous superstition,
to inscribe on their monuments a vast number of mysterious
alphabetical characters; and it is therefore probable that this
figure represented one of their principal chiefs, and afterwards
VOL. I.
D
3
!
1
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1
18
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
.
!
became an object of adoration. The torments he had. under-
gone had, as it appears, deprived him of the use of his legs; and
forced him, in that miserable state, to become a beggar. His
cloak was covered with characters, according to the custom of
his sect; and the words, which are plainly to be distinguished,
Jesus Christ was struck, were meant either as a consolation for
his own sufferings, or intended to exhort his brethren to bear
with patience the pain and mortifications they might possibly
be exposed to endure.
Such were the changes which had taken place in the go-
vernment of these two islands, when Charles V. added them to
his vast domains. This politic prince, whose prudence equalled
his activity, considered these possessions in a very different
light from his predecessors, who had ever regarded them as of
small importance to their dominions. To command the Medi-
terranean, to secure the coast of Sicily, to threaten that of
Africa, and to interrupt at pleasure all commercial intercourse
between the two seas in the centre of which they were placed,
were objects of sufficient importance for Charles to be well
aware of the great advantage of possessing these two islands.
His policy alone would have induced him to profit by such
a circumstance: but his foresight extended still farther ; for
fearing these important places might in future be taken from
his successors, who, being obliged to attend to the centre of
their dominions, or to the opposite confines, might not be able
to keep a force sufficient for the defence of Malta and Goza-
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Published by G. & J. Robinson London May 20100+.
-
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
19
A
and at the same time reflecting of what importance such a con-
quest would be to his enemies in the political balance of Eu-
rope—he determined to place them in the hands of some power
which would be particularly interested in preserving them; and
which, without being able to annoy any other state, would be
respected by all. Added to these considerations, he found it
very advantageous to save the expence of 340,000 French
livres, which his treasury was obliged to furnish for the main-
tenance of the different garrisons it was necessary to keep in
the forts and castles of Malta, Goza, and Tripoly. He, in con-
sequence, made choice of the order of St. John of Jerusalem ;
which, having been driven from its principal place of residence,
had been wandering on the coast of Italy: and in 1530 he
established the knights as perpetual sovereigns of the islands of
Malta and Goza, together with the city of Tripoly.
1
1) 2
܀
20
HISTORY OF MALTA.
CHAP
II.
Situation of Malta. Description of the Ports, Towns, old City, and
Edifices; Judicial and Civil Government; the Grotto of St. Pauli, the
City Valette, its Situation; Foundation, principal Edifices, curious
Monuments both in Painting and Sculpture. The University, its
Functions, Utility, and Abuses in the Administration.
܆
THE island of Malta is situate between Sicily and Africa, in
,
33 degrees 40 minutes of east longitude from Ferro (15 degrees
54 minutes east from London), and 35 degrees 44 minutes 26
seconds of north latitude*. It is the most southern island in
Europe : distant sixty miles from Cape Passaro; a hundred
and ninety from Cape Spartivento in Calabria, the nearest
point on the continent of Europe; two hundred from Calipia,
the nearest part of the continent of Africa; and two hundred
and seventy from Tripoly. It is sixty miles in circumference,
twenty long, and twelve broad. It faces on the east the island
of Candia ; on the west, the small islands or rocks of Pantaleria,
Linosa, and Lampedosa ; on the north, Sicily; and on the south,
the kingdom of Tunis.
*
* Ptolemy places Malta in Africa (lib. iv.cap.3), in 38 degrees 45 minutes longitude from
Ferro, and 34 degrees 40 minutes latitude. Pliny (lib. iv. cap. 8) and Strabo (lib. vi.) place
it between the islands of Italy. Dapper makes it situated in 49 degrees longitude, and 35
degrees 10 minutes latitude: but the description given in this work is taken from the author
of the Political and Historical Researches on Malta, and the Observations of Father Feuillée;
(see Journal of Physical Observations, Vol. II.)
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
21
--
There is nothing to be seen to the south and towards Tri-
poly, but shelves and rocks, without either creeks or ports ; but
to the east there is the port of Marsa-Scala, and towards the
south-west that of Marsa-Sirocco, capable of containing a great
number of vessels : farther on, and likewise between the south
and east, are the two gulfs of Antifeya and Musiaro ; and at
the very extremity of the island, towards the west, is an ex-
tremely commodious cove, serving as a road for ships: this is
named Melecca, and is separated from Goza by a channel
about four miles broad. The small islands of Cumin and Cu-
mino are in the middle of this channel.
The port of St. Paul is on the coast opposite Sicily, and is
so called from a tradition that the vessel in which St. Paul was
sent prisoner to Rome was driven in there by a storm. St.
George's Port, towards the north, is not far distant from that of
St. Paul. Directly facing Cape Passaro are two considerable
ports : that to the left is Marsa Musceit or Port Musset, in the
midst of which is a small island ; near which all vessels from
the Levant, or any other place suspected of contagious disease,
perform quarantine. The other is merely called Marsa, or the
Great Port, and is situated to the east. These two are separ-
ated by a point of land, at the extremity of which is Fort St.
Elmo, serving to defend the entrance of both ports. There are
two parallel points of land, shaped like two fingers ; these are
in the Great Port, and project into the sea, being much less
d than long: the castle St. Angelo is built on the one
1
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1
22
HISTORY OF MALTA.
nearest the entrance of the port, and was the only fortress in
the whole island when the knights first took possession of it.
The grand-master L'Isle Adam added bastions, ramparts, and
ditches, to this fort: he also made cisterns, and built an arsenal
and different storehouses.
Il Borgo (or the Burgh), to the north of the castle St. An-
gelo, is now separated from it by a wet ditch. This was the
original place of residence of the order of Malta, and where
the Turks failed in their efforts against the knights. It indeed
resisted all their assaults, and deservedly gained the name of
Citta Vittoriosa, or the Victorious City. The minister from the court
of Rome, who has the title of inquisitor, has a palace in this
place: but all the other foreign ministers live in the city Valetta;
in which, during the reign of the last grand-master, the inquisitor,
by consent of the order, was likewise permitted to reside.
On the other point of land to the left is the Great Port. A
fort and burgh have been erected; and though in fact it is only
a peninsula, it is called the Island of La Sangle, from the name
of the grand-master who fortified it. The inhabitants of this
burgh, during the siege of Malta, resisted every bribe offered
them by the Turks; and, continuing constantly faithful to the
order, defended the place with so much valour, that it was sur-
named Citta Invitta (the Invincible City). The point of land
on which the city La Sangle is built, divides the galley port from
the French port. Fort St. Michael is on the side next the land,
and defends the two ports of La Sangle.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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Near the city La Sangle is the suburb Burmola, now called
Citta Cospicua (the Conspicuous City). This is commanded by
St. Margaret's Hill, on which is a fort of the same name. The
grand-master Nicholas Cotoner formed a plan, which he after-
wards executed, of a considerable fortification, which, by being
joined at each end to the city La Sangle and the Victorious City,
should form a large square, into which the inhabitants of the
country might retreat in case of being invaded by the enemy.
“ It is capable of making a long resistance" is the expression
employed by the chevalier Folard, in his Commentary on Poly-
bius ; where he relates, that, being summoned to Malta, he dis-
approved of the construction of a fort which was intended to
be built and enclosed in what is called La Cotoner. This for-
tification consists of a succession of bastions without any ad-
vanced works.
There are two forts on the point of land on each side of
Fort St. Elmo: the one called Ricasoli is intended, in conjunc-
tion with St. Elmo, for the defence of the entrance of the Great
Port; the other, lately built on Point Dragut, bears the name of
Fort Tigné, and is meant to defend the point of Marsa-Musceit,
and to prevent a landing from the sea coast. It was scarcely
finished when the French invaded the island, in 1798.
The point of land on which St. Elmo is built, was formerly
called Sceb-e-ras, signifying, in Arabic, a place elevated above
another. It was also named la Guardia. The city Valetta is
built on this spot; and, in order to secure it still more effectu-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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ally on the land side, a suburb, surrounded by fortifications,
has been since erected, to which is given the name of la
Floriana.
.
The island of Malta contains two principal cities, and
twenty-two villages or casals--a name derived from the Arabian
word rahal, signifying station ; and which indicates the manner
in which these villages have been composed by degrees, through
the means of the stations, colonies, and meetings of labourers,
who successively built cabins or houses in the country, in order
to be nearer their different occupations. There are several
hamlets between these villages, and a great many country
houses.
The Old or Notable City still preserves the name of Mdina
among the inhabitants; this signifies city, and it was the only
one at that time in the island. It is the seat of the bishopric:
and its most remarkable edifices are, the palace of the grand-
master, built on the site of a fort taken down in 1455, by com-
mạnd of king' Alphonso; and the cathedral, érected on the
foundation of a palace, which, according to ancient tradition,
was inhabited by Publius, prince or protos of the island at the
time of St. Paul's shipwreck.
The body of the cathedral has been rebuilt in a modern
taste, and is very little ornamented. The greatest part of the
pictures are by Matthias Preti*
а.
* Matthias Preti, surnamed the Calabrian, was born in Calabria in 1613, and died in Malta
in 1699. This painter studied originally under his brother, who was director of the Academy
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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The service of the cathedral was performed by canons,
chosen alternately by the bishop and the pope. The habit
they wore in the choir was a purple capemagne; they officiated
with a mitre, and' wore a golden cross on the breast. The no-
mination to the deanery of this chapter was formerly a royal
one; but it has since been transmitted to the grand-master,
with all the privileges annexed to the crown: Charles V. in the
act of donation, alone reserved to himself the right of choosing
the bishop, who wore the grand cross of the order, and held the
first place in the council, though the constitutional law of the
order did not acknowledge him for conventual bailiff.
The Old City had for governor a hakem or podesta, chosen
by the grand-master out of the class of principal citizens. This
governor bore the name of captain of the rod; because the sign
of his jurisdiction was a rod. This civil and criminal jurisdic-
tion extended over the old city, and the six following casals;
Dingkle, Siggiri, Zebug, Stadard, Lia, and Mosta. After this
tribunal had pronounced sentence, appeals might be made to
the supreme court, which was held in the city Valetta.--The
captain of the rod, when he accompanied the sovereign through
the island, had the privilege of riding on horseback on the left
.
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of St. Luke, at Rome; but he afterwards was taught by Guercino. He succeeded best in
large pieces in fresco. His colouring is strong, but his shades too dark. His manner of
painting is bold, and his heads and hands finely drawn. All his pictures are distinguisþed by
a great style of composition, and majesty of invention. There is much richness in the minute
parts, and great variety in the disposition : but he generally made choice of subjects as dismal
as his colouring, and the ground of his pictures has frequently a bluish tint.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
hand of the prince's carriage. The Town-hall of the old city
was called Banca Dei Giurati. The municipality consisted of
four jurats, and the hakem, who acted as president.
The catacombs in the Old City* have always been cele-
brated; and, indeed, with the greatest justice. They are very
extensive: and contain streets in all directions; which are formed
with such a degree of regularity, that the title of Subterraneous
City has been given to this place. Many of the different pas-
sages have been walled up, lest the curious spectator should
,
lose himself in such a labyrinth. The entrance communicates
to a house belonging to M. Pietro Greco, rector of the college
(see Hoüel); from whence the descent is about eight or nine
feet by a staircase three feet wide, leading to a kind of gallery,
extremely narrow, and containing sepulchres of different sizes;
some proportionably formed for infants, placed in different re-
cesses on each side. These corridors are extremely irregular,
divided into several passages, which branch out in various
directions, and form apartments very much in the same style
as the first, only more or less large, but all equally full of
tombs. The roof or ceiling of one of these halls appearing to
want support, a group of fluted pillars has been erected; but
without either strength, taste, or regularity !--These catacombs
are about twelve or fifteen feet below the surface of the rock
in which they are cut. The stone is soft and porous, conse-
quently subject to be easily penetrated by water: in order,
܀
* See Abela, for the plan of these catacombs.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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therefore, to prevent the ill effects of such filtration, small gut?
ters or trenches were made at the bottom of the lateral parts of
the galleries; which were covered over in a manner for any
person to walk upon them, and served as conduits for the dif-
ferent streams of water which met together, and were after-
wards lost in places made purposely to receive them. By such
means these caverns were kept perfectly dry, and were not
dangerous to those who were forced to take shelter in them:
the bodies were likewise easily let down for interment. The
stone from which these catacombs were dug is of so soft a na-
ture, that vegetables and shrubs grow in it. The roots of many
of the latter, in the upper surface, have pierced through the
rock, without splitting it: these appear to grow naturally, even
to the height of twelve or fifteen feet; and are two, three,
(sometimes more) lines in diameter. It is remarkable that the
roots of the shrubs thus growing in the heart of the rock should
be as large as if exposed to the open air ; for it is natural
to suppose that so confined a situation would impede their
growth.—These catacombs are infinitely superior to those at
Naples, which are merely excavations made at different times
for procuring stone for building.
Near this city is the Grotto of St. Paul, a cave divided
into three separate parts by iron grates. The altar is in the
part furthest from the entrance; in which is also a beautiful
statue of St. Paul, in white marble, the work of Caffa*. The
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* Caffa (Melchior) was born in Malta, in 1635; and studied sculpture-under Ferrata, at.
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second resembles the nave of a church; and is a rock where the
vegetation is constant, yielding a peculiar sort of earth, famous
for the cure of fevers. This earth is continually regenerating,
is of an absorbent nature, and reckoned very efficacious as an
alterative in all disorders occasioned by acrimonious humours.
The entrance serves as a place of worship: in fact, the primi-
tive Christians themselves who inhabited Malta made use of it
as a church; and in 1507, a hermit having fixed his abode
in this place, drew after him a great concourse of devout
votaries.
The City Valetta is situate 13 degrees 40 minutes to the
east of the meridian of Paris. The first stone was laid in: 1566,
and this spot particularly chosen on account of its elevated si-
tuation between the two great ports of the island. The plan
was given by La Valette himself, though it was thought at the
time to be drawn by Captain Laparelli. It is said that the
original idea of the grand-master was only to enclose the con-
vent, with all its dependences, within the walls ; and towards
the end of the century there was but too much reason to regret
that such a plan had not been carried into execution.
The walls of this new.city were no sooner traced out, than
the inhabitants of the island, of all ages and both sexes, volun-
tarily employed themselves to complete a town, which in future
a
Rome. He became so celebrated an artist, that he was fixed upon to execute a work in Malta,
representing the Baptism of our Saviour ; which was to have been placed in St. John's church:
but, after having finished models both large and small, he met with an accident, which pre-
vented his completing his plan; but it has since been executed from his designs.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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was not only to serve them as a place of defence, but to en-
crease their commerce and secure their possessions.
By a decree of council, this new city was called La Va-
letta : but it being customary at that time -in Sicily to join a
suitable epithet to the name of each town, the grand-master
expressed his wishes that a truly Christian one, worthy the mo-
desty of an order which prided itself alone in the cross of our
Saviour, should be chosen ; it was therefore called Humilissima.
La Valette dying in 1568, his successor, P. de Monté,
completed the different works commenced during the glorious
reign of the great defender of Malta and the Christian faith.
The whole being entirely finished; on the 18th of May, 1571,
the entire body of the order quitted the Burgh, where they had
resided from their first arrival in Malta, and proceeded in a most
solemn manner to their new habitation in the city Valetta.
Much less attention had been paid to the magnificence
and convenience of the edifices within the walls, than to ensure
the safety of the city by strong fortifications. The only church
at that time was the Chapel of Victory; built by La Valette in
commemoration of the raising the siege, and in honour of the
Blessed Virgin.
It was intended to have erected a palace for the grand-
master on the spot where the Italian and Castilian inns now
stand; but P. de Monté preferred a house built by Eustache
Dumont, in the principal square, and which has ever since
been the residence of his successors.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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A piece of ground was given to every different language
for their respective Inns. The one belonging to the English
language, since succeeded by the Anglo-Bavarian, was then on
the spot now called La Polvcrista. A particular post was also
assigned to each language, to defend in case of attack: these
were as follow:
Provence, the Cavalier, and Bulwark of St. John.
Auvergne,
Bulwark of St. Michael.
France, the Cavalier, Bulwark of St. James.
Italy,
Bulwark of St. Paul and St. Peter.
Arragon,
Bulwark of St. Andrew.
England,
the Platform of St. Lazarus.
Germany,
Bulwark of St. Sebastian.
Castille,
Bulwark of St. Barbara.
There are three gates to this city, viz. La Reale (Royal),
the Marine, and the gate towards Marsa Musceit. The prin
cipal street reaches from the Royal Gate to the Castle of St.
Elmo, and the others are built in a straight line parallel to the
former; the whole paved with flat square stones. The pave-
ment was however extremely bad till the year 1771, and
many
of the houses very inconvenient from having steps in the front:
but the streets have since been levelled at a great expence,
and
subterraneous channels dug to carry off all impurities, and at
the same time to open a passage for rain water; in short, to
make conduits to convey fountain water into all the public
and private cisterns throughout the city.--The greatest part of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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the inhabitants being unable to provide for so enormous an
expence, the public treasury advanced money to forward these.
,
improvements ; by which means the city. La Valetta is now
magnificently paved, and the houses cleared from steps, which
were not only inconvenient but extremely unsightly, and ren-
dered the passage through the streets both embarrassing by
day and dangerous by night.
Besides private cisterns to every house, there are likewise
public ones ; together with a fountain, the source of which is in
the southern part of the island, but the water conveyed by an
aqueduct, built at a considerable expence by the grand-master
Aloff de Vignacourt. This aqueduct from Diar Chandal, where
it commences, to the square before the grand-master's palace,
is 7478 canes * of eight palms each, in length. It having suf-
fered extremely from the ravages of time, the grand-master
Rohan repaired, and indeed partly rebuilt it, from his own pri-
vate purse. The manner in which the water of this fountain is
conveyed has been already described; and if the winter rains
are not sufficient to fill the cisterns, it affords a constant supply.
The houses are neat, and built of handsome stone; the
roofs forming a flat terrace plastered with pozzolana, with
pipes conducting to the cisterns, by which means every drop
of rain water is preserved. Most of the houses have a balcony
advancing into the street, where the inhabitants pass a great
part of their time.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
The parish-churches in the city Valetta, and the chapels
belonging to the different convents of religious orders, are daily
ornamented by gifts of the Maltese, who have always been
celebrated for a never-failing piety and devotion: they even
continue the ancient custom of the African Christians in the
time of the Romans, who used to engrave crosses with the
point of a needle, in order to distinguish them from the
Gentiles.
The church of St. John, built by the grand-master La
Cassiere, and afterwards consecrated by D. Ludovico Torrés,
archbishop of Montreal, was greatly enriched by presents made
to it
every five
years by the sovereign, and all the grand-priors
of the order. The first general chapter held at Malta assigned
a separate chapel in this church to every language: these form
the two aisles of a tolerably large nave, all the carved orna-
ments of which are gilded with sequin gold at the expence of
the grand-master Coloner. The pictures in this church are
almost all by Matthias Preti; whose talents ought to have in-
duced the order to have received him as a knight by favour, of
the language of Italy. Every compartment of the roof, be-
tween the pillars of the chapel, is ornamented by a picture
representing the different events of the life of St. John: the
greatest part of them are incomparably finé.
The pavement of the church is composed of sepulchral
. stones of inlaid marble of different colours. Nothing can be
more magnificent than several of these monuments ; some of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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which are incrusted with jasper, agate, and other
precious
stones, and cost more than a thousand pounds sterling.
The principal altar is placed at a distance from all the
others, in the middle of the choir ; at the further end of which
is a group in marble upon a raised basis, representing our
Saviour baptised by St. John. There is a fine picture, though
unfortunately injured by smoke, painted by Michael Angelo
de Caravaggio *, in a chapel called the Oratory, the entrance
of which was formerly the chapel of the language of England.
St. John's hand is kept in this oratory; a most precious relick,
presented by the Turkish emperor Bajazet, to D’Aubusson, the
grand-master of Rhodes •f.
9)
*- Michael Angelo was surnamed Caravaggio, from a castle in the Milanese, where he
was born in 1560. He died in 1609. He was the son of a mason, and his original
occupation was preparing colours for the use of painters in fresco. He afterwards went
to Venice, where Georgione resided, whose colouring he sometimes imitated. He had
no conception of ideal beauty; and when he painted a hero, he copied from a porter. He
always said the originals of his pictures were to be found in the streets : like Rembrandt; who
used to display a collection of old clothes, saying, “These are my antiques.” Though he
certainly might have chosen better models, it was impossible to paint them finer; and he
succeeded so well in portraits, that his style became fashionable. Valentin adopted his man-
ner; Guercino constantly, and even Guido did the same. The masterpiece of Michael
Angelo was indisputably a portrait of the grand-master Alof Vignacourt: this has even
been compared to the portraits of Titian, for the strength, truth, and softness of the colour-
ing. The heads of both the grand-master and page are admirable. This picture was en.
graved by Lermessin, but feebly executed.
* St. John's hand was preserved at Constantinople in a church built by Justinian, who
removed it to a church in Antioch. This relick and many others were preserved by Maho-
met II. at the capture of Constantinople. Bajazet, who trembled for his newly acquired
throne, wished to be on friendly terms with D’Aubusson, then grand-master of Rhodes, and
become very celebrated during the preceding reign by a great victory over the infidels: he
therefore presented him with St. John's hand, for which he had repeatedly refused the offer
of other princes. It will appear in the course of this history, in what manner the French
restored this hand to the grand-master on his quitting Malta.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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The chapel dedicated to the Virgin, contains two ex votos
of immense value; and was lighted by a golden lamp, fastened
to the roof by a long chain of the same metal. There are
many different articles in the treasury of this church, not only
extremely valuable, but of the greatest antiquity and finest
workmanship. None of these, however, were spared by the
French; who, from the first moment of their arrival, began to
carry away, during the night, every thing made of gold or
silver, in order to convert them into ingots.
The exterior of the church of St. John was by no means
equal to the inside, which was so níagnificent, and at the same
time so curiously elegant, that they even imitated the pattern
of the paintings on the ceiling, in the colours of the tapestry
displayed on great festivals.
The ceremonies observed in this church, performed with
great pomp and decorum, were particularly splendid. The
canopy under which was placed the grand-master, was in the
sanctuary next the evangelist; and the grand-crosses were on
benches below the communion-table. The knights, and all
persons, attached to the service of the order, were ranged along
the sides of the church; and, leaving an open space in the
middle, added extremely to the beauty of the coup d'oeil. The
prior of St. John officiated in his episcopal habit; and whilst
he was at the altar, one of the acolytes was employed in re-
freshing him by means of a large fan of feathers, with a handle
of burnished gold.
One festival, in particular, was celebrated with the most
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
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solemn pomp. As a knight of Malta, I feel too sensibly how
cruelly painful it is to be forced to speak on the subject; but
such was the purity of its institution, and so grand its object,
that it is impossible to pass it over in silence.
On the 8th of every September, the anniversary of the raising
the siege of Malta was constantly celebrated ; and no one could
possibly carry the victorious standard to the foot of the altar
without feeling a sentiment of the profoundest respect. This
part of the ceremony was announced by warlike music, and a
discharge of artillery from all the different forts. The standard
was carried by a knight wearing a helmet and a habit in the
form of those worn in the crusades of old : on his left hand
marched a page bearing the sword and poinard sent by Philip
II. of Spain to La Vallette; and on the right was the
.
marshal, accompanied by the whole language of Auvergne,
to whose knights the grand standard is particularly confided.
A fine portrait of the grand-master was exhibited to the
peo-
ple on that day, and viewed by them with every sentiment of
admiration and respect. This portrait belongs to the language
of Provence, and was painted by the commander Favray *.
The other churches were likewise richly decorated, and
contained fine pictures. In the fourth chapel of the church of
St. Dominick, to the left, was a picture of St. Rose, by the
Calabrian. In the second chapel of the church formerly be-
longing to the jesuits, were three pictures, representing the
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* This modern painter has left some very fine pictures at Malta.
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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principal events of the life of St. Peter, viz. : the angel deliver-
,
ing him from prison; his parting scene with St. Paul; and his
crucifixion. These were the chef d'oeuvres of the above-men-
tioned artist. There was also a picture by the same hand in
the second chapel of the church of the Carmelites, representing
St. Roch and the Blessed Virgin: the head of the latter not
well executed.
Several families from Rhodes having followed the body of
the order to Malta, and many of the Greeks having been since
established in the island, it was ordained that divine service
according to the rites of the Greek religion should be per-
formed in one of the parish churches, and that the curate
should have the title of Papas. This church enjoys a great
number of privileges, which have been granted as rewards to
the Greeks for their services during the siege of Malta.
The public edifices in Malta consist of the Palace of the
grand-master, the Hôtels or Inns of the different languages, the
Conservatory, the Treasury, the University, the Town-hall, the
Palace of Justice, the Hospital, and the Barracks, all of which
are built with much simplicity: the opinion of Houel may in-
deed be adopted with justice, for two qualities certainly dis-
tinguish the Maltese architecture; the one, a most exquisite
taste in the composition of the general mass; and the other,
a noble plainness in the minutiæ. The front of the Provençal
Inn, and that of the Conservatory, are the most remarkable
for their style of architecture. One part of the latter edifice
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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serves for the public library ; which useful establishment was
first instituted by the bailli de Tencin, in 1760, who during
his life-time furnished it with nine thousand seven hundred
volumes, which he had collected at a considerable expence.
His portrait is in the library, which was founded for perpetuity
by the last general chapter, held in 1776. It has been very
greatly augmented since that time ; and in 1790, consisted of
sixty thousand volumes. Books were constantly arriving from all
parts; it having been decreed, that at the decease of a knight
of Malta, in whatsoever country he resided, his books should
be sent to the public library.
The body of the library is handsome: and there is a mu-
seum adjoining divided into several cabinets, which contains a
great variety of interesting objects ; such as a large collection of
ancient and modern medals; a few vases ; the antiquities of the
island; with some marbles, amongst which is one brought from
Greece. The subject of this latter has been ingeniously ex-
plained by the abbé Navarro, who has determined the opinion
of the learned concerning Neotéra. This goddess, whose gene-
rical name had been falsely applied to Cleopatra, is in reality
Livia, or Julia Augusta, the mother of Tiberius, who was deno-
minated the New Goddess, from being the first mortal ranked
by the Romans among the Gods. Her grandson Claudius is-
sued an edict, that she should be solemnly worshipped through-
out the empire, and have altars and vestals dedicated to her
service. This piece of marble likewise fixes the epoch not
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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only of Spon's marble, but of several others dated during the
priesthood of Claudius Timotheus; which priesthood, accord-
ing to this explanation, was in the time of Tiberius Claudius
Lysias, chiliarch of Jerusalem *
There were two fine pictures in the Inn belonging to the
language of France; the one, the Conversion of St. Paul, by
Giuseppo. d’Arpino; and the other, the Public Entry of the
grand-master. L'Isle Adam, by the commander De Favray:
likewise two fine portraits of the grand-masters La Valette and
Rohan, in the Provençal Inn.
The treasury contained all the accounts of the receipts
and expenditure of the order; also a picture of Christ by
Albert Durer, a fine portrait of the secretary of the treasury,
and a Virgin by Concha.
The hospital consists of several large airy apartments, and
of immense storehouses, which would contain four times the
1
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* The following is the Latin Inscription.
(
HONORAVIT)
HIEROPHANTIN NOVENSILIS. (DIVAE)
CLAVDIAM. PHILOXENAM.
TIBERI. CLAVDI (LYSIAS)
PATRONI MELITENSIS. FILIAM.
QVAE. ARAM. NOVENSILIS. DIVAE.
ARGENTO. ORNAVIT.
CVRANTE. DEDICATIONEM. (STATYAE)
FILIO. EJUS. TI. CLAVDIO, LYSIADE.
TIBERI. CLAUDI. PATRONI. MELITENSIS.
FILIO. (ADOPTIVO)
SUB-SACERDOTE. CLAVDIA. TIMOTHEOS.
For the explanation, see Diariam Florent Die 2 Octob. 1789, and Ephemerides Ro-
man. Die 20. ejusdem mensis, fc.
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number of beds at present employed. This asylum is con-
stantly open for the reception of the sick of all countries and
religions; who are treated with every possible attention, and
furnished with medicines and comforts of every kind. The
knights not only inspect the different branches of the admi:
nistration (the head of which is one of the first dignitaries of
the order), but successively attend the sick, of whom more than
two thousand are annually discharged cured from the hospital.
The utensils employed are almost all silver; but of such plain
workmanship as sufficiently proves that this magnificence was
adopted from a motive of cleanliness, and not as an object
of luxury.
The grand-master's palace is an immense mass of building ;
which, though unornamented, makes an imposing appearance.
The apartments are large and convenient: most of the Frieres
are painted by Giuseppo d’Arpino's two principal pupils ;
there are also views of the siege of Malta, by Matteo da Lecce.
In the chapel is the Birth of the Blessed Virgin, by Treviran.
The armoury was handsome; and ornamented with trophies
on the walls, disposed with admirable taste. At one end is an
extremely fine cuirass damasked with gold, which belonged to
the grand-master Alose de Vignacourt*, whose portrait at full
length, by Michael Angelo de Carravaggio, hangs over it; the
latter is in excellent preservation, and is looked upon as the
master-piece of that artist. The grand-master's gallery con-
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* See in Vol. II. the drawing of the upper part of this picture.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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tained a great number of pictures : among those allowed to be
:
originals, are our Saviour by Guido; the Death of Abel, by
Espagnolet; and many others, by the Calabrian. There are
likewise three marble basso-relievos : the first representing Pen-
thesilia (Pl. IV. fig. 2.), the famous queen of the Amazons,
who, in order to revenge the death of Hector, boldly advanced
to the walls of Troy to fight Achilles. The second is Julia,
(Pl. IV. fig. 3.), Cicero's daughter; and Claudia, the wife of
Cicilius Metellus ; who both lived at the same time, and were
much celebrated. Julia was distinguished by her great learn-
ing; and Claudia was the Lesbia of Catullus. The third re-
presents Zenobia (Pl. IV. fig. 3.), the wife of Odenatus, king of
Palmyra : she reigned during her son's minority; and the epi-
thet Domina at the bottom of this basso-relievo, is in conformity
with the Dominus, which Aurelian substituted for that of Em-
peror and Augustus. Zenobia, having conquered Egypt, as-
sumed this title ; and greatly as she had despised the prede-
cessors of Aurelian, saw herself constrained, in the year 274, to
grace the triumph of that emperor, as a prisoner.
These basso-relievos were inserted into the walls of the
galleries facing the windows, with the names of the persons they
were supposed to represent. It appears most probable, that
the heads formerly made part of a collection of female figures :
but they were in too moderate a style to have been the produc-
tion of those happy times when the arts flourished in perfec-
tion; they were consequently the performance of other ages,
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
41
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when those arts unfortunately were fallen to decay. Their
antiquity being disputed, the abbé Navarro proved it incon-
testably in a dissertation printed in 1778.
It is as yet impossible to say, with any degree of certainty,
what still remains of the different monuments of the arts in the
city Valetta ; though it is but too well known, that every ar-
ticle in gold and silver has been carried off from the churches,
and the ancient municipal government suppressed, though so
essential to the preservation of the inhabitants, that it would
have been infinitely more prudent to have permitted it to have
remained in its original form. The council of the city, called
the University, was presided by the senechal, an officer belong-
ing to the grand-master, who always named the other magi-
strates, termed jurats. The university exercised other functions,
equally important with the municipal ones. Before the esta-
blishment of the order in Malta, it was exclusively charged
with the purchase of corn for the consumption of the whole
island. This part of the administration was termed Massa fru-
mentaria ; and it enjoyed the same privilege under the govern-
ment of the knights.
The population afterwards prodigiously encreasing, and
the number of the wealthy being greatly multiplied, the uni-
versity was obliged to make a much more considerable provi-
sion of corn, and consequently to advance large sums for that
purpose. To provide for this additional expence, recourse was
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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had to loans; and the ease with which they were negociated,
produced an excellent effect on the minds of the people ; since
it inspired the Maltese with so great a degree of confidence,
that instead of placing their money elsewhere as formerly, they
were quite eager to lend to the university, which by these
means was enabled to build storehouses where a sufficient
quantity of corn might always be kept, not only to ensure the
inhabitants from the misery of famine, but at the same time to
enable it to sell corn at a moderate price. The grain was pre-
served in extremely large pits hollowed in the rock; with beds
of wood and straw placed at the bottom, on which it was spread.
When these were entirely filled, they were closed by a large
stone, which was plastered over with puzzolana ; the corn thus
kept from the air, might be preserved perfectly good a hun-
dred years. One of these pits was discovered filled with corn,
which had been forgotten for a great length of time; and the
grain near the surface had alone suffered from the damp, the
rest being in excellent preservation. Corn is kept in the same
kind of pits in Sicily, and Malta had likewise others in that
island ; for it is well known that, according to different treaties,
Sicily was obliged to furnish a certain quantity of corn free
from all export duties. But the population of Malta having
been quintupled in the space of a century, it was very insuffi-
cient to supply the wants of that island, which was forced to
solicit the free exportation of a much larger quantity: this re-
--
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
43
;
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quest occasioned frequent disputes, and was subject to very
great difficulties.
The university made such a good use of'its funds, that its
credit encreased surprisingly; and it could always borrow any
sums of money whatsoever at three per cent. whilst private in-
dividuals were obliged to pay six, which indeed was the in-
terest fixed by the law. The university became by degrees pos-
sessed of very considerable funds; and would have been ex-
tremely rich, had not some of the last grand-masters made use
of their influence to drain it of sums, which never afterwards
returned into its coffers.
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44
HISTORY OF MALTA,
1
CHAP. III.
!
Malta divided into two parts. Description (by way of Itinerary) of
the most remarkable Places : as the Boschetto; ancient Ruts;
Mountains and Fountains in the Neighbourhood of Casal Zebug ;
St. Antony's; Ruins of Ghorghenti; Hagiar Kan; Excavation near
Makluba; Ruins of a Greek House at Casal Zorrick; ancient
Tower at Gudia; Kasar; Ruins of the Temple of Hercules.
+
...
THE
HE island of Malta is divided into two very unequal parts;
the one to the east, and the other to the west, of the old city.
All the casals are in the eastern division, which is much larger
than that to the west; the latter merely containing some coun-
;
try-houses, though there are in it a variety of picturesque
scenes. But the air towards the coasts being unwholesome, and
there being a scarcity of land capable of cultivation, farmers
are not tempted to reside in it. There are, however, some
valleys tolerably well wooded and watered ; quarries of a very
hard sort of stone; a hill named Ta ben Gemma; the ruins of
St. Publius's country-house; and a spot called Nyed el Osel, or
Torrent of Honey, because numerous beehives were formerly
kept there, and the produce of the bees was very great. The
whole of this part of the island abounds with odoriferous plants.
There are also considerable salt-works, the revenue of which is
the property of the grand-master.
Kaalata Abia is an elevated spot of ground, where, during
4

PIV.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig: 5.
B.
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Plan and Interior of Tombs in the Bengemman
ma Mountains
Published.by 47 Robinson, London May 2.2004.

PL.V.
Fig. 1.1
it
,
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Interior of Tomlis in the Bengemma Mountains.
Published by G & T Robinson London May 2.1804.
-
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
45
а.
the time of the Arabs, some slaves, having escaped their chains,
posted themselves, and having fortified the place, strenuously
defended their liberty. This western division extends no farther
than Melleha Port: near which is a cave called the Grotto of
Calypso, sufficiently curious to deserve a particular description;
likewise the Bengemma Mountains, which are extremely
worthy the attention of a curious traveller. The summit
forms a plain, where a town formerly stood. Though there are
no remains left, and though no historian who has treated of
Malta, not even Abela, has ever made mention of the circum-
stance, yet the appearance of every thing around these moun-
tains sufficiently proves they were once inhabited by a power-
ful and ingenious race well skilled in the arts; for, facing the
chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Letter, there are at least
a hundred sepulchral grottos: (Pl.
(Pl. V) On the outside of
some are small black cavities ; which, closely examined, appear
to have been made as ornaments to the doors ; whilst the others
present to view nothing but the roughness of the rock, broken
by time in a very irregular manner, but which, according to
all appearance, likewise served for a place of entrance.
Some of these grottos are of easy access; and a part, pro-
bably once serving as a burying-place, is deeply dug into the
rock. It is impossible not to be struck by the beauty of these
small tombs, the exquisite taste of their composition, and the
highly finished manner in which they are executed: they may,
indeed, be esteemed the finest and most elegant monuments
3
}
1
46
IIISTORY OF MALTA..
1
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!
existing of so small a size * There are different fountains in
the environs; which, together with the appearance of the coast,
furnish additional reasons for imagining that this place, now
but bad pasture land, was formerly the residence of opulent
inhabitants.
The Grotto of Calypso. (Pl. XVI.) The title bestowed on
this cave must ever recall to remembrance that delightful spot,
so enchantingly sung by the poets; and such is its situation,
that the particular description given by these writers is very
applicable to it.
This habitation, cut out of the rock on the side of a mo-
derately high mountain, consists of two stories of apartments,
the one immediately over the other; and a grotto below, forming
the ground floor, with stairs leading up to the different rooms
above. Some of the walls are fallen in, whilst others remain
entire; and many of the chambers in the second story are still
habitable.
The grotto at the foot of the rock is principally formed by
nature: a spring of clear, and excellent water spouts forth at
the farthest end, which must have greatly tended to invite in-
habitants. In the beginning of the 17th century, this place
served as a residence for some hermits; but no one, at present,
.
* See in Plate V.. three figures of these tombs: one of which represents a man bearing
on his shoulders a dead body in a horizontal posture, and who seems to be assisted by an-
other man, who does not appear;. in the second, the corpse is laid out, and wrapped in a
sheet or shrowd fastened with strings; the third represents the manner in which these dife
ferent tombs are disposed.-(See Houel, page 112.)
...
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PI.VI. Fig 2
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Birdseye view of the Rock in whichri the Grotto of Calypso.
Fublichest by 9 &-I Bobincon London May 1.10 04.
1
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
47
1
dwells in this delightful and retired spot. There is a fine and
extensive prospect of the sea from the top of the mountain :
the island of Goza presents itself to view in the midst of the
vast expanse, and Cumin is seen still nearer to the shore; ;
which, joined to the other parts of Malta, form altogether
the most interesting, rich, and varied coup d'oeil in the whole
island. This place has also (as has been already observed)
the advantage of being situated near one of the best. ports
in Malta.
There are twenty-two principal casals in the eastern part,
viz.: Dingkli, Mosta, Nasciar, Ghargul, Itard, Zebug, Bal-
ran, Lia, Bircarcaro, Qurmms, Paula, Siggeui, Qrendi, Zor-
rick, Qergop, Gudia, Mqab, Luca, Tarscien, Zabbar, Zeitua,
and Ghasciay.
All civil and criminal causes in the country and casals
in Malta, might be carried before either the court of justice
or castelany of the city La Valetta : except, indeed, those which
belonged particularly to the jurisdiction of the Captain of the
Rod's court in the old city ; such as Dingkli, Siggeui, Zebug,
Itard, Lia, and Mosta.
In order to describe as accurately as possible every thing
the most remarkable in the eastern division, I shall begin at the
casal Dingkli, the most southern part of the island, proceed to
Mosta, and thus continue from one casal to another, describ-
ing at the same time the neighbourhood of each particular
village.
:
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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Dingkli, takes its name from that of a Maltese family.
The Boschetto. The country round this residence (which
.
(
belonged to the grand-master) is seen at a great distance; and
is commanded by a kind of castle, with four towers at the
corners, which at a distance make a singular appearance: at
the bottom, towards the south, is a hanging road, partly cut
out of the rock, which leads to the entrance of the garden.
The Boschetto itself is situated in a deep and extensive
valley; and is the only spot in the whole island which can boast
of tolerably large fruit-trees of different kinds; the greatest
part, however, do not bear. Nature has so disposed them as
to form pleasant walks ; and there is a charming contrast be-
tween these trees of a wild growth, and the oranges, lemons,
cedars, and bergamots, ranged with the greatest symmetry in
avenues and arbours. What adds to the beauty of this spot,
is a variety of springs of fresh water, so aptly dispersed as to
afford a degree of coolness unequalled in any other part of
the island.
On each side, and behind the pavilion in the garden, are
different buildings. The entrance to these is by a flight of
steps, and they contain courts filled with animals of different
kinds. One of these courts was once covered with brass wiring,
and formed a large aviary for ostriches, Chinese gold-pheasants,
and other curious birds. The part in which the pavilion
stands, was full of red and fallow deer; as also antelopes, re-
markable for their elegant form and their activity.
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
49
2
1
At the distance of a mile from the Boschetto, towards the
sea, is a very elevated spot of ground; on the southern side of
which are the vestiges of wheels, that have cut into the rock,
and may be traced' to the sea.
These ruts are from four to six inches wide, and from ten
to twelve or fifteen deep: they traverse a large extent of
ground, the surface of which is entirely rocky. On approach-
ing the shore, the soil takes an inclined direction ; and the ruts
may be perceived under the water at a great distance, and to
a great depth ; indeed, as far as the eye can possibly distin-
guish any thing through the waves. This circumstance gives
every reason to suppose, that the ground must have sunk very
considerably in this spot.
As no traces of either mules or horses appear between the
ruts, it is most probable that the carriages were drawn by men.
The. Bishop's Gardens ; near which are some grottos for-
merly inhabited by the wandering fortune-tellers, commonly
called Zingari, Bohemians, or gypsies.
Ghar Kbir, a spacious cave, serving, for a great length
of time, for a dwelling for whole families of peasants, who
were doubtless too poor to build houses, and whom Kircher
(who was in Malta during the mastership' of Verdale), in his
work on the Subterraneous World, distinguishes by the name
of Troglodytes, in order to give them some degree of cele-
brity.
Bir Zegrella, a spring said to have a febrifuge quality.
:
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VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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Necriet, a small hamlet.
El Mitarsa, a hill, on which, according to an ancient
tradition, stood the Temple of Proserpine.
Kirbu el Thut, or the Jew's sepulchre. These brokers from
every different nation were tempted to visit Malta, in hopes
of enriching themselves by commerce; but Ferdinand the
Catholic banished them from the island in 1494.
Mosta. This village was plundered by the Corsairs in
1526.
Baydar el Blat. The plain where the Turkish generals
planted the royal standard, when, raising the siege, they strove
to rally their troops on their taking to flight and hastily re-
embarking.
Hal Dhiesil, a deserted village.
Nasciar, the casal inhabited by the first Christians: it
is very handsome, and contains some pleasant gardens.
Ghargul, or casal Gregory.
Uyed el dis, Uyed el Gamit, Uyed el Klir; three valleys
planted with vines and trees.
Manua and Bord, two inconsiderable villages.
Itard. This casal takes its name from a Maltese family.
Tabira, a fief chosen by the grand-master Lascaris, for
erecting mills, on account of a great variety of springs, which
furnish running water in abundance.
Zebug, situated on a hill, from seven hundred to eight
hundred fathoms long, reckoning from south to north, and not
.
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
51
1
more than two hundred in its whole surface. This casal is a
most interesting object to the curious. On the highest part
of the rock are three fountains, situated at the distance of be-
tween thirty and fifty feet from each other. There is likewise
a grotto dripping water in the driest seasons; the roof is only
eight or nine feet above the upper part of the mountain, which
is by no means the only one that has springs on its summit:
this can be attributed to no other cause than the disposition
of the pores in the constituent parts of the rock, which having
the faculty of absorbing the vapours of the atmosphere, and
dissolving them into water, they force a passage through differ-
ent apertures, and form fountains more or less abundant. The
truth of this observation will be more clearly proved, when I
shall treat of a rock named Sasso di San Paolo.
Santa Maria tal Chilas, or Saint Mary of Child-birth: this
church is held in high veneration by the Maltese.
Sant Antonio, a country-house belonging to the grand-
master: the garden contained three thousand orange-trees,
the fruit of which sold annually for two thousand Maltese
crowns *
Balzan. This village is surrounded by olive and almond
--
..
in
trees.
Lia. The name of a Maltese family.
Aarar, an ancient village, deserted by its inhabitants
* Value two shillings each.
.
H 2
5
52
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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on account of the frequent incursions of the Corsairs, who
were continually landing on the neighbouring coast.
Saint Julian's Church; near which an alabaster quarry was
discovered in the reign of the grand-master Pinto.
Bircarcara, signifying Lime-pit. This casal has a collegiate
church.
Hal Caprat, the ruins of an ancient village.
Qúrmi, or the City Pinto. It derives its original name from
being formerly in a vineyard ; and, on account of its vicinity
to the city Valetta. Many ovens for baking bread have been
erected there, whence it is likewise called Casal Fornaro.
Ayn Filep, a spring, which formerly furnished water for
the use of ships sailing from the port of Malta.
Kortin, a hill; at the bottom of which some remains of
antique baths were found in an excavation made in 1729.
Corradin, the stables of the grand-master.
Paula, formerly Casal Nuovo, built during the reign of
De Paule.
Farragi; a small village.
Siggeui, signifying repose.
Ghorghenti consists merely in the ruins of some houses,
the walls of which had been built on the naked rock, and in
some cisterns hollowed out of the same rock. There are also
some small springs or fountains towards the port, and large
stones scattered here and there. Every thing seems to prove
that the village called Ghorgenti was situated in this place.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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According to ancient tradition, it was particularly consecrated
to the use of the inhabitants of Agrigentum, who disembarked
their merchandise at this port when Phalaris was the ally of the
Maltese.
Aayn el Khira, the inquisitor's country-house.
Ghartuta,, a grotto; near which are the ruins of different
edifices built with stones of an enormous size.
Hal Tabuni, a ruined village.
Rahal Kbir. This village, if we may judge from its name;
was formerly large, but is now very inconsiderable.
S. Maria tal Kneis, the ruins of an old Greek church.
Biar Blat, Talenik, Taltami, and other neighbouring places,
containing immense cisterns.
Hagiar Kan, likewise called Agiar Kim. The walls, partly
rectangular partly circular, are only elevated one single tier
above the rock on which they are built. They extend to a
great distance from south to north; and their colossal construc-
tion clearly proves, there was a considerable habitation on this
spot. Near it are other ruined walls, consisting likewise of
only one layer of stones. These are perpendicular, and from
twelve to fourteen feet high, and three or four thicki To the
north of these walls is a stone eighteen feet in height; and to
the west, near the coast, the ruins of another square edifice,
built in the same manner; the different fronts of which are
composed of stones in the style of the Giant's Tower in Goza.
These fronts are about seven fathoms broad, and fifteen feet
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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high. At the distance of eight or nine fathoms is another in
a circular form, in which the door-ways are still to be seen.
The most considerable edifice in this neighbourhood is called
Tadarnadur Isrica, (Pl. VII.) It is a perfect circle, nearly a
hundred feet in diameter. Among the great number of stones
which compose this building, only five remain upright; these,
however, give an idea of its height': four of them are placed
vertically, each being eighteen feet high. They still remain
strongly connected together: one stone, which has fallen to
the ground, is twenty feet long; which gives reason to believe
that the others were of the same length.
The foundations of walls running in lines across the extent
of this vast enclosure are still to be traced in different places,
and it is to be supposed they made parts of houses. Houel
confesses that this is the most considerable monument of the
kind he ever saw in the whole course of his travels.
Rahal Sciluk, a small village.
Qrendi.
Makluba. Near St. Matthew's chapel is a most remarkable
excavation of a circular form, twenty fathoms deep, and from
twenty-five to thirty in diameter. The most extraordinary cir-
cumstance is, that, though this cavity is in the solid rock, a
garden has been made in it: this is at times deluged with
water, and when that happens it takes ten or twelve days to
dry. The sea is more than a hundred feet below the bottom
of this excavation. The coast on this side of the island is full

PL.VII_Fig 2.
7
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​Plan of an ancient Building in a circular form, called Tadar Nadur Iszira.
Fubliched by 58,7. Robinson London May 28 04.

PU.VI_Fig:
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to
Romains of a House inthe Grecian style of Architectureat Casal Zurich.
Fubliched by 5 & L. Robinson London May 1. 1004.
HISTORY OF MALTA.
55
1
a
of grottos, the rocks being for the most part craggy. A mile
farther to the east towards the sea, and at the very farthest
extremity of this perpendicular rock, a superb arch reversed
is formed by the same rock towards the coast. This has a
wonderfully fine effect, from its enormous altitude and the
regularity of its form.
There is a small uninhabited island near this place, called
the Black Stone : though the whole extent is not more than two
or three acres, it is said to have been inhabited in former times.
Hal Scych, a ruined village, near a hamlet called Milleri.
Zorrick. In a garden belonging to the curate of this casal
are the beautiful remains of a Greek edifice, (Pl. VI.) AC-
cording to the observations of Houel, who has published a fine
engraving of this ruin, it appears to be the remains of a private
Greek house, and the only one of the kind he ever met with
in his travels. The part in the highest preservation is a square
tower, nine feet in front on each side, and about seventeen
high, including the cornice. It has only one window and a
folding door. The walls are of fine stone, nicely cut, and ex-
actly fitted, and surrounded by a small cornice, elegantly exe-
cuted in the true Grecian style. On the road from this garden
to casal Qrendi is a fine cistern to the right in the arable land
covered with large stones supported by well-built arcades.
This cistern communicates with another by a door: the latter
is dug at the distance of six fathoms from the former, and the
stones which cover it are supported by pillars. By the side of
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA.'
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the
way to the nearest casal are the remains of a wall sixty
feet in length, which consist of only three layers of large and
fine stones. This village takes its name from Zirieck, which
signifies blue, the eyes of almost all the inhabitants being of that
colour. They are in general fond of hunting and shooting;
but when the season prevents their taking these diversions,
they pass their time in spinning cotton. The air of this place
is particularly wholesome. There are two extremely fine pic-
tures in the church : Saint Andrew, by Mathias Preti; and the
Death of Saint Catherine, by Matheo da Lecci.
Cenus tal Mansah, a piece of ground where they take
falcons in a net.
Bubakera, a tolerably large village.
Ghar Hassan, a large cave in a rock above the sea; the
access is very difficult.
Sasi. The name of this village signifies pure, and it was
the only one free from the contagious distemper which made
such terrible ravages in 1676.
Qergop:
Torre ta Gianhar, an old tower, supposed to be built by
the Arabs.
Gudia, signifying high ground. At this place are the ruins
of a tower built of large stones ; which, though irregular, is less
so than other edifices of the same kind : it is called in Arabic
Giauard, signifying jewel or pearl, perhaps from its being better
built than the others.--The layers of stones are not all equally
1
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​HISTORY OF MALTA.
:57
2
a
.
high ; some of them are thirty-three inches, and the walls are
three feet six inches thick. An urn of baked earth filled with
Roman copper medals was found in this place; but, as there
was no local inscription, it gave no insight into the history of
the tower.
Three hundred paces from thence to the west, near a small
Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Anthony, is the base of a little
ancient edifice, which appears to be of Grecian architecture;
it is about nine fathoms in length, near thirty-three feet wide,
and built of very large stones rudely piled. A cistern, twenty-
three feet deep and nine wide, is cut out of a rock near the
above-mentioned base: the stones which cover it are supported
in an excellent manner; and in the centreof a neighbouring en-
closure there is another cistern of the same kind, though of a
smaller size. The ruins of a variety of buildings are scattered
here and there to the south-east, which sufficiently proves that
this part of the island was formerly well inhabited.
Halspital, a ruined village.
Halarrig, the remains of many ancient habitations.
Mqabba, signifying the cover of a vase.
Luqa. This village is built on a high spot of ground above
the Marsa, which is the end of the Great Port, Almost all the
inhabitants are masons. . The name is derived from poplars,
there being formerly many of those trees in the environs.
Tarscien takes its name from Tarsis, or Carthage, and was
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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probably the first place inhabited by the Carthaginians on
their arrival in Malta.
Zabbar signifies drinker.
Aaffieli, formerly famous for excellent honey.
Hal Saïd. This village no longer exists.
Uyed Aain, a small pond.
Halcharrat, Hal Tnin, ruined hamlets.
Zeitun, or Biskallin : this last name means the Sons of
Sicily, from a number of Sicilian emigrants who inhabited this
island after having landed at Marsaskalla.
Gioan, a hamlet.
Ghasciaq. This word, in the Maltese language, means to
have pleasure.
Ghar Dalmain, a large grotto.
Kasar. Two hundred paces to the north of this casal,
behind the small chapel of St. George, are the ruins of a very
ancient edifice, built in the same style as the Giant's Tower,
though not the work of the Arabs. It is composed of two
circular parts, from twelve to fourteen fathoms in diameter;
these are about twelve or fourteen fathoms distant from each
other, but joined by a wall. This edifice, at first sight, appears
like a vast heap of stones, some of which are enormously
large.
The ruins of the Temple of Hercules are to the east of
Marsa Sirocco, three hundred paces from the port, and situated
HISTORY OF MALTA. .
59
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on a little hill close to the road, near a retired housė, in a field
which belonged to the Augustin Friars.
The ruins consist of a fine wall; of which, four layers of
stones two feet high only remain : these stones are five or six
feet long, and laid without mortar in a workman-like manner.
The wall is ninety feet in length. This edifice, as we have
already said, is called the Temple of Hercules ; but it is not
easy to say which part of the building was dedicated to that
demi-god.
The chapel of Our Lady of Snow is near this place; the
disposition and ornaments of which are in a remarkably good
taste, both for the form and the simplicity, not only of the
sides, but of the whole mass of the building.
The road of which the above is an itinerary is not passable
for a caleshe; that is to say, if the traveller quits the direct
one, which leads from one casal to another: this journey must
therefore be performed on horseback, and, indeed, in some
parts, on foot. A caleshe is a carriage of the country, with
two large wheels, and drawn by a single mule.
.
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HISTORY OF MALTA:
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CHAP. IV.
5
1
Goza not sufficiently fertile to supply its Inhabitants with Corn without
foreign Assistance. Form of Government established in that Island,
which only contains six Casals. Description of the most interesting
Objects tof Curiosity, viz. The Castle ; Rabbatto; The Grotto in
the Biasi Garden; Quaccia; Ruins of an ancient Edifice; Giant's
Tower; Zebug; Alabaster Quarry; Convent of Capuchin Friars ;
Port St. Paul ; Grotto; Clock-maker's Salt-Works; extraordinary
Phenomenon; Mushroom Rock; dangerous Manner of catching
Birds and Fish; Sasso di San Paolo.
1
E
THE island of Goza, though fertile, was not sufficiently so
to furnish the whole of its inhabitants with corn ; seven or
eight thousand salmes of which they were constantly obliged
to purchase every year. The pasture land is fine, and they
fed great quantities of cattle for the use of Malta, with which
there was a daily communication; five or six boats filled with
provisions going every morning to the city Valetta, and return-
ing the same afternoon with all such merchandise and eatables
as were not to be found at Goza. The grapes of this island
are particularly fine, and so highly esteemed by the Maltese,
that they buy up the greatest part for their own particular use.
Corn and cotton were cultivated with great success in
Goza, and generally yielded from sixteen to eighteen for one.
The inhabitants attended particularly to the plantations of
cotton trees, and never suffered any other kind of tree to be
HISTORY OF MALTA.
61
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planted near them, lest they should attract and absorb any of
the nutritive qualities of the earth. The annual produce from
cotton in Goza might be estimated at five hundred quintals
of rotoli, each rotolo weighing thirty Ounces.
• Oxen' or asses are employed in Goza for ploughing the
land ; and, in some particular cases, they dig a foot deep into
the earth, in order to refresh it. The ancient plough was made
use of both in that island and in Sicily.
The air of Goza is extremely wholesome, and the country
presents a variety of agreeable prospects. The two hills called
Nodar and Sciahrer are surrounded by gardens watered by
different fountains, and are undoubtedly the pleasantest in
the island.
There was a collegiate church in the castle, where the
service was performed by canons; likewise a prison, and the
governor's palace; the whole containing about two hundred
inhabitants.
There were three convents of friars in the island; the
Augustins, Franciscans, and Capuchins. Every casal or
village had its separate parish ; and in some of them were
hermits, whose province it was to educate youth.
The governor of Goza was always a knight. The muni-
cipality consisted of four jurats : and there were three courts of
justice; one for the laity, another for the clergy, and a third
for the inquisition. The first tried all civil and criminal causes.;
the second had jurisdiction of every thing relative to spiritual
;
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
affairs; and the last (which consisted of only one canon), re-
ferred all causes to Malta which he could not immediately
determine on the spot.
I shall now enter into some particulars relative to the
most interesting objects in Goza, in the same manner as I
have already treated of those in Malta.
Goza contains only six casals : Garbo or Gharb; Zebucco
or Zebug; Nadur; Quaccia, or Scicara, or Caccia ; Zeuchia, or
Scienquia ; and Sannat.
The first fort built on the coast of Goza was Miggiaro,
situated between Robiglium and Uyed el Rajos.
Uyed el Rajos. This was
erected in 1605, from the fund left for that purpose by the
grand-master Garzéz. The Bailly de Chambray began to build
another, at his own expence, in 1749 ; but it not being com-
pleted at his death, it was afterwards finished by the order, and
called city Chambray. The only fortress of
The only fortress of any consequence in
the interior of the island is the castle, situated on a solitary rock
of not more than one hundred and fifty fathoms in diameter.
Water is so extremely abundant, that in one of the vertical
fronts a trench has been dug from the top to the bottom,
through which runs a sufficient quantity to fill a well for the
use of the inhabitants and neighbourhood. The road to this
place winds round a rock; and the entrance is through very
strong gates with draw-bridges, between which is a stone
bridge, and at the foot of it a niche with an antique statue,
thought by the historians who have written on Malta to be
*
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
63
;
:
that of Juno: the head, feet, and arms, are wanting ; but what
remains is beautifully executed; though it is not easy to guess
why it is imagined to be Juno, since nothing appears which
can possibly give an idea of that goddess, not one of whose
attributes are perceptible. A female head in marble is shewn
here: it is crowned with leaves resembling laurel, and is of a
size proportionate to fit the above-mentioned statue; but it is
mutilated in such a manner as to render it impossible to form
any just idea of its original state; the projecting parts, the
mouth, nose, and chin, being all flattened*. --Broken trunks of
pillars, together with chapiters, bases, and other fragments of
the different orders of architecture, are scattered the whole way
to the castle ; and on examining a variety of ruins of the same
kind in Rabbato, and the suburbs of the castle, it is natural to
suppose the island of Goza was formerly adorned by the most
sumptuous edifices.
In the burying-place of the Augustin
Friars at Rabbato, there is a monument called that of the An-
cient Bishops. This consists of church trophies, such as mitres,
crosses, stoles, &c. carved in basso relievo: they are incrusted
in the wall, but are not very interesting. Between the castle
and Rabbato is a Gothic monument with very curious attri-
butes : the sculpture represents a woman, (Pl. X. fig. A), under
whom are fetters like those worn by galley-slaves.There is a
grotto in a garden called Biasi, in the environs of Rabbato,
$
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* It remained a long time in the possession of a tailor at Rabbato ; where Mr. Houel saw it,
;
spotted all over with ink.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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full of tombs hollowed out of the rock: they are at least sixty
in number, very large, and six feet long : they have suffered
greatly from time, but the workmanship is so moderate, that
this circumstance is the less to be regretted.
The road lies through Quaccia or Caccia to a great enclo-
sure formed by a wall of enormous stones, placed alternately
lengthwise and breadthwise; the first mark the thickness of
this circular wall, and the others jut out beyond it. The two
sides of the doorway are formed of stones eighteen feet high,
and six thick: these likewise prove the thickness of the wall;
they are about four feet wide, and seven or eight feet di-
stant from each other; these stones are so rudely cut, and so
crooked, that it is impossible to take a perfectly exact measure.
The diameter of the enclosure, which is entirely round, is twenty-
three feet. There is the appearance of steps formed by the
.
hand of nature in the rock on which this edifice is erected.
To the east, at the distance of fifteen fathoms, are very fine
remains of another building in the same style.
The ruins called the Giant's Tower (Pl. VIII.) are un-
doubtedly of very great antiquity, but the manner in which
this edifice must have been built sufficiently proves it could
not have been erected by the Greeks, who never produced
any thing so irregular and colossal. It is evident that it
was the work of the primitive people, whose ignorance of the
arts shews itself in all their monuments, which constantly dis-
play more strength than taste. Their passion for the wonder-
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PLVII.
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Remains of an ancient Idfire called the Giants Tower,
Published by G lI Eobinson London May 1,1004.
Ver
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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ful, induced them to undertake the most dangerous enterprises.
Through whatever country they passed, they sought to perpe-
tuate the memory of their chiefs, together with the conquests
they obtained. Many of these monuments have not only been
spared by time, but respected by men ; and the learned have
constantly disputed about the epoch of their foundation, and
the purposes for which they were intended. The Giant's
Tower, I am of opinion, was constructed at the time when
the Phoenicians took possession of Malta and Goza, but for
what purpose I cannot pretend to decide. The style of masonry
is
very
much the same as that of different ruins in Sicily, Etru-
ria, Scotland, Lower Britany, and Denmark; though neither in
shape, nor many other particulars, does it resemble any edifice I
have hitherto seen. It is built with stones of eight, ten, and
twelve feet long; the first layers of which are placed on
the rock in the same manner as the ruins near Caccio, that
is, length-wise and breadth-wise alternatively, so that every
other one jutted out beyond the wall, and formed a kind of
pillar, which added greatly to the solidity of the building. The
stones of this first layer do not appear to be cut, nor is there
any reason to believe they were fastened together by mortar,
or any other kind of cement; but those of the upper layers are
more regularly placed, without, however, being exactly cut, or
in a very straight line. The walls are five or six feet thick ; and
it is most probable the masons of old had some kind of mor-
tar or stucco, with which they filled up the crevices of these
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
stones, and laid them in so durable a manner as to remain for
many centuries. It is likewise possible that the present irre-
gularity of the building may be the effect of time, and not of
any fault in the original construction. The form, however, of
the edifice is not regular: it consists of three different rooms
(Pl. VII. fig. 3); the first, a long square terminating in a half-
circle, and the second also a long square: these two con-
jointly are twenty fathoms in length, by thirteen in breadth.
The third is of a circular shape. The remains of these walls are
certainly grand and imposing ; but as to the form of the edi-
fice, the experienced eye of an artist alone can distinguish,
among such
such a heap of shapeless stones, the regular direction of
the ancient foundations.
Zebug. In the heart of a mountain to the west, is an
alabaster quarry* Nothing is to be seen at some fathoms be-
low its summit, but some detached large stones stuck fast in
the ground; the proprietors of the quarry, after removing the
earth, dug out pieces from the alabaster rock, and had them
sawed on the spot. Whilst this operation was performing they
examined the colour of the veins, and contrived to cut them
in such a manner as to produce a very fine effect on the sur-
face. Tables and pillars have been made of them, and, packed
up on mules, sent to different places. There are two quarries .
of the same kind, close to each other; and were they to
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* See Chap. VII.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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dig deeper, there is no doubt but very fine pieces would be
found.
A convent of Capuchin Friars was situated near this quarry;
the style of the architecture of which was strikingly handsome,
and the entrance remarkable for its peculiar elegance and
beauty. The arcades of the cloister were ornamented with
festoons of natural flowers; together with jars likewise filled
with flowers, which were attended to with all possible care, and
kept in the nicest order. At the distance of half a mile from
the convent, on the road to Port St. Paul, is a grotto of great
celebrity, situated in the centre of a valley. The entrance is
towards the north, and so narrow that a man can scarcely pass
through it. This passage is twenty-five feet long; and leads to
a hall hollowed in the rock, thirty feet in diameter. It is sup-
ported in the middle by a pillar. At the end of this hall are
two corridors, which appear to project into the country, but in
reality have no aperture. This grotto has nothing particu-
larly remarkable, nor does it deserve the reputation it has
acquired.
Port St. Paul. There are some ancient habitations in the
neighbourhood, hollowed in the rock, but they are almost en-
tirely destroyed by the north wind, and the sea acid which
abounds in this part. The only object remaining worthy notice,
is a closet with a table in the middle, large enough to hold
eight people, and benches entirely around it.-Port St. Paul
is capable of containing small vessels, as is another port in
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the neighbourhood. To prevent the irruption of barbarian
vessels during the night, a chain is placed at the edge of the
water, and fastened to the two sides of the entrance.
Port Miggiaro-Salt-works, called the Clock-maker's. These
salt-works are situated to the west of the mountain Zebuccio or
Zebug, at the farthest part of a valley leading to the sea. The
entrance is through a long range of rocks gently declining to-
wards the shore, and within forty feet of the level of the water,
when they become on a sudden entirely perpendicular. The
making these salt-works was the cause of a phenomenon too
remarkable to be passed over in silence.
Forty years since, a Maltese clock-maker, who owned
the above-mentioned rocks, formed a plan of making salt-
works by digging a reservoir, and letting in the sea-water. He
flattered himself that the heat of the sun would cause the
water to cvaporate, leaving behind it a sufficient quantity of
salt not only to indemnify him for the expence he had been
at, but to enrich him considerably. The difficulty was to
facilitate the entrance of the water, it being forty or fifty feet
below the reservoir made in the rock. After a variety of at-
tempts, he at last discovered that there was a grotto under
the rock, which communicated with the sea; he therefore im-
mediately pierced the rock in a perpendicular direction, and
made an aperture like the mouth of a well. This plan suc-
ceeded extremely well; and he was delighted to find that the
water in the reservoir diminished every day, which he attributed
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PL.VII_Fig. 1.
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View of the extraordinary fountain oevasioned by the OlsekmakersSal Morks. .
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Published by G &-/kobinson London May 47604.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
69
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to the natural effect of the sun: and he continued letting in as
much water as possible, in hopes of encreasing the quantity of
salt. But his surprise was beyond description on perceiving
that the water was not evaporated, but absorbed by the spungy
rock, from which, owing to filtration, it in timne returned to
the place from which it originally came. It was some time be-
fore he made this discovery; which at last was owing to his
wishing to collect the salt he imagined to be contained in the
reservoir, at the bottom of which the rock was entirely dissolved
by the acid of the salt, and nothing remained but a thick
kind of mud. The grief he suffered from this disappointment,
threw him into a long and dangerous illness. On the approach
of winter the weather became windy and the sea rough. One
day in particular a terrible storm arose, and the violence of the
wind drove the raging waves into the grotto; where the body
of water encreasing considerably, and being confined in this
almost circular spot, acted with a rotatory motion, and formed
a syphon (Pl. VII. fig. 1.) or water-spout. There being no
(
passage but the well newly opened, it forced its way through
with violence, and appeared like a beautiful wheatsheaf of
water of so large a circumference as to fill up the whole mouth
of the well; and rising perfectly entire to the height of sixty.
feet, formed a magnificent aigrette. Its projectile force was so
great, that the wind could not act upon it till it had reached
the above-mentioned height; when it suddenly separated, and
the aqueous particles composing this immense body of water
a
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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were diffused over the country on all sides, to the extent of
more than a mile. This violent rain of salt-water destroyed
all vegetation, and the cultivated fields, which before had been
amply productive, appeared as if they had suffered from fire.
Before the opening of the upper part of the rock such an
effect could not have been produced. The resistance of the
confined air, which then had no passage, would have prevent-
ed the waters from accumulating, and the wind from being
shut up; consequently, the air and the waves would have
pre-
served a just equilibrium : but the cavity in the rock letting
out the air, destroyed this equilibrium, and the water collect-
ing in the grotto caused the above fatal event.
The inhabitants of the neighbourhood brought an action
against the clock-maker, and claimed damages to a great
amount; but he died before the affair was decided. To
pre-
vent another misfortune of the same nature, they stopped up
the mouth of the well with large stones. This operation occa-
sioned another phenomenon, as extraordinary as the former.
A great quantity of air was confined by the waves in the bot-
tom of the grotto; which being rarefied, repulsed the water with
such violence as to cause the most terrible explosions, which
not only shook the rock, but the whole of the neighbourhood.
The tremendous noise of these different explosions resounded
through all the grottoes, and resembled a discharge of artillery
of all sizes quickly succeeding each other. These sounds being
constantly echoed, had the effect of the most violent peals of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
71
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thunder, particularly when different storms met together.
The terror was general; and constant apprehensions were en-
tertained that the rocks would be thrown down, under which
this subterranean thunder never ceased to roar when the wind
was high. This horrible noise still continues whenever the
well is filled up; but when the impetuous waves confined in
the cavern have in some degree removed the stones at the
bottom of the well, the water acts with the greatest violence
upon them, breaking them, reducing them to powder, and
driving them back into the sea. The first stones being carried
away, the others fall of course; and the well once cleared,
the wheatsheaf of water forms again, and spreads desolation
through the adjacent parts. In the space of twenty years, the
well has been filled up three times.; and the inhabitants are in
constant dread of a fresh explosion.
Mushroom Rock. A tour round Goza is particularly in-
teresting in calm weather." On quitting Port Miggiaro, at
the distance of two miles to the right, and towards the south-
west, is a small port, and keeping at a little distance from the
island it is impossible not to be struck by the variety of rocks
and mountains which surround it. Small gulfs, caverns, and
grottoes, of different forms and sizes, present themselves every
moment. The next object worthy attention is the Mushroom-
shelf. The neighbouring rocks are perpendicular, the shelf
itself is of a great height and about forty or fifty fathoms from
the shore. In the language of the country, it is called Ha-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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gira tal Gernal. (Pl. IX.). At a small distance is another
.
,
rock, not quite so high: on the top are fastened very strong
ropes, the other ends of which are fixed to the shelf. A large
tub similar to those in which orange-trees are planted is hung
to these ropes, which are placed in pulleys at the four upper
angles of the tub. This tub is large enough to hold one or two
men; who by pulling a lesser rope work the pulleys, and by
these means push forward the tub, which conveys them with
ease backwards and forwards from the shore to the rock. The
principal occupation of these men is to fetch the mushrooms,
which are of a very peculiar kind.
In 1744 the rock was made inaccessible, and the grand-
masters had the sole privilege of gathering this plant, named
Fungus Melitensis-Maltese Mushroom*. The entrance by means
of ropes was kept shut; and a confidential person appointed to
gather the mushrooms, which were preserved with the greatest
care. Their medicinal qualities cause them to be much sought
for, and highly esteemed. The grand-masters distributed them
to the hospitals in both islands, to the knights, and to all the
inhabitants who required such a medicine : they likewise sent
them into other countries, and to all sick persons who request-
ed them of then.
This plant, and the virtues it possesses have only been
known during the last two centuries. Bocconi is the first author
1
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а.
* See, for the botanical definition, Chap. VII.
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View of the Mushroom Shelf or hoch.
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PLXI.
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Fublished by G & I. Pobirson I ondon May 1.1004.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
79
who has taken notice of this fungus, in his treatise on the scarce
plants of Malta and Sicily; in which he calls it fungus xy-
phoïdes, coccineus, tuberoses, Melitensis. Micheli has published
a small work on the nature of this plant; printed in 1731; in
which he terms it cynomorien * Linnæus has also written a
dissertation on the same plant, in which he enters into a va-
riety of particulars. This may be seen in his Amænitates
Academica (Vol. IV. Dissert. LXV); where he gives it the name
of cynomorium coccineum, and has added a plate representing
the plant, taken from Micheli (Pl. XI). This fungus is bissex-
ual, of the class monæcia monandria. It first appears in Decem-
ber and January, and continues growing till April, at which
time it is in perfection. It is from six to seven inches high,
scaly, white mixed with other colours, of a conical form and
fleshy substance, though, harder than the common mushroom:
It is mucilaginous, of a bitter and styptic taste, and when
dried becomes of a garnet colour. If left to remain, when ripe,
on the spot where it is gathered, it produces a seed, which in
the month of September brings forth a large quantity of fresh
mushrooms; and in this manner it reproduces twice a year,
without any culture.
According to many facts related by Linnæus, it is suffi-
ciently proved, that this plant is a very efficacious remedy in
the dysentery: it is likewise excellent for drying up ulcer's,
?
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* Cynomorium dicitur a canini genitalis similitudine.
a
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strengthening the gums, curing spitting of blood, hemorrhages
of the womb, and all other disorders in which styptics are ne-
cessary. It is in great repute at Malta, where it is constantly
employed with much success in all the above-mentioned
maladies,
The same species of mushrooms likewise grows at Tunis
in Africa, Trepani in Sicily, the islands of Lampedosa, Tavig-
liani, and Ronciglio, in the Mediterranean; as also on the
coasts of Leghorn, on those of Tuscany, in the neighbourhood
of Pisa, and even in Jamaica * : but the same experiments on
the medicinal virtues of this plant have never been made in
any of these countries as in Malta.
On quitting the rock of mushrooms the traveller must
continue to sail round Goza, and he will pass by a variety of
capes and gulfs: the Clock-maker's salt-works, and the grotto
which produces the curious phenomena, we have already de-
scribed ; where the waves, even in calm weather, make a most
terrific noise. Those who wish to explore these grottoes must
possess great firmness to support the first entrance, which is so
awful, that it requires some time to accustom the ears and
eyes
to the dreadful sounds and tremendous objects by which
they are assailed.
For two miles farther the coast is formed of caverns and
vertical rocks, from a hundred and thirty to a hundred and sixty
1
a
. See Brown's History of Jamaica, page 334.. He calls it cynomorium'erectum breve
cylindracum prima æstute squammatum.
*
more
HISTORY OF MALTA.
175
!
feet high above the water : the same rocks are buried in the
sea to a very great depth, but they are of so white a colour,
and the water so transparent, that they may be easily distin-
guished at a considerable depth under the waves.
Numbers of the lower order of people live in the midst
of the gulfs and caves, and gain a livelihood by exposing them-
selves to the greatest dangers. Many among them were let
down the perpendicular rock by ropes, in order to search in
the clefts and fissures for wood-pigeons' nests, and other kinds
of birds, the flesh and plumage of which were fit for sale.
These men were sometimes obliged to balance themselves in
the air whilst searching for their game, which is frequently hid
in the deepest part of the rock. Accidents have so frequently
happened, that this kind of sport was forbidden ; some Maltese
casuists being of opinion that it was contrary to religion to risk
life on such pursuits...This was not the only method employed
by the inhabitants of Goza to gain a subsistence; some of
them took advantage of calm weather to fish round these rocks,
descending from the summit by some sharp points which form-
ed a kind of stair, though so dangerous, that it was with the
greatest difficulty they could find a place to rest their feet.
They thus arrived within fifteen or twenty feet of the surface of
the sea, where they sometimes remained whole days, or at least
till they had caught a sufficient quantity of fish; when they
ascended in the same manner, at the risk of falling into the
sea at every step. So fearless were these men, that very few
!
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HISTORY OF MALTA..
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among them even made use of ropes, except in places where
it was impossible to pass without such assistance. No one can
reflect without trembling on the situation of these poor men,
who must infallibly have been drowned if their feet should have
happened to slip; for so smooth and so polished is the rock,
that it would not afford them the smallest hold, and there is
no other access to the shore within the distance of a mile,
From this place to Port St. Paul the rocks are less high,
and broken in several places :-they likewise continue the same
as far as Port Miggiaro ; and on that coast of the island
may be easily destroyed, in consequence of their having
been considerably wasted by the force of the waves. There
is an evident proof of this in a rock called Sasso di san Paolo;
a quarter of which, of about two thirds of a fathom in thick-
ness, is now at some distance from Port Miggiaro. It has
been detached from the highest part of the coast, and in fall-
ing rested on some stones of the same nature, and there re-
mains, at the height of only seven or eight feet above the sur-
face of the sea. This fragment constantly distils water from
the lower and most pointed part, and it is very evident that
the drops from this porous stone are caused by the vapours it
continually absorbs; the weight of which, in their condensed
state, naturally forces a passage through the bottom of the
rock.
.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
77
CHAP. V.
Description of the Maltese ; their Dress; ancient Customs ; Ceremonies
observed at Weddings and Funerals ; Diversions called La Cocagna
and La Cucciha ; Maltese Language; Maltese Sonnets.
THE Maltese, though continually subject to different na-
tions, have always preserved their original character; which
sufficiently proves their descent, and, at the same time, shews
that they have mixed very little with any of the people who
have by turns governed their country.
Their countenances announce an African origin. They are
short, strong, plump, with curled hair, flat noses, turned
up
lips, and the colour of their skins is the same as that of the in-
habitants of the states of Barbary: their language is also so
nearly the same, that they perfectly understand each other.
It is, perhaps, as much owing to the situation of Malta,
as to the different strangers who have visited and conquered
the island, that the Maltese have become very industrious,
active, faithful, economical, courageous, and the best sailors in
the Mediterranean. But, notwithstanding these good qualities,
they still retain some of the defects generally attributed to the
Africans; and are mercenary, passionate, jealous, vindictive,
and addicted to thieving. They have likewise sometimes re-
called the idea of the Punica Fides. They are fantastical and
,
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JIISTORY OF MALTA.
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superstitious in the highest degree, but their ignorance does
not unfit them for the cultivation of the arts*
The Maltese habit (excepting that of the ecclesiastics,
lawyers, and tradespeople, who dress in the French style, and
are few compared to the people at. large), consists of a large
cotton shirt, and a waistcoat likewise very large, with silver,
and sometimes gold, buttons; to these are added a caban and
cloak reaching rather below the small of the back, and a very
long girdle twisted several times round the waist, in which they
constantly carry a knife in a sheath : they also wear long and
full trowsers, with a sort of shoe called korch; but they do not
often make use of the latter, having almost always both legs
and feet entirely naked. This korch is merely a leathern sole,
with strings to fasten it round the leg. They never wear hats,
but blue, red, white, or striped caps. People of easy
fortune
usually carry fans in their hands, and wear blue or green glass
spectacles ; for such is the excessive heat occasioned by the re-
verberation of the rays of the sun from the stones, and the white
tufa, that, notwithstanding this precaution, there are many
blind people; indeed the greatest number have very
The Maltese are remarkably sober; a clove of garlic, or
an onion, anchovies dipped in oil, and salt-fish, being their
1
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weak eyes.
1
* Houel says, “I have seen artists of great merit in Malta, but whose works are never
sent out of the island.” Page 106.
Malta particularly prides herself for giving birth to the composer Azzupardi, the author of
Il Musico Prattico; which is translated into the French, and used as an elementary book in
the Academy of Music in Paris. Angiolin Nano is indubitably one of the best performers on
the violin in Europe. See Political and Historical Remarks on Malta,
-.܀

PL. X
B
اللي
להלן
es
Il tour
Merigo
Ancient Tomb. Bichon or Maltese Dog
, Drefi of the Maltese Momen. Romains of the Cotoner
Published by G & I.Robincan London May 1.100 4.
..
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i
HISTORY OF MALTA.
79;
4
usual diet. On great festivals, they eat pork. Hogs are very
common in towns and villages ; many of these animals belong
to the church and to different convents, and walk about the
streets both night and day, where they pick up sufficient
nourishment. They are seldom molested, and never stolen.
There are no people in the world more attached to their
country than the Maltese ; and their constant hope is to end
their days in what they dignify with the title of Fiore del Mondo
(The Flower of the World).
The Maltese women (Pl. X.) are little, and have beautiful
hands and feet. They have fine black eyes, though they some-
times
appear to squint, owing to their always looking out of
the same eye; half of the face being covered with a sort of
veil made of black silk, called faldetta, which they twist about
very gracefully, and arrange with much elegance. The women,
even of the highest rank, unlike their husbands, constantly
preserve their costume; and any one who should adopt the
French fashion would make herself very ridiculous. They
are extremely fond of gold and silver ornaments, and it is not
uncommon to see even the peasants loaded with trinkets of
those two metals. Their dress consists of a short shift, called
kmis ;-of a linen or cotton under petticoat, termed Ideil; of a
coloured upper one, which is generally blue, open on one side,
called gkesuira; and of a corset with sleeves, termed sidria. The
back part of their neck-kerchief is fastened up to the head;
and their hair, which is smooth, well powdered and pomatumed,
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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is dressed in front in the form of a sugar-loaf, much in the style
of the toupées à la Grêque, so long worn by the men. They
ornament their necks with gold and silver chains; sometimes,
indeed, with necklaces of precious stones: their arms are
loaded with bracelets, and their ear-rings are in general more :
expensive than elegant. Their shoe-buckles are extremely
large, and always either of solid gold or silver.
The Maltese baronesses live very retired, and in the most
exemplary manner. The morals of the women in the country
řetáin all their original purity; and if libertinism is to be re-
marked any where, it is among those women who inhabit cities,
and who, having no other resource but obtaining some office
for their relations, are sometimes obliged to dispose of their
favours in order to procure it. To complete the portrait of
the inhabitants of Malta, and to give a still better idea of their
character, it will be necessary to enter into some particulars
relative to their ancient and modern customs and ceremonies.
The Maltese, either from a wish to imitate the Oriental
manners, the severity of which they had witnessed in the
Arabs, or from the example of the jealous Spaniards, formerly
kept their wives in the strictest retirement. The prudent in-
habitants of the country constantly repeated to their children,
“s that women should never appear but twice in public; the day
they were married, and when they were buried.” They were
therefore always employed within doors, and never went out,
except at a very early hour to church, when they were entirely
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
81
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covered by a long and large mantle. This costume came origin-
ally from Sicily, and reached from the head to the feet: the
forehead and eyes alone were visible; but the upper part of the
mantle was cut in a different manner for unmarried women,
the former wearing it round and the latter in a pointed form.
Some time afterwards, when the fair sex was allowed a
proper degrée of liberty, and the desire of pleasing encreased
with the opportunity of inspiring admiration, the women threw
off this heavy garment, which not only kept them concealed,
but was extremely unpleasant: they however constantly wore
veils; which, they conceived, decency required to be black,
and the only colour they could with propriety wear when ab-
sent from their own homes.
Marriages in Malta were always entirely arranged by the
parents; who consulted their own interest, and the suitableness
of the connection, without attending to the inclinations of their
children. The articles of the contract settled, and the portion
ascertained, the young man sent his intended bride a present
consisting of certain fish ornamented with garlands of ribband,
and in the mouth of the finest amongst them a ring. The first
interview was then fixed to take place in presence of the parents
and their particular friends, who were regaled with sweetmeats
and other refreshments; but just before this meeting, the two
mothers of the young people retired either into an arbour in
the garden or some separate apartment, where they prepared
a mixture of aniseed, aromatic plants, salt, and honey, with
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which they rubbed the bride's lips, with the idea of rendering
her affable and prudent. She was then conducted to the
room where her future husband waited her arrival; who
pre-
sented her a ring on which were engraved two hands united,
the emblem of mutual faith, together with bracelets, necklaces,
and a gold chain, she giving him in her turn a handkerchief
trimmed with lace and bows of ribband.
On the day appointed for the celebration of the nuptials,
the most respectable personages among the husband's relations
threw a white and very fine veil over the bride's head; who
was extremely ornamented, and wore a velvet simarre, in which
the other relations made certain rents for the purpose of affix-
ing small golden shells. They then proceeded to church for the
haddara or ceremony, attended by performers on different in-
struments, and singers who sang stanzas in praise of the young
couple. These musicians were preceded by three men : the first
bearing on his head a basin of white earth, varnished and
painted in arasbesque, of a yellow colour; this was filled with
fresh brioches (a kind of cake), on the largest of which were
placed two small figures: he also wore a scarf, with a round
cake called collora hanging from it. The second carried a
basket filled with sugar-plums and candied nuts, which one
of the relations distributed among the acquaintances he hap-
pened to meet: in the middle of the basket was a handkerchief
folded in the form of a pyramid, and ornamented with the
images of the Virgin, Saint Joseph, and the Infant Jesus. The
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third was constantly employed in burning perfumes. The bride
and bridegroom followed, under a canopy of crimson velvet fes-
tooned, carried by four of the principal persons who attended
the wedding ; and the rest of the relations closed the procession.
This custom of the canopy continued in use till 1668, when it
was forbidden by the bishop.
The arrival of the procession at the church was announced
by the ringing of bells; and the priest was presented with a
basin containing a cake, a handkerchief, and two bottles of
wine, the usual fee on such occasions. The blessing given,
they returned from church in the same order as they went.
The whole of the ceremony generally lasted four hours. On
the entry of the new married couple into the house, a servant
from one of the windows threw a few handfuls of grain and
some small money on their heads. There was a reigning pre-
judice in those days among the Maltese, which made them be-
lieve that if the wife on her return from church put her foot first
on the threshold of the door, she would undoubtedly govern
her husband ; now with such an idea, it is not very likely the
bridegroom should be polite enough to give place to his bride
on this occasion.
The nuptial feast took place immediately afterwards; but
the bride either ate in a separate apartment, or in a corner of
the hall, which was properly prepared and covered with linen
cloth to conceal her from public view. The repast over, she
was seated next her husband, and drank out of the same cup.
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HISTORY OF MALTĄ.
At a village wedding, the company danced during the
feast; each dancer throwing a piece of money to the fiddlers,
and each guest contributing a fowl to the repast.
Till the beginning of the eighteenth century, all balls
given in town on wedding-days were in the Spanish style, and
every one danced with castanets in their hands.
The bride always passed the first week in her father's
house; after which she was received with much pomp by her
husband, whose, relations gave a great feast and a ball.
The Maltese never married during the month of May;
indeed, they carried their prejudice so far, that they would not
even cut out a coat, thinking it impossible that any thing be-
gun at that time could ever succeed. This superstition calls to
remembrance the manner in which the Romans divided the
year into fortunate and unfortunate days; and it is impossible
not to perceive a great resemblance between the old Maltese
customs, and those of various ancient nations.
On the death of a Maltese, two women called Neuicha,
hired for the occasion, and habited in long mourning cloaks,
immediately entered the house of the deceased, singing, in a
low and dismal voice, some moral sentences. These women
cut away the branches of such vines as formed arbours in the
courts, ranged through all the apartments, overturned the
flower-pots in the windows, broke some of the ornamental fur-
niture, and carrying the remains to a retired spot, threw them
into a cauldron of boiling water, in which they mixed soot and
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HISTORY OF MALTA. .
85
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ashes. With this liquid they stained all the doors in the house,
sighing most bitterly whilst performing the operation. The
neuicha then proceeded to the chamber of the deceased, already
in his coffin, and surrounded by his female relations wearing
veils over their faces, and black silk cloaks; the room, other-
wise entirely unfurnished, was hung with black cloth. The
neuicha, throwing themselves on their knees at the foot of the
coffin, began singing the praises of the dead; and at the end
of each couplet the other women beat their breasts, wept bit-
terly, and cut off handfuls of their hair, which they strewed
over the coffin. The same day, cakes and boiled wheat were
distributed among all the relations, and the hair was cut off
the tails of every horse in the stables belonging to the house of
the deceased.
The funeral procession was always composed of the rela-
tions in mourning, preceded by hautboys, trumpets, and the
neuicha. When the corpse was interred, a pillow filled with
orange and laurel leaves (the latter tree was regarded by the
Pagans as expiatory) was placed under the head; and a carpet
spread over the tomb, which was suffered to remain some days,
to shew that during that time it was forbidden to walk over it.
No fire was lighted for three days in the kitchen of the
deceased, and either the most distant relation or most intimate
friend sent a dinner to the inhabitants of the house; which they
ate cross-legged on a mat on the floor. Women on these oc-
casions remained forty days confined to the house, but men
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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went out on the seventh day. The mourning lasted either one
or two years, according to the degree of relationship.
The infectious distemper which destroyed such numbers
in Malta in 1676, put a stop to the ceremonies we have just
described, and they have never since been renewed.
When a nation no longer keeps up its ancient customs,
the character of the people frequently undergoes alteration,
and this is a sign that the society of foreigners has had a great
influence over their natural disposition. If these foreigners ob-
tain sovereign power over the natives, it is a proof likewise that
the latter are satisfied with the government under which they
live. The Maltese, when subjected to the Goths and Vandals,
had not only lost the commerce which before enriched their
island, but, at the same time, that social character which is
generally attendant on the spirit of trade. Finding themselves
à
a prey to the iniquity and avarice of their governors, they be-
came more attached than ever to their ancient customs, the
practice of which at least afforded the consolation of separating
them in some degree from their
oppressors.
The disinclination felt by the Maltese to associate with
the different powers which successively reigned over their
island, ceased on the introduction of the order of St. John of
Jerusalem. Fortunately a most important event soon gave the
sovereign and his subjects an opportunity of forming a judg-
ment of each other. This was the absolute necessity of uniting
their forces to repulse the common enemy. The valour and
HISTORY OF MALTA.
87
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i
generous example given by the knights, presently excited the
admiration of the natives; who, in their turn, displayed such
:
activity and fidelity, as gave them a just claim to the esteem
of the former. The renewal of commerce which afterwards
took place; together with the encouragement given to agricul-
the benefits properly dispensed; the riches of the order,
which circulated throughout the island by the purchase of
different articles of consumption; the pay of the troops,
joined to salaries annexed to employments, which were multi-
plied beyond imagination ; softened the Maltese by degrees.
Their dispositions had been soured by misfortunes ; but they at
last became so satisfied with their situation, that they gave up
their ancient customs, in order to connect themselves more
closely with their governors, of whom they never had the
smallest reason to complain.
The marriage ceremony is now performed in the same
manner as in other parts of christendom; with this only dif-
ference; that the bride's first visit to her parents is celebrated
by a festival called Hargia, which consists merely in a grand
conversazione in the Italian style, at which ref reshments of
every kind are distributed to the company.
The ancient ceremonies practised at funerals, are likewise
abolished: the neuicha no longer make part of the procession;
being represented by two women in black cloaks, who carry
chafing dishes on their heads, filled with perfumes.
The only custom peculiar to Malta still subsisting, and
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which indeed is retained among none but people of fortune, is
the cucciha, that is to say, an assembly given by parents on
their children's first birth-day. The company being met in the
great hall, which is always much more ornamented than any
other part of the house, the child is brought in ; and if it be a
boy, he is presented with two baskets, the one containing corn
and sweetmeats, and the other trinkets, coins, an ink-stand, a
sword, &c. The choice he makes on this occasion, will, ac-
cording to their notions, give a just idea of his future disposi-
tion, and the mode of life he will embrace. Should he chuse
the corn, it is a sign of a liberal character; if he prefers the
ink-stand, he is to be brought up either to trade or the bar;
and if he takes the sword, the greatest hopes are entertained
of his courage.
Achilles thus, by a choice of the same nature,
discovered to the court of Lycomedes, that his female habili-
ments served only to conceal a hero. If the child be a girl,
needles, silks, and ribbands, supply the place of the sword and
ink-stand.
An entertainment was formerly given on Shrove-Tuesday,
by the grand-master to the people, in the great square of the
city Valetta. Long beams were fixed against the guard-house
opposite to the palace, and between each were fastened
rope-
ladders, the whole covered over by branches of trees in leaf:
to which were tied, from top to bottom, live animals, baskets
of eggs, hams, sausages, wreaths of oranges; in short, all
kinds of provisions. This edifice was called Cocagna, and was
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crowned by a globe composed of linen cloth, on which stood
the figure of Fame in relievo, holding a flag with the grand-
master's arms. The people were assembled in the great square,
and were prevented by one man, with a wand in his hand,
from attacking the Cocagna, till the grand-master gave the
signal. The man with the wand is entitled the Gran Visconti,
and the administration of the police is committed to his care.
The Maltese people were so obedient, and stood in such com-
plete awe of this officer of justice, that one day, on a false sig-
nal being given, they had already begun to attack the Cocagna,
but on being called back, the crowd, though half
way up the
ladders, immediately descended in silence.
The Maltese never allowed either foreigners or soldiers to
share the profits of this festival, but resented very seriously any
attempt at participation. The provisions of the Cocagna be-
came the property of those who, having seized them, were
able to carry them off in safety through the crowd. This
caused furious battles, the combatants assailing each other,
attacking and defending with great violence. To the first who
reached the figure of Fame was allotted some pecuniary re-
muneration, and on the standard's being taken to be returned
to the grand-master, the cloth globe, composed of two parts,
burst open, and out came a flight of pigeons.
Happily the repeated shouts of the populace prevented
the cries of the miserable animals hung to the Cocagna being
heard, though these victims were pulled to pieces from the
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branches and eat up, whilst still alive. The people were par-
ticularly delighted with this entertainment, which had been
suppressed for some time, but was re-established once more
during the reign of the grand-master Rohan.
All young women residing in the country insisted, before
they were married, on its being particularly stipulated in the
contract, that their husbands should take them every year to
the city La Valetta on St. John's day, to the Old City on St.
Peter's, and to the casal Zeitun on St. Gregory's. This plainly
shewed they had no great idea of the complaisance of their
intended bridegrooms; and as they were very anxious to exhi-
bit their persons, and at the same time possessed no inconsi-
derable share of curiosity, they had recourse to this method,
to prevent the possibility of a refusal.
The grand festival on St. John's day brought a great con-
course of people to the city Valetta. The church of the order
was entirely filled : all the troops were under arms, and lined
the streets during the general procession, at which the grand-
master, the council, and the whole body of knights, constantly
assisted. The cannon of the different forts, which had saluted
with ball the evening before, discharged several volleys during
the ceremony. Four races were run in the afternoon, and the
prizes consisted of some cannes of gold and silver stuffs. The
Castellany and Jurats were seated on this occasion in a gallery
at the end of the course, which extended from fort St. Elmo
to the Royal-gate, in order to witness who first attained the
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years of
who kept
goal; and it was customary for such jurats who went in car-
riages, to stop a moment as they passed under the grand-
master's balcony.
The first race was performed by men on foot. The second
by asses, of a very fine breed, called janets in Malta ; the
third by mares ; and the fourth by horses ; none of these ani-
mals had either saddles or bridles, and were mounted bare-
backed by children of twelve or fifteen
age,
lashing them on with thonged whips. At night a general illu-
mination took place in the city.
St. Peter's day, or the Mnaria, was the festival of the
metropolitan church of the island. The Old City was twice il-
luminated on the occasion, and the same races took place as
on St. John's day. The crowd met on this holiday at the Bos-
chetto, where indeed a great many people were assembled the
evening before, and danced all night in a part of the garden
where there was a very spacious grotto. This commencement
of the feast was called Sackaya; and the women from the
country always appeared at it in their richest attire.
In what-
ever season they happened to be married, they always came in
their wedding clothes, by which means the greatest variety was
displayed : velvet dresses, slight silks, cloth jackets, and linen
petticoats, were indiscriminately worn. Each family was
seated under a tree, and partook of a meal, the principal dish
of which was a pie. The lively sound of the fiddles invited
every one to dance, so that the whole surrounding scene pre-
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HISTORY OF MI ALTA.
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sented nothing but joy and pleasure: but to those whose ears
were unaccustomed to the Maltese manner of expressing de-
light, it must have been extremely fatiguing; for these people
continually shouted in the sharpest tones, and he who screamed
the loudest, was esteemed the happiest of the party. This
noise was termed tikber, from the word kabbar, signifying shouts
of joy. On returning from this fête champêtre—which, from the
excessive heat of the place between two burning rocks, no fo-
reigner could possibly enjoy—the Maltese ornamented their ca-
lashes and horses with boughs of trees; and this they did in
memory of a custom subsisting among the inhabitants of the
island during their state of paganism, who, at the feast of
Hercules, carried branches of poplars in their hands; this tree
being particularly consecrated to that deity.
The feast of St. Gregory was celebrated by a procession
composed of all the societies, the clergy belonging to the pa-
rishes of both towns and casals, the canons of the cathedral,
and the bishop. This commenced at casal Nuovo, and proceed-
ed to casal Zeitun. It owed its origin to a general vow made
at some unknown period, the motive of which was most
pro-
bably the averting of some great plague, for the word miseri-
corde was thrice repeated by the whole people on going out of
church. The procession took place in the morning, and the
remainder of the day was passed in rejoicings.
These festivals, in which it appears devotion had some
share, were not the only ones in Malta. The inhabitants like-
}
HISTORY OF MALTA,
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>
wise celebrated the Ascension (which they called Lapsis), and
St. Laurence's day, by parties on the water. The port was
entirely covered by boats, with flags and streamers flying;
these were filled with musicians and singers, and afforded a
most lively spectacle, which lasted till very late at night.
It was also customary on the first of May to deck the
grand-master's balcony, and the doors of those who were dig-
nified with the grand cross, with branches of trees; and it ap-
pears that this sign of a holiday, which was introduced in
Malta by the families from the island of Rhodes, was a
remnant of the worship of the sun, formerly adored by the
Rhodians.
On the same day the mast of a ship, ninety-six feet high,
was erected in the square before the palace, and different kinds
of provisions hung to a hoop fixed on the top of it. This was
rubbed with tallow from the bottom to about a third of its
height; and on a signal from the grand-master, who was seated
with the bailiffs in his balcony, the people flew with velocity
to the mast, where they formed themselves into different par-
ties, the nimblest amongst them climbing on their comrades'
shoulders, who defended them from the others, and he who
first reached the flag which waved on the pinnacle, received
some money, and carried off the provisions. The art of
mounting to the top, consisted in twisting successively linen or
cotton girdles round the mast, and the whole of the slippery
part; so that whilst the foot rested on the girdle first knotted
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The greasy
together, the hands were employed in fixing a second and a
third, on which, being suspended by the hands, it was neces-
sary to untie the first with the feet, in order to place it a second
time on the fourth step of this kind of ladder. The
part of the mast being once surmounted, agility succeeded to
art, and the adventurer, who had already overcome the greatest
difficulty, was encouraged to proceed by repeated acclamations
of joy; he therefore soon arrived at the flag with the grand-
master's arms, from whence he saluted that prince three times,
and then proceeded to the top of the mast, which he encircled
with his arms and legs. Having once reached the pinnacle, he
rested on a little seat made of ropes, and untying the provi-
sions, threw. some of them into the square among the people,
whose eagerness to seize on them, always caused the most
violent disputes. This operation performed, he slid easily
down by a rope fastened to the top of the mast, from whence
it hung to the ground.
The Carnival was a great source of amusement to the
Maltese. The public masked balls began on Twelfth-day, but
no one was permitted to appear with a mask in the streets (in
the Italian style), except on the last three days of the Carnival ;
on the last Saturday of which it was the custom for a great
number of peasants to go at an early hour under the grand-
master's balcony, to wait till he granted them il Carnavale. A
knight of the grand-cross made known their request, and the
moment it was complied with, the companies of Battilo ranged
HISTORY OF MALTA.
95
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;
.
through the city. These were Maltese dressed in white; co-
vered with ribbands, and armed with swords and small shields.
These men, to the sound of a sort of strolling music, per-
formed mock fights, which they finished by lifting up a child,
who was placed on their arms twisted together, and who held
a flag in his hand, which he furled and unfurled in a tolerably
graceful manner.
During the last three days of the Carnival, a large stone
was suspended to the beam at the corner of the Castellany,
where the punishment of the strappado was usually inflicted :
this was to shew, that on those days the sword of Themis
rested quietly in its scabbard ; in the same manner as the Ro-
mans never punished any criminals during the Saturnalia.
On the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, calashes filled
with masks were continually driving through the squares of
the palace and the conservatory, and the chains which at other
times prevented the entrance of carriages, were let down at a
very early hour. The masks finished the jollity of the evening
at the ball given at the theatre, where the knights had the
privilege of dancing unmasked.
Whenever the order celebrated any extraordinary event,
the grand-master granted il Carnavale to the people, and this
was called Carnavala Babano.
The tongue spoken in Malta and Goza is rather a kind
of patois, or country dialect, than a real language. A slight
resemblance between this patois and some Punic words, in-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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duced the Abbé A**** to endeavour to persuade his readers,
that the principles of the latter ancient tongue, the alphabet
of which no longer exists, were to be found in the Maltese
language, which has itself no alphabet; but his arguments
were inconclusive, and founded upon too weak a basis to be
supported merely by the force of imagination, when no proofs
could possibly be brought forward in favour of his assertions.
Other authors of the same nation, who were either better in-
formed, or who ventured to speak their sentiments more boldly,
have endeavoured to establish the same opinion, and that by
giving reasons apparently much more plausible. One in par-
ticular has promised the public a work on this subject, which
cannot fail being extremely interesting. But though I agree
with him that the study of the Maltese language as it is
spoken at present may be very useful to gain a more perfect
knowledge of the Phænician tongue, I cannot believe it would
afford any essential aid in decyphering the Phænician inscrip-
tions on the different monuments and medals.
The original language spoken by the inhabitants of I.Calta,
must necessarily have been lost, by the frequent revolutions
which have taken place in that island, and by its subjection to
so many different nations.
The Greeks having driven away the Phænicians, abolished
their language ; and if the Carthaginians introduced it a se-
cond time, the Romans were too anxious to a face even the
most distant remembrance of Carthage, ever to peñinit the
1
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Phænician idiom to be used in a country they had so lately
conquered. The preference indeed they so decidedly gave to
the Greek tongue, is a sufficient proof that this was the case.
The Goths and Vandals next introduced a new language, and
almost entirely eradicated every vestige of the ancient tongue;
so that the Greeks of the lower empire, who succeeded them,
were regarded by the Maltese as absolute foreigners. The
Arabs at last took possession of the island, and the inhabitants
adopted, and have ever since retained, the language of their con-
querors, to whom they quietly submitted, and with whom they
had every reason to be satisfied. They, however, still preserved
some Greek expressions; and though afterwards subject to va-
rious powers, they only borrowed a few words from their different
languages. This mixture vitiated in some degree the Arabic
pronunciation; and the Maltese at that time having no com-
merce, nor any inducement to cultivate the sciences, soon
lost the habit of writing, and likewise forgot the Arabic
alphabet, which, there is great reason to believe, had before
been in use,
Those who now write the Maltese patois, are obliged to
make use of foreign characters; and every one, being at liberty
to spell as he pleases, endeavours to express as nearly as pos-
sible the exact pronunciation of the word he employs. This
inconvenience is but little felt, because the Maltese language
is confined to the island, where the distances are too short to
make it necessary to conduct business by the It would,
pen.
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
12
however, be very useful to facilitate this, by composing a
fixed alphabet.
During my residence in Malta, I employed myself in
compiling a Maltese grammar; to which I added several dia-
logues, songs, and tales. I have been taught to believe, that
it may probably be restored to me; but as that is uncertain, I
think it necessary to say, I composed it merely for amusement,
and if ever it should prove useful, it must be to those who
making a long residence at Malta, would naturally be desirous
of learning the language, in order to make themselves more
intimately acquainted with the inhabitants. The Bailli de
Neveu was become so conversant with this language, that if
any Maltese spoke to him, he immediately knew the casal he
inhabited ; for though these villages were very near each other,
there was a slight difference in the pronunciation between them
all, and this was likewise the case in Goza.
Mr. Court de Gebelin, in his Treatise on the Mechanism
of Languages, judges in the following manner of the Maltese
tongue: “ This language cannot be defined, because it is a
composition of all, the Arabian, German, Greek, &c.” It is,
however, necessary to observe, that the greatest part of the
words are either Arabic or Moorish, and in consequence the
Maltese and the inhabitants of Barbary very easily understand
each other
Corrupted as is the Maltese patois, it is notwithstanding
extremely pleasing, and, like all other Eastern languages, full of
ز
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HISTORY OF MALTA: .
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--
metaphors, proverbs, and animated expressions. These render
it peculiarly fit for poetry, the taste for which the Maltese first
imbibed from the Greeks, and afterwards from the Arabs,
whose style of Eastern poetry, together with the moral which
formed its principal ornament, they more particularly adopted.
They sang their own compositions, accompanying themselves
on a kind of instrument, resembling a violin or lyre.
The following is a translation of three ancient Maltese
sonnets : each consists of four lines, the second always rhym-
ing with the last.
1.
:
He who too far indulges hope,
Will find how soon hope fails;
He's like a seaman bottling wind,
In hopes to fill his sails *
1
!
2.
Thou who by sad experience know'st
How sure Love's arrows fly,
Say, what's the smart? for well I ween,
What thou hast felt, feel I.
3.
AH! trouble not this fountain's source,
Which late thy thirst appeased ;-
That thirst with which the passing hour
Again may see thee seiz'd.
The Maltese had also a great number of adages and
proverbs in verse, which they introduced into conversation;
but the knowledge they have since acquired of Italian poetry
ވާ
* The same measure and kind of rhymes have been adopted in the translation as in the
original.
02
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
from that language being almost in constant use, has made
them entirely neglect and forget the taste which formerly
reigned in their national poetry; and the Maltese compositions
at present are only bad imitations of the Italian, without
either originality of style, or liveliness of expression. These
are regarded as the chef d'auvres of some improvisatrices, who
gain a scanty livelihood by their talents, which they employ on
particular festivals in singing verses, for which they are paid,
but which fortunately no one thinks it worth while to re-
member
/
Originals of the three Songs translated from the Maltese into English.
A
Tliet sansiet bil Malti
I
Min sit ma fit-tama
It-tama tsarraj biez,
Jaemel ir-riez fil bomblu
Jaser lisi efer bie:
II
Smaiti inti iarbit limzabba:
Eeidlt fl'imzabba üi Zralek ?
Z
Eja tzaddet commok micei
saü nazseb liena Zrali pzaleK.
III
Eadira li tiü rop minnza,
Nitolbok lad-dardarzie ui.
Eaui imur zmjēn.« iz jezor,
Tfitti üza, mas-sibzje ui.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
101
CH A P. VI.
.
Fertility of the Soil in Malta; Manner and Time of cultivating it.
Growth of Cotton ; Orange-trees.' Bees; remarkable Animals
Dogs-Asses---Sheep; surprising Fruitfulness of the latter. Maria
ner of shooting different Birds of Passage and Falcons. Population;
JVonderful Encrease of the Inhabitants ; Commerce; Provision of
Corn; Custom-houses ; Speronares ; adventurous Speculations of
the Maltese Merchants.
THE
HE ground in Malta is never suffered to remain uncul-
tivated, but constantly sown every year. Each season yields its
peculiar crop, and the produce is very abundant. The corn in
,
land of a middling quality yields from sixteen to twenty for
one; whilst that on good land affords thirty-eight, and on rich
spots sixty-four. The island of Sicily is by no means equally
fertile.
The colour of the soil varies in the different districts of
Malta, and it is seldom more than one foot deep above the
surface of the rock: it is irrigated chiefly by the night dew; but
the rock, being porous, retains the damp, and keeps the ground
constantly fresh. The earth is always removed once in ten
years, in order to clear the rock of a thick crust, which forms,
and prevents the moisture from sufficiently penetrating.
When the ground is properly prepared, it produces, the
first year, water-melons and garden plants; the next, an ex-
2
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!
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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:
cellent fruit, which is preserved during the winter, and distin-
guished by the name of Maltese melons; and afterwards
barley, the straw of which furnishes fodder for the cattle. The
ground is ploughed the third year, and planted with cotton;
and the fourth sown with corn. The land afterwards yields
these different crops alternately ; but care is always taken to
prepare the ground, particularly the year the cotton-tree is to
come into bearing, when it is necessary to reduce the earth
into a kind of powder.
Three species of cotton are cultivated in Malta; one na-
tural to the country, another from Siam, and the third of a cin-
namón colour called Antilles cotton*. These are all sown in the
month of April, and the top of the plant is cut in the beginning
of September, that the fruit may grow larger. It is gathered
in October, when it begins to open, which is a sign that it
is then sufficiently ripe. It is sown in the following man-
ner: A hole some inches deep is made in the ground, which
is afterwards filled with water, and when it is sufficiently
soaked, the seed is put into it and covered over, without being
watered again till it begins to shoot-out of the ground. The
plant presently grows to the height of ten to fifteen inches,
and blooms in the month of August.
:
។
;
.
1
* There are two other sorts of cotton cultivated in America, the one growing upon a
kind of shrub, and the other on a large tree full of thorns. These species are mentioned by
Bernadin de St. Pierre, but are not known in Malta. The cotton-tree in India is handsome,
and grows to a great height: it shoots afresh during five years before there is a necessity of
replanting it. That which grows in the Antilles must be planted every two years, and is not
so tall as the former, but it produces very fine cotton of a beautiful yellow.
a
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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a
Wheat is sown in November, after the ground has been
ploughed three times, and cut in the beginning of June: bar-
ley likewise is sown in the former month, and reaped in May.
There is a kind of corn in Malta called tommon, which
grows
in
poor
land, and the bread made of the flour is particularly
white. This grain is sown in February.
Each field is enclosed with walls to shelter the different
plants from the effects of the wind, rain, and storms, during
the spring and autumn.
Necessity, the parent of industry, has taught the Maltese
to make a sort of artificial land in the barren parts of the
island. They begin by levelling the rock, which, however, they
allow to incline a little, that all superabundant water may run
off. They then heap together some stones broken into small
pieces of an irregular form, which they place about a foot
high, and cover with a bed of the same stones nearly reduced
to powder. On this, they first place a bed of earth, brought
either from other parts of the island, or taken out of the clifts
of the rocks; then a bed of dung; and afterwards a second bed
of earth: such, indeed, is the preseverance of the proprietors
of this ground, that it becomes in time equally fertile with na-
tural land.
Malta and Goza produce fruits of exquisite flavour, ex-
cellent roots, and very fine flowers; the roses in particular are
much sweeter scented than in any other country. These islands
likewise yield great quantities of comino, aniseed, kalimagnum,
a
1
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3
1
1
;
.
-
104
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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1
loricella, silla, and lichen; this last plant grows on the rocks
exposed to the north, and is used for dyeing the amaranthus
colour. Silla is peculiar to Malta and Goza, and is of a better
quality in the last-mentioned island. This plant grows to the
height of five feet, and bears, a red flower. Tournefort calls it
hedysarum clypeatum flore suaviter rubente. It serves for fodder,
is sown in June, and mowed in May. The same ground is
afterwards sown with corn, and the following year the silla
comes up again of itself: it likewise shoots out the third
year,
but has then lost all strength and quality.
The gardens in Malta are generally ornamented with
groves of orange and lemon trees; but these are not permitted to
grow to any great height on account of the wind, which would
blow off the fruit, and break the branches. The greatest at-
tention is paid to the orange-trees, which are commonly water-
ed twice a-day. Their tops are trimmed into a round form
resembling an umbrella ; and they grow on one single straight
stem, as do likewise the lemon--trees, the branches of which
are sometimes suffered to extend till they form a kind of bower.
These trees are almost all raised in tubs, and placed in the
most sheltered spots. Kitchen gardens are greatly encreased
in Malta, and employ numbers of people: they produce ve-
getables of the finest quality. Water is constantly kept for their
use in cisterns hewn out of the rock, and trenches are dug round
them to collect the rain.
A great many bees are kept in some parts of the island;
a-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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1
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the hives are horizontal in the eastern style, and are much more
easy of access than those of another form. The Maltese honey
is very sweet, and has a most delicious flavour; it is reckoned
an excellent digestive, and the ancients compared it to the
honey of Hybla. Cicero likewise mentions it as being superior
to that of any other country*.
There was formerly a breed of dogs (Pl. X. fig. B) in
Malta with long silky hair, which were in great request in the
time of the Romans; but have for some years past greatly
dwindled, and indeed are become almost extinct, Buffon
calls these dogs bichons, and describes them as mongrels
between the small Spanish dog and the little barbet. Linnæus
gives them the name of Canis familiaris Maelitacus; and says,
,
that to prevent their growing too large, their spinal bone must
be rubbed with spirits of wine mixed with oil, giving them at
' the same time very little to eat. These dogs were greatly ad-
mired by both Greeks and Romans. Aristotle mentions them
as being most perfectly proportioned, notwithstanding their
very small size; and Timon describes the Sybarites as going to
;
the bath attended by little Maltese dogs.
The asses in Malta are likewise famous for strength and
beauty; they sell extremely dear, and are called janets.
The ewes are incredibly fruitful, sometimes yeaning four
at a time ; indeed, this animal generally drops lambs three
times a-yeart:
.
* In Verrem.
+ See Houel.
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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4
Flights of birds of passage come to Maltà and afford much
amusement to sportsmen, who shoot them with great perse-
verance. The Maltese are remarkable for imitating the notes
of different birds, and catch them withi surprising skill. They
have also a very long sight, and perceive falcons and others of
the feathered race at a wonderful height in the air. They are
excellent shots, and seldom miss those birds which they do
not take in nets.
Beccaficos, quails, and plovers, are most delicate juicy
food. These birds of passage are in much greater quantities
some years than others; and the quails almost constantly arrive
during the September equinox.
Fish is very abundant on the Maltese coast, and being
both common and cheap, is a great resource to the inhabitants.
The markets are filled with the finest fish from the Mediter
ranean; the oysters indeed are not good, their place is how-
ever plentifully supplied by a variety of other excellent shell-
fish. But notwithstanding all that has been said, and the ex-
treme fertility of some parts of the island, Malta is still very
far from being able to furnish its inhabitants with the neces-
saries of life without foreign assistance. This is principally
owing to the encrease of population, which is augmented to
a degree scarcely ever before known in history, and which is a
stronger proof of the goodness of the government than any
arguments ever advanced to the contrary.
The Maltese were not men who inhabited a fruitful
!
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
107
1
land, promising a plentiful harvest for the support of their nu-
merous families, together with a superabundance of provisions
enabling them to live with ease and comfort ; but a people liv-
ing on a naturally barren soil, which scarcely afforded them
bread for three months in the year; and yet this people, as has
been already observed, encreased and multiplied in a proportion
unknown in all other countries. Malta in 1530 did not contain
quite fifteen thousand inhabitants, and these were reduced to
ten thousand at the raising of the siege in the grand-master-
ship of La Valette; during that of Omedes, Goza was en-
tirely depopulated; and the plague in 1592 made terrible
ravages on the island ; notwithstanding which, by the census
taken in 1632 the population of the two islands amounted to
fifty-one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Since that time,
the Maltese have been almost constantly at war; and great
numbers were again destroyed by an infectious distemper in
1676; yet such was the encréase of population, that in 1798
Malta contained ninety thousand, and Goza twenty-four
thousand, inhabitants*.
1
* The population of Europe is in the following proportion. On an equal space of ground
on which there exists only one man in Iceland, there are
in Norway
3
in Sweden
14
in Turkey
36
in Poland
52
in Spain
63
in Ireland
99
in Switzerland
114
in Great Britain
119
P 2
in Ger.
!
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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7
:
Where is the country, may I venture to ask, which can
boast of such an encrease, and such a continual state of pro-
sperity? But the Maltese, who are naturally sober, require but
little nourishment; besides, they were so perfectly contented
with the mildness of a government which never taxed either
the labour of their hands, or any other effort of industry, that
they became too much attached to their country ever to leave
it, well knowing that, in almost every other, both farmer and
artificer were equally subject to burthensome taxes.
A sovereign who expends his revenue in his dominions,
must necessarily greatly encrease the circulation of money, of
which all his subjects must in some degree partake. This
advantage, joined to the numerous institutions ever open to
reward talents and industry, and at the same time to relieve
the
poor
and unfortunate, so that idleness and poverty might
be said to be unknown in Malta, rendered the inhabitants of
that island but too happy under the government of the order;
the opulence of which, alas ! one moment served to destroy,
together with the prosperity of the unfortunate Maltese !
When the productions of a country are insufficient for the
127
152
153
1
in Germany
in England alone
in France
in Italy
in the kingdom of Naples
in the Republic of Venice
in Holland
in Malta
172
192
196
224
1103
.
)
HISTORY OF MALTA.
109
>
1
1
support of its inhabitants, trade must naturally present itself
to view, as the means of procuring the necessaries of life ; but
it may very easily be proved that Malta was become too
populous to be supported by its commerce, unassisted by the
riches and generosity of the order.
The principal trade of the island consisted in cotton, the
growth of the country, and which was of a much superior
quality to that brought from the Levant. It was exported
either in bales, worked up into cloths and coarse stuffs, or in
its spun state. The greatest part was sent into Spain for the
manufactures in Catalonia.
The payments were made in piastres (pieces of eight),
which the merchants sent to France, and there doubled their
gains, by means of the profit they made in Malta on the dif-
ferent merchandises they brought from Marseilles.
By a very accurate extract from the books of the custom-
house of the grand-master, exhibiting the exact quantity of
cotton spun in Malta from the year 1788 to 1798, it appears
that there was usually exported every year to the value of
2,750,000 French livres. This, with the export of their manu-
factured goods, joined to their home consumption, made the
produce of the cotton in Malta and Goza amount to more
than 3,000,000 French livres. (125,0001. sterling).
The other articles of commerce were but trifling, and con-
sisted principally in ashes of kalimagnum, which the Maltese
sent to Venice; lichen, which they sold in Sicily; oranges, sent
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110
C
HISTORY OF MALTA.
;
to all parts of the world; orange-flower-water, put into copper
bottles tinned, and called stagnone ; lemons; preserved apricots,
distinguished by the name of Alexandrini; excellent pome-
granates; honey, which always remains in a liquid state: seeds
of different kinds ; such as cabbage, brocoli, melon, cumin,
and aniseed: kali of an excellent quality; and Maltese stone,
which was a great article of commerce in Sicily, the Levant,
and particularly at Smyrna. They likewise exported some
pieces of fillagree, a sort of work in which the Maltese greatly
excelled; also clocks, and boilers, which were as good and as
lightly made as those from the Levant.
If the profit arising from the sale of so many different
articles
appears very great, it must be considered, on the other
hand, that the Maltese were under the necessity of importing
corn, cloth, wood, wine, oil, brandy, &c. The natural produc-
tions of the island were, indeed, but very trifling in comparison
with what they were forced to buy from other countries; and
;
their profit from the above-mentioned articles would have been
even insufficient to purchase grain for home consumption.
It is a certain fact, that the corn grown in Malta would
not furnish more than one third of the inhabitants with bread;
we will therefore suppose that the islands of Malta and Goza
contained a hundred thousand persons, and in that case it
plainly appears that sixty-six thousand would have been abso-
lutely destitute of food, had it not been for the corn imported
from Sicily and other places
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HISTORY OF MALTA:
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The university in Malta was exclusively charged with
the purchase of both wheat and barley for home consump-
tion; and it appears, from an exact calculation of the grain
imported during the last ten years, viz. from 1788 to 1798,
that the said consumption amounted annually to 43,239 salmes
of wheat, and 13,026 of barley* But as two salmes of
.
barley furnish not quite equal sustenance to one of wheat, and
the barley was in part for the use of different animals, one
portion of wheat was estimated equal to three of barley ; that
is to say, 4342 salmes of wheat were calculated to afford more
bread than the whole 13,026 salmes of barley imported every
year ; consequently, supposing the whole importation to have
been in wheat, the quantity which the university was obliged
to furnish annually, would amount to 47,381 salmes. There
must likewise be added to the above quantity, about 9000
salmes of grain purchased from abroad with money taken out
of the treasury, which served for the subsistence of the mem-
bers of the order, for all its dependants, and for the consider-
able alms bestowed on the poor; so that the annual importa-
tion by the university and the treasury for food for the inhabi-
tants, may be estimated at 56,581 salmes of wheat. A salme
of wheat was sold in 1798 for 70 French livres 8 sols ; con-
sequently 56,581 salmes (the quantity wanted) would cost
>
* A salme is equal to 430 French pounds, avoir-du-pois weight. It has been already
proved, that this quantity of grain will support a man in the prime of life, or a woman and
a young child, for a whole twelvemonth.
a
:
112
HISTORY OF MALTA.
:
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3,983,302 French livres 8 sols ; which infinitely exceeded not
only the annual product of the cotton in Malta and Goza,
but all the other articles which composed the whole trade of
the two islands.
To prevent the possibility of a scarcity of wheat, the
order had large storehouses, not only in Malta, but at Augusta,
Palermo, Girgenti, and particularly at. Marseilles : added to
which, was a building of not less importance at Risposta in
Sicily, for preserving ice, or rather snow; and which cost
40,000 Maltese crowns.
The different articles exported from Malta being then in-
sufficient, even for the purchase of grain, what could possibly
make up this deficiency, and occasion such great abundance
throughout the island ? Nothing but the great sums expended
annually by the order, which might be estimated at four mil-
lions of French livres. Tlie expences of the treasury likewise
amounted to three millions, to which might be fairly added
one million spent by the knights of different languages residing
in the convent. It therefore results, even from the confession
of the person placed by the French at the head of the provi-
sional government of Malta, “ that if the island of Malta
ceased to be in the possession of the order, a great part of the
inhabitants would be reduced to absolute beggary; for it is
a certain fact, that, into whatsoever hands the island might
happen to fall, it would be impossible for any power to cir-
culate money in the same manner as the knights ; consequently
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
113
.
the greater number of the Maltese would be in extreme
distress.'
Among the different objects which augmented the revenue
of Malta, the prizes taken by privateers may very well be
reckoned, and the booty they brought in procured them a
variety of articles of trade: advantages they could not possi-
bly have enjoyed under any other government.
The great number of foreign ships almost constantly in
the Maltese ports, gave the inhabitants an opportunity of sell-
ing their provisions ; but the exchange was seldom in their
favour. If, therefore, the export of the productions of the
island was profitable in one point of view, it became disad-
vantageous in another, since they lost in the value of money,
what they could not dispose of in provisions.
The sovereign, in order to favour commerce as much as
possible, took off all duties upon eatables; and the Maltese
only paid three and a half per cent, export and import duties,
whilst foreigners paid six and a third. The duty on a simple
transit was only one per cent.
Many private individuals loaded vessels with snow for
their own use, and the only duty received was by the hospital,
which, in case of a scarcity of that article, had a right to keep
it, even in preference to the proprietor himself.
The customs brought in about ninety or ninety-five thou-
sand Maltese crowns to the grand-master; and the duty on
wine, which he divided with the university, amounted one
VOL. 1.
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114
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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year with another to fifty-three thousand. Nor was Malta
without its offices of insurance : companies of speculators in-
sured at reasonable rates, not only the property, but the lives,
nay even the liberty, of the subject; and of course the
cargoes
of vessels, both inward and outward bound. The profits,
whether in specie or commodities, were divided with the most
scrupulous exactness ; and men who could not write, and were
entirely unacquainted with the rules of arithmetic, made the
calculations of their respective shares as accurately as the ablest
accountants.
The laws fixed the interest of money at a half per cent
per month, which amounted to six per cent per year; notwith-
,
standing which, the university generally obtained their loan at
three per cent.
The Maltese ships, feluccas, boats, and speronaras, al-
ways hoisted either the colours of the order, or those of the
grand-master ; and the greatest part were employed for the
transport of corn and other provisions from Sicily. The bold-
pess of these islanders was beyond all description ; and in
their speronaras, a kind of shallop without deck, from twenty-
our to thirty feet long, the crew consisting of only a patron
and six rowers, they were to be seen in every part of the
Mediterranean, venturing even through the Straits of Gi-
braltar, and landing at Cadiz. Smuggling being their princi-
pal occupation, they were obliged to sheer off the coast the
moment they had taken in their lading: this frequently con-
sisted of large live cattle, which the rowers lashed fast. to the
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
115
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5
;
benches, to prevent their being washed overboard ; and though
constantly exposed to the dangers of a storm, they seldom
experienced any serious misfortune.
The Maltese were equally able as speculators : many left
the island possessed of considerable sums, and went to Genoa,
where people of great fortune entrusted them with double the
money they brought from Malta. With this they proceeded to
Italy, where they bought quantities of merchandise, particu-
larly silk for clothes, which they carried to Spain, Malaga,
Alicante, Carthagena, and Cadiz; and there sold, and
pur-
chased merchandise of another kind; which they took to the
Canaries, the Havannah, and even sometimes to Mexico and
Peru. It is but lately that some Maltese merchants extended
their voyage so far as Philadelphia, where they sold their Eu-
ropean goods, and brought back the productions of America,
which they disposed of to good account, and returned with
considerable fortunes.
All causes relative to commerce were brought before the
consular tribunal, instituted in 1697, in the city Valetta. The
grand-master Perellos examined with the greatest accuracy
all the rules and laws in use in the most celebrated commercial
countries, and all affairs of that nature were determined from
the result of his enquiries. The grand-master Rohan em-
ployed himself particularly in the jurisdiction of the consuls
for trade, and by that means simplified and shortened the
business.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
The Maltese ships of war not only protected the commerce
of their island, but that of all other christian states. The
moment it was discovered from Malta, that one or more bar-
barian ships were cruising, the order immediately dispatched
a force in pursuit. The infidels usually took the alarm, and
after one or two attempts at resistance, retreated with pre-
cipitation.
So great was the terror inspired throughout the Levant by
the forces of the order, that the French merchant ships reaped
advantages beyond all calculation. The fear of being taken
either by the Maltese privateers, or the ships of war belonging
to the order, induced the Turkish merchants to entrust their
goods to any nation at peace with Malta, and especially to
France, as the power which had the greatest influence over the
order; the ambassadors from that country having always been
employed to arrange the different disputes between the Porte
and the knights of Malta.
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CH A P. VII.
The Climate of Malta; Degrees of Heat and Cold; principal Winds...
Nature and - Form of the Rocks in Malta and Goza; Influence of
the Sea on these Rocks; their daily Diminution. Grottoes and sub-
terraneous Places on the Sea-coast. Principal Fossils in Malta and
Goza. Earth found in Malta of the same Quality as Kaolin.
Plants of Malta. Culture of Fig-trees by Caprification. Descrip-
tion of a peculiar Species of Caterpillar.
TH HE remarks on the climate of Malta which I here present to
the reader will, perhaps, be more interesting from being the
result of repeated experiments made by a very learned man,
who, I am sorry to say, is much more remarkable for his great
knowledge, than for his attachment to the order.
66 Reaumur's thermometer in Malta during the suminer
is generally below 25 degrees, and scarcely ever above 28. In
winter, it is very seldom lower than 8 degrees below the freez-
ing point.
66 Heat and cold are not most felt when the thermometer
is at either of the two extreme points of our temperature; for
there is an almost constant contrast between our sensations and
the instruments which measure the true temperature of the air,
between sensible and real heat.
66 The different directions of the wind produce an instan-
taneous change from cold to heat, and from heat to cold.
North or north-west winds always occasion cold; and a south
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wind constantly brings heat. The violence with which they
blow modifies the sensations they cause, and those produced
by these winds become still stronger, because the atmosphere
they put in motion is analogous to what we feel from real heat
and extreme cold.
“ A north-west wind purifies the air in the greatest de-
gree; a north-east wind is not quite so pure, and it becomes
infinitely less so, when it changes to the south-east, or the
south, but it grows rather better when it veers to the south-
west, particularly if the sea be much agitated.
• The north-west wind is purified by the vast expanse of
sea which it passes over; but the north wind would suffer some
degree of alteration from Italy and Sicily, if the great vegeta-
tion in those fine countries did not tend to purify the atmo-
sphere. When the wind changes to the south it becomes dan-
gerous, owing to its having passed over the barren burning
,
continent of Africa, where there is scarcely any vegetation,
and where the heat is so intense, that every thing susceptible
of rarefication in the earth produces exhalations which enter
into the atmosphere. It is not purified by passing over the
sea, because the channel is narrow, and being sheltered by the
land, the water is not sufficiently agitated to absorb by its
motion the mephitic miasmata with which the air is im-
pregnated.
“ The extreme cold during winter is produced by the
pure air which blows from the north. The winds act upon us
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by their great violence, 'which continually renews the volume
of air that surrounds us. The cold thus produced is easily
avoided, by not exposing ourselves to the constant currents of
air and violence of the wind.
“ In summer, when the wind blows from the south-east,
the usual purity of the air is so greatly altered, that were it to
change a few degrees more, it would be impossible to breathe,
and the insensible perspiration of the body would form so
thick an atmosphere, that suffocation must infallibly ensue.
66 The south winds never blow long at a time, seldom
lasting more than three or four days. They are frequently
succeeded by a calm, during which the heat is also very great,
but much less oppressive and suffocating, though the ther-
mometer frequently shews a much higher degree of real heat.
The air is then infinitely more pure; and the sea breezes during
the night, and, indeed, some part of the day, greatly refresh
the atmosphere. This air is purified by passing over the
water, which it gently agitates. There is also a morning land
breeze, which, though less pure, cools the air in some degree.
When the wind changes suddenly from the south to the north,
we feel an astonishing lightness, our sensations are inexpressibly
pleasant, and we breathe with the greatest freedom. It is a
certain fact, that on these occasions the air becomes twenty
or twenty-five degrees more pure, though there is no variation
in the thermometer.
Nothing is more salutary during the sirocco than iced
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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beverages; they revive the spirits, strengthen the body, and
assist digestion. Snow is therefore considered at Malta as
one of the first necessaries of life. It is brought from Sicily,
and administered to the sick. Whenever there is a scarcity of
this article, all that remains in the ice-houses is entirely re-
served for the use of the hospitals.
46 There is another method. much in vogue among the
young Maltese, who, in order to guard against the ill effects of
the sirocco, plunge into water, and come out by degrees with-
out drying themselves, that the humidity on the skin may
evaporate, by which means the vapour carries off not only
some part of the heat of the body (it being an excellent con-
ductor), but at the same time the miasmata of our insensible
perspiration."
To these observations on the climate of Malta, we think
it necessary to add some equally important, on the physical
formation, not only of that island, but of those of Cumin
and Goza.
These three islands are calcareous rocks, which furnish
very few objects worthy the attention of a naturalist. Indeed,
some petrifactions and calcareous concretions are the only
fossil productions which deserve a place in a cabinet of natu-
ral history. But as there is no single spot on the whole sur-
face of the globe which does not afford some curious observa-
tions in cosmogony, nor even a heap of stones which has not
some reference to the ancient history of our world, and which
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121
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may not serve to give an idea of the theory of its original
formation ; the island of Malta considered in that light, offers
some interesting subjects deserving our attention.
Malta, Cumin, and Goza, are evidently only the remains of
a large tract of land which extended towards the south-south-
west, and which (owing in all probability to the solidity of the
soil) have resisted the violence that caused the destruction of
the country of which they originally made a part. Innu-
merable observations, made on the spot, confirm this opinion;
but at present it will be sufficient to prove the fact by some
account of the physical formation of these islands.
Malta becomes much narrower, at the same time that it
lengthens, from east-south-east to west-north-west; the islands
of Cumin and Goza are placed successively in the same direc-
tion, and are separated by narrow straits.
To have a.just idea of Malta, we must figure to ourselves
an inclined plane running from south-south-west to north-
north-east, in such a manner that the calcareous strata (nearly
parallel), of which it is almost entirely composed, rise towards
the south and south-east nearly two hundred fathoms above
the sea, which dashes against the bottom of these declivities,
At the same time on the opposite side they are of a consider-
able length, and decline insensibly, till they become level with
The direction of these strata, together with their
exact correspondence with the opposite parts, consisting of
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
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defiles and valleys, evidently shew what was the real shape of
the island when the strata deposited by the sea ceased to accu-
mulate : even since that time it has undergone great vicissitudes.
The regularity of this work has been changed, a great part of
the upper stratum destroyed, and that vast body of regularly
parallel strata so worn, hollowed out, and ploughed by the vio-
lence of the currents, that it is scarcely possible to trace-such
is the disorder which reigns throughout the mountains, defiles,
hills, and vales—the system which joins them together, and
points out the origin of their formation.
The broadest part of the island, the least wasted, and
the flattest (though sufficiently elevated), is that to the east of
the city Valetta ; it is consequently more peopled, and easier
cultivated ; though here, as in all other places, the rock is en-
tirely naked, except where the industry of the inhabitants has
placed a layer of carth to encourage vegetation.
The principal defiles and valleys run constantly from south-
south-west to north-east; which is their natural direction, for
they have all been formed out of the rock by the violent cur-
rents of water rushing from the heights. These valleys extend
te that part of the sea where the coast is almost level, and
there form those fine ports which make this island so very
important for trade and navigation. Smaller valleys have in
process of time been formed, taking a contrary direction to the
principal ones, and the united waters of these form the differ-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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ent ports which communicate with that of the city, which
with a gentle curve extends into the valley of Marsa, of which
it is a continuation.
This valley, now the broadest, the most extensive and
fertile in the whole island, was formerly almost entirely sea :
indeed, it is not very long since the tide came up as far as
casal Fornaro; but the accretion of vegetable earth from the
higher lands, the fragments of the surrounding rocks, the hand
of the labourer, and above all the influx of sand, &c. oc-
casioned by the force of the sea when the wind is at north-
east, have by degrees entirely filled it up. In a short time the
bottom of the port will be equally filled, and might be so still
sooner, by making basins, into which the sea could be con-
veyed by dykes, and where from its calm state it would de-
posit that matter which is kept back when the water is greatly
agitated. The basin in the midst of a small plain, called
Little Marsa, is already nearly choaked up, and that without
,
any means having been employed for the purpose.
The valleys are longer and deeper in proportion as they
extend from east to west. One very wide extends itself under the
casals * of Mosta, Nasciar, and Gharghul, and terminates at the
port of the salt-works. It is bounded to the right by a chain of
craggy rocks which run across the whole breadth of the island,
and divide it into two parts. This boundary, formed by the
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
hand of nature, has been made the means of defence to Malta,
by intrenchments. formed in the rocks, and seems to be re-
garded as such by the inhabitants; for beyond it, towards the
west, there are no villages, and scarcely any cultivated land.
The port or creek of Melleha penetrates so far into the inland
country, that it almost divides the island, which is very nar-
,
row in that part; and there is every reason to believe, that the
straits which occasion Cumin to be insular are only the ex-
tension of two valleys, the upper part of which has been de-
stroyed; and such would be the state of the ports which flank
the city Valetta, if any circumstance should destroy the part
of the island beyond Pieta and casal Nuovo.
Goza stands much higher than Malta, and is entirely sur-
rounded by perpendicular rocks: the highest are to the west
and south, where they are tremendously steep. The opposite
cliffs of Malta and Goza are correspondent; but though there
are some valleys in the same direction as those of Malta, they
do not afford any ports, on account of the height of the land,
and its breadth.
The country is not so uneven as at Malta, consequently
more easily cultivated; and it appears that the surface was
originally nearly horizontal. The rock, however, is decidedly
of the same nature in both islands, where are equally moun-
tains, some single, some forming chains, the summits of which
are for the most part flat. It is very evident that these sum-
mits made part of the original surface, when the whole was
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
125
incrusted by a stratum of a harder heavier kind of stone
of a closer grain, which is now never met with but in
that elevated land, which corresponds with the inclination of
the strata. The lower stratum is more or less consistent and
hard, or more or less dissoluble when exposed to the air. Some
strata are also formed of a black, ferruginous, calcareous sand,
slightly stuck together by a kind of calcareous lime.
At the back of these rocks in Malta, and in the clefts of
the mountains in Goza, are heaps composed of grey clay,
evidently no native of the soil, and which must have accumu-
lated since the excavation of those mountains. It is found in
hollows, which no doubt were formerly entirely empty. The
above-mentioned heaps but feebly resisting the force of water
rushing impetuously down their sides, the constant cataracts
have made deep furrows in them, and modelled them into
their present form.
On summing up the preceding facts, the question may be
fairly asked, from whence came the clay of Malta and Goza ?
How could it possibly have got over the craggy rocks of the
latter island, unless they had both been formerly joined to a
higher land, from whence this clay descended, or unless by an
imperceptible declivity it had been driven by the sea into its
present situation? Whence likewise came the red clay, a kind
of virgin earth, which fills up the vertical clefts in the rocks ?
The water which formed these valleys must have been in great
abundance, since it had sufficient force to wear away a rock,
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which, though not very hard, must still have offered some
degree of resistance.
This island, such as it is at present, could never have pro-
duced such considerable torrents, for after the heaviest rains
in winter there are scarcely more than some small temporary
rivulets, and those in the lowest part of the valleys. The per-
pendicular rocks could not naturally have existed in a mass
formed by the successive accumulation of sand from the sea.
The same strata which we perceive in these rocks must have ex-
tended till they had met with a declivity, or a curve, to recon-
duct them to a level with the bottom of the sea. There cannot be
a doubt but that the island of Malta mąde formerly part of a
mountain, which had the same declivities and valleys on the
other side. The rocks, its boundaries to the south, east, and west,
could have been formed only by the falling-in and destruction
of what made their sides, particularly as the sea is extremely
deep at the basis of them. In the whole circumference of the
three islands, evident marks of corrosion may be perceived.
The rocks at some distance from the coast are the mere re-
mains of that part which has been destroyed. In fine, the
shape of these islands, all the local circumstances, and a variety
of phenomena, decidedly prove that there must have been a
great extent of land towards the south and west, and that it
must have been destroyed by some very violent cause out of
the common course of nature. It appears that this destructive
shock came from the west, and that it acted with the greatest
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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force against every thing adjoining to the island of Goza. Ac-
cording to our knowledge of natural history, and the causes
which produce such extraordinary effects, we can only attri-
bute the present state of things to an immense body of water,
which, being agitated by an earthquake, carried away the first
land which it met with it in its passage ; by which means
Goza is become of a circular form, and clefts are excavated at
the foot of the rocks which offered most resistance; such as
those which form cape San Demetri. It also destroyed that
part of the mountain which united the three islands, and this
inundation has stripped them of all vegetable earth, of which
only some small patches remain in the clefts of rocks, where
it was sheltered from the fury of the waves. The island of
Goza was so situated as to defend Malta; and by that means
the northern coast has not undergone such changes as the
southern. A variety of observations- made in Sicily and Italy
prove that an extraordinary motion in that mass of water had
taken place, and the most terrible effects were produced ; but
to enter into more minute particulars would interfere with the
plan of this work.
The facts we have now pointed out may be known and
verified by all who will attend to the circumstances; but what
must still remain matter of conjecture, is the original extent of
this land, its relation with the continent of Africa, and the
time when this convulsion took place.
I believe that since Malta' was first inhabited, the island
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
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has in some degree diminished. This seems proved by the marks
of wheels, which may be traced close to the above-mentioned
cliffs. Rocks likewise frequently fall in, owing either to the
sea working its way under them, or to the incidental destruc-
tion of the lower strata.
The soft kind of stone in Malta and Goza is always more
or less inclined to waste and dissolve when exposed to the air;
it also undergoes a kind of saline efflorescence which reduces
it to powder, and this effect is hastened by different accidents,
and particular situations. The stones exposed to the air to-
wards the south, are much sooner dissolved than in
any
other aspect; but nothing wastes them in so short a time
as the sea-water, one single drop of which suffices to rot
them presently; and though only one stone should be touch-
ed, it frequently communicates itself to the next, and by this
means speedily destroys, not only a whole rock, but a whole
building, if a stone thus affected should happen to be employed
in its construction. A sort of saline crust composed of nitre
with alkaline at bottom and sea-salt is formed over the stone,
part of which is no sooner crumbled to powder, than the crust
drops off, and others continue forming till the whole of the
stone is entirely destroyed. This effect, I believe, is principally
produced by the humidity which the sea-salt with earthy par.
ticles at the bottom contained in sea-water always attracts;
and this humidity is the principal vehicle for the production
of nitre, if at the same time other circumstances concur for
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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that purpose. I have already observed, that the stones most
liable to this spontaneous destruction are those which contain
the most magnesia, from which this soft kind is never en-
tirely free.
In the craggy rocks round Malta and Gozą are many spa-
cious caves or grottoes ; some of which being on a level with the
sea, the waves dash in, when in an agitated state, and resound
tremendously. The mouths of others are at different heights,
and the access is more or less difficult and dangerous accord-
ing to their situation; there are some, indeed, in order to enter
which it is necessary to be suspended by ropes. One of the
most considerable of those usually visited is situate towards
the point of land called Benkisa, near the Marsa Sirocco creek.
This, from its length and breadth, is distinguished by the name
of the Great, and it extends more than two hundred paces
.
under ground.
All these grottoes are full of stalactites and stalagmites, pro-
duced by the water filtering through the calcareous rock. The
falling-in of one of these caverns must have caused the singular
excavation called Makluba, near casal Zorick, which certainly
deserves to be seen. At the distance of a hundred paces to the
south of the shore, and not far from the rocks on the coast,
there is a circular, or rather an oval, cavity more than a hun-
dred feet in depth, and formed like an imperfect cone. The
larger diameter of the lower plain is about ninety-five paces,
and that of the smaller one, eighty; but the opening is less
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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than twenty paces. This excavation is in those shelving cliffs
which incline a little from south to north, and have hitherto
suffered no change, but have remained exactly as if this, in
part, circular space had been the work of art.
On examining the state of the lower ranges of rock, I re-
marked that they were corroded in the same manner as the
others exposed to the fury of the waves. The surface of them
is unequal and hollow; but they have, notwithstanding, a sort
of polish, and a harder coat than the rest of the stone; whereas
the upper ledges have suffered the same degree of corrosion
which affects all the Maltese rocks when exposed to the air,
and which is very different from the basis. There is a great
depth of vegetable earth in the lower plain ; but though they
have frequently dug very low they have never been able to
find a bottom. All these circumstances infallibly prove, that
the great hollow was occasioned by the falling-in of a vast
cavern, which communicated to the sea; and the time when
this happened cannot have been very remote. Above the space
which has sunk in, there appears to have been some habita-
tion, for there is a well fifty feet deep in the part of the
rock
ck into which stairs have been made to descend. It was
formerly deeper, but has been since filled up by earth from
the neighbouring hills; the mouth of this excavation being
situated in a kind of small valley. The word Makluba signifies
overturned.
There are blocks and detached pieces of a blackish and
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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reddish calcareous stone to be found in different places in
Malta, particularly in the part of Benkisa near Marsa Sirocco.
These have a false appearance of lava, or of burnt stone with
small pores, and when rubbed, exhale a very strong and
disagreeable smell. On being dissolved by means of acids,
there remains swimming on the top a black oily scum which
occasions the disagreeable smell. This lapis suillus has cer-
tainly been impregnated with the oil of some cetaceous fish :
I am ignorant whether there are any particular strata com-
posed of it.
As I wish to comprise every thing relative to the na-
tural history of Malta and Goza in this chapter, I will first
enumerate the principal fossils found in these two islands, and
afterwards describe the nature and quality of the earth called
Maltese earth, an accurate knowledge of which may be of
great utility. At the end of the chapter the reader will find a
catalogue of those plants which have been cultivated in Malta
with the greatest success.
The principal fossils of Malta and Goza are the following:
1. Pyrites martiales and conchæ pyritosæ martiales, found in
different clayey hills, particularly in one near the town of
Goza. When these fossils were first discovered, it was imagined
they made part of a gold mine; and sorne speculators threw
away their money in making experiments, but the hopes they
had cherished of great riches, presently vanished into air.
2. Gypsum, in those forms which are commonly called
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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cuneiform and specular gypsum ; this is formed in separate spots
in the same clay: the pieces are sometimes very large, but
seldom regularly crystallised.
3. Calcareous alabasters. Those of Goza are yellow, slightly
veined, and sometimes semi-transparent like the antique ala-
baster. They are also hard and compact, and there are lumps
and blocks sufficiently large to make pillārs and -urns of a
great size if they were worked for that purpose, but hitherto
nothing has been made but tables. Alabaster is found in
Goza on the top of mountains ; and it is observable, that it
forms itself by accretion in those cavities which accident has
wrought in the common calcareous mass. The Maltese ala-
baster exists in large blocks, separated from each other, on the
sea coast; the top and middle of the calcareous stone are brown
with circular veins. This is not so hard and compact as the
yellow kind, and is liable to a variety of incidental imperfec-
tions, such as being full of cavities and earthy stony parts,
which prevent its being employed for works of any mag-
nitude, &c. It derives its dusky colour from a thick and oily
sort of matter.
4. A variety of calcareous stalactites formed in grottoes.
These are real alabaster in concentric beds.
5. Remains of the back and jaw bones of various ceta-
ceous animals. These have been found in the calcareous mass
in many parts of the two islands, and in a bed of calcareous
ferruginous and black sand, which has given them a tinge of
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the same colour. These, however, are scarce: they are partly
petrified, that is to say, a calcareous lapidifical moisture has
penetrated into the bony texture.
6. Glossopetra, or more properly odontopetra, or fish-teeth
of different shapes and sizes, the greatest part of which belonged
to the phoca or sea-cow, the lamia or shark, different sorts
of sea-dogs, and to some particular species of scate. Part of
these teeth are indented at the edge, and part entirely smooth;
the largest are seven inches long, of a flat triangular form, with a
bifurcated or two-fanged root : there are others only one inch in
length, pointed, almost conical, with roots also bifurcated, and
shaped like birds' and serpents' tongues. Most of these teeth
have preserved their grey and shining enamel in such a man-
ner that the filtration could not penetrate through them; they
are therefore not petrified in the inside, and have not lost their
bony texture. Those roots which have not been guarded from
the filtration are become stony.
Odontopetra are common in Malta, and particularly in Goza,
where they are found enclosed and scattered about in the soft
stone of these islands. I never heard whether a jaw-bone was
ever discovered with this kind of teeth.
7. Crapaudinæ, Bufonita, or serpents' eyes: these are
likewise odontopetra, or fish-teeth of a hemispherical, conical,
or oval form. They belonged to the gilt-head, and other fish
of the same kind; they are whitish, grey, yellow, black, or
with concentric circles of different colours, having a central
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point which gives them the appearance of an eye, and from
that circumstance they take their name. These teeth are of
different sizes, from one line to four in diameter; they are con-
cave within, and are in a state of half petrifaction. There
are great numbers in Malta, but those only with concentric
zones are in any estimation, and the large ones of that kind
are very scarce.
8. Odontopetra which belonged to the hippopotamus, or
river horse. These were the grinders of these animals, and are
almost all square with obtuse conical pre-eminences ; there are
some eight inches on the surface, but they are seldom found
entire. The part which has no enamel is petrified. This kind
of odontopetra is far from common.
9. Asteriæ, entrochita, and other detached parts of the
vertebræ of the encrinus.
10. Echinites of different shapes and sizes: the most re-
markable are the hemispherical, some of which are seven
inches in diameter; others, equally large, are pentagonal, py-
ramidal, or shaped like an imperfect pyramid. Some are
almost round, others are compressed and almost flat, and all
are distinguished by names analogous to their shape; such as,
echinites, galcati, pyramidales, scutati, discoïdes, rotulati, fc.---
These large echiniti are changed into calcareous spar of a yellow
or white colour; the inside is either empty, or filled with a
white or yellow earth, according to the colour of the outside of
- the spar. The echinites are found in pretty large quantities in the
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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craggy parts of Malta ; in the soft stone, or in those beds of
black sand which are but weakly agglutinated.
There is a great variety of echinites of a smaller size, such
as the gobulares, the spatagoidæi, or shaped like a heart, the
clunicunares, natiformes, &c. The exterior part is changed into
white spar, and the inside filled with the same calcareous white
and tender stone in which they are found in such great quan-
tities. Some among them are much squeesed, but the greatest
number have preserved the same shape and position as in
the sea.
1
+
Fragments of echinites are also found in Malta ; these are
shaped like shields, and are called assula, quinquangulares,
hexangulares, mamillares, orbiculares, &c.: likewise pieces of
small bones of the same fish, but no Judea stones.
11. Number of fossil shells of different families, some of
which have the upper part half petrified, whilst the impression
of others only remains. The only remarkable ones among the
former are the dentalites, or sea-tubes, two inches thick, and
frequently many feet in length. When they are in a cir-
cular form, they resemble petrified serpents.
Ostracites, shaped like cocks' combs, and rakes; and some
very large pectinites, with and without ears.
The impressions of shells are either black or white ac-
cording to the colour of the earth. The most remarkable
are the dactilites, and pholadites. The impression of the in-
side of a small terebratula, which is exactly of the shape, size,
a
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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and colour of hemp-seed: there are great quantities in the rocks
near casal Ghargul. Some 'cardites of a great size, &c.
Many of these fossils are found in the hills and mountains
near the old city, where there are banks almost entirely com-
posed of them. All the rocks in the island likewise contain
some of the same kind.
12. And lastly, quantities of lithophyta and madreporites
of different sorts and sizes, among which there is nothing very
remarkable. These are found in the steep part of the rocks
towards the south, and particularly near a place called Bahria.
Some large rocks are entirely composed of them; and near them
other rocks full of ostracites. .
Having thus endeavoured to give some idea of the fossils
in Malta and Goza, I shall next b iefly describe the nature and
quality of the Maltese earth called terra Melitensis, of which
there are two sorts: The one is an earth very compact and
heavy; it is extremely white on being first dug up, but be-
comes yellowish as it dries ; the surface is smooth and polished,
and on being put into the mouth, it adheres to the tongue, but
soon melts like butter.
It is never in an effervescent state on
being mixed with acid, and the fire has no effect on its colour;
this earth is reckoned cordial and sudorific, and resembles the
Lemnos earth, which was always greatly esteemed in medicine.
Valmont de Bomare distinguishes it by the name of terra
sigillata Melituæ.
The second kind is calcareous, very light, and falls into
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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powder on being exposed to the air ; when dry, it becomes of
;
a greyish colour, is friable, and rough to the touch. It effer-
vesces when mixed with acid, and may be regarded as a spe-
cies of chalk or marl. The vulgar esteem it as a great anti-
dote against the bite of venomous animals.
Father d'Entrecolles* is of opinion, that this second kind of
earth, also termed St. Paul's earth, has in its matrix something
of the kaolin, which gives firmness and consistence to the por-
celain made in China. Frequent experiments made on the
Maltese earth, prove it to be very much of the same quality
as the kaolin, though without the silver particles scattered
throughout the latter. Valerius calls this earth marga porcel-
lana ; and the repeated experiments which have been made,
give hopes that this article will form a new and advantageous
branch of commerce for Malta.
I HAVE already given some account of several of the
vegetable productions of Malta, which are important on ac-
count of their value in commerce, or their uses in medicine;
* See description of the materials which compose porcelain, in the collection of Lettres
Edifantes copiées dans l'Histoire de la Chine du Père du Halde, Vol. II. page 179.
+ Particularly at Rome in 1790. Prince Lambertini having received from the author of
Les Recherches Historiques et Politiques, a box filled with these two sorts of earth, made a
variety of experiments, and found them of the same quality as the kaolin.
This description of the Maltese earth is taken from the said Recherches Historiques, which I
have found a very useful work on different occasions.
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such as the cotton-plant, and the fungus Melitensis; and have
annexed to this chapter a botanical catalogue of the principal
plants of Malta. I shall here add some particulars relative to
one of the most valuable trees with which nature has enriched
the warmer climates, and the propagation of which cannot be
too much encouraged* : I mean the fig-tree, which produces
one of the mildest, most salutary, and agreeable fruits. Figs
when dried in the oven, furnish, with a little barley-bread,
the principal sustenance of the numerous and finely-formed
inhabitants of the islands of the Archipelago.
Though it is usual to distinguish different species of fig-
trees, the greater part of them can, in fact, only be considered
as varieties. I shall here confine myself to treat only of the
domestic fig-tree, and the wild fig-tree.
The former of these (ficus sativa) *. is a tree of a middling
height, branching and bushy, but never very large, because it
throws out from the root a great number of shoots. The wood
of it is of a whitish colour, soft and pithy. It is seldom used
except by locksmiths and armourers, because, being spongy,
it easily imbibes a great quantity of oil and powder of emery,
which they use to polish their work. The leaves of this tree
are larger than those of any other fruit-tree; they are rough
* Messrs. La Quintaine, Bradley, and Miller, have assiduously laboured to bring to per-,
fection the culture of fig-trees.
| See Valmont de Bomare, Dict. Rais. Univers. d'Histoire Nat. art. Figues.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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and of a deep green colour. It is essential to
It is essential to prune the tree
before the sap is in motion ; for when the branches are cut, a
milky juice, with which they abound, exudes, and the loss of
this nutritious liquor necessarily enfeebles the tree. This milky
juice is bitter, acrid, and so corrosive, that it will coagulate
milk like rennet, dissolve its curd like vinegar, and when ap-
plied to the skin, penetrate it, and make indelible marks.
By this quality, it frequently cures warts and other disagree-
able excrescences.
The fig-tree, differing in this from other fruit-trees, bears
its fruit on the large branches. The figs grow at the origin of
the leaves, without having been preceded by any apparent
flower, which has occasioned doubts whether the tree produces
any. But the flowers are concealed within the fruit, on
opening which, at a proper time, we may perceive in the in-
side, round the crown of the fruit, the male flowers, which
are stamina supported by small stylets; and the female, which
are situate near the pedicle. These flowers are succeeded by
small hard seeds.
The fruit of the fig-tree is larger or smaller, more or less
round, and varies in its colour, according to the different spe-
cies of the tree on which it is produced; but it always ap-
proaches to the figure of a pear. When perfectly ripe, it is
extremely soft and succulent. Naturalists have enumerated
thirty varieties of the fig-tree; of which the two that succeed
best in cultivation, are those that bear the figs universally
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
known by the names of the round-fig, and the long-fig. The
latter bears most fruit; the former is the earliest; and both
are excellent.
.
The fig-tree thrives best, in general, in light soils ; but it
also succeeds extremely well in stony grounds; and a good
aspect renders its fruit more sweet and delicious. This tree is
of a very delicate temperament, and cannot withstand the
frost, except when covered with straw, or sheltered in a green-
house.
The wild fig-tree (caprificus) resembles, in all its parts,
the domestic fig-tree, of which it appears to be, in some
measure, only a variety; but it bears fruits that serve for ca-
prification, of which the ancients have said so much, but
which many learned men have treated as a fabulous, at least
useless, operation *.
This operation consists in suspending in different parts of
a domestic fig-tree, several wild figs strung on a thread. The
flies or gnats which issue from these, introduce themselves into
---
* M. de Tournefort had opportunities during his travels in the Levant, to observe the
process used by the natives of the Archipelago in the caprification of fig-trees. The various
objects to which he had to attend, not having permitted him to enter into all the particulars
necessary thoroughly to understand the nature of this operation, he contented himself with
merely relating the facts he had witnessed, in a memoir on the diseases of plants, which he
read to the Academy of Sciences in 1705. M. Godcheu de Riville, knight of Malta, un-
dertook to examine this subject, and, after a variety of researches and experiments, commu-
nicated the result of his enquiries to M. de Reaumur, in a letter which was printed in the
mathematical and physical part of the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences ; Paris,. 4to.
tom. p. 170.- 190. I have principally taken him as my guide on this subject, consulting
also M. Valmont de Bomare.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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the umbilicus of the domestic figs, and by their punctures
cause in them a fermentation which contributes to their ripen-
ing. À careful examination of the history of the wild fig
has divested this operation of what is apparently wonderful in
it, and demonstrated its utility.
The wild fig-tree, or caprificus, known at Malta by the
name of tokar, is the ornos of the isles of the Archipelago.
The three kinds of fruit which it bears in the course of the
year, have names in the Maltese language corresponding to
those given them by the Greeks. Thus the tokarleonel in Maltese
answer to the fornites of the Greeks, the tokarlanos to the cratirites,
and the tokartayept to the orni. Tokarleonel, or fornites, are the
figs of autumn, which appear in the month of August, and con-
tinue till November without ripening. In them are engendered
small worms, produced from eggs deposited by a kind of gnats,
which are only found in the neighbourhood of the wild fig-
trees. These worms are a species of very small ichneumons,
of a shining black colour. In the months of October and
November, having become gnats, they puncture the second
fruits or tokarlanos, the cratirites of the Greeks, which do not
appear till the end of September, and which may be called
winter figs. The autumnal figs fall soon after the gnats have
been produced, but the winter figs remain on the tree till the
month of May following, and contain the eggs which have
been deposited by the gnats of the autumnal figs. In the
month of May, the tokartayept, or orni, which may be called
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
the spring figs, begin to appear. When they have attained a
certain size, and their eye begins to open, they are pierced in
that part by the gnats produced in the winter figs; though
this is sometimes not necessary for the gnats to introduce
themselves into the fig, as they are able to make a pas-
sage through the leaves that close the umbilicus. This open-
.
ing, made by the two teeth with which the heads of these little
ichneumons are armed, afterwards closes, and the eye of the
fig does not again open till three or four days before the gnats
issue from the fruit. The skin of the wild figs is sleek, smooth,
and of a deep green: no puncture of the insects is discernible
on the external surface. When near maturity they grow soft, ,
and become yellowish. On opening them, we find their inte-
rior construction similar to that of the domestic fig*, that is
to say, the leaves are in the upper part, nearest to the um-
bilicus, the stamina next, and then follow the seeds, which
are a kind of kernels filled with small grains, and which oc-
cupy the greatest space.
The wild figs, whatever may be their degree of ma-
turity, have no sweet and luscious liquor; their inside is
always dry and farinaceous. When they are become nearly
as large as nuts, the gnats make their entrance by the umbili-
cus, and deposit in them their eggs; roving at first about
the inside. All those which these insects neglect to enter in
}
content
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*
See La Hire, Mémoires de l'Académie, 1712.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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this manner languish, their kernels will not grow, and at length
they become dry and shrivelled, and fall off without ripening.
Those on the contrary that are fecundated by the puncture of
the gnats, visibly increase in size, and the seeds, which are
larger than in the domestic fig, soon fill the whole inside of
the fruit.
Every kernel of the fig is the habitation of a gnat ; and
if the integument of the seed in which these insects are in-
closed be opened at a proper time, they will come out, and
after having dried their wings in the sun for a few minutes fly
away. On examining these kernels before the fig is perfectly
ripe, we discover on their surface, with the aid of a strong
magnifier, some small brown spots, imperceptible to the naked
eye; and after having detached the upper part with very fine
scissars, we perceive some living particles, that is to say, well-
formed nymphs. As soon as the small worms are disclosed,
they pierce the yet tender membrane of the seed, feed on the
kernel it contains, and remain there as in a habitation very
convenient for their metamorphosis. These worms are never
.
found roving in the inside of the figs, but after having thus
lived a certain time under this form, they are metamorphosed
into gnats, having a long auger in the hinder part of their
bodies.
These insects, from their retired situation, and their ex-
treme minuteness, it would seem must be exempt from ene-
mies; they have, however, two which are very formidable to
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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them. One is a small ichneumon, of a cinnamon colour, with
a very long auger; and the other an insect with a scaly head
and corslet : its hinder part is formed like a tail annexed to
the corslet; and its head, which only adheres to the body by a
very small ligature, is armed with two teeth. These likewise
have their lodgment in the kernels of the fig, like the other
gnats. The latter species does not appear to be intended to
fly: it leaves the eye of the fig, without becoming a winged
,
insect.
This account of the wild fig-tree and the gnats which take
up their abode in it, appears to be sufficient. I shall now
proceed to point out the species of domestic fig-trees, to the
fructification of which the wild fig-tree is advantageous by
caprification.
There are seven or eight different species of fig-trees at
Malta, but caprification is only used for two of them.
The first gives two gatherings in the year, one in June,
when the figs which do not ripen till the latter end of the
month are succulent and larger than in France; the other in
August, when the figs gathered during the whole course of the
month are less delicate and smaller. The earlier ones do not
require, like the latter, to be caprificated.
The second species, the same with that which is so fruit-
ful in the Isles of the Archipelago, bears only once a-year :
the figs are small, of a whitish colour, and sweet, without
much taste.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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.
But whence arises the necessity of caprificating these two
species of fig-trees more particularly than the others ? It is
certain that the tree of the first species which has produced a
great quantity of large and succulent figs, is, so to speak, ex-
hausted, and has not strength to furnish sufficient nourish-
ment to the second figs, which begin to appear at the time
when the first are ripe; consequently these second figs, not re-
ceiving the nutritious juice necessary to them, will fall before
they are ripe; and this inconvenience can only be remedied
by caprification. The introduction of the gnats causes a fer-
mentation in them which accelerates their ripening, in the same
manner as worm-eaten fruits always ripen before those that are
sound. Hence the figs which would be two months before they
would be ripe, will be fit to eat three weeks earlier; and when
the time of their fall is arrived, the quantity will be much
greater. Many individuals do not caprificate their second figs,
to avoid fatiguing their trees; for experience has shewn, that
the crop of first figs is usually bad in the year following capri-
fication, because the fig-tree has been forced to nourish too
great a quantity of fruit in the same year.
Let us now examine what are the reasons for the caprifica-
tion of the second species of figs. They are the same as in the
former case, though the object of the operation is different.
I have already mentioned the quantity of fruit which this tree
bears : it is such that frequently the branches cannot be seen
on account of the figs with which they are loaded. When the
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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caprification of this kind of fig-tree is neglected, a great quan-
tity of the fruit falls before it ripens, because the tree is over-
loaded with it. The difference of the produce of a caprificated
.
tree from that of another which has not undergone this opera-
tion, is immense ; since a fig-tree which would scarcely yield
twenty-fivè pounds of figs that should be ripe and proper for
drying, will in consequence of this mode of treatment, pro-
duce more than two hundred and eighty pounds.
It is to be observed that the figs which are not caprificated
artificially, but only by the accidental removal of the gnats
from one fig-tree to another, are much preferable to the others;
whence it is that the figs of Provence, where the practice of
caprification is unknown, notwithstanding the same species of
fig-tree is cultivated there as at Malta and in the Levant, are
much superior to the dried figs of the Archipelago. It is also
to be remarked that the heat of the sun which is sufficient to
dry the figs that have not been caprificated, is not so for those
that have undergone this operation. They must be dried in
the oven ; which gives them a disagreeable taste, but is neces-
sary to destroy the eggs of the insects which they contain.
Caprification by the suspension of wild figs, though most
in use, is not, however, the only method employed to hasten the
maturity of figs. If, by chance, the peasants of the Levant,
who know with wonderful exactness the precious moment for
caprification, suffer it to elapse, they have recourse to an ex-
pedient which frequently succeeds. It consists in spreading
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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over the domestic figs the flowers of a plant which they call
ascolimbos or skolimos, and in which are sometimes found
gnats
that will pierce the figs; or perhaps the gnats of the wild figs
seek their food in these flowers." This caprification, when it
succeeds, completely supplies the place, in the effect it pro-
duces, of that which had been neglected.
Some persons have also employed with success another
method for hastening the maturity of figs without depriving
them of any part of their good qualities, by putting with a
pencil a little olive oil on the eye of the fig, or pricking it
with an oiled feather or straw *.
This fruit, so salutary and useful. because it makes a part
of the food of the people among whom it is produced in
abundance, becomes dangerous when it has not acquired. a
perfect maturity; which is known by its still containing a
milky liquor in its pedicle and skin. It then causes dysen-
teries and fevers. Water is the liquor most proper to dilute
the pulp of figs in the stomach, and to remedy a certain in-
convenient viscosity of the saliva. As to dried figs, they are
esteemed pectoral and emollient.
It now only remains for me to refute an error too com-
monly received, viz. that the wild fig-tree is the male of the
domestic fig-tree. Pontedera, who conceived this idea, sup-
poses that the former furnishes the farina, or dust of the sta-
>
* See Du Hamel. He thinks that in this case the oil produces nearly the same effect as
the insects in caprification.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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mina, necessary to fecundate the fruits of the latter; and that
the gnats are the bearers of this dust, which they deposit in
the figs into which they introduce themselves. But had he
attentively considered the gnats when they first come out of
the wild-fig, he would have seen that they are, indeed, then
covered with a white dust, derived in part from the stamina
through which they have made their way, and from the in-
side of the fig, which is farinaceous; by continuing his ob-
servations, he would also have perceived, that immediately
on their leaving the fig they employ six or seven minutes in
drying their wings in the sun, and in disengaging them from
the dust with which they are incumbered; and that when they
take their flight not the slightest vestige of this dust remains,
but that they are of a shining black colour when they make
their way into the domestic figs. This fact entirely subverts the
principle on which this observer and his partisans appear to
have founded their system of fecundation.
The island of Malta is not prolific in insects; the small
quantity of earth with which the rock is covered, and the great
drought which prevails there during six or seven months in
the year, deprive it of the trees and plants which those who
wish to study this part of natural history ought to have con-
tinually before their eyes.
Among the different species of caterpillars found here,
there is one of a very singular conformation, having no feet.
The chevalier Godheu de Riville, who calls it chenille mineuse
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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des feuilles de vigne (the caterpillar which mines or cuts the
leaves of the vine), has given its history with the greatest care.
He has described with the most accurate minuteness the struc-
ture of its body, the manner in which it forms its pod or cone,
the means it employs for progressive motion and the removal
of its habitation, and the different metamorphoses it under-
goes
The skin of this caterpillar is perforated by an infinity
of small holes almost invisible. Several extremely fine hairs
grow irregularly on different parts of the body. The head,
which is scaly, as well as the upper and under part of the first
ring (the rest being membranous), has more of these hairs than
the other parts. The head is sometimes concealed under the
first ring, which, like all the rest, is not perfectly cylindrical.
It is formed, like that of other caterpillars, of two scaly parts;
except, however, that these two parts are more sloped behind
than before. The vacant spaces are filled by two membranes,
which are more transparent than the scaly parts. The head has
in front two small teeth with which these caterpillars work, or
dissect the leaves by gradually detaching from them the paren-
chyma. They work first lengthwise, and afterwards breadthwise.
It is to be remarked, that every place eaten away has, near
the part where the insect has last been, an oval perforation of
a middling size. The two membranes
The two membranes between which this
1
* See Mémoires de Mathématiques et de Physiques, presentés à l'Academie Royale de Sciences :
Paris 4to. 1750, tom. I. page 177-190. Histoire d'une Chenille mineuse des Feuilles de
Vigne : ertraite d'une lettre de Malthe à M. de Reaumur, par M. Godheu de Riville, Chev, de
Malthe.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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aperture is formed are separated, and appear as if a piece had
been taken oật by a pair of nippers; which piece serves to
form the pod or cone of the caterpillar. These pods are
ovals; they adhere to the leaf by one of their extremities, and
are always perpendicular to the plane on which they are fixed.
The following is the manner in which they are constructed.
When a caterpillar of this kind has attained its full size,
a stripe of a very beautiful green appears through the whole
length of its body, which is occasioned by the quantity of
nourishment it then takes, like all other caterpillars. Soon
afterwards it prepares to make a lodgment in which it may
undergo its transformation. This it usually forms in the place
where it has last worked, the other extremity being filled with
excrements. When it works only for food, it forms no kind of
ridge in the epidermes between which it is lodged: it is, how-
ever, sufficiently closed in; since, wherever it is, a small eleva-
tion formed by the thickness of its body may be distinguished,
which varies as it changes its place; apparently because, this
caterpillar being destitute of feet, the friction of the rings
against the membranes is advantageous to it for its removal
from place to place, and its progress in proportion as it con-
sumes the parenchyma. It is, however, able to form itself a
more commodious lodgment in which to pass the time that it
remains in the chrysalis state. This it constructs by forming
on the two epidermes two ridges, precisely opposite to each
other, and which extend the whole length of the oval. By
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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this means the two membranes assume a concavity which
renders the habitation more spacious.
The caterpillar proceeds in this operation in the following
manner. It begins by tracing on the membrane which is on
the side of its implement or apparatus for spinning, the circuit
of its new habitation, with several threads which determine
the size of the oval. This first work being finished, it applies
itself to form the ridge of the same membrane; which, however,
it only sketches in the rough. It afterwards proceeds to the
other membrane, and changes its position ; because, having
its spinning apparatus in the same place where it is in all other
caterpillars, it cannot, consequently, spin on the membrane
opposite to that on which it began, without turning itself en-
tirely round, This it easily does when it is able, by turning its
head, to seize with its teeth the membrane behind it; for it
thus has a point of support by the aid of which it can turn its
rings one after the other, till it has entirely changed its posi-
tion. It thus performs the same operation as on the first
ridge. After having three or four times changed its work from
one to the other membrane, the ridges are completely finished.
By their formation these membranes become more and more
opaque; and the oval which is to form the contour of the pod
or cone is easily distinguishable. The convexity which the
two membranes assume in this place occasions a very sensible
contraction in the neighbouring parts. To separate the pod
from the rest of the leaf, the caterpillar begins by extending
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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itself along the two ridges, in such a manner that its body, to
use the expression, may measure the length of the oval. It
afterwards labours to make its cup, which it executes at dif-
ferent times ; for as soon as a quarter of the pod is separated
from the rest of the leaf, it immediately joins the two mem-
branes with its silk, but without giving them their full degree
of solidity, which they do not receive till the habitation is
completely fixed.
As soon as the pod is separated by incision from the
remainder of the leaf, it remains suspended by two threads, of
which one of the ends is fastened to the leaf and the other to
the edges of the pod. In this position, the caterpillar pre-
pares to quit a place where it has no longer any thing to do;
for which purpose, as it has no feet, it has recourse to a singular
expedient by the aid of which it can make a progressive mo-
tion in all positions, and even over the smoothest and most
polished bodies. It advances its body out of its pod, forms a
kind of hillock of silk, and, by means of a thread which it at-
taches to it, draws its pod to the hillock. It continually re-
peats the same operation, and in this manner advances pro-
gressively. The traces of its progress are marked by hillocks
of silk at the distance of half a line from each other. If it
finds itself suspended by a thread and wishes to ascend it, it
thrusts its head out of its pod, and seizes with its teeth the
thread which supports it. It lengthens itself till the first three
rings are discernible, and then forces the edge of the pod to
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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approach the place where it has fixed its teeth, by the contrac-
tion of its body. As it has no feet, its pod is absolutely neces-
sary to enable it to ascend the thread; therefore, when it is
deprived of it, and is thus suspended, it continually spins till
it reaches a substance capable of supporting it. When it is
taken out of its habitation, it never attempts to make a new
one. It writhes about very much, but can make no progressive
motion; and after having overspread the place in which it is
with threads of silk, in an irregular manner, it dies at the end
of twenty-four hours.
It has for its enemy a kind of small worm of a reddish colour,
which is almost imperceptible to the naked eye: it is trans-
formed into a nymph of a.colour approaching to yellow, and
at length changes into a handsome ichneumon, the body of
which is of a very fine red, spotted with yellow.
The mining caterpillar, in its chrysalis state, is at first of
an amber colour. Afterwards, six legs are distinguishable, and
the cases of the wings, which do not project forward, as in other
aureliæ. They are as long as the rest of the body, and are
applied to it nearly like the wings of a bird ; so that the two
extremities of the body, and the cases of the wings, form, in
the posterior part of the chrysalis, an angle easily perceivable.
The aureliæ lose their amber colour, and become black and
white, and at length disclose papilios of the third class
of phalænæ and of the genus of those whose wings em-
brace the body in the manner of birds, but whose fringed ends
1
VOL. I.
}
1
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1
154
HISTORY OF MALTA.
form, by rising up, the resemblance of the tail of a cock. These
papilios are very handsome; the legs, head, and body, are
silvery; the wings are of a beautiful black, but ornamented.
with four triangular silver spots, two of which are on the inner,
and two on the outer; side. They are extremely lively and
brisk from four o'clock in the afternoon till sun-set, and they
usually live three days.
i
/
វ៉ា)
;
.
:
+
1
1
1
t
HISTORY OF MALTA.
155
i
No. I.
CATALOGUE
2
OF
2
THE PRINCIPAL PLANTS,
;
THE NATURAL GROWTH OF
:
1
MA LT A.
Latin names
..
j
1
Latin names.
THYMUS
Thymus serpyllum
Origanum majorana
Salvia
Mentha
Valeriana
Galium
Staphylea pinnata
Cochlearia
Sempervivum
Acanthus
Medicago sativa
Trifolium
Amaranthus Globosus
Geranium
Viola
Tris Silvestris
Narcissus
Pencedanum officinale
Mus latifolium luteum
Canna Sacchari
Asparagus
Fabæ
Brassica
Brassica Botrytis cymosa
Rumex
Brassica rapa
Pastinaca
Triticum frumentum
Hordeum
Avena
Smilax salsa parilla
Lichen Ruccella
Ceratonia Siliqua
Xilum aut Gossipium
Helleborus
Marrubium
Triticum repens, gramen
Lepas Balanoides
Anchusa
Saxifraga
Ficus sativa aut communis
x 2
1
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:
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:
)
:
156
HISTORY OF MALTA.
:
No. II.
-
L I S T
.
OF SOME OF
THE SCARCEST AND MOST CURIOUS PLANTS
OF
MALTA.
Names
--
.
Authors who have described
Definition.
them.
[Retusis foliis surculis pullulat pluribus
pedalibus rectis ramosis a duriore pilo
subasperis, foliis pariter hirsutis, inor-
dinate caulem ambientibus, oblongis,
indivisis hyssopi aut oleæ foliis non
dissimillibus, atque per extremum re-
tusis. Flores huic radiati, in cacumine
Sce BOCCONE, page
caulium auri luteo colore splendentes 26 and 27; and for
quibus flaccellentibus succedunt semina the fig., table 13.
quæ conyzarum more in pappos sol-
vuntur. Gignitur inter difficultates et
autives ascensus saxorum et cautium
Melitæ insulæ sub patrum Capucinorum
Lcænobio.
Conyza Melitensis,
s Pedales sunt alati, ramosi, geniculati;
folia augusta, jaceæ vulgaris foliis
molliora, leviter sinnata et incana;
flores ad genicula ab imo ad summum
Jacea Melitensis ca- caulium plures, sublutei e capitulis Boccone, page 65 ;
pitalis conglobatis. nonnihil spinosis, atque cum rotondi fig, the same page.
globuli forma simul commissis exeun-
tes. Inveni Melitæ in via quæ casal-
novum ducit. Lutetiæ etiam nascitur,
sed capitulis minus compactis.
--
-
HISTORY OF MALTA.
157
-
Namer.
Definition.
Authors who have described
them.
Boccone; fig. page
83,
Limonium.
Reticulatum supinum.
1
oro
Est plantæ secundariæ aut parasiticæ
genus, quod aliarum stirpium radici-
bus A; in nascitur et aliter ut anbla-
tum, clandestina hypopitys,
branche, et similia, initio squamis
densissimis B; tectum, postea dum
incrementum acquirit, et ad magnitu-
dinem suam pervenit, squammarum
agmina inter se paulatim dilatantur
C; foliolis D; infra squammarum spa-
Cynomorium aut
tium creberrime vestitum ; inter quas
Fungus Melitensis.
emergunt flores monopetali, anomali,
vomeris aut cunei turbinati forma ex
una parte cavi, E; altera vero con-
vexi F; stamine crassiori G; apice
biventri, H; instructi, sed steriles et
calyce carentes. Embryo vero ab
eisdem floribus vix sejunctus I; tuba
K; donatus et foliis planta tanquam
calyci obvolutus, L; abitque deinde
Lin subrotundum semen, M.
See MICHELIO
(Petro ANTONIO),
Nova PlantarumGe-
nera juxta Tour-
nefortii Methodum
disposita. Florence,
1728, folio.
See Pl. IX.
bere
1
{
1.
A
158
HISTORY OF MALTA.
No. III.
CATALOGUE
OF
PLANTS
WHICH, ACCORDING TO CAVALLINI*, GROW IN
1
1
MALTA AND GOZA.
1
?
Latin names.
1 ABSINTHIUM
2 Acuta
:
5
3 Adianthum
4 Ægilops
5 Allium
6 Alsine
7 Alsine
8 Amaranthus
9 Anagallis
10 Anagallis
11 Anagallis
12 Anagallis
13 Anchusa
14 Anchusa
15 Androsaces
16 Anemone
Synonymes and references.
Santonicuin. Dod. Gal.
Spina quorundam. Spina alba vulgo Ang. Oxyacantha
Matth. Mespilus sylv. Castor. Sorbus aculeata Cord. hist.
Album Plin. Cæs..Capillus Veneris verus Ger.
1. Et Avena fatua Tab. festugago Gaz.
.
Sylv. tenuifolium Lob. Adv. et ico. Allium in arvis Plinio.
Matth, minor Lob. Adv. et Ico, Hippia minor Cord. Histor.
Mas. Gesn, hort. Hederula folio C.B. P. Elatine Dod. Gal.
Sylv.
Terrestris mas. Thal. phænic. Tab. punicea Ces.
Cerulea fem. Clus. hist.
Sive Becabunga Ger.
Aquatica minor flore pallido, Gersium Ang. Cepea Tur.
Puniceis floribus B. Pin. Buglossa rubra Lon.
Echii foliis et Aoribus C. B. Pin.
Matth. Musei marini genus Gril. .
Nemorum alba purpurea coccinea Ger. Ranunculus
phragmites Gerhort.
7
1
-
* A Maltese physician, very celebrated for his knowledge in botany. His work, entitled
Pugillus Meliteus, &c. was become extremely scarce. M. Brückman thought it so interest-
ing a performance, that he published it at large (see Episiolæ Itinerariæ Centuria Secunda),
and dedicated it to Linnæus. He does not explain the abbreviations, which frequently re-
quire it,
1
!
LV
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
159
Latin names
17 Anethum
18 Antirrhinum
19 Antirrhinum
20 Antirrhinum
21 Anthyllis
Synonymes and references,
Sylv. grandius sativo, foliis fæniculi Cæs.
1. Matth. Arveux majus B. Pin. Orontium Dod. Gal.
3. Matth. arvense minus C. B. P.
Alterum Trag. Pesedec facie.
Valentina Clus. hist. Chamæsyce. Dalect. Lugd. Peplion
sive Peplis Cord.
Plin. Clus. hist. Scandix Cretica minus B. Phyt, et prodr.
· .
Matth. Philanthropos Plin. B. Pin. descript,
Matth. Orobus Sylv. seu Sylv. seu Viscia sylv, major et 2.
Trag.
Palustre et Offic, B. Pin, Oleosolinum Tur.
Minimum supinum, folio serpentariæ flore albo lucido,
Ionga. Dod.
Cineria, seu Eruca cinerea Dalescorum Matth. maculatum
22 Anthriscus
23 Aparine
24 Aphaca
.
.
25 Apium
26 Arisarum
27 Aristolochia
28 Artemisia
Tab.
t
1
.
}
29 Arundo
30 Asparagus
31 Asparagus
32 Asphodelus
33 Aster
34 Aster
35 Atriplex
36 Atriplex
37 Atriplex
38 Atriplex
39 Atriplex
40 Avena
41 Auricula
42 Bellis
43 Bellis
44 Borrage
45 Branca
46 Buglossum
47 Bursa
48 Brionia
49 Brionia
50 Calamenthum
Matth. Ama Ger.
Sylv. Matth. Palatium leporis Cæs.
Foliis acutis C. B. Pin. Corneda Dod. Gal.
Matth. Hastula Regia Trag.
Atticus Matth. Tinctorius flos. 1. Trag.
Atticus alter Matth. Lugd.
Sylv. 3. Matth. Lugd. Blitum IV. et Solanum IV. Trag.
Sylv. 3. Cainer. in Matth.
Halimoides Lob. Icon.
Fætida B. Pin. Vulvaria Cast. Garosinum Cord. hist.
Marina Matth.
Sterilis Adval. Bromos. sterilis Lob, Icon.
Muris minima.
Media Matth.
Minor Matth. Primula veris Bruns. Cæs.
Sylvestris floribus albis Tab.
Ursina Dod. Gal. Sphondilyum Matth.
Vulgare Matth. Crisium Italicum fuchs.
Pastoris fuchs.
Alba radice minori, frisan Cretica Ponæ Ital..
Nigra Ger. Malacocipum Damocrali.
Montanum album tenuifolium odoratum..
.
.
160
HISTORY OF MALTA.
.
Latin names.
Synonymes and reference
51 Calamenthum Alterum tenuifolium album graviter olens. Nepeta ali-
quorum.
52 Calendula
Sylv. minor. Cæs. arvensis Tab. Ger.
53 Capparis
Non spinosa Bellon.
54 Carduus
Muricatus Clus, hist.
55 Carduus
Chrysanthemus Dod. Ger. Atractylis rnarina Lugd.
56 Carduus
Mariæ Trag. et multæ altæ species quarum notitia in me-
liori diligentia.
57 Carthamus
Syl. Lon. Horacantha Tab. Eyst.
58 Ceresolium
Matth. Gingidium fuchs.
59 Centaureum Minus flore rubro Eyst.
60 Centaureum Luteum alterum Lugd.
61 Chamædrys Vulgaris mas. fuchs. Auricula muris 3. Cæs.
62 Chamædrys Fam. fuchs. Teucrium 3. minus Tab.
63 Chamæleon Niger Cortusi Dod. Crocodilion Tab.
64 Chamæleon Albus Dioxor. Guill. Spina Arabica Dod. Gall. cujus hic
radix maxime venenata.
65 Chamamelum Fætidum B. Pin. Cotula alba Dod. Chamomilla offic.
66 Chamæmelum Non foetidum Dod. Gal, an Melandrium Plin. Dod. Gal.
67 Chamæpytis 3. Seu altera Matth. incana exiguo folio B. Plin.
68 Chamæpytis Moschata, foliis serratis C. B. P. tua moschata. Monsp.
Ad. Tab.
69 Chamæsyce Matth. peplium minus repens.
70 Chelidonium
Majus Ger.
71 Chelidonium Minus Gesn. hort. Favagello Cæs.
72 Chondrilla
Prior Matth.
73 Chondrilla
Altera Matth. purpurascente . . . Icon.
74 Chrysanthemum Flore partim candido, partim luteo B. Pin.
75 Chrysanthemum Majus folso profundius laciniato magno flore C. 3. Pin.
Creticum 1. Clus. hisp. et hyst. luteum Eyst.
76 Chrysanthemum. 3. Cæs. Bellis lutea foliis subrotundis C. B. Pin.
77 Cicorium
Pratense luteum levius B. Pin. Hedypnois Plinii Dod. Gal.
78 Cicorium
Sylv. fl. luteo, et aliud flore luteo cæruleo C. B. Pin. Des-
cript.
79 Cichorium
Spinosum creticum Belli Ponæ, non alibi quam hic sponte
nascens, tamen et in Creta visum, a Pona et Imperatr
inter Creticas plantas delineatum.
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!
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/
>
1
HISTORY OF MALTA. ,
161
Latin names
80 Cicuta
81 Cineraria
82 Clematis
83 Convolvulus
?
84 Conyza
85 Conyza
1
86 Conyza
87 Corallina
88 Coronopus
89 Coronopus
90. Cristagalli .
91 Crithinum
92 Crithinum
93 Cucumis
:)
Synonymes and references.
Major Camer. Cicutoria vulgaris Cluv, histor.
Dod. seu Jacobæa maritima Ponæ Lugd.
Altera Matth. Pothos cæruleus Lugd.
Marinus noster imperato. Soldanella vel Brassica maritima
major B. Plin.
Minor et Eupatorium. Mesues Col.
Minima, saxatilis, Camphoræ odore, à me nuspiam quam
hic observata, similis Conyzæ montanæ Myconis, nisi
quod hanc is hircum graviter aclere asserat, nostra vero
Camphoræ acutissimum, nec ingratum odorem spiret.
Marina Balech.
Alba Lob. Tab. Museus marinus fruticos Cost. quia nil
præstantius ad intestinorum lumbricos.
Matth. Herba stella Dod.
Sylvestris Cæs.
Lob. Mimulus Plinii quibusdam.
1. Matth. Batis Gem. hort.
Chrysanthemum Dod.
Agrestis Brunf. e quo hic præstantissimum claterium pa.
rant.
Sylv. humilis foliis et strobilis minoribus mihi nusquam
visa, nec apud Author. observ.
Matth. tum Lino tum Squillæ adnascens.
Segetum C. B. P. Baptiscerula Trag.
Spinosus Creticus Ponæ Ital. Stæbe peregrina Clus. histor.
Lugd. Linaria hederæ folio Col.
Matth. Mercurialis mascula Sylv. Cord. hist.
Sive Alysma Lugd.
Stellatum Lugd. Plantago aquatica minor altera Lob. Icon.
Rubra Dalech. Lugd.
Sylv. Dod, Carduus fullonius erraticus Trag.
Aug.
Lac. Anchusa Sylv. Tab.
Sylv. Casal. Aphace Dalech Lugd.
1. Matth. Hippium majus Dod. Cauda equina officin..
Juniperifolia dense fruticans Nab. Lab.
Sylv. Du.
94 Cupressus
i
1
:
1
:
t
1
95 Cuscula
96 Cyanus
97 Cyanus
98 Cimbalaria
99 Cynocrambe
100 Damasonium
101 Damasonium
102 Dentellaria
103 Dipsacus
104 Ebulus
105 Echium
106 Endiva
107 Equisetum
108 Erica
109 Eruca
:
VOL. I.
Y
3
.
162
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Latin names.
>
Synonymes and references.
110 Eruca maritima. Lugd.
111 Eryngium
Marinum Ad. Lob.
112 Eryngium. Montanum pumilum C. B. Pin.
113 Erythrodanum Marinum Lugd. Cancalis maritima Cæs.
114 Ferula
Matth. femina Plinii C. B. Pin.
115 Filix
Mas Dod. femina Cæs.
116 Flammula . Matth. Clematitis altera Turn.
117 Feniculum
Sylvestre B. Pin.
118 Fumaria
Purpurea et alba Ger. fumus terræ Thal.
119 Fungi
Matth. et multa alia genera esui aptissima.
120 Garderothymum Creticum Hon. Belli ep. b. ad Clus. Pon. Ital. Stachys
Spinosa Cretica B. Pin.
121 Genista
Dod. Spartium Matth.
122 Genista
Seu Spartium aliud Hispanicum Clus. Lugd.
123 Geranium
Malvaceum sive Balsaminum Cam.
124 Geranium :
Cicutæ folio acu longissima B. Prodr.
125 Geranium, 1. Matth. Myrrhida Plinii et nostrum Ciconiæ Ad. Lob.
126 Geranium
Robertianum Ad. Lob. Panox herculeum Aug. et multa
aliæ speciis opportuniores commoditale exarandæ.
127 Gladiolus
Gesn. Xiphion Diosc.
128 Glastum
Sive Isatis Syles. Adv.
129 Gnaphalium Marinum tomentosum Lugd.
130 Gnaphalium Hortense roseum. Banh. Prodr.
131 Gnaphalium Chrysanthemum capitulo singulari. .
132 Gramen
2. Plinii Aug. Centumgrana Cæs.
133 Gramen
Cruciatum Ægyptium Alpini, nostro idiomate Negera et
Salib. sive stellatum Vesling. eadem enim species est
licet paniculatum radiis variegatum ludat, ut modo
quatuor, modo pluribus stellam repræşentat.
134 Gramen
Alopecurodes, et multa alia genera variæque species,
quarum major pars in meo catalogo plantarum medici
sapientiæ Romanæ explicato.
135 Halimus
Adv. Lob. Portulaca marina Dod. Icon.
136 Hedera
Arborea Lugd.
137 Hedisarum Majus Lugd.
138 Hedisarum
Alterum Dod.
139 Hedisarum Minus Tab, ferrum equinum çapitatum, sive conosum Col,
.
.
D
长
​HISTORY OF MALTA.
163
1
:
.
Latin names.
Synonymes and references.
140 Heliotropium Tricoccum Lugd. minus Matth.
141 Heliotropiuni Majus Matth.
142 Heliotropium Supinum Clus. hisp. et hist. minus 1. Tab,
143 Heliotropium Erectum Ger.
144 Hemionitis Matth. vulgaris B. Pin.
145 Hæmorrhoidalis. Cast. Chondrilla 2, Cæs.
146 Hepatica
Brunf. Lichen Dod.
147 Herniaria. Col. Millegrana. Cord. hist.
148 Herba
Turca officin.
149 Hieracium.
Majus Matth. Taraxacon majus Lon.
150 Hieracium. Minus Aug. Succisa 3. Trag.
151 Hipposelinum Lac. Olusatrum Cord. in Diosc.
152 Horminum
Sylv. Matth.
153 Horminum Sylv. fuchs.
1 54 Hyacinthus Boryoides cæruleus Clus. pan.
155 Hyacinthus Boirgoides lacteus Clus. pan.
156 Hyosciamus Niger Dod. Apollinarii Cord. in Diosc.
157 Hyosciamus
Candidus Trag.
158 Hyosciamus
Oreticus luteus minor B. Pin.
159 Hypericum Syriacum et Alexandr. Lob.
160 Hypericum Supinum tomentosum majus vel Hispanicum B. Pin.
161 Hyssopus
Sylv. tenuifoliis.
162 Jacea
Lutea capitulo spinoso B. Pin: major lutea Adv. Lob.
163 Jacea
Minor.
164 Jacea
Humilis lutea hieracii folio capitulis elegantibus.
165 Iris
Sylv. major Matth. Gladiolus tenellus major Trag.
166 Juncus
Acutus Aug. rotundus alter Cæs.
167 Juniperus
Minor sterilis.
168 Kali
Matth. geniculatum majus B. Pin.
169 Kali
Nodosum, quod coctum in acetariis nostri comedunt et
apud nos Armandia.
170 Kali
Alterum, seu minus Cam, Kali album Dod.
171 Kali
Magnum album Alpini.
172 Kali
Fruticosum folio Kali minoris.
173 Kali
Spinoso affinis B. Pin. Tragum Matth.
174 Lactuea
Sylv. fuchs. Scartiola et Serciola Erk. Cord.
175 Lampsana Matth. rapistrum Brunf.
Y 2
1
5
!
164
HISTORY OF MALTA.
!
,
Latin names
176 Lapathum .
177 Lapathum
178 Lens
179 Lentiscus
180 Leucoium
181 Leucoium
182 Leucoium ,
183 Leucoium
184 Leucoium
185 Leucoium ,
186 Limonium
187 Limonium.
188 Linaria
189 Linum
190 Lolium
191 Litopisos
1
192 Lotus
!
Synonymes and references.
Acutum Lob. Hidrolapanthum magnum Ger. Icon.
Rotundum Aug.
Palustris Dod. Gal. Lenticula aquatica Thal.
Matth.
Incanum majus B. Pin. album Matth,
Rubr. simplici Bry. Eyst.
Duplis floribus Adv.
Sive Cheyri purpuro violaceum pleno flore sivert.
Purpureum variegatum flore pleno Eyst.
Marinum minus Clus. hisp. et hist.
Parcum Narbonense Lugd.
Supinum reticulatum haud alibi visum (Vid. Boccone Del.)
Dod. Osyris Matth.
Sylvestræ Matth.
Album Ger.
Sive Hierazuni Candiæ Ponæ an Trifolium corniculatum
aliorum
Sylvestris, forsan Syly. Dioscoridis a Pona inter creticas
plantas delineata.
Lutea Dalech. Lugd.
Minor Cast. Dur. ferrum equinum Matth.
Sylv. quæ Behen album vulgo C. B. Ra. Pin. Polemonium
Dod.
Sylv. Dod,
Maritima minima f. suaverubente et fol. holostr.
Agrestis minor Gesn. Hort.
Flore suaverubente Gesn.
Nigrum Gesn. Hort.
Matth. fem. Brunss. candidum Trag. Prassium Aug.
Cass. Icon. Trifolium cochleatum alterum Dod.
Pusilla Camer Trifolium echinatum arvense B. Pin.
Rubra Brunss. Sisymbrium Sylv. Matth. Lugd.
Lac. Mentha equina Brunss.
Mascula Tur.
Florens Cæs.
Dioscoridis pettatum Adv.
Arboreus Matth. Quercus Lob.
.
193 Lunaria
194 Lunaria
195 Lychnis
:
196 Lychnis
197 Lychnis
198 Malva
199 Malva
200 Marcrubium
201 Marcrubium
202 Medica
203 Medica
204 Mentha
205 Menthastrum
206 Mercurialis
207 Mercurialis
208 Moly
209 Muscus
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1
1
ܕ
HISTORY OF MALTA.
165
Latin names.
Synonymes and references.
210 Muscus
e
211 Muscus
212 Narcissus
213 Nasturtium
214 Nasturtium
215 Nasturtium
.
.
216 Nigella
217 Oleaster
218 Orchis
219 Orchis
220 Origanum.
221 Ornithogalum
222 Ornithogalum
+
Repens infectorius e rupibus Saxisque crustarum instar
enascens colciis varii modo lutei modo crocei purpurei,
viridis, nigricans, quo e rupibus abraso, atque in urina
macerato ac cocto pannis ac tapetibus xerampelino co-
lore tingendis utuntur.
Terrestris vulgaris Dod.
XIII. medio luteus poëticus Tab.
Sylv. Thal. Thlaspi minus Germ. Tab.
Aquaticum supinum B. Pin. Sisymbrium aquat. Matth.
Aquaticum erectum folio longiore P. Pin. Sium. vulgare
Matth.
Sylv. et 2. Trag
Cæs. Olea Sylv. Matth.
Mas angustifolia fuchs.
Angustifolia fem. altera fuchs. Icon.
Vulgare Lugd. flore rubente.
Majus Dod. Arabicum Clus. pan, et hist.
.
.
Neapolitanum Clus. flore interius candido et exterius ci-
neraceo sivert.
Vera Gesn. Hort. Ama Aug.
Sylv. angustifolius Asphodeli radice B. Pin.
Sylv. minor sive acetosella qualem Alpinus in Zacyntho
insula se observ. memorat.
Siculum folio Pastinaca sativæ Boccon.
Corniculatum luteum fuchs.
Erraticum minus Tab. Argemone Lac,
Erraticum Lac. Papaver rhæas Lob.
Vulgaris et major Trag. Helxine Matth.
Minor ocynis folio B. Pin.
Altera Matth.
Sylv. latifolia B. Pin.
Veneris Matth. Scandix Dod.
Matth. maritima Thal. obtus. B. Pin.
Matth. sive Esula rotunda B. Pin.
Matth. Sæseli Æthiopicum Dioscoridis Cæs.
Altera. Matth. inaculis nigris Gesn. Hort.
Sanguisorba major B. Pin. Sideritis 2 Diosc.
j
.
4
223 Orobanche
224 Orobus
225 Oxalis
.
0
.
226 Panax
227 Papaver
228 Papaver
229 Papaver
230 Parietaria
231 Parietaria
232 Paronychia
233 Pastinaca
234 Pesteri
235 Peplis
236 Peplis
237 Perfoliata
238 Persicaria
239 Pimpinella
0
.
1
!
166
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Latin names.
.
240 Pimpinella
241 Pimpinella
242 Pimpinella
243 Phyllitis
244 Plantago
245 Plantago
246 Plantago
247 Plantago
248 Plantago
249 Polemonii .
250 Poligonum
251 Poligonum
252 Polipodium
253 Psyllium
254 Pulegium
255 Pulegium
256 Quinquefolium
Synonymes and references.
Sanguisorba minor Matth.
Agrimonoides odorata Boccon.
Minor odorata.
Matth. Lingua cervina officin. B. Pin.
Et Centinervia Cæsa).
Minor fuchs.
Trinervia fol. angustissimo B. Prodr.
Aquatica minor. Cæs.
Marina Dod. Gal. Bibinella Cæs.
Altera species Dod. Gal. Valeriano rubra B. Pin.
Mar. Matth. Centinodia Brunf.
Marinum prius Dalach. Lugd.
Quercinum Ger.
Matth. Cynops. Theophr. Gesn. Hort.
Matth. sem. fuch. Icon.
Cast, mas Plinii Col.
Majus repens B. Pin. Pentaphyllon majus Thal. luteum
majus Dod. Gal.
Album minus Banh. Prodr.
Thalyctri folio Clus. Pan.
Arvensis echinatus B. Pin.
Balrachioides Ge.
Palustris apii folio levis B. Pin.
Sardonicus Aug.
Rusticanus B. Pin.
Flores albo Erucæ folio Lob. Icon. Lampiana Cæs.
Matth. Rapum Sylv. Gesn. Hort.
Lutea major aborescens.
Candida major.
Matth. spinis oblongis flores candicante B. Pin.
Major Lob. Adv. Thapsia Asclopiada Aug.
Sylv. minor Adv. Lob. Lappago Plinii Cæs.
Arvensis repens cærulea B. i'rodr.
Matth. Morus sive Rubus aug.
Ger. sive Bruscus.
Montana Tab. Sylv. Matth.
Lac. Hyssopus agrestis Bruns.
257 Quinquefolium
258 Ranunculus
259 Ranunculus
260 Ranunculus
261 Ranunculus
262 Ranunculus
263 Raphanus.
264 Rapistrum
265 Rapunculus
266 Reseda
267 Reseda
268 Rhamnus
269 Rubia
270 Rubia
271 Rubesta
272 Rubus
273 Ruscus
274 Ruta
275 Saturveia
.
!
)
HISTORY OF MALTA.
167
Latin names.
Synonymes and references.
276 Scabiosa
277 Sogetum
278 Scariola
279 Scilla
280 Scolymus
281 Scordium
282 Scopicis
283 Scopicis
284 Scornozera
285 Sedum
286 Sedum
287 Senecio
288 Serpillum
289 Sideritis
290 Sinapi
T
Fuchs, altera campestris.
Lob. Icon.
Arabum interpretibus.
Major Cast. Squilla Matth. nihilo hispanica præstandior
qua vix alia hic planta copiosius crescit.
Sylv. Adv. Lob.
Alterum sive Salvia Sylv. B. Pin.
Matth.
Altera Dod.
Sylv. tenuifolia.
Majus verum Gesn, bort. Sempervivum arborescens Matth.
Minimum repens vermicularis, an insipida Eyst.
Minus Matth. Erigeron Diosc.
Foliis cisti odore B. Pin.
Heraclea Dioscoridis Col.
Album Lugd. Brassica Sylv. foliis circa radicem Cicho-
raccis B. Pin.
Minus Clus. Hisp.
Aspera Matth.
Officinarum B. Pin. Hort. Matth.
Gesn. Hort. Brassica marina Matth.
Spinosus Aug. Andriolia major Lugd.
Levis Matth.
Dod.
Citrina Matth. Ageratum Amelia Dod. Gal.
Lon. Myrica Gesn. Hort.
Boëticum Clus, Hisp.
Latifolium fuchs.
Candiæ Dod.
Bisculatum Erysimi folio.
Arinum Dalech,
Creticum legitimum Clus. hisp. et hist. quo nil hic fre-
-
291 Sisyrinchium
292 Smilax
293 Solanum
294 Soldanella
295 Sonchus
296 Sonchus
297 Staphisagria
298 Strechas
299 Tamariscus
300 Teucrium.
301 Thlaspi
302 Thlaspi
303 Thlaspi
304 Thlaspi
305 Thymum
S-
quentuis inde apes præstantissimum mel colligunt.
Varia genera, quorum seriem ponere est multum in lon-
gum nos traheret, cum in catalogo nostro omnia legi
possunt.
306 Tithymalorum
1
)
1
108
ITISTORY OF MALTA.
-
1
Latin names.
Synonymes and references.
307 Trifolia
Pratensia varia quorum flores ludunt sæpe sæpius in co-
loribus.
308 Trifolium
Acetosum Matth. Oxys. Tur.
309 Trifolium Bituminosum angustifolium. Idem rotundifolium.
310 Triticum
Vaccinum Lugd. parietaria Sylv. 3. Clus. Pan.
311 Typha
Palustris Cæs. Ulva Aug.
312 Typha
Cerealis. Dod. Gal. Frumentum Romanum Trag. Lugd.
Triticum Matth.
313 Verbascum S. Matth. nigrum foliis Papaveris corniculati B. Pin.
314 Verbascum
Salvifolium fruticosum luteo flore Lob.
315 Verbenaca Matth. Herba sacra Aug.
316 Verbena
Supina Clus. hist. Teucrii folia B. Pin.
317 Viola
Marina repens Eyst. Icon.
318 Vitex
Lac. Agnuscastus Gesn. Hort.
319 Umbilicus
Veneris. Matth. Cotyledon major B. Pin.
320 Umbilicus ; Veneris alter Matth.
321 Umbilicus
Veneris Lob. Icon. Cotyledon minus Sedi folio. Adv. Lob.
322 Volubilis m. Minor Thal Helxine cissanpelos Matth.
323 Volubilis
Terrestris Dalech. Lugd. Convolvulus minimus spicæ foliis
Ger.
324 Volubilis
Seu convolvulus folio Althea Clus. hisp. et hist.
325 Urticarum . Variæ species quarum series in longum protracta in ca-,
talogo meo.
326 Uva
Marina Dod. Polygonum marinum sive cocciferum Tab.
Demum in domesticis Viridariis præter rosarum omne genus gestarum nihilo
suaviorum gariophyllos variosque balbaceos flores undique exquisitos frequenter
sunt Myrtus, Jasminum album, Rosmarinus, Lāvendula, Mentha, Saracenica,
Ocymi variæ species aliæque plantæ odoratæ in Italiâ familiares.
Ad ornatum autem visumque grato virore recreandum seri frequenter solent
Balsamina mas, sive Momordica, Colochyntis Liuaria, Scoparia Italis Belvedere
Lithospermum arundinaceum, vulgo Lacryma Jobi, Nerium sive Oleander,
Phyllirea, Campanula cærulea, Amaranthus purpureus, Vesicaria repens. Flos
Africanus seu Caryophyllus Indicus, Solanum æthale seu somniferum Fuchs, vulgo
Belladonna, aliudque Solanum exoticum, quod pomum amoris dicunt.
Sed et aliæ haud paucæ Egyptiæ atque Americanæ plantæ hic pridem trans-
latæ pæne indignisunt nobis effectu hujusmodi sunt Jasminum Arabicum seu
Ægyptium Alpini, nostratibus Hispanicum dictum : Alcæa Ægyptia, semine mos-
1
7
1
+
>
1
1
?
HISTORY OF MALTA.
169
chum olente, aliis Bamia moschata, Hedera quinque folia Canadensis, Cyanus
Turcicus odoratus, vulgo Ambrete, cum albo tam purpureo, Leucoium melan-
cholicum Hesperidum, aliis Jasminum rubrum, Amaranthus ruber cristallis, seu
Blitum majus Peruanum Clus. Hist. Amaranthus bacciferus Americanus, Mirabilis
Peruana. Acacia vera Ægyptia -Alpini et- Veslingii. Triticum Indicum. Colocasia
quam ut et Alven haud semel florentem vidimus. Canna Indica. Opuntia seu ficus
Indica, Pier Indicum multiforme, Nasturtium Peruanum Monardi; hic male flos
Granadilla Passionalis reputatum : Sol Indicus seu herba maxima. Rosa Sinensis ac
Malva Japonica, sebesten a translate nuper etiam musam optime jam propagari
cernebatur. Viguit quoque haud ita pridem Datura Egyptia seu Nux vomica vera
Arabum. Planta vero sensitiva longe melius adolevit, quam in aliis Europæ locis.
Superest quoque adhuc et Ricinus Americanus, cujus nuclei sursum deorsumque
vehementer expurgant. Atque hæc de plantis quæ in Melita, ejusque districtis
observantur, sæt dicta sumto.
2
>
si
*
܂
,
ܕ
L
1
1
lar
VOL. I.
Z
-
}
170
HISTORY OF MALTA.
1
No IV.
E X PLICATIO
NOMINUM AUTHORUM,
QUI IN PRÆSENTI
CATALOGO
..
SUNT CITATI.
}
:
ACTUAR.
Ad.
Ægin.
Æt.
Ama.
Ambrosin.
Ang.
Apul.
Avic. Aviceni.
Bellon.
Bell. obs..
Bras. Brassav.
Brij du Brij.
Bocc: Boccon.
Brunf.
Brunf. Ico.
Cæs.
Cam. Camer.
Cam. ep. & hor.
Car.
Cast.
Actuarius.
Adversaria Pena,
Ægineta.
Etius,
Amatus,
Ambrosini.
Anquillara.
Apulejus.
Avicenna,
Bellonius.
Belloni observatione.
Brassavolus.
Florilegium de Brij.
Paulus Bocconius.
Brunfelsius.
Quoad Iconem.
Cæsalpinus.
Camerarius in borto.
Camerarius in epitome Mathioli & suo horto.
Carolus Stephanus,
Castor Durantes.
Id. in appendice.
Id. secundum Iconem.
Cornelius Celsus,
Clusius historia rariorum.
!
-
!
t
Cast, ap.
Cast. Ico.
Cels.
Cl. hist.
1
:
HISTORY OF MALTA.
171
↑
5
.
:
t
:
Clus, hist. des. Ico.
Clus, pan.
Clus. hisp.
Clus. ex. exot.
Clus. ap.
Clus. cur. post.
Clus. in Carol.
Clus, in Jarz.
Cod. Cæs.
Col. & Colum.
Cord. in Diosc.
Cord. hist.
Cord. obs.
Cord. Schol.
Cord. in disp.
Corn.
Cornut.
Cost. in Mes.
Costin.
Dal. Dalech.
Dalech. Lugd.
Dod.
Dod. Gal.
Eyst. Eystet.
Eric & Val. Cord.
Fallop.
Frascast.
Fuch.
Fuch. Ico.
Gal.
Ger.
Ges. lib. hort.
Guil.
Hipp.
Hon.
Imper.
Jo. Bapt. Triumf.
Jo. Bapt. Ferrar.
Historia rarior. descriptione vel Icone.
Id. Historia Pannonica.
Id. Historia Hispanica.
Id. Historia Exoticarum.
Id. in appendice.
Id. in curis posterioribus.
Id. in Corrollario.
Id. in Jarziam.
Codex Cæsarius à Dod.
Fabius Columna.
Cord. in Dioscoridem.
Id. in sua historia plantarum.
Id, in Silva observationum.
Cordi Scholiastes.
Id. in dispensario.
Janus Cornarus.
Cornutus.
Costeus in Mesuem.
Nicolaus Costinus.
Dalechampius.
Id. in historia universali Lugduni.
Dodonæus,
Dodonæus in editione Gallica.
Hortus Eystensis.
Ericius & Valerius Cordus,
Gabriel Fallopius.
Frascastorius.
Fuchsius.
Id. in Iconibus.
Galenus.
Joannes Gerardus Anglus.
Gesnerusin libro de hortis Germaniæ. hor. ap. in appendice.
Guilandinus.
Hippocrates.
Belli Honorius.
Ferrantes Imperatus.
Joannes Baptista Triumfetti.
Joannes Baptista Ferrarius.
2 2
:
)
1
172
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Joannes Bauhinus.
Andreas Lacuna.
Nicolaus Leonicenus.
Lellius Triumfettus in observationibus fratris.
1
1
Jo. Bauh.
Lac. Lacun.
Leon.
Lel. Triumf. in
obs. fratr.
Lob.
Lob. ad part. alt.
Lob. Ico.
Lugd.
Matth. Matt.
Mycon.
Pena.
Phytopin.
Plin. Pl.
Pon,
Prod.
B. Pin.
Rawolf.
Ros.
Rob.
Rondel.
Ruel.
Scalig.
Serap.
Suv. Suve.
Tab. Taber
Tab. Ico..
Th. Thal,
Lobelius. in observationibus.
Id. in Adversariorum parte altera.
Id. in Iconibus.
Historia generalis Lugduni cusa.
Matthiolus,
Myconus. .
Petrus Pena.
Phytopinax. C. Bauhini.
Plinius.
Joannes Pona.
Prodromus, C. Bauhini.
Bauhini pinas.
Leonardus Rawolfius.
Eucharius Roslin.
Joan Robinus,
Rondeletius.
Joan Ruellius.
Scaligerius.
Serapio.
Suvert Suvertius.
Taberna montanus.
Id. in Iconibus.
Joannes Thalius.
Hieronymus Tragius,
Guilielmus Turnerus.
Vallot.
Zanonus,
}
1
,
Trag.
Tur.
Vall.
Zanon.
1
.
!
1
L-
N
-
..
!
HISTORY OF MALTA.
173
1
No. V.
c
ܪ
רו
1
CATALOGUE
A
:)
Of several PLANTS which, according to FORSKÄL, grow in MALTA,
particularly near the SALTWORKS, together with the
distinguishing Characteristics of the said Plants;
published by him under the Title of
FLORULA MELITENSIS*. .
Latin names.
Characteristics.
.
.
1 SALICORNIA
2 Salvia
3 Rosmarinus
4 Phalaris
5 Poa
6 Panycum
7 Panycum
8 Polycarpon.
9 Lagurus
10 Avena.
11 Hordeum
12 Agrostis
Europæa. ad Salinas.
Verbenac.
Officinalis.
Canariens; ad Sal.
Filicina.
Dactylon.
Glaucum.
Tetraph. in cultis,
Ovatus, ad Sal.
Fatua.
Murinum.
In horto.
1
:
* This small work makes a part of a more considerable one, published by this learned
Dane, entitled Flora Ægyptiaco-Arabica, sive descriptiones plantarum quas per Ægyptum infe-
riorem et Arabiam felicem detexit, illustravit, &c. printed at Copenhagen, in quarto, 1775,
after the author's death, by Carsten Niebuhr. Some of the plants mentioned in this work
have been already described by Cavallini, but in so different a manner, as sufficiently justi-
fies their being repeated in this account.
.
174
IIISTORY OF MALTA. .
Latin names.
Characteristics.
:
1
--
13 Cynosurus
14 Scabiosa
15 Crucianella.
16 Plantago
17 Plantago
18 Galium
19 Sherardia ?
20 Samolus
21 Convolvulus
22 Eryngium
23 Chenopodium
24 Chrithmum'.
25 Solanum
26 Hyosciamus
27 Cressa
28 Daucus
29 Hedera
30 Beta
31 Frankenia
32 Allium
33 Arenaria
34 Oxalis
35 Reseda
36 Reseda
Paniceus.
Atropurp. hort.
Marit.
Serraria, foliis lanceolato dentatis, ad Sal.
Coronopus.
Aparine. An Valantia ? fructu tuberculato. ad Sal.
In cultis *.
Valerandi, ad Sal. et in ruderatis,
Arvens.
Albo villosum.
Fruticos, facie Sals. vormic. ad Sal.
: Marit, ad Sal.
Lycopers. in hortis cult.
Aureus. ad vias,
Creticà.
Carota.
Helix.
Vulg. capsula multi ansata.
Pulverul, in ruderat.
Ad margines agrorum.
Peploides.
Cornic. in cultis.
: Alba; tetragyna. in ruder.
Undata ; Calycis dente supremo non minore. Spontanea in
horto D. Locano.
Granat. hortens.
Nodif. ad Sal.
Glaucum.
Spinosa.
Hybr. in arvis.
Capsulis globosis, hispidis.
+
.
ܐܟܝ
>
37. Punica
38 Meseinbr.
39 Chelidonium
40 Capsaris
41 Papaver
42 Papaver
.
a
* Sicum specimen intuens, video Sherardiam hanc a charactere generico discrepantem;
genus tamen determinare jam nequeo. Caulis dichotomus pilosus. Folia ad dichotomias bina,
opposita tridentata. Flores subsessiles, solitarii in dichotom. Calyx quinquefidus, ciliatus,
magnus; persistens. Corolla tubulosa, elata, basi angusto filiformis.
--
7
t
IIISTORY OF MALTA,
175
!
Latin names.
8
1
1
1
43 Delphinium
44 Thymus
45 Thymus
46 Mentha
47 Mentha
48 Mentha
49 Satureia
50 Antirrhinum
51 Antirrhinum
52 Lepidium
53 Alyssum
54 Malva
55 Alcea.
56 Trifolium
57 Hedisarum
58 Tragopogon
59 Scorzonera
60 Soncus
61 Hyoseris
62 Hypochæris
63 Cichorium
Characteristics.
Elatum.
Serpyllum.
Zygis.
Arvens.
Esigua. ad Sal.
Puleg. culta; incolis vocata. Poleg.
Hortens, incolis. Sariette.
Majus.
Orontium; floribus ecalcaratis, foliis oppositis.
1;
Sativ, in hortis.
Alyssoid. staminib. non dentatis, ad vias.
Sylvestr.
Rosea; hortens.
Stellatum.
Onobr.
Picroid. foliis lanceolato hastatis, dentatis.
Picroid.
Olerac. ad Sal.
Cretica.
Urens ; ad vias,
Spinos. ad Sal. Usus ad purganda et læviganda navigia et
scaphas.
Lancelat. ad Sal.
Syriacus ; foliis sessilibus amplex,
;
Cyanoides ; an Cynara ? Incolis artichots sauvages, capi-
tulo grandi cæruleo; cæterum similis Cnico dentato.
Vulg. ad vias.
Jacobæa ad Sal.
Incan. ad muros et in rupibus.
Segetum; ubique frequens.
Odorata. ad Sal,
Spinos.
Melitense.
Galact.
Calcitr.
Melitense.
i
ܝܐ
64 Carduus
65 Carduus
66 Carduus
~
1
0
67 Senecio
68 Senecio
69 Senecio
70 Chrysanthemum
71 Achyllea
72 Buphtalmum
73 Buphtalmum
74 Centaurea
75 Centaurea
76 Centaurea
}
.
.
..
176
HISTORY OF MALTA,
Latin names.
Characteristics.
77 Centaurea
78 Centaurea
79 Pieris .
80 Othonna
81 Arum
82 Urtica
83 Zannichellia
84 Ceratonia
85 Valantia
86 Adianthum
87 Obscura
Solstit, ad vias.
Moschata. culta, fasciculatim (bouguettes) venditur.
Echioides. ad Sal.
Cineraria.
Colocasia.
Pilulifera.
Flor. umbellatis, ad Sal.
Siliqua.
Fructu globoso lacunoso.
Capill. ven. frequens ad aquæduct.
Articulata, aquisetiformis, foliis fasciculato verticillatis.
Sicca fragilissima, intense viridis. ad Salinas in fonte
aquædulcis.
1
;
:
܀
!
.
-
:
HISTORY OF MALTA.
177
No. VI.
CATALOGUE
OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
FISH
ON THE COAST OF
MA LT A
ACCORDING TO A LEARNED PHYSICIAN OF THAT ISLAND *.
Generical names.
Species.
Maltese names.
.
DELPHINUS
广
​Raja
Squalus
Orca
I Delfin.
Delphis
Altavela
Il Hamiema.
Torpedo
Pastinaca
Aquila
Il Hamiema
Batis
Il Raja.
Musmarinus (piscis
novus)
Pristis
Il Sia.
Catulus
Il Rusetta,
Spinax
Il Chelp. il Bahar. est Arab. Kelh el bałır,
Zygana
Il Martel.
Squatina
Lamia
Il Gabdol.
Centrina
Sturio
Huso
Larnpetra
Mustela
Il Mustilla.
Piscatorius
+
A
Acipenser
1
Petromyzon
Lophius
* See Descriptiones Animalium, &c. quæ in Itinere Orientali observavit Petrus Forskäl;
page xviii. et xix.; one volume in quarto, printed at Copenhagen, with plates, 1775.
.
VOL. I.
A A
178
HISTORY OF MALTA.-
Generical names.
Ostracion
Gasterosteus
Balistes
Chætodon.
Zeus
Cottus
Trigia
>
Species.
Maltese names.
Gibbosus
Lagocephalus
Hystrix
Il Rizza.
Capite testudineo
Mola
Il Kamar.
Aculeatus
Pungitius
Spinachia. L'Ispnotta.
Scolopax
Paru
Vetula
Il Hogiusa.
Aper
Gallus
I Serduk.
Faber
L'Aurata.
Scorpius · I Scorfua.
Dracunculus
Milvus
Il Taira.
Lucerna
I Tigiega.
Gurnardus
Lyra
Il Triglia.
Cuculus
Surmuletus
-
Mullus
I Ceppulazza.
Scorpius
Il Mazzun.
Draco
Il Majuro ta rocca.
rocca.
Lucioperca
Asper
Cernua
I Cerna.
Lahrax
Umbra
Umbrina
Auratus
L'Aurada.
Cantharus
Crythinus Il Pagella.
Pagrus
Il Pagru.
Dentex
I Dentici.
Boops
Scorpæna
Trachinus
Perca
.
Sciana
Sparus
1
!
:
HISTORY OF MALTA.
179
Generical names.
Species.
Maltese names.
Mænas
Il Minnula.
Smaris
Sparus
I Spargu.
Melanurus
Salpa
I Scilpa.
Turdus, vulg:
Turdus virid. mi-
Labrus
nor
Mugil
Scomber
Il Pisci spat.
Xiphias
Gobius
Pavo
Scarus cretic.
Julis
Il Harusa ; Arab. Arusa.
Sachettus
Scarius varius. Il Bricchese.
Cephalus Il Caplar.
Thynnus
Itton.
Scombrus
Trachurus
Sayrella.
Amia
Glaucus
Gladius
Niger
Paganellus
Aphya
Jozo
Alauda
Galerita
Gunellus
Galea
Mustela
Pentadactylus
Gryllus
Anguilla
Il Sallura.
Myrus
Serpens marinus Il Serpt al bahar.
Conger
L’Imsella.
Serpens maculatus Il Murina.
Asellus varius L'Asnelli.
Blennius
i
Ophidion.
Muræna
Gadus
.
Α Α Σ
3
180
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Generical names.
Maltese names.
i
Il Munckaro.
Anarhichas
Ammodytes
Coryphæna
.
.
.
I Lampuca.
Il Janfru.
I Stellara.
Pleuronectes
Species
Æglefinus
Barbatus
Merluccius
Asellus virescens
Asellus mollis
Lupus marinus
Tobianus
Hippurus.
Novacula
Pompilus
Limanda
Hippoglossus
Linguatula
Rhombus
Psetta
Remora
Lucius
Bellone
Acus
Eperlanus
Saurus
Alosa
Encrasicolus
Il Linguada.
Echeneis
Esox
I Trigle.
Osmerus
Clupea
Il Sardella.
i
:
I
HISTORY OF MALTA.
181
BOOK II.
ON THE CONSTITUTION AND FINANCES OF THE ORDER OF MALTA.
CHAPTER I.
1
Constitution of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, from its original
Foundation to the present Times. Changes it has undergone. The
Legislative and Executive Power, in whom vested. The Authority of
the Grand-Master, how far limitted. Extent of the said Authority
over the Knights. To what Degree the Order was dependent on the
Pope and other Christian Powers. Independence the principal Basis
of its Government. Its Right of Sovereignty acknowledged, and its
Rank assigned in the different Courts in Europe. Places in the Gift
of the Grand-Master.
1
In order to give a just and complete idea of the government
of Malta, it will be necessary to go back to its original institu-
tion, and to describe the different changes it has successively
undergone.
The knights of Malta were at first merely hospitallers of
St. John, and as such were not subject to any particular rules;
but being become members of a religious order, they followed
those of the Augustins. Having once employed the force of
:
182
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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arms under Raimond Dupuis, they became a military order
and having conquered Rhodes, and Malta with its dependencies
being ceded to them, they acquired the right of sovereignty.
The order preserved something of all these different cha-
racters, which renders its form of government very complicated,
and difficult to understand. But though it must necessarily
appear incoherent at first sight, it will soon be perceived, that
it formed altogether one of the most perfect administrations
that can possibly be imagined.
This order may with propriety be considered as being, at
the same time, hospitaller, religious, military, republican, aristo-
cratical, and monarchical *.
Hospitaller, from having hospitals constantly open for the
reception of the sick of all countries and religions, whom the
knights attended in person.
Religious, because the members took the three vows of
chastity, obedience, and poverty ; which last consisted in pos-
sessing no property independent of the order at large, and on
that account the pope was their superior.
Military, two classes being constantly armed, and always
at war with the infidels: these were properly disciplined for a
war of that nature, and never ceased protecting the Christian
flag of every nation from corsairs and all barbarian vessels.
* Since the definitive treaty, it may also be said that the government is become in some
degree democratical; and that from the introduction of a language which does not require
any proofs of nobility,
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
183
Republican, the three classes of the order always naming
their chief from among themselves, out of the first class, and
concurring with him both in making and executing the laws.
Aristocratical, since none but the knights and the grand-
master had any share in the legislative and executive power.
Monarchical, from having a superior who could not be dis-
possessed of his dignity, and who was invested with the right
of sovereignty over the subjects of the order, together with
those of Malta and its dependencies.
Gerard, who is regarded as the original founder of the
order, formed an association of a few charitable persons at
Jerusalem, for the purpose of relieving the sick, and they took
up
their abode in a house distinguished by the name of the
hospital of St. John; where they received the infirm, and
wretched, and afforded them every possible assistance. Hav-
ing resolved to dedicate themselves entirely to this charitable
employment, Gerard and his companions were desirous of
taking the regular habit, and accordingly the pope invested
them with that of St. Augustin. They took the three vows of
chastity, obedience, and poverty, before the patriarch of Jeru-
salem, under whose immediate authority they remained for
some time.
The pope, however, soon freed them from all ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, and left them entirely to their own. From the
first moment of their institution, they bore the name of the
hospitaller brothers of St. John the Baptist of Jerusalem.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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About the same time an association of women was like-
wise formed at Jerusalem by Alix, a Roman lady. This was
on the same plan with that of Gerard, except that none but
female patients were received into the house. These ladies, ,
being animated by the same spirit of charity as the hospitaller
brothers of St. John, desired to be associated with them, and
their request was granted. They were afterwards obliged to
prove their nobility, in the same manner as the knights, and
they acknowledged the grand-master as their superior. Since
that time they have been dispersed throughout the greatest
part of Christendom, where they still subsist with much
distinction *
Raimond Dupuis (Pl. XII.), who succeeded Gerard, was
not satisfied with merely receiving the poor and sick into the
hospital of St. John; he was also desirous of affording them
future protection, and escorting those who, having recovered
their health in the infirmary, wished to return into their own
country. The journey from Jerusalem to the first port where
it was possible to embark for Europe was extremely danger-
ous; it being necessary to pass through a country entirely in-
habited by infidels, who, whenever they found themselves the
strongest, fell with unrelenting fury on the Christians. The
hospitallers therefore solicited leave to become a military
order, without, however, relinquishing either their first offices,
* See Appendix, No. IX. names of the commanderies of the hospitaller sisters of the
order of St. John of Jerusalem.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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or their original title. Their petition being granted, the patri-
arch of Jerusalem armed them himself; and they took an oath
before him to defend the holy sepulchre to the last drop of
their blood, and to combat the infidels wherever they should
meet them. This solemn ceremony over, they offered their
services to the king of Jerusalem, and afterwards became, to-
gether with the knights Templars, the principal support of
that sovereign. They possessed several places in the Holy
Land, independent of the throne of Jerusalem, and always re-
garded themselves as auxiliaries, but not as subjects, of the
kings of that country.
The hospitaller and military functions being thus united,
it was necessary to form a new administration ; in consequence
of which, Raimond Dupuis collected all the regulations origi-
nally made by Gerard, and then assembled the most respect-
able personages of the hospital of St. John, who were en-
titled the Master's Assistants, and formed them into
into an
assembly, to which he gave the name of chapter or council ;
and it was in this meeting that the first rules and statutes were
instituted, but which at that time, as at present, could not be
obligatory without the sanction of his holiness the pope.
The great number of crusaders who entered the order, and
the considerable donations bestowed on it from all parts,
caused a change both in the form of government and the
administration of property. The knights of different nations
agreed to divide themselves into languages. The French hav-
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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ing founded the order, and being much the most numerous,
formed the first three, viz. those of Provence, Auvergne, and
France. The four others were the languages of Italy, Arragon,
England, and Germany. In process of time, the language of
Castile was added to the seven original ones, and to that of
England was substituted the Anglo-Bavarian. The property
of the order being situated in different countries, it was neces-
sary to fix upon some method for having it properly managed,
and paid in with punctuality. It was therefore divided into
priories, bailliwicks, and commanderies. A receiver's office
was appointed in every priory, into which were paid the
revenues of the different livings in the said priory. There
were likewise offices of the same nature in several towns,
which from their convenient situation had an easy communica-
tion with Jerusalem, Rhodes, and Malta. The offices in the
priories sent their receipts to these towns, and the persons
appointed to manage the business were termed receivers. When
the order became possessed of sovereign power, and had sub-
jects to govern, it was necessary to create those posts which are
the constant appanage of supreme authority. The legislative
and executive powers, which form the basis of all governments,
were distributed with equal prudence and wisdom. The
knights gave up none of their privileges to the person they
chose for their superior, except those which were indispens-
ably necessary to enable him to govern them with effect,
and were particularly tenacious of all those which might sub-
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ject them to the exercise of undue authority. The legisla-
tive power was exclusively vested in the general chapter,
which alone had the right of making new laws or statutes and
levying taxes. To signify the sovereignty of this chapter, the
standard of the order was brought into the assembly, where it
remained during the whole time it was sitting, after which it was
carried back to the palace of the grand-master. That prince
had the exclusive right of demanding the convocation, but the
pope
had the power to refuse his request, and either to annul
or sanction the acts of the assembly.
The executive power was almost entirely in the hands of
the complete or ordinary council, which, in the absence of
the general chapter, was appointed to maintain the statutes,
laws, and traditions. In both these assemblies, the grand-
master had only the priority, and two votes ; but in case of
an equality, his vote gave the majority. He had, however,
the sole right of convoking the meeting, and of proposing the
subjects to be taken into consideration.
Independent of these councils, there were the secret and
criminal ones, in which either the grand-master or his lieutenant
constantly presided, but in which they had likewise only two
votes, and the right of choosing the subject of their delibera-
tions. There was also another council, called the venerable
chamber of the common treasure, of which the grand com-
mander was president in right of his office.
The order on becoming a sovereignty, invested the superior
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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with the power of representing it. But it was generally twenty-
four hours after the election of the grand-master, before the
complete council committed into his hands the sovereignty of
the islands of Malta and Goza with all their dependencies;
and the exercise of the legislative and executive power was
subject even then (as will be presently seen) to some re-
strictions.
For example, the order had an exclusive right to manage
every thing relative to the office of health*, and the mint.-
The Maltese civil code was carried before the council, as was
the nomination of judges who composed the tribunals, and no
considerable armament of the inhabitants could possibly take
place without being communicated to that assembly.
The members of this military order, which was composed
of the first nobility in christendom, were at all times particu-
larly jealous of their independence, which they constantly pre-
served ; indeed, the grand-master was never esteemed more
than the first amongst his equals-primus inter pares. What
caused them to annex a still greater value to this independence
was the impossibility that the superior should exercise any
authority over them himself, or allow others to do so, beyond
the limits prescribed by the statutes. The grand-master could
never detain a knight in custody more than twenty-four hours
without bringing him to trial; and though the oath of obe-
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* The grand-master was not allowed to take off more than twenty-four hours from the
quarantine.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
189
dience appears so absolute and obligatory, it was subject to
some modifications, and every knight who was of opinion that
the orders he received were contrary to the statutes or even to
the usual customs, had a right to refuse obeying them, to appeal
to the tribunal called egard, and to persist in his disobedience
till sentence should be pronounced.
The grand-masters frequently felt their power very un-
equal either to curb the impetuosity of such numbers of young
warriors, or to obtain from the council what they thought ne-
cessary for the good of the public: in both these cases the two
parties had recourse to the pope, as the first superior of the
order, who took this opportunity to encrease his authority, which
upon many occasions was extremely difficult to shake off.
In the interval between the general chapters, which, how-
ever, were frequently held in the beginning of the sovereignty,
the grand-masters being unable to grant favours asked them
by crowned heads, or to decide in affairs which demanded
immediate attention, applied to the popes to grant them
briefs, which might in some measure supply the place of
the decision of the chapter; and this, some time afterwards,
induced the popes to believe they had a right to grant them
of their own accord, by which means they disposed of the
richest commanderies of the order, either to their relations,
or to some other of their dependents. The knights also had
frequent recourse to his holiness when they wished to oppose
the pretensions of the grand-master, and they even sometimes
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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appealed to Rome from the sentences pronounced by the
councils.
As the bishops of Malta continually endeavoured to
establish ecclesiastical authority, in opposition to the legal one
of the knights, the order was induced to solicit the
pope to
send a minister from the court of Rome to restrain them with-
in proper bounds; his holiness therefore sent an inquisitor,
who unfortunately extended his own authority much beyond
that which they wished to restrain, and the order had too soon
the vexation to see a new power exercised in the very heart of
its possessions. Every Maltese subject who had received a
patent from the inquisitor, thought himself justified in throw.
ing off the jurisdiction of the grand-master. This
This usurper, not
satisfied with disputing and sharing the authority of the order,
attempted to debase it; and the inquisitor Delci had even the
audacity to insist that the grand-master should stop his car-
riage whenever they met in the street.
The popes made frequent attempts to direct the election
of the grand-masters, and to appoint to that dignified post:
they even pretended to look upon it as a right, which neither
they nor any other sovereign could possibly possess, without
destroying the very essence of the order. The preponderance
of one Christian state over another, or over more than one,
would immediately annihilate it; since in that case the fa-
voured power would be able to dispose at pleasure of the
forces of the order, which ought always to be equally and in-
HISTORY OF MALTA. .
191
ta
distinctively employed for the defence of the whole Christian
world. These different states were equally entitled to the
same assistance, since they all not only sent their nobility to
afford a continual supply of members, but at the same time
furnished a revenue for their support.
During the great disputes which disturbed the peace of
the convent under the reigns of Villaret, La Cassiere, and Ver-
dale, it was frequently discussed who had the right of either
suspending the superior from his functions, or of actually de-
posing him. This right was never allowed to be vested in the
councils; and though the popes laid claim to it, they never
attempted to enforce it, and had they pretended to act other-
wise, their authority would have probably been most violently
disputed. The truth is, that the statutes of the order were
very much the same as the code of other countries, wherein no
mention is made of the tribunal before which a sovereign must
appear in case of forfeiture. If the grand-master had been
only superior of a merely religious order, his judge would
easily have been found ; but being a sovereign, he possessed
the prerogatives annexed to that dignity; and as such, before
whom could he possibly have been cited ? I know not how
far the right of suspending and deposing the grand-master
might have been disputed with the general chapter of the
order approved by the pope, with whom they at the same time
contested the power of naming or deposing that prince. It
cannot, however, be denied, that the sovereign pontiffs possess-
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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ed great authority, in the convent, of which they were in-
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contestably the ecclesiastical superiors. I will now endeavour
to explain in what that authority principally consisted.
The
pope had undoubtedly a strict right to exclude any
particular knight from the grand-mastership, that is, if he
gave
any plausible reasons for so doing; such as bad conduct, occa-
sioning a public scandal, &c. But this disapprobation must
have been made known before the election took place, for it
would be afterwards of no effect; as was the case in the affair
of the grand-master Redin, whose nomination the inquisitor
vainly attempted to annul.
This right of the pope to exclude any particular grand-
master was very much the same with that of the emperor, the
kings of France, of Spain, and of Portugal, who had each
taken upon himself the power of preventing a cardinal from
being elected to the holy see; but in their case, as in the other,
it was necessary that these different sovereigns should notify
their intentions to their respective ambassadors before the
opening of the conclave.
It is, indeed, true that the approbation of the
pope was
always received at the election of a grand-master, but this was
merely to fill up a canonical and regular form, and not as an
acknowledgment that the pope had the right of either accept-
ing or refusing. He, however, possessed real prerogatives, and
those of very great importance, such as those of giving his
sanction to the assembly of general chapters which he had the
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IHISTORY OF MALTA.
193
)
power to annul, of signing the statutes of the order, and of
sending an inquisitor to Malta to inspect the ecclesiastical
part of the government, and to execute bulls and briefs.
Having given some account how far the order depended
on the pope, we shall now proceed to examine its situation in
regard to the other Christian states, and in what consisted the
reciprocal obligation which bound them to each other : this
appeared founded on the grand principle, that the power
which gave ought to receive. The order must therefore be
dependent on those countries which furnished it with knights
and revenues, and as such it was obliged to afford direct and
constant assistance against the enemies of the Christian faith.
This it never failed doing, as will be sufficiently proved in the
course of this history. Having therefore been always exact in
fulfilling its engagements with those states where it had any
possessions, it was but just that the said states should be
equally faithful to theirs; and in that point of view the de-
pendence was reciprocal, with the difference indeed (which
was both great and obligatory) between the power which
gave
and that which received. The sovereign from whom the order
held Malta made one very particular condition, and that with
the knowledge and consent of the other crowned heads; viz.
That the order should prevent any attack being made on the
Sicilian monarchy, which implied that it should never take
part
in
any war against it, nor favour any of its enemies. This
condition was so strictly adhered to by Malta, that in the war
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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between France and Spain, it was very near incurring the
displeasure of Lewis XIV. for having fired on his navy, to
fulfil the above-mentioned engagement. In order that this
.
clause in the act of donation of Charles V. should be exactly
adhered to, the bishop of Malta was admitted into the council
as the agent of the king of Naples, but he had no votè.--
Being thus equally dependent on all Christian powers in
general, the order must necessarily be independent of any one
in particular; and it has never been esteemed by any among
them as tributary, but always regarded as an ally possessed of
revenues by the same right and title as all other proprietors,
and as such under the safeguard of laws which secured, not
only to the prince, but to every private individual, the full
enjoyment of his property. Few benefices had ever been
more absolutely confirmed, since the different sovereigns had
granted the most extensive privileges to the greatest part of
them. .
The sovereignty of Malta was universally acknowledged
by princes of all religions *, and it enjoyed all the prerogatives
annexed to that dignity in every different court. It sent am-
bassadors throughout all Europe: a proper place was assigned
them; and when, at the council of Trent, the bishops claimed
precedence over the Maltese ambassador, their pretensions
}
* The king of England addressed the grand-master by the following titles, eminentissime
princeps consanguinea et amice noster carissime. The king of France gave the order the title of
très chers et bons amis, and the grand-master that of très cher et très aimé cousin, in the same
style as he addressed the dukes of Tuscany.
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HISTORY OF DIALTA,
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were disallowed. The same thing happened in Spain, where
the Tuscan minister was also obliged to yield ; the king of Spain
himself having decided in favour of the order.
The flags of every country saluted the Maltese vessels,
and the galleys had a right to the first salute from all
Christian princes: even Lewis XIV., whom no one could pos- :
sibly suspect of relaxing in the smallest degree in an affair of
ceremony, decided against himself in a dispute on this subject.
In short, it was acknowledged in every court in Europe, that
no prince who was not a crowned head could claim
pre-
cedence over Malta.
If, as has been mentioned above, the authority of the
grand-master was subject to some restrictions, he, notwith-
standing, had great influence in the state, and the rewards he
was able to bestow have frequently extended his power to a
very great degree. It is true, that the legislative and execu-
resided in the chapters and councils, in which he
had but two votes; but he alone could convoke the former,
and no subject could be deliberated upon in the latter but what
was proposed by himself, or, in his absence, by his lieutenant.
The enormous expence of holding general chapters, the objec-
tions which might probably have been made by the popes to
their being convened, the conduct of one of them, who in the
grand-mastership of Paul appointed the inquisitor president of
the general chapter, were not the only reasons which had brought
them into disuse. The difficulty of obtaining the same pre-
CC 2
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tive power
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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ponderance in these meetings as in the councils had contri-
buted not a little to the grand-master's convening no more
of these assemblies, which, properly considered, were like all
others of the same nature, and which, only meeting occa-
sionally, always became in the end dangerous, tumultuous,
and most commonly of no avail. It is not therefore very
surprising that the grand-masters should prefer the councils,
where nothing could be more easy than to ensure the majority
of votes ; since, by means of briefs, they could always bestow
the grand-crosses on those whom they knew to be perfectly
devoted to their service, and who in right of that great dig-
nity had free entrance into the council, where they secured
the greatest number of votes for their benefactor, who, conse-
quently, became all-powerful in Malta. The grand-masters
had the power of bestowing great favours on the knights of
different languages; the statutes having granted them, 1st,
a magisterial commandery in each priory, which they were at
liberty to dispose of at pleasure--2d, They had the
naming to a commandery in each priory once in five
years--
3d, They were allowed to tax the different. benefices with the
payment of a pension-4th, They received an annate or a
year's revenue at every mutation—5th, They had a great many
lucrative places in their gift, both in the island and in their
household-and, 6th, the grand-master, on becoming sovereign,
had a revenue assigned him which was sufficient not only to
support his rank as a prince, but to enable him to bestow con-
power of
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
197
3
siderable gifts and rewards on those he thought worthy of his
protection. Indeed, this sum was originally intended to enable
him to reward merit; but it has more than once been disposed,
of to conciliate favour, and in that case it has been the means
of the grand-master's eluding the restrictions which the law
had so prudently laid on his authority.
Having thus marked the line between the different con-
stituent powers vested in the government of Malta, and like-
wise that fixed between the foreign princes, we shall now pro-
ceed to trace that which was drawn between the sovereign and
his subjects.
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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Government of the Knights over the Maltese. Laws to which they were
subjected under the Dominion of the Kings of Sicily. Amendment
of their Situation. Employments to which they might pretend. Their
Association with the Government. The Formation of a Language
composed of Maltese greatly favoured by France. Consequences
which must infallibly result from such an Innovation,
THE grand-master being invested by the order with sove-
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reign power, had the same right and title to exercise it over
the people as the emperor Charles V.; and it will be sufficiently
proved, after having examined the nature of the government
which the order found established in Malta, that the altera,
tions since made have not only greatly amended it, but con-
siderably improved the situation of the subject.
In the year 1350 a kind of government was formed in
Malta, by Lewis king of Sicily; this consisted in a governor,
with the title of capitano d'armi è giustiziero, called in Maltese
hakem ; four municipal officers, named giurati ; of two others,
termed catapani ; and of two judges, the one civil and the
other criminal.
The hakem commanded the armed forces, administered
justice, and exercised the police throughout the whole of the
island.
The giurati had the management of every thing relative
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
199
to provisions and finances, and they judged in the second
instance.
The functions of the catapani consisted in examining
whether the provisions were of a good quality, and whether
they were sold by just weight.
There were also two other officers; the first called il secreto,
who received the duties for the sovereign, and the other
il portulano, who had the direction of the port, and the coasts
round the island. There were the same employments, with
the same prerogatives, at Goza.
An assembly of the people was convened every year, com-
posed of the three orders of nobles, clergy, and plebeians ; in
which meeting a list was made of the different persons who
were capable of filling the above-mentioned places: this was
called scrutin, and sent to the king or to the viceroy of Sicily,
who generally named the officers from among those mentioned
in the list. He sometimes, however, deviated from this rule,
and made choice of them himself.
An assembly of the same nature continued to be held after
the order was established in Malta, till the grand-mastership
of Rohan. But
But it was always a mere matter of form, the
sovereign being at liberty to make a choice among the differ-
ent candidates who were presented to him on this occasion.
The order, being always particularly attentive to the in-
terest of the community at large, thought it prudent to limit,
in some degree, the authority of the superior in the exercise of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
as the
1
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the legislative and executive power, that the subject might be
secured from the despotism of a grand-master. The council
therefore never yielded their right to giving a sanction as well
grand-master to the code of laws, and likewise to the
nomination of the judges.
Great attention was also paid to private individuals, and
every possible means employed to make their situation more
comfortable. Many places which, from the fifteenth century,
had always been exclusively possessed by the nobles, were
afterwards indiscriminately bestowed on the citizens.
Except in the above-mentioned circumstances, the govern-
ment of the knights and that of the Maltese were entirely in-
dependent of each other. The former were however constantly
kind and generous in their conduct towards their subjects,
whom they did not wish to exclude from their order : but the
impossibility that the Maltese should act at the same time in
the double capacity of sovereign and subject, made it neces-
sary to establish' some fornis to prevent so great an incon-
venience.
After the knights of St. John of Jerusalem were settled in
Malta, some noble Maltese families went to reside in Sicily,
and the order afterwards allowed their descendants to become
knights of justice. The only proofs required were, that their
ancestors had held those employments in Malta, which had
ever been particularly reserved for the nobles.
Those Maltese who were possessed of noble fiefs in the
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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island with royal investiture, and who continued to reside in
Malta, might also become members of the order by sending
their wives to Sicily to lie in ; but this could not be done
without the approbation of the grand-master. These knights
enjoyed the same prerogatives as their brethren, except, indeed,
that they could not be raised to the dignity of sovereign ; the
order being perfectly aware of the great danger of having a
Maltese grand-master, who could so easily succeed in either
governing despotically, or in making himself entirely independ-
ent. The Maltese themselves were very sensible of the wisdom
and justice of this restriction, to which they never at any time
made the smallest objection.
The order, however, offered them no small compensation
for being excluded from the first dignity; since they were per-
mitted to fill some very important posts, such as the bishop's
see, and the grand-priory of the church of St. John.
These two great places were given by the pope exclu-
sively to the knights of justice, and they were habitually filled
by the Maltese, who were consequently admitted into the
general chapter and councils, where they took their place to
the right and left of the sovereign*.
Some of the Maltese who had been particularly service-
able to the order, and who merited the attachment of their
:
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* The last grand-prior of St. John's was a Maltese, named Maineillé. --That post has like-
wise been filled by many others of the same nation ; yiz. John George Pery, brother
Nicholas, Ambroglie, &c.
VOL. I.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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fellow-citizens, were ennobled by the grand-master, and thus
became capable of enjoying the same privileges as the most
ancient noble families of the country.
Before the late unfortunate events in 1798, the Maltese
people were never known to murmur in the smallest degree.
The sovereign was continually bestowing new favours on his
subjects, who, in their turn, never ceased to lavish on him
praises and blessings. In all the divisions which at different
times took place in the order, the people constantly remained
quiet; and even in the late treacherous surrender, the really
guilty were not among the lower class, but in the higher ranks.
Those, however, who thus unfortunately swerved from their
duty, soon repented their errors, and bitterly imprecated
vengeance on the traitors who had induced them to rebel
against their sovereign.
The knights, as has been already observed, had nothing
in common with the Maltese ; consequently no disputes could
possibly arise between them, since their judges were chosen
from among themselves, as were likewise their municipal
officers : in short, all civil employments, even those which
related to the finances, were filled by the natives; the sovereign
alone having the right to send his representative to the tri-
bunals, and to the Town-hall.
To prevent the most distant idea of corruption, the knight
who presided in the courts of justice was not only changed
once in three years, but his place was always filled by one of
i
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
209
>
à different language. The grand-masters having only made
use of their right three times to add to the severity of the
sentence passed by the tribunals, though they continually ex-
erted the same right to soften it, were most severely reproached
for their conduct; notwithstanding the criminals were either
pirates, or convicted of high-treason and sacrilege.
The French government perceiving its influence insensibly.
decreasing in Malta, and feeling the great importance of pre-
serving it, employed every possible method to recover their
power ; but being unable to make the people act against their
own interest, they suggested the idea of endeavouring to intro-
duce into the order some malecontents and enthusiasts in favour
of the fashionable new principles; and mention was then first
made of associating the Maltese with the government of the
knights, by creating a ninth language composed of that
nation. The consequence of this arrangement was too clear
to escape the least penetrating eye; and the man who most
openly favoured such a plan was placed by the French at the
head of the Maltese government, the moment they became
possessed of the island. Indeed, in whom could they better
place their confidence than in the person who had so com-
pletely seconded their views throughout the whole of the
transaction ?
The people must naturally be losers from such a change,
since the moment a part of the sovereignty became vested in
them they must necessarily contribute to the expences; they,
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HISTORY OF MALTA,
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therefore had no share in this new project: The institution of
a ninth language must of course require a revenue for its use,
and how could this be raised without laying on additional
taxes ? Of what an extraordinary mixture would this new
language be composed ! since it must necessarily consist
partly of nobles, such as the knights of justice, and partly
of counşellers, attorneys, and other persons of the same stamp,
such as servants of arms, &c. The same men who had been
the most attached to the directory endeavoured to persuade
the Maltese that, when once subject to the government of
France, the whole of that finê country would be open to their
ambitious views, which would be a sufficient recompence for
having hitherto moved in so confined a sphere. The taxes
raised on this occasion must inevitably have fallen on that
part of the people who had no concern in the affair.
To avoid therefore disgusting the Maltese, not a word
was mentionedof bestowing any property on these new knights,
servants of arms, and chaplains The small number of Maltese
possessed of great fortunes, and the still smaller who could
have had any pretensions to be received knights of justice,
must have concentred that dignity in a very few families,
which would consequently have opened a wide field for the
greatest corruption.
Notwithstanding the ancient noble families of Malta were
entirely extinct, not a single descendant in a right line remain-
ing, no one had an idea of proposing, nor even thinking it
.
HISTORY OF MALTA.
205
1
possible, to establish a ninth language, so different from the
other eight; and in which, amongst a variety of things, there
was to be no distinction between the knights of justice, the
chaplains, and the servants of arms. Such an innovation could
be neither agreeable to the Maltese, nor suitable to the knights;
since it must be injurious to the former, whose representatives
must act a subaltern and disgraceful part among a body form-
ed of the most distinguished nobility in Christendom; and at
the same time very unpleasant to the latter, who would thus
see the most incoherent, and consequently the most destruc-
tive, elements introduced into the very heart of their order.
The favourite plan of the French was very well known, and if
it succeeded they hoped to reap the double advantage of in-
troducing democracy into an aristocratical government, and
likewise rewarding those Maltese who had revolted against
that government. If the advantages which either the Maltese
or the order could promise to themselves in an association of
such a nature were fairly considered, it would be easily seen,
that this ninth language must necessarily find itself in the dis-
agreeable predicament of becoming either null or turbulent:
-null, from the impossibility of undertaking any thing against
the united will of the eight others; and turbulent, because
there would be no other means of resisting such superior force
but by sedition. Notwithstanding all these powerful motives .
against this institution, I have every reason to believe, that
those Maltese who have given into revolutionary principles
1
-
1
!
200
HISTORY OF MALTA,
1
2
will pursue the favourite plan so 'artfully suggested to them ;
indeed, the practice they have adopted of dividing themselves
between the French and English armies is equally artful and
perfidious. They very well know, that no circumstances can
happen again so favourable to their design, since the only two
powers who now carry on the war will most probably make
the
peace which must inevitably decide their fate: both these
powers are well disposed towards them; the French owing
them the reward of treason and defeat, the English that of
repentance and success. The first will certainly never forget that
the formation of a new language was the work of their hands,
and without some great reverse of fortune, which is not very likely
to happen, they will never abandon them: whilst the latter,
calling to remembrance the services their army received dur-
ing the blockade of Malta, will think themselves obliged to
second the views of so useful an auxiliary; whose good inten-
tions, however, may very fairly be doubted, considering the
manner in which they repulsed the respectable members who
were sent to their assistance, and who attempted to land in the
island, not to punish the inhabitants, but to take their place
in the field of battle, to expose themselves to the same dangers,
and to fight for the same cause. The presence of these knights
might, indeed, be rather embarrassing to the Maltese chiefs ;
with whose manœuvres, principles, conduct, and motives for
conversion, they were but too well acquainted.
The same author who has written in favour of the Maltese
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
207
1
1
5
association, when he speaks of raising a regiment in Malta
composed of foreign soldiers, commanded by the knights of
different languages, appears apprehensive that such an armed
corps might sooner or later obtain a dangerous influence, which
would disturb the public peace, and in time might become a
restraint on the liberty of electing a grand-master. He there-
fore wishes that the safety of the order might be committed to
the care of the Maltese, and entirely depend on their loyalty
and affection. The question next naturally occurs, whether
the influence of the Maltese, in their double capacity of sove-
reign and subject, would not be infinitely more dangerous than
that of this so much dreaded regiment ? For of what avail
would be the opposition of a few hundred knights, against the
united efforts of thousands of rebellious Maltese, who would
have the greatest possible interest in naming one of their own
nation to the dignity of sovereign? These revolted subjects
being perfectly convinced that they would be repulsed with
indignation by all monarchical governments, would immedi-
,
diately after their insurrection address themselves to the one
which had always favoured rebellious subjects, and with which
indeed the Maltese had ever been the most intimately connect-
ed. These considerations ought to induce the different powers
to name a protector for Malta as soon as possible, and at the
same time to elect a grand-master.
It would be a most fortunate circumstance for Malta were
this protector to be chosen from some one of the most power-
!
208
HISTORY OF MALTA.
1
!
:
ful nations in Europe, since the independence of the order
would be then preserved : it is likewise greatly to be wished
that the superior should be elected in the island, and the
ancient forms observed at that ceremony kept up as much as
possible*
The kingdoms of Naples and of Spain have at all times
been regarded as the natural defenders of Malta, but their
present situation with respect to the French republic must
necessarily prevent them from acting in a capacity which
requires the most perfect independence. The jealousy sub-
sisting between France and England must always exclude
those two nations from this important island. Russia and
.
Austria are therefore the only powers whose protection can
be really useful to the order.
A charge of such importance ought to be confided to both
these powers, to prevent the danger of the order becoming de-
pendent on a single protector, and thus losing the right it
has hitherto had to a general interest in its favour.
The Maltese, as will be clearly proved in the course of
this history, have enjoyed an uninterrupted state of happiness
for nearly three centuries, without ever having uttered the
>
* This is the plan of conduct adopted by Russia, which equally evinces the moderation of
the
young emperor, and the wisdom of his ministers. See, in Appendix, the proclamation of
the emperor Alexander (in which he merely takes the title of protector of the order), and
the decree of the provisional council for the election of a grand-master from among the pro-
fessed knights according to the ancient forms, at least as nearly as they can possibly be oba
served, whilst the members of the order are so generally dispersed.
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
209
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smallest complaint against their sovereign. Let them, then,
remain in their former situation, and there will be nothing to
apprehend from their attempts; let care, however, be taken
not to favour, on pretext of bettering their condition, the secret
designs of some ambitious men, and at the same time those of
other governments. The zeal and attention of the order to
maintain the independence of Malta, which is absolutely
essential to its existence, may be safely relied on, but an equal
dependence cannot be placed on the Maltese to preserve it;
if, indeed, that independence were lost for a moment, it was
when these people abandoned the knights, united to whom
they would have been always invulnerable.--I own I can
scarcely believe it possible that persons whose opinions I
greatly respect could in their conscience wish, and even
solicit, to be joined to the government of Malta ; for they
certainly must have reflected on the extent and consequences
of such a pretension, which might authorise the Canadians
to demand being associated to the English government, and
at the same time thirty-three millions of people who inhabit
Bengal to make the same request. The difference between the
above-mentioned inhabitants and the Maltese, consists in the
former paying taxes to encrease the revenue of their sovereign,
whilst the latter enjoy the benefits accruing from the revenue
of theirs, without being subject to any imposts.
It is to this association system that, at the close of the
eighteenth century, the world is indebted for the dismem-
f
.
VOL. I.
E E
1
210
HISTORY OF MALTA.
berment and overthrow of different states, and that in a man-
ner unexampled in history. To this, indeed, is it owing that
the French colonies insisted on sending representatives to the
national assemblies in France, the effects of which first asso-
ciation was, that the mulattoes and negroes asserted their right
to freedom, declaring they would fill the same employments as
the whites, and that the blacks are at this moment sovereigns
of the richest colony in America.
But as all human institutions must necessarily retain
something of the natural imperfection of man, the govern-
ment of Malta cannot be supposed to be entirely free from
defects. Its existence and great successes for more than two
centuries and a half, must, however, prove its excellence, and
speak forcibly in its favour. If the Maltese are discontented,
and have cause for complaint, I can only tell them, as a knight
of Malta, and in the name of the whole order, that family
affairs should always be judged at home.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
211
CHAP. III.
1
The Order divided into different Classes. Proofs of Nobility requisite
to be admitted into the First; Proofs of being free Citizens neces-
sary to enter into the Second. Inns. Egard, the name of a Tri-
bunal of Justice for trying the Knights; the Manner in which it
was composed; why assembled. The Ceremony of depriving a
Knight of the Habit ; that of restoring it to him. How far their
Obedience was required. Reception of a Donat, or a Brother de
Stage.
1
THE hospitallers, merely considered as a religious order,
,
were divided into three different classes, according to their
birth, rank, and functions.
The first class was composed of the knights of justice.
The second, included the religious chaplains, and priests of obe-
dience. The third, the serving brothers.
The knights of justice were those who from the formu-
lary of their profession, and the ancient nobility of their
lineage were entitled to be admitted to so high an honour.
The religious chaplains were those, who from their
pro-
fession were attached to the original church of St. John, where
they performed divine service. The almoners for the great
hospital of Malta, and those for the galleys and other vessels
belonging to the order, were chosen from this body of men.
There were also priests of obedience : these were ecclesiastics
3
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212
HISTORY OF MALTA.
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;
who having taken the religious habit and the vows, were never
obliged to go to Malta, but were particularly attached to the
service of some of the churches of the order under the author-
ity of either the grand-prior or of a commander. Those among
them who had not taken the vows, but who performed paro-
chial duty in some of the livings of the order, were remove-
able at pleasure.
The serving brothers of arms were of the religious order;
and, without being either priests or knights, were equally
'
obliged during war, or in the infirmary, to serve under the
knights, to make four caravans with them each of six months.
They, equally with the chaplains, possessed commanderies in
the different languages ; and they passed from one to another
according to seniority, that is to say, according to the time of
their reception.
The brothers de stage or donats, were employed in the dif-
ferent offices of the convent and hospital. They wore what
was termed the demi-cross, which was granted to those who
had deserved being rewarded by the order, whilst employed
in subaltern posts, such as first pilots of the galleys, and adju-
tants of the troops. There were also religious dames of the
order of St. John of Jerusalem, who had houses in France,
Italy, and Spain. These dames were obliged at their
.
recep-
tion to make the same proofs as the knights of justice. Some
of the houses were extremely celebrated, such as Sixen în Arra-
gon, and Olgoveira' in Catalonia, where the proofs of nobility
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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requisite for the reception of the knights of justice were not
sufficient for a dame of the choir, whose nobility was obliged
to be proved so very pure, and of such ancient date, that
it exceeded by some degrees what the statutes required for
the former.
In former times the knights who dedicated themselves to
the service of the hospital of St. John, and to the defence
of the holy sepulchre, could only be received at Jerusalem
or in the Holy Land, whither the nobles sent their children
at a very early age, that they might be educated in the chief
house of the order, where they flattered themselves they would
not only imbibe principles of the strictest piety, but at the
same time become adepts in the science of arms. These
young gentlemen could not be received without producing
authentic testimonies of their noble origin, attested by the
priors of the countries in which they were born; the same
priors were also obliged to give them recommendatory letters,
with a promise that they should take the habit of the order
and make their profession at twenty years of age, which was
the time fixed upon for seculars to be received knights. But
this custom of only professing knights in the chief house of the
order was but of short duration ; for the considerable numbers
;
who continually fell in combating the infidels, made it neces-
sary to replace them by fresh recruits, and this forced the
chapters and councils of the order to consent, that after the
proofs of nobility were sufficiently examined, the habit of
!
.
1
214
HISTORY OF MALTA.
the sea;
2
novice should be given in the different grand-priories beyond
and as at that period misalliances among the nobility
were absolutely unknown, the candidate required no other
proof at his admission than the names of his father and mother,
who were justly supposed to be descended from gentlemen of
note and bearing arms. Such were the reigning principles
and spirit in the days of chivalry; but the same nobles, whose
blood was then so pure, being exhausted and drained by the
inevitable expences attendant on war, found themselves in a
short time obliged to make a traffic (if I may so express my-
self) of this noble blood by unequal marriages, and it was no
longer uncommon to see nobles, and gentlemen, of note bear-
ing arms, intermarry with rich plebeians. The knights of St.
John fearing that such misalliances would end in debasing the
order, were it to receive any knights sprung from these mar-
riages, resolved to make a regulation which required the draw-
ing up of a verbal process with written titles, in order to esta-
blish the legitimacy and the descent of the candidate, with the
testimonial proofs of his father, mother, grand-father, grand-
mother, great-grand-father, and great-grand-mother, for above
a hundred
years, likewise the eight quarters .properly blazoned ;
and the testimony of the candidate that his great-grand-father
and grand-father were acknowledged as being of note and
bearing arms, For some years this last article was not very
strictly examined into in France, and the government of that
country frequently insisted that the order should not be
very
>
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
215
!
rigorous in the observance of it. If, however, it was some-
times sufficiently indulgent to receive knights sprung in the
female line, from the families of financiers and magistrates, it
was always particularly strict in requiring the proofs of
nobility and the eight quarters on the father's side, dis-
pensations being never granted but for the mothers, and
that only in very particular cases. These proofs were obliged
to be testimonial, literal, local, and secret ; but this was not the
case in all the other languages, as will be presently seen.
The testimonial proof was so called, because it was the re-
sult of the testimony of four noble witnesses gentlemen, of
note, and bearing arms. These were obliged to make oath of
the truth of their assertions before commissioners who were
usually ancient commanders, and who examined them sepa-
rately on the occasion.
The literal proof was taken from title-deeds, contracts, ac-
knowledgments of tenures, and surveys produced by the can-
didate; marriage contracts and wills, though necessary to
;
his descent and legitimacy, were not sufficient to
prove his nobility*: and recourse was had to partition of lands
of a noble tenure ; to deeds of guardianship; to grants of the ward-
ships of lands held in capite ; to acts of fealty and homage; to
acknowledgments of vassalage and surveys ; to commissions, war-
rants, and grants, of posts and dignities which imply gentility; to
summons for attending the king in the field ; in short, to monu-
prove his
;
* It is very well known how easily notaries give titles and qualifications in such sort of
deeds without ever examining whether they are due or not.
216
HISTORY OF MALTA,
ments, epitaphs, coats of arms ; to painted glass windows, and an-
cient escutcheons in churches.
The local proof was what was given by the commissioners
in the country where the candidate was born, whose office it
was to inform themselves particularly whether his parents and
ancestors were gentlemen of note bearing arms.
The secret proof consisted in an enquiry made by the
commissioners unknown to the candidate. The witnesses on
this occasion were not required to be noble, but were chosen
for their probity. It was formerly the custom in the three
different languages of France-viz. that of Provence, Auvergne,
and France when the four necessary proofs were allowed to
be solid and conformable, to draw up a verbal process, which
was carried to the chapter of the priory, and from thence
taken to the two new commissioners, who examined whether
strict observance had been used in taking informations, to the
rules prescribed by the statutes; and if it appeared that no-
thing had been omitted, this verbal process, together with the
armis properly blazoned with the eight quarters, were sent to
Malta, whence permission was returned to give the habit of
the order to the candidate; who from that moment was en-
titled to wear the golden-cross, which cannot be worn by
the serving brothers of arms without the permission of the
grand-master ; but this may be given verbally.
Four quarters were only requisite in the Italian language,
but two hundred years of nobility were necessary for each of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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these quarters, viz. the father and mother, the grand-father
and grand-mother; and these four houses must each be proved
noble for two hundred years. More than four quarters were
not required in blazoning the arms, there being no occasion
to notice the great-grand-father as in France. In the republics
of Genoa and Lucca, and in the territories of the grand-duke,
commerce and banking-houses were not derogatory, though
they were so in every other priory throughout Italy, and in
all the different languages belonging to the order. They have,
however, frequently been as little scrupulous in that par-
ticular in the pope's dominions, as in Genoa and Florence.
The languages of Arragon and Castille required the can-
didate to produce the names of the four quarters--that is to
say, those of his father and mother, grand-father and grand-
mother--and to declare of what country these four houses
originally were. Commissioners were then sent thither to take
all necessary informations, and particularly to enquire whether
these families were descended from Jews or Mahometans,
neither of which were admissible into the order; and this
circumstance has frequently raised great difficulties in Pro-
vence *, and that
and that in the greatest families of the country.
The simple testimony of nobles and gentlemen was sufficient
to be received into the Arragonian and Castillian languages,
without either deeds or contracts.
* The last general chapter softened the severity of this statute.
VOL. I.
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.
2
218
HISTORY OF MALTA.
!
2
2
In the kingdom of Portugal, which made a part of the
language of Castille, it was necessary to take either secret or
preliminary informations respecting the quality of the houses
with four quarters; because the ancient kings of that country
had established the custom of carefully preserving the names
of all noble families throughout the kingdom, in a public
register.
Sixteen quarters were necessary for the reception of a
knight of the German language, and the same proofs were re-
quired in the noble colleges of that nation. The gentlemen
whose testimonial depositions were taken on this occasion
were obliged to make oath that all the sixteen quarters were
noble; and so strict were they in this language, that they
would not pass over one single quarter which had been refused
in any college: neither would they admit the natural children
of their sovereigns, which were received in all the other lan-
guages, and even into that of the Anglo-Bavarian, which in
every other particular required the same proofs as the Ger-
man language.
When all the different proofs required of a knight were
made sufficiently clear, he might be admitted into the order at
three different times, and at three different ages.
received in majority at sixteen, though he was not obliged to
go to Malta before he was twenty; and, indeed, a dispensation
was easily obtained for his waiting till he was a little older.
Twelve years of age was the time fixed for his being received
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
219
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i
page to the grand-master; and he was admitted in minority
even from his cradle. This last custom was established at the
holding of the general chapter in 1631, when it was resolved
that a cloister in the style of that at Rhodes * should be
built at Malta, in which the members of the order should be
lodged separately from the secular inhabitants. Money being
wanting in the treasury for so considerable an undertak-
ing, it was determined to raise a sufficient sum for the
purpose, by granting a hundred dispensations for receiving
an equal number of young children into the order, each of
whom was to pay a thousand crowns for the passage duty,
without reckoning some other trifling ones. These hundred
dispensations were presently granted, and the money paid ;
but the cloister never was built, and the sums thus collected
were employed for other purposes: they also invented a very
convenient expedient, which was, when there was no general
chapter, to have recourse to the authority of the pope, who
granted them particular briefs, by which he gave permission for
these minority receptions, on condition of paying three hundred
and sixty Spanish pistoles to for the passage duty: this duty
took its rise from a sum of money which a young gentle-
man, who was desirous of taking the habit either at Jeru-
salem or Rhodes, formerly paid to the patron (or guide) who
conducted him thither. The passage duty of minority for chap-
1
!
* This was called Collachium.
† A Spanish pistole is worth eight Maltese crowns and five grains, or sixteen shillings and
eight pence.
FF 2
-
!
220
HISTORY OF MALTA,
...
lains and servants of arms was fixed at two hundred and eighty-
eight Spanish pistoles. That of majority for the knights and
grand-master's pages at one hundred and twenty-five; that
for the chaplains at a hundred; that for the servants of arms
at a hundred and fifteen ; and that for the brothers de stage at
thirty-three. The knights of majority and grand-master's pages
of the German language only paid seventy-five pistoles ; but
those of minority paid exactly the same as the other languages.
The brothers, chaplains, or conventuals, and the servants
of arms, were also obliged to make certain proofs ; such as that
they were of honest parentage, or born of parents who had never
been in servitude, or followed any low art or trade. They were
likewise required to prove that their fathers, mothers, grand-
fathers, and grand-mothers, were all born in lawful wedlock;
indeed, they were obliged to produce the same proofs of be-
ing free citizens as the knights of justice of being noble. These
serving brothers of arms were, in virtue of their religious habit,
considered as making part of the body of the order ; they were
summoned equally with the knights of justice at the election
of a grand-master, and gave their votes on the occasion.
The bishop of Malta and the prior of the church of St.
John, who were next in rank after the grand-master or his
lieutenant in the councils, were always chosen from the bodyof
brother chaplains; but they were the only two out of that class
who could have any share in the government, the whole au-
thority being vested in the knights of justice. The brothers of
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
221
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The com-
:
the church and servants at arms were also received and
sup-
ported in the same manner as the knights in the inns of their
different languages.
There was a palace or inn for each language in Malta,
where all the members of the order, whether knights, serving
brothers, professed or novices, might equally eat.
manders seldom went thither: indeed, those who were pos-
sessed of a commandery worth two thousand Maltese crowns
could not be admitted ; neither could the servants of arms,
if
they had a commandery of a thousand Maltese crowns.
a.
The
chief of each inn was called the pillier, and he received either
a sum of money or the equivalent in grain from the treasury,
for the provision of the members of his inn. The rest of the
expences were paid by himself, for which he was indemnified
by the first vacant dignity in his language.
I shall now proceed to give some account of the manner
in which the brothers of the order of St. John of Jerusalem
were professed. The statutes which treat of their reception
are so simple, and, at the same time, so religious, that I
thought it best to leave them in their original state, since no
change I could possibly make in the expressions would give so
just an idea of the subject. But in order to render this article
still more complete, I shall add an account of the customs
observed in the tribunals for the trial of the knights, for de
priving them of the habit, and for restoring it to them; as
also the declaration of obedience, and the reception of the
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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66
6
brothers de stage or donats. As I shall cite the oath taken on
the occasion from the original text, the extent of their obli-
gations will be better understood. Many authors have given
very false ideas of this oath, owing, perhaps, to their never
having read it, or to their having interpreted it in a wrong
sense.
“ Those who are determined to dedicate themselves to the
“ service of the sick, and to the defence of the Catholic reli-
gion, in the habit of our order, are received at their pro-
“ fession in the following manner :-They ought to be perfectly
“ well acquainted that they are about to put off the old man,
“and to be regenerated, by humbly confessing all their sins,
according to the established custom of the church; and, after
having received absolution, they are to present themselves in
“ a secular habit, without a girdle, in order to appear perfectly
<< free at the time they enter into so sacred an engagement,
“ with a lighted taper in their hands, representing charity, to
“ hear mass, and to receive the holy communion.”
They afterwards presented themselves most respectfully be-
fore the person who was to perform the ceremony, and request-
ed to be received into the company of brothers, and into the
holy order of the Hospital of Jerusalem. He then addressed
them in a short speech, to confirm them in their pious designs,
to explain how salutary and advantageous it was to consecrate
themselves to the service of the poor in Christ Jesus, to be
constantly employed in works of mercy, and to devote them-
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selves to the defence of the Christian faith-a favour which
many had vainly attempted to obtain. He proceeded to point
out the engagement they were to enter into of perfect obedi-
ence;--the severity of the rules, which would no longer permit
them to act for themselves, which obliged them absolutely to
renounce their own will and pleasure, and implicitly to comply
with that of their superiors ; so that if ever they felt an inclin-
ation to do one thing, they were compelled by their vow of.
obedience to do another.
He next asked the candidate whether he found himself
disposed to submit to all these obligations; whether he had
ever before taken the vows in any other order; whether he had
ever been married; if his marriage had been consummated; if
he owed any considerable sums; and if he were a slave: be-
cause, if, after having taken the vows, it were discovered that
he had done any of these acts, or had been in the last-men-
tioned situation, he would be immediately stripped of his habit
with disgrace, as a deceiver, and given up to the master to
whom he formerly belonged.
If he declared that he had contracted no such engage-
ments, the brother who received him presented him an open
missal, on which he placed both his hands, and having an-
swered all the above questions, made his profession in the
following terms:
6. Io N. faccio voto e prometto a Dio omnipotente, ed alla
Beata Maria sempre Vergine, madre di Dio, ed a San Gio-
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vanni Battista di osservare perpetuamente, con l'ajuta di Dio,
vera obedienza a qualunque superiore che mi sara dato da Dio, e
dalla nostra religione, e di piu vivere senza proprio e d'osservar
castita.'
“ I N. do vow and promise to Almighty God, to the holy
“ eternal Virgin Mary, mother of God, and to St. John the
Baptist, to render, henceforward, by the grace of God, per-
“ fect obedience to the superior placed over me by the choice
“ of the order, to live without personal property, and to pre-
“ serve my chastity.”
Having taken his hands from the book, the brother who
received him said as follows: . “ We acknowledge you as the
“ servant of the poor and sick, and as having consecrated your-
“ self to the defence of the Catholic church.” To which he
answered: “ I acknowledge myself as such.” He then kissed
the missal, placed it on the altar, which he likewise kissed,
and brought it back to the brother who received him, in
token of perfect obedience. Upon which, the brother took
the mantle, and, shewing him the white cross upon it, thus
addressed him : “Do you believe, my brother, that this is the
symbol of that holy cross to which Jesus Christ was fastened,
" and on which he died for the redemption of our sins ?" To
which the new brother replied: “ Yes, I do verily believe it.”
The other then added: “ It is also the sign of our order, which
we command you constantly to wear.” The new brother then
kissed the sign of the cross, and the other threw the mantle
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over his shoulders in such a manner that the cross was placed
on the left breast. The brother who had received him then
kissed him, saying: “ Take this sign in the name of the holy
Trinity, of the holy eternal Virgin Mary, and of St. John the
Baptist, for the encrease of faith, the defence of the Christian
name, and for the service of the
poor. We place this cross
5 on your breast, my brother, that you may love it with all
your heart; and may your right hand ever fight in its de-
“ fence, and for its preservation! Should it ever happen that,
“ in combatting for Jesus Christ against the enemies of the
“ faith, you should retreat, desert the standard of the cross,
5 and take to flight in so just a war, you will be stripped of
56 this truly holy sign, according to the statutes and customs
“ of the order, as having broken the vow you have just taken, and
- cut off from our body, as an unsound and corrupt member."
He then put the mantle on the new brother, tied it with
strings round his neck, and said: -66 Receive the yoke of the
“ Lord, for it is easy and light, and you shall find rest for your
“ soul. We promise you nothing but bread and water, a sim-
ple habit, and of little worth. We give you, your parents
" and relations, a share in the good works performed by our
“ order, and by our brothers, both now and hereafter, through-
out the world.” To which the newly professed knight answer-
ed Amen, (that is to say) So be it. After which, the brother who
had received him, and all who were present on the occasion,
embraced and kissed him in token of friendship, peace; and
VOL. I.
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brotherly love. The priests, particularly he who said mass, then
repeated the following prayers :
66 Thou hast showered down thy mercy upon us, oh God!
66 in the midst of thy temple--Psalm. The Lord is great, he
“ is worthy to be praised in the city of God, even upon his
holy hill, &c.
Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren
" to dwell together in unity, &c. Glory be to the Father, &c.
66 Thou hast showered down, &c. Kyrie eleison, Christe elei-
son, Kyrie eleison. Our father, &c. Lead us not into tempta-
“ tion, &c. Save thy servant, oh God! who putteth his
“ trust in thee. Send him help from thy holy place, and from
* Sion. Defend him, and let the enemy have no advantage
over him, nor the wicked one approach to hurt him. Be
* unto him, oh Lord ! a strong tower from the face of his
enemy, and from them that persecute him. Lord, hear our
prayers, and let our cry come unto thee. The Lord be with
you, and with your spirit.
66
66. Let us pray.
--
“ Oh God! who convertest the wicked, and desirest not
" the death of a sinner, we most humbly beseech thy divine
Majesty to send the assistance of thy heavenly grace upon
6 this thy servant, who putteth his trust only in thy mercy;
s and preserve him with thy continual help, that he may
always serve thee truly, and never be led astray by any
temptation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
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66 Let us pray.
66
“« Oh almighty and everlasting God! who alone workest
“ great marvels, send down upon N. thy servant the healthful
spirit of thy grace; and, that he may truly please thee, pour
him the continual dew of thy blessing, through Jesus
“ Christ our Lord. Amen.
w upon
66 Let us pray.
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66 The Lord receive thee into the number of the faithful !
and, whilst we his unworthy servants receive thee with our
prayer, grant thee his grace to do well, with the will to per-
severe therein, and bring thee to the happiness of eternal
“ life! that, as brotherly love has united us on earth, the
goodness of God, which invigorates that love, may unite us
* in heaven with his faithful servants. Grant this, oh Lord !
“ through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and
reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God,
66 world without end. Amen.'
That the minds of the brothers might not be diverted from
the duties of their profession by being engaged in troublesome
and tedious law-suits, their predecessors imagined an easy
and expeditious method of determining them, by what they
called the egard, which was put in practice in the following
manner:
Eight brothers being chosen, one out of each language,
a ninth was called to them from any language at pleasure,
who was to act as chief, or president of the egard. He was
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chosen by the grand-master, or by the marshal, if the brothers
happened to be under his jurisdiction; the others were named
by the bailiffs, and proclaimed by the master equerry. The
former, however, were not at liberty to choose any one belong-
ing to the language of the contending parties, unless he was
previously approved by them both.
From this egard the cause was carried before the renfort
of the egard, where the number of brothers was doubled,
which made two of each language; and from thence before the
renfort of the renfort, where there were three of each different
language: but the president always continued the same. If
the parties did not abide by the award of those three égards,
the bailiff's egard was added to them; and this was composed
of eight conventual bailiffs, or their lieutenants. The master
then named a different president, who was either another
bailiff, a prior, or the prior of the church; but if he named a
conventual bailiff, an ancient brother of the same language
was appointed in his stead.
Every one of the eight had a single vote; the president
alone had two, that is to say, the casting vote in case of
equality. If there were no proper person for this post in one
language, he was chosen out of another, so that each egard
always consisted of nine members. If one or both the con-
tending parties were bailiffs or priors, the president of all the
egards must likewise be a bailiff or a prior.
When the parties appeared before the egard, the president
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asked them whether they objected to any one of their judges ;
and if they did, the exceptionable person was changed for an-
other: the plaintiff opened his case, and stated his grievance,
even though the egard was assembled at the request of the de-
fendant. The case having been fully heard, the depositions
of the witnesses, which were not allowed to be taken down
in writing, but always oral, were summed up. No advocate
was permitted to plead except in the absence of the party, or
in favour of some particular persons who were entitled to that
privilege by the statutes.
In this state of the process the
parties were ordered to withdraw, and the brothers of the
egard retired to take the decision into consideration. Two
balloting boxes were then brought, one for the ayes,
the
other for the noes; and the ballot took place according to
seniority. The president, on the parties being called into court,
asked them whether or not they were willing to abide by the
award of the egard ; if they consented, they were dismissed a
second time, and the president having put in his ball, the
boxes were opened in the presence of the egard, and the state
of the ballot examined: he that had the majority of votes car-
ried his cause. The vice-chancellor committed the decision to
writing, and communicated it to the public.
If either or both the parties refused to abide by the award,
the vice-chancellor counted the balls a second time, and put
down the number of votes for each party at the bottom of the
sentence. This writing was kept by the president, and the ren-
--
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fort summoned. If the parties still continued dissatisfied, the
renfort of the renforts was assembled ; and afterwards the ren-
fort of bailiffs, from which there was no further appeal, and the
condemned party was obliged to submit to his fate.
On assembling the renfort of the renforts and egard of the
bailiffs, it was necessary that the president of the first egard
should be present with some of its members, in order to examine
whether the parties had any thing more to say than what they
had advanced before the first egard, and to incorporate their
sentence into that pronounced by the last, that the whole to-
gether might form one single judgment.
After the pleadings were over, all the brothers of the first
egard retired, except, indeed, the president, who kept his place
in the renforts; and when the renfort of bailiffs was about to
pronounce sentence, this first president gave
his ball in presence
of the bailiff's president. The boxes were then opened, and
the president of the first egard produced the votes in the
order they were given, and this before some of the brothers
who were present on the occasion. They were then counted,
together with those of the egard of bailiffs, and the party who
had the majority gained his cause, and the sentence was car-
ried into execution.
The votes given by the egards were however to be kept
secret, not only from the parties themselves, but from the
different egards till the suit was finished. This manner of
judging was formerly called the justice of the house. They even
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
231
proceeded in this court by default against the absent, that is
to say, if they had been legally cited to appear; and no
appeals were allowed to be made against the sentences pro-
nounced, because such appeals would have reflected in some
degree on the judgment of the court.
The egards were sometimes assembled to take cognizance
of complaints made by the grand-master, his lieutenant, the
marshal, or any other superior officer. On these occasions
they only consisted of eight conventual bailiffs, or their lieu-
tenants, and sometimes of only eight brothers, with either a
prior or bailiff, who acted as president, and who was appointed
by the grand-master. If the affair concerned the marshal, be
made choice of a brother who had but one vote. After sen-
tence was passed, no further appeal could be made to the
egards, it being entirely definitive. One of the bailiffs was
.
always of the same language as the accused party. The affair
was decided by the majority of votes.
An egard assembled on account of a complaint made by
the marshal, or any other superior except the grand-master,
was composed of eight brothers, one from each language ; but
in case one of these languages should not be on the spot, the
deficiency was necessarily supplied from another. This sen-
tence was also definitive without appeal to the renfort. Other
egards were likewise called in to examine into disputes arising
betwixt individuals both in civil and criminal causes, and in
that case appeals were made to the renfort, the renfort of ren-
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forts, and to the bailiffs. A new tribunal or egard was erected
in the last general chapter, for those criminal causes which
were entitled to appeal from the sentence pronounced by
the ordinary council. This was composed of a president
named by the grand-master, taken from among the bailiffs
piliers of the languages or their lieutenants, and of a knight
from each language appointed by the said languages for two
years. The sentence pronounced by this new tribunal was to
be kept secret, and presented three times to the grand-master;
wheri, if confirmed by him, it was executed according to the
forms prescribed by the statutes. This tribunal was held in
the samé hall where the commissioners of state convened
by the vice-chancellor were assembled. The appeal from the
first sentence must be made within the space of cight days, in
order that the members might be assembled on the ninth. If
the grand-master or any other superior commanded any thing
contrary to the statutes and customs of the order, the brothers
were at liberty to call an egard ; and if the master either re-
fused or delayed its being assembled, the brother might still
continue to insist upon it, and was not bound to obey the
order given till the egard had decided on its propriety: when-
soever any dispute arose whether or not the egard ought to be
held, the grand-master or council determined the question.
Whenever any brother of the order committed a crime
of such magnitude as to deserve being deprived of the ha-
bit, the master, or his lieutenant authorised to act on this
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occasion, informed the council of the affair, and asked advice
of its members in what manner he should proceed; the coun-
cil, after maturely deliberating on the nature of the offence,
ordered the proofs to be produced, and the information and
depositions of the witnesses were received according to the
form prescribed by the statutes and customs.
If the crime were thought sufficiently great to deprive the
offender of the habit, the master or his lieutenant carried his
complaint before the general assembly, which was convened
for this purpose by the ringing of a bell, the usual ceremony
observed on such occasions. He then made known the crime
committed by the accused party: but if he wished to palliate
the offence, to prevent the ill effects of so pernicious an example,
he only said the offender had wronged the order of more than
a silver mark; and this he said in presence of the criminal
himself, who was brought into the assembly with a strong
,
guard by the master equerry.
The complaint having been read, the master, or lieu-
tenant who presided in his stead, gave the bailiffs of the egard
proper time to examine the business, and to attend to the
informations, proofs, and interrogatories, put to the accused
party, after which sentence was pronounced “according to
the law of God, to right reason, to the statutes, and laudable
customs of the order."
The master or bis lieutenant-then named the president of
the egard, and deputed a member of the order of acknow
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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ledged integrity, to appear as his attorney and carry on the
prosecution; after which, the president and the bailiffs of the
egard retired into another apartment, where the master's at-
torney on one side, and the criminal on the other, appeared
before them. The attorney demanded that the culprit should
be stripped of his habit (if the crime were heinous enough to
deserve so severe a punishment), and the offender was allowed
to answer and to make his defence. If he confessed his crime
and sued for pardon, the egard went three several times to the
master and to the assembly, to entreat forgiveness for him. If
the former thought himself justified by the statutes in grant-
ing this request, they proceeded no further; but if he still
continued to demand that he should be delivered over to
justice, the egard returned to the place from whence it came.
If, on the contrary, the criminal denied the fact; the wit-
nesses, informations, and proofs, were produced ; and if he were
convicted, either by his own confession or by the deposition
of the witnesses, the egard proceeded to pass sentence, and
he was condemned to be stripped of the habit. The master's
attorney was then called in, and made acquainted with the
sentence; after which he exhorted the criminal to follow the
egard to the master and the assembly, before whom he again
sued for pardon; the egard interceded for him. But if the master
or his lieutenant continued inexorable, and orders were given
to read the sentence, the president and the bailiffs of the egard,
having received the same orders three several times, pronounced
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sentence on the criminal, who, having been declared fully con-
victed, was condemned to be deprived of the habit.
The sentence having been thus made public, the criminal
fell upon his knees before the master, or his lieutenant, and
still continued entreating forgiveness; whilst the master equerry
stood by his side, ready to execute the orders of the tribunal.
'he latter then turned towards the culprit, and addressed him in
the following terms: “Since by your crimes and disorderly life
have proved yourself unworthy of wearing in future the
sign of the holy cross, and the habit of our order, which we
" bestowed upon you from the good opinion we had formed
“ of the purity of your morals, we now deprive you of them;
“6 and this we do to encourage the worthy and terrify the
“ wicked, to whom your fate will serve as an example. We
" therefore cut you off from the noble society of our brothers,
" and throw you from us, as a corrupt and mortified member.”
· After these words, the master equerry, by command of the
grand-master, or his lieutenant, stripped the criminal of his
habit, with the following ceremonies. At the first order he
received he only placed his hand on the mantle; at the second
he untied the strings of the pointed sleeves, letting them in
part fall down before; and at the third, he untied the string
which fastened on the mantle, and stripped it off his shoul-
ders with these words : 6 By the authority of the superior, I
“ take from you the ties which bound on the yoke of the
Lord, which is truly easy and light, together with the habit
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“ of our order, which you have proved yourself unworthy to
66 wear.”—The culprit was then reconducted to prison.
Should the accused party happen to be absent, he was
first cited to appear, according to the form prescribed in the
statutes and customs; but if he did not appear, and it was
impossible to apprehend him, he was proceeded against as an
outlaw; that is to say, if his crime were committed publicly,
if it were directly contrary to the institutions of the order,
and so notorious as to deserve deprivation of the habit. If
then the offence were clearly proved, he was equally con-
demned by the egard, and the master, or his lieutenant, who
declared him deprived of the habit after having observed
the above-mentioned forms. A mantle was brought into the
midst of the assembly, and, after the third and last command
was pronounced, the master equerry took it and carried it
away, to the reproach and ignominy of the criminal.
The order was ever accustomed to shew mercy and for-
giveness to those who repented of their errors and returned to
a regular life. Therefore, whenever one of the brothers who
had been deprived of the habit as a punishment for his crimes
had done penance for them, and manifested a sincere desire to
reform, and by so doing had, according to the statutes, merited
forgiveness, it was then thought proper to restore to him the
habit, which was done in the following manner.
The grand-master, or his lieutenant, convened the assem-
bly by the ringing of a bell, which being assembled, together
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with the bailiffs, priors, other ancients and knights, according
to the usual form, the master, or his lieutenant, gave orders
to the master equerry to conduct the criminal into their
pre-
sence; he accordingly appeared in a secular habit (or even
in his shirt, with a rope round his neck, if his crime deserved
such disgraceful treatment), with his hands joined, and hold-
ing a lighted taper, as a sign that he was shortly to be
restored to
to the charitable good-will and affection of the
order.
In this situation he threw himself at the feet of the grand-
master, and respectfully supplicated his forgiveness, entreat-
ing to have the habit restored to him, and to be admitted once
more into the society of the brethren ; to which the master
replied :-“ Though it has been clearly proved, that your for-
mer faults have been the cause that you were justly deprived
66 of the habit of our order, yet, as we have reason to hope
" that your conduct will be more regular in future, we will
“ consent to pardon you, to restore you the habit, and to re-
66
« admit you into the society of our brethren: endeavour then
66 to live in such a manner, that we may not be obliged a
66 second time to make you feel the severity of justice. The
“ favour we grant you is very great, and is but seldom be-
“ stowed: we therefore wish it may tend to the welfare of
66
“ both your body and
body and your soul.”
The master equerry, by command of the grand-master,
immediately took a mantle, which he threw over his shoulders,
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and having tied it, said: “ Receive for the second time the
yoke of the Lord, which is easy and light, and may
it
• contribute to the salvation of your soul !”
The restored knight praised God, thanked him for his
goodness, and devoted himself to the service of the order.
Though the rules enjoined the brothers to obey all the
commands of the grand-master without exception, there were
some limits to this obedience, without which affairs could
never have been properly regulated : these consisted in the
rules, statutes, and laudable customs of the order, which com-
manded the brothers to obey the master for Jesus Christ's
· sake. Therefore if the master enjoined any thing over and
above what they had promised, he was guilty of a sin which
Jesus Christ forbad them to commit, since he required that
all their actions should be just and right. This, indeed, was
the principal aim of the rules of the order, and to which every
article in them solely tended. For this reason, whenever the
superior ordered the brothers to perform any thing which ap-
peared to them contrary to the statutes, they were at liberty
to call an egard. So far, and no further, did they understand
their vow of obedience, which ought never to engage them
beyond what was enacted in the statutes, or practised by the
laudable customs of the order, which the superior was equally
obliged with themselves to observe. If he acted contrary to
his oath, a brother was no longer bound to obey him.
Those who were desirous of being received into the con-
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'fraternity, and to become brothers de stage or donats in the
order, presented themselves before the brother who was to
receive them, fell on their knees, and placing their hands
on the missal which the brother held open, pronounced the
following words: “I, N. promise and vow to Almighty God,
“ to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God, to St. John the
Baptist, and to the master of the order of St. John of Jeru-
salem, that I will exercise, as far as in me lies, all possible
“ good-will, charity, and affection, towards the master, bro-
“ thers, and the order at large: that I will defend them and
" their estates to the utmost of my power; and that, if I should
66 be unable so to do, I will reveal to them any plot against
“ their interest, or indeed any thing prejudical to them which
may happen to come to my knowledge: that I will never be
professed in any other order but in this of St. John. I therefore
" entreat, that, in case I should not make my profession, my
body at my death may be allowed to be buried in the
“ church-yard belonging to the order. I also promise to make
a present every year at the festival of St. John the Baptist,
“ in acknowledgment of my being of the confraternity.”
After these words, the brother who received him thus
answered : “ Since you have made the aforesaid promises, we
“ admit your soul, and those of your ancestors, to a participa.
“ tion in all the divine offices, good works, prayers and masses,
66 which shall be done and said for the future in our order;
66
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
66 beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ to make you partaker
46 thereof."
The brother then kissed him, as did all the rest who were
present; and his name was entered in the register of the
confraternity, together with the sum he had promised to give
every year.
The above was the ceremony observed at the reception of
a brother de stage, except in some particular priories, where
the custom was different, and with which, in that case, it was
necessary to comply.
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CHAP. IV.
A general and analytical Table of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
Its origin; Formation and Administration; Priories, Bailiwics,
and Commanderies. Bailiwic of Brandenburg; its Separation from,
and Reconciliation with, the Order of Malta. Election of the Bailiff
Reception of the Knights. Situation of its Property. Association
of the Order of Malta with Knights of a different Religion, approved
by the Sovereign Pontiff.
A GENERAL and ANALYTICAL STATEMENT of the Esta-
BLISHMENT of the ORDER.
Names of the eight languages. Names and number of the Number of command-
The eight dignities annexed priories and bailiwics eries in each language
to them. The respective func- belonging to each lan- or priory.
tions of each.
guage.
Sum paid into
the treasury of
the Order, by
each language,
in 1788.
parente
1
Maltese crowns,
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1 Magisterial.
47 Of knights.
I Jus patronat.
4 Of serving bro-
thers and chap-
lains.
477,395.
1. PROVENCE.
Two grand priories.
THE grand-commander:
-By virtue of his office,
perpetual president of
the common treasury, St. Giles
comptroller of the ac-
counts, superintendant
of stores, governor of
the arsenal, and inaster
of the ordnance. He had
the nomination (subject
Toulouse
to the approbation of
the grand-master and
council) of all officers
from the different lan-
guages; and to this he
added the power of ap-
pointing to the various Bailiwic of Ma-
places of trust, in the rosque.
church of St. John, and
the infirmary.
1 Magisterial.
24 Of knights.
5 Of serving bro-
thers and chap-
lains.
VOL. I.
II
>
242
HISTORY OF MALTA.
+
year 1788.
?
an
1
1
1
1
Languages; dignities 'annexed; Priories and bailiwics Commanderies in each, Sum paid in the
.
and functions.
belonging to each lan-
language or priory.
guage.
2. AUVERGNE.
Maltese crowns
The grand-marslial :
Had the military com-
mand over all the order ;
excepting the grand
i Magisterial.
crosses or their lieuten",
40 Of knights.
Grand priory of
the chaplains, and other
11 Of serving bro- >172,823.
Auvergne
persons of the grand-
thers and chap-
master's household. He
lains.
entrusted the grand stan-
dard of the order to that
knight whom he judged
most worthy such dis-
Bailiwic of Lyons,
tinction. He had the
formerly of Luc-
right, of appointing the
cuil.
principal equerry'; and,
when at sea, command-
ed, not only the general
of the galleys, but the
grand-admiral himself.
3, FRANCE.
Three grand priories.
The grand-hospitaller :
2 Magisterial.
Had the direction of
45 Of knights.
the grand hospital : he France
11 Of serving bro-
presented the overseer
thers and chap
of the infirmary(who was
lains.
a knight of justice), the
1 Magisterial.
prior of the infirmary,
25 Of knights.
and ten writers to the Aquitaine
5 Of serving bro-
council. The officers
thers and chap-
7742,823.
who filled these employ-
lains.
ments were changed
fi Magisterial.
1
every two years. The
17 Of knights.
post of grand-treasurer
Champagne 6 Of serving bro-
belonged to the com-
thers and chap-
mandery of St. John of
lains.
Cerbal.
>
?
:
{"
{
!
man
HISTORY OF MALTA.
24S
7
Sum paid in the
year 1788.
:
Maltese crowns,
Languages; dignities annexed; Priories and bailiwics Commanderies in each
and functions.
belonging to each lan- language or priory.
guage.
Seven priories..
| Magisterial.
Lombardy
35 Knights.
1 Magisterial.
Rome
18 Knights.
.
Venice
1
2
i Magisterial.
27 Knights.
1 Jus patronat.
1 Magisterial.
11 Knights.
4 Chaplains and
serving brothers, 564,802.
1 Magisterial.
16 Knights.
3 Chaplains and
serving brothers.
i Magisterial.
10 Knights.
1 Chaplain and
serving brother.
1 Magisterial.
10 Knights.
1
4 ITALY.
The admiral : In the
Pisa ē
grand - marshal's ab-
sence, had the command
of the soldiery equally
with the searnen: he al-
Capua
so appointed the prud'
homme, or comptroller,
and secretary of the ar-
senal; and when he de-
manded to be named to
Barletta
the generalship of the
galleys, the grand-master
was obliged to propose Messina
him to the council, which
was at liberty to approve
Bailiwics.
or reject him at pleasure. St. Euphemia.
St. Stephen.
Holy Trinity of
Venousa.
St. John of Naples,
Turin.
St. Sebastian, jus
patronat of the
Barberini family
-
1
1
.
..
1
i i 2
>
.
244
HISTORY OF MALTA. .
Languages; dignities annexed; Priories and bailiwics: - Commanderies in each
and functions.
belonging to each lag.
language or priory.
guage.
Süm paid in the
year 1788.
Maltese crowns.
....
276,137
Three prioriès.
Arragon, or Cas-S 1 Magisterial.
5. ARRAGON.
tellan d'Emposta. | 29 Knights.
The draper, or the
Catalonia
S. 1 Magisterial.
grand conservator :-
28 Knights.
Was charged with every
s .
1 Magisterial,
thing relative to the con- Navarre
17 Knights.
servatory, to the cloth-
ing, and to the purchase
Bailiwics.
of all necessary articles, Negropont, in com-
not only for the troops,
mon with the lan-
but the hospital, &c.
Majorca,
Caspa.
guage of Castille,
to
Two priories.
6.
ENGLAND (since
ANGLO-BAVARIAN lan-
1 Magisterial.
guage.)
Ebersberg
24 Knights.
Turcopolier.
4 Chaplains.
(Turcopolle formerly sig-
nified, in the language Poland (now Rus-S
20 Knights.
,
3 Chaplains.
of the Levant, light-
sia).
9 Jus patronat.
horseman.)
The Turcopolier com-
manded the cavalry, and
Neuburg.
the guard stationed on
the coast.
5175,
and ought af
terwards
have produced
15,120
Maltese crs.
15,880,
for the priory of
Poland, before
its union with
that of Russia.
This sum ought,
at least, to be
Ldoubled,
Bailiwic.
.
1
:
.
-
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
245
Languages; dignities annexed; Priories and bailiwics Commanderies in each
and functions.
belonging to each lan- language or priory.
guage.
Sum paid in the
year 1788.
Four priories.
Maltese crowns,
:
1 Magisterial.
26 Knights.
4 Chaplains.
1 Magisterial.
19 Knights.
4 Chaplains.
98,291.
Germany
7. GERMANY.
The grand-bailiff of the
order:--His jurisdiction
Bohemia
comprised all the fortifi-
cations of the old city.
He also commanded in Dacia
the castle of Goza.
Bailiwic.
Brandenburg
:
:
>
Three priories.
i Magist.
13 Knights.
serving brothers.
II chaplains and
23. Knights..
375,335.
1 Magisterial.
20 Knights.
6 Chaplains and
serving brothers.
.
8. CASTILLE. Castille
The grand-chancellor :
-Always presented the
Leon
vice-chancellor to the
council: his
his presence
was likewise necessary
Portugal, or Crato.
whenever
any
bulls were
stamped with the great
seal, and he was obliged
Bailiwics.
to sign them according
to the 35th statute de Negropont, in com-
,
Bejulis.
mon with the lan-
Those who filled this of guage of Arragon.
fice were required to
Lora.
know how to write and St. Sepulchre.
read.
Zango, or Zera de
las Neuve-Villas..
!
--
:
:
1
246
HISTORY OF MALTA..
Languages; dignities annexed; Priories and bailiwics Commanderies in each
and functions.
belonging to each lan- language or priory.
guage.
Two priories.
de
England
Ancient language of
ENGLAND.
Turcopolier.
I i Magisterial.
32 Knights.
i Magisterial.
20 Knights.
Ireland
Bailiwic.
D'Aquila.
New grand priory of
Russia, of the Greek
church.
One priory.
98 Knights.
17 Knights founded
since, on the re-
venue of the post.
20 Jus patronat.
:
The commanderies, and all other charges and property, in
whatsoever country they were situated, belonged to the body of
the order. These were let out in former times to receivers and
secular farmers, who paid the rent into the common treasury:
but the city of Jerusalem being at so great a distance (as was
also the Island of Rhodes), the farmers were not always faith-
ful to their trust; for which reason, the administration of this
property was transferred to the grand-priors, who had each his
particular district. This was at first a simple deposit placed
in their hands; but they soon encroached so far as to suppose
it gave them a title to consider the property as their own :
they therefore frequently on different pretences, and sometimes
J
1
.'
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
247
1
+
܀
without any whatsoever, applied it to their own use. This
disorderly condụct forced the general chapters, and in default
of such meetings the councils, to have recourse to a fresh ex-
pedient; which was, to name a knight of known property, and
disinterested disposition, to superintend each estate and
por-
tion of property belonging to the order in the same district :
but the time he continued in this office entirely depended on
the good-will and pleasure of the council. The order some-
times entrusted this knight with the education of the
young
novices; and there was always a father-chaplain in this small
community to say mass. The knight, who acted as superior,
was first called preceptor and afterwards commander, which at
that time only implied that the education of the young knights
and the superintendence of the property of the order were re
commended to his care. He was allowed to employ a portion
of the revenue for the maintenance of his community, and for
the relief of the poor in his district. He was also required to
send a certain sum every two years to the common treasury,
which was to be in proportion to the annual produce of the
commandery. This feudal rent was called responsion, and has
continued in use to the present times. The general chapters
had a right to augment these responsions during war, and, in-
deed, whenever the order was in want of such supply.
To prevent the different cabals which might take place in
a military order, and which would be attended by very ill
consequences--or rather, perhaps, to afford a retreat for those
1
1
:
>
..
2
1
248
HISTORY OF MALTA.
--
knights who had served the order for a long course of years-it
was resolved that the administration of those commanderies
should be bestowed according to seniority; but, to keep them
constantly in a proper state of dependence on their superiors,
they were committed to their management by the council for
a limited time—ad decem annos, aut amplius, ad bene placitum
nostrum-according to the grants issued out by the court of
chancery of Malta. If statutes were made to shew the parti-
cular circumstances which would authorise the displacing a
commander, there were likewise others which were not only
very prudent ones, but extremely encouraging to those who
had acted well in their administration; since, after five years'
possession, and after the commander had sufficiently con-
vinced the order of his good management, and of his having
improved his commandery, he had a right to demand that he
should be appointed to a richer and more considerable one.
That the estates of the order might be properly managed in
different countries, they were divided into portions, and placed
under the inspection of the grand-priors, who were appointed
to watch over the conduct of the knights and commanders
who resided in their priories. They also presided at the pro-
vincial chapters; and when absent named a lieutenant to act
in their place*.
* The grand-prior was obliged to visit the commanderies once in five years, and to order
all proper repairs ; which commands must be obeyed: for in case of refusal, the person or
persons were rendered incapable of being promoted. An appeal, however, might be made
to the council on this occasion.
1
$
1
.
.
HISTORY OF MALTA.
249
1
.
There are three different kinds of bailiffs in the order ;
-the conventual, the capitular, and the bailiffs per favorem et
ad honores.
The conventual bailiffs were so called, because it was their
duty to reside in the convent. They were chosen by the
languages of which they were the chiefs, and the pilliers of
the inns. There was one to each language.
These knights were next in rank to the grand-master; and
though this dignity might have been changed according to
seniority, yet the rule was not so absolutely obligatory as to
preclude the languages and council from choosing those who
appeared to them the most worthy of such distinction. Be-
sides the conventual bailiffs attached to each language, there
were two others raised to that dignity, viz. the bishop of
Malta, and the prior of the church of St. John; these were
;
selected from the class of chaplains, and were the only two
of that rank who were allowed to fill any of the dignified
offices in the order.
Four of these eight conventual bailiffs were constantly
obliged to reside in the convent, and indeed none were at
liberty to absent themselves without the permission of the
complete council: two votes out of three were necessary
to obtain that permission; and since the languages could
not remain without a chief, they always named a lieutenant
to act for each absentee.
Though the capitular bailiffs were not forced, like the con-
1
VOL. I.
K K
Save
I
--
r
ܕ
250
HISTORY OF MALTA.
.
;
t
.
ventual ones, to residence, a general chapter could not pos-
sibly be held without those grand crosses, or at least without
their proxies.
The third kind of bailiffs were chosen by favour et ad honores;
and in default of a general chapter by the grand-master and
council, under the sanction of a bull from the pope for that
purpose. They enjoyed this prerogative a great length of
time; but, in order to avoid the pressing recommendation of
the different Christian powers, the grand-master and council
gave up their right to this presentation; the popes, however,
in quality of first superiors, supplied their place, and named
these bailiffs in default, or in the absence, of the general chap-
ter. These abuses of the pope's briefs were carried to such a
length, that the order warmly, and indeed very justly, remon-
strated against such proceedings; and it was then agreed that
the
pope should never confer this dignity on any one without
the consent of the grand-master and council. Pope Pius VI.
in 1785, decided that in future none but the generals of the
galleys should have the grand cross by favour, and this deter-
mination has been adhered to ever since. !
The bailiffs by favour had a right to assist at the council
but when there was question of presenting to commanderies,
or any other vacant dignity, this title gave them no preference
to those knights who had been received into the order prior
to themselves, and who as such were always regarded as their
superiors.
.
;
.ܝ
--
HISTORY OF MALTA.
251
In former times all honorary offices were bestowed on the
different languages indiscriminately, to be enjoyed only from
one general chapter to another. The chapters then transferred
such appointments to those who appeared most worthy of
them; and ever since the end of the fourteenth century, they
have been bestowed exclusively on the languages to which
each office was particularly attached.
Mention ought to be made of the bailiwic of Branden-
burg, which has ever been composed of the first Protestant no-
bility in Germany, and which had its origin at the time of the
reformation, when the order suffered a dismemberment. This
article may possibly appear to belong more particularly to the
historical part of my work; I have, however, preferred in-
serting it here, and thus finishing every thing relative to the
subječt.
The great distance of the chief place of residence of the
order of St. John of Jerusalem from Germany, together with
the ambitious views of some of the members, induced the
grand-prior of Germany and the bailiff of Brandenburg to
separate from the order, and to make themselves independ-
ent* The divisions which took place in the convent during
the reign of Foulques de Villaret, appeared to them a favour-
able opportunity to carry their plan into execution.
The conqueror of Rhodes having tarnished the glory of
his arms by the luxury of his court, the effeminacy of his con-
1
1
a
1
KK 2
1309.
--
:
11
252
HISTORY OF MALTA.
1
1
а.
1
1
duct, and the despotism of his government, was deposed by
the knights in a general chapter, and Maurice de Pugnac ap-
pointed to succeed him. This election was not approved by
the pope, but the knights of the language of Germany per-
sisted in acknowledging for sovereign the new grand-master they
had chosen, and for a time separated themselves from the order.
The knights of the bailiwic of Brandenburg went still greater
lengths, placed themselves under the immediate protection of
the elector Waldemar, adopted the name of knights of St.
John of Jerusalem, and chose a superior to whom they gave
the title of master. This schism: continued till 1382, when it
was settled by a treaty concluded at Heimbach in Alsatia ;
one of the articles of which was, that the knights who had
retreated to Brandenburg should be allowed to choose a
bailiff or master; this choice, however, to be approved and
confirmed by the grand-prior of Germany. The bailiffs of
Brandenburg continued thus subject to the order till the
reformation; when the Protestant religion having made great
progress in Brandenburg, Saxony, and the neighbouring coun-
,
tries, the knights of these different nations embraced the new
mode of worship; and the laws made at the peace of Augsburg*
and Westphalia relative to church lands, and other ecclesi-
astical property, were established in favour of those of Malta.
The house of Prussia took the bailiwic of Brandenburg
i
---
* Called the peace of religion.
..
1
---
i
1
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
253
1
+
.)
under its protection, and would not allow the commanderies
situated in that country to be abolished.
The bailiff of Brandenburg had formerly commanderies
under his jurisdiction, in the same manner as the grand-pri-
ories of the order. Six out of the thirteen in his dependence
were destroyed by the Lutherans, and the others remain till
this day.
None were elected bailiffs of Brandenburg but persons
of the highest distinction; and from the beginning till very
nearly the end of the seventeenth century, this post was
always filled by one of the reigning royal family of Prussia :
since that time, a prince of the younger branch of the same
family has constantly been chosen for this high office.
The peace of Westphalia had exempted the bailiwic of
Brandenburg from the payment of all future taxes to Malta,
after having once given the sum of 2400 golden florins. The
knights, notwithstanding, unwilling to be entirely separated
from the order of St. John, frequently proposed paying re-
sponsions for their benefices to the grand-prior of Germany:
they likewise offered sums of money for the maintenance of
the squadron belonging to the order; and many among them
even requested to make their caravans on board the Maltese
galleys. But the knights of St. John absolutely refused to listen
to any of these proposals ; and all hopes of a reconciliation
appeared to have vanished, when Frederic the Great of Prussia,
wishing to favour the pretensions of his brother prince Fer-
1
I
1
----
4
254
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
.
dinand, who had been elected bailiff of Brandenburg, contrived
to effect it;-an event which, without such an able negociator, ,
would, most probably, never have taken place.
The chevalier Manchon, a captain in his Prussian ma-
jesty's service, was appointed in 1763 to repair to the grand-
prior of Germany, to demand the confirmation of prince Fer-
dinand in his new dignity: he was likewise employed to settle
a dispute which had arisen long before on account of the
bailiwic of Brandenburg having discontinued paying some
rents due to the order. After various negotiations, it was
agreed that the ancient connection between the Protestant
knights and those of Malta should be renewed *, and that
they should pay responsions into the common treasury in the
same manner as the Catholic commanderies. From that time
the Protestant knights were treated as brethren | by the grand-
prior of Germany, and allowed to take the title of knights of
St. John of Jerusalem.
On examining the rules and statutes adopted by the baili-
wic of Brandenburg for the reception of a brother, and also
for its administration, it will appear that they were very much
a
* See a letter from the grand-prior of Germany, dated the 16th of May, 1763, to prince
Ferdinand, and another of the same date addressed to the general chapter.
+ See letter from the procurator of the common treasury to the commander Forel, receiver
for the order of Malta in upper and lower Germany, dated 11th September, 1763, and
signed by the secretary of the common treasury. Likewise the magisterial bull of the
grand-master Emanual Pinto, dispatched by the vice-chancellor of the order on the gth of
May, 1764.
/

I
st
The Cook South
Pabrait of Prince Ferdinand of Proforia Baitf of Brandenburg
Fublished by G & IFobicon London May 1,200 4.
HISTORY OF MALTA.
255
4
1
the same as those formerly employed in the language of Ger-
many, subject, indeed, to some modifications occasioned by
the difference of religion, and form of government.
Within the bailiwic of Brandenburg, all claimants to be
received into the order of St. John of Jerusalem must apply
to the bailiff, whose answer either the council or regency
returns. If it be favourable, the candidate must first produce
a tree of genealogy comprising the sixteen heraldic quarters
indispensable for his reception. He is moreover held to ad-
duce proofs of the day of the birth and demise of such an-
cestors as are therein recited; and the whole exemplification
must be signed, being first duly sealed with their arms, by
four gentlemen sworn to the truth of their depositions--two
to the proofs on the paternal, and two to those on the mater-
nal, side.
To these formal investigations succeeds a re-examina-
tion of the genealogical proofs of the candidate, entered upon
by the regency and two commanders bound by their oaths
to pass over no defect; when, in the case of a favourable issue,
a letter is dispatched by the bailiff of Brandenburg to an-
nounce his reception (this is called a letter of reversion), in
which is mentioned the commandery to which he may in
future have pretensions, together with the names of all those
knights who have an equal right to aspire to that dignity * :
* This letter is signed by the bailiff, the chancellor, and several commanders.
11
:
.
256
HISTORY OF MALTA.
ܕ
-
1
from that moment he is inscribed as belonging to the order,
and his right of seniority commences from the same time.
The expence of obtaining this first letter is about fifty-five
crowns; and the other fees paid into the receiver's office of the
bailiwic, amount to three hundred and thirty. The reception
of a knight may, indeed, be 'estimated at a hundred pounds
sterling, on account of journey and other necessary expences.
According to the statutes, the candidate must be a native of
Germany, and of the Protestant religion, though this rule has
been deviated from on two or three occasions *. The rever-
sionary letters are never sent to any candidate under the
age
of fourteen years, and no one can be received into the order
before eighteen. The ceremony of reception is performed by the
bailiff, who is at liberty to delay it till the knight is called upon
to take possession of the commandery allotted to him from the
beginning. Whenever the bailiff thinks proper to create profess-
ed knights, and to permit them to wear the cross, he makes
choice among the persons inscribed as candidates for the com-
manderies of those he particularly approves, and appoints a
day for them to attend at Sonneburg t, the principal place of
residence in the bailiwic, and where the ceremony of reception
is always performed in the following manner :-
The bailiff, seated in a chair of state facing the altar,
* In favour of the count de Bestucheff, the Russian minister at the court of Prussia (who
received the cross of honour), and of a Swedish gentleman,
+ A small town, thirteen German miles from Berlin,
!
.
/
:
,
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
257
1
.
66
causes the new knight to advance, who, being asked the usual
questions relative to the favour he is come to request, and that
favour being granted, kneels down, and laying his hand on the
New Testament, takes the following oath, which is read to him
by the chancellor. 66 I swear to be faithful and obedient to
6. the order ; to do every thing in my power to contribute to
“ its glory, prosperity, and utility ; to combat every thing pre-
judicial to its well-being; never to act contrary to its dignity,
66 but to conduct myself always as a true knight, that is to
say, as a good Christian and a man of honour.”
Having thus made oath in presence of the bailiff, the
knight prostrates himself before the altar; and the bailiff, who
alone has the right of wearing the golden spur, gives him three
strokes on the shoulder with the sword of the order, saying
each time, better knight than vassal *. The bailiff then returns
to his seat, presents the professed with the small cross of white
cloth, and ties on the golden one. One of the ancient knights
throws over his shoulders the black cloak and white cross.
The reception being over, the chancellor reads aloud the
engagements contracted by the new knights. These prin-
cipally consist in defending the Christian religion at the risk
of their lives; in fighting for their country, and the king of
Prussia their protector, in preference to all other sovereign
princes; in never abandoning their colours, or yielding them-
*
6
* In German, besser Ritter als Knecht.
VOL. I.
I J.
;
!
.
258
HISTORY OF MALIA:
-
- .
{
selves prisoners to a common soldier ; in protecting and assist-
ing widows, orphans, and all distressed persons; in never
quitting the cross ; in never suffering a blow ; in loving and
esteeming virtue and honour, and being particularly prudent,
just, brave, sober, humble, and charitable. They are likewise
enjoined, on pain of being regarded as effaced from the list of
knights, to give intelligence every year, not only of their places
of residence, but of their different employments.
The chancellor having finished reading, each new knight
passes in order before the bailiff, who is placed at the altar,
and who gives his hand to each, saying, I wish you all prosperity,
and heavenly blessings. The commanders and knights then-ad-
yance towards the newly professed, whose hands they press,
in token of fraternity. The gentle tap on the cheek given to
the Catholic knights, after they have received the cloak and
cross, is omitted on this occasion; neither is the vow of chastity
and poverty enjoined.
The knights of the bailiwic of Brandenburg wear, by con-
sent of the king of Prussia, a scarlet uniform, with white
lapels, cuffs, and collar, and metal, buttons, on which is the
cross with eight points. The golden cross differs from that
worn by the Catholic knights, having the Prussian eagle in
the four angles of white enamel, instead of the fleurs de lys.
The Protestant commanders have larger crosses than the other
knights, and have alone the privilege of wearing a soubreveste.
The bailiff elected in the assembly of the chapter held at
/
1
1
:
1
1
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
259
Sonneburg takes his oath of allegiance to the king of Prussia,
ånd acknowledges as feudal lord the elector of Saxony from
the bailiwics of Friedland and Seckendorff, in Lower Lusatia,
being in his dominions. The bailiff likewise swears to fulfil
his engagements contracted with the grand-prior of Germany
and the order of Malta. His residence is fixed at Sonne-
burg, a small town, with a castle and large church, between
Frankfort on the Oder and Custrin. All affairs relative to the
bailiwics are settled in this place, where the assemblies of the
knights are likewise held. The greatest part of the estates in
their dependance enjoy great privileges, such as what is termed
high and low justice. There is a regency at Sonneburg, com-
posed of a chancellor and counsellors, before whom not only
the vassals of the bailiwic but the commanders are obliged to
appear.
The revenue of the bailiff, who is esteemed the first pre-
late in the electorate of Brandenburg, is about thirty thousand
crowns; and consists in the bailiwics of Sonneburg, Rampiz,
Gruneberg, Collin, Friedland, and Seckendorff.
The com-
manderies differ in value, but none among them produce an
income of more than ten thousand crowns, nor any less than
three thousand.
1
..
+
L
1
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waren
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HISTORY OF AIALTA..
4 General STATEMENT of the COMMANDERIES in the
Bailiwic of BRANDENBURG.
una
1
grave Joachim
>
Names of the Com-
Situation.
Origin.
Observations.
manderies.
Founded towards
the end of the
Divided lately into
13th century,
“1. and 2. Lagon . New Mark
two commanderies.
and belonged
tothe Templars
Foundation Also lately divideł
known. Tem- into two command-
3. and 4. Liezen. Middle Mark
plars.
eries.
Exchanged for The commander is also
that of Quart- bailiff or Landvoigt*
schen in 1540,
of the circle of Schi-
by the mar- velbein and Dlain-
burg, for which rea-
5. Schievelbein New Mark
II. Quartschen son those who have
was given, in obtained a reversion.
1232, by Ula- ary letter must ask
dislaus duke of the elector to be
Poland to the nominated to that
Templars.
bailiwic.
Founded by the Near this place Charles
margrave". Al- Gustavus king of
Sweden took the fa-
bert, whoreign-
6. Werben : Old Mark
ed from 1142
mous camp of Wer-
to
to 1170.
Duchy of Min-> Bought by the baili-
)
7. Wittersheim den, in West-
wic.
phalia
This commandery is al-
Founded by the
ternatively possessed
8. Supplingen- Duchy of Bruns-
emperor Lotha-
by a prince of the
rio II. in 1130.
burg
wick,
house of Brunswick
Templars.
and by a knight.
1
ben, in 1631.
* Prefectus.
)
.
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ILISTORY OF MALTA.
261
i
)
Such are the present possessions of the bailiwic of
Brandenburg, which were formerly much more considerable.
Though the knights can no longer have hopes of recovering
the property of which they have been deprived, they still lay
claim to two commanderies, named Mizow and Nemerow,
situated in Mecklenburg, and of which the dukes of that
country took possession at the peace of Westphalia.
The responsions of the commanderies do not amount in
the whole to more than three hundred and twenty-four golden
florins, thirty of which make fifty German crowns, to be paid
for each commandery to the chamber of Sonneburg.
All Catholic historians having either neglected giving any
account of this dismemberment of the order, or having spoken
of it in terms which nothing but the fanaticism of the times
could possibly excuse, I feel happy. in an opportunity of men-
tioning many particulars on the subject, and of acquainting
the reader, contrary to the opinion generally received, that
the order of Malta, though it regrets the motives which have
occasioned its separation from the knights of a different reli-
gion, does not refuse them a place among its members to fight
against the enemies of Jesus Christ. Pope Pius the Sixth, whose
virtues struck with awe even the cruel monsters his persecutors,
was of the same opinion, and approved the association of
the-Russian knights of the Greek church with the order of
Malta. It may indeed be reasonably expected, that such an
9
shoes
i
.
3
262
IfISTORY OF MALTA.
.
1
union will be attended by the most edifying and advantageous
consequences.
It would be unjust not to give due praise to the conduct
which the kings of Prussia have always held towards an order
from which, to all appearance, they could not reap the smallest
,
benefit. The despotism of this military kingdom has been
constantly spoken of with disapprobation, as have the methods
employed by its most powerful sovereigns to amass riches; yet
Frederick the Great, in the most disastrous moments of his
reign, never attempted to possess himself of the wealth belong-
ing to the bailiwic. of Brandenburg. By thus respecting the
rights of man, of which the first and greatest: is undoubt-
edly that of property, he not only inspired general confidence,
but gained the affection of his nobility, the firmest support of
his throne. This support, and a sentiment of justice, were, in
his opinion, of much more importance than the momentary
relief afforded by such an ụsurpation.
As an able administrator, he looked forward into futurity;
and was perfectly convinced, that those ministers who advised
such appropriation to supply the exigence of the moment were
preparing the way to the ruin of their country, and the fall of
their sovereign.
The property belonging to the French clergy, estimated at
a hundred millions of livres a-year, was no sooner placed in
the hands of government, to cover a deficit of at least sixty
7
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
263
>
millions, than its credit fell; and when to these resources were
added the domains themselves, together with those of the
richest proprietors, it was totally annihilated, and a general
bankruptcy ensued. Yet this government was in possession of
the largest capital at its own disposal that ever existed ; and,
had a very small part of it been regularly sold, it would have
been sufficient to have made up the deficit, and to have paid
both interest and principal of all the debts.
The consequence of thus destroying the nobility, the dif-
ferent orders of chivalry, and all the powerful bodies, which,
even while combating the power of the throne, were its princi-
pal support, became the overthrow of the sovereign himself.
Frederick the Great, when in possession of Silesia, suffered
all the Catholic commanderies belonging to the order of St.
John of Jerusalem to remain in that country; and this, because
he very well knew, that the knights of Malta were educated
in those strict principles of honour which would make them
faithful subjects and worthy citizens; and because, being so-
vereign of a country the very existence of which depends
upon the military, he felt the necessity of preserving an order
which kept up the spirit of warlike enthusiasm and the ideas of
glory, and called to remembrance the performance of extraor-
dinary exploits.
The same weighty considerations which engaged Frederick
to suffer the order of St. John to remain in his dominions,
have likewise induced the most celebrated princes to create
a
!
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2
264
HISTORY OF MALTA,
orders of knighthood to strengthen their government, to keep
up their grandeur, and support their weakness. If, in these
present days, the chiefs of the countries in which the order
possesses any property were actuated by the same senti-
ments, there would be no cause to apprehend that a minister
could be found so basely perfidious as to propose the invading
such property, or a monarch so weakly his own enemy as to
give a sanction to such conduct.
s
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
265
:
CHA P. V.
A general Chapter; how composed; Manner of assembling it; of deliber-
ating, and collecting Votes; Affairs treate, therein ; Time of its Dura-
tion. Ordinary, Complete, Secret, and Criminal Councils. Manner in
which the Dignities of the Order were divided among the different La
guages. Names of the Places in the Gift of the Grand-Master and
Council, Election of the Grand-Master ; his Revenue.
every five
HAVING already mentioned that the legislative power was
vested in the general chapter, and the principal part of the
executive entrusted to the councils, it will be now necessary to
speak of their origin, composition, and functions.
In former times the general chapters were regularly held
years, and in urgent cases were even convened once
in three years; but these assemblies afterwards only met every
tenth year, and there was an interval of nearly a century and
a half between the last two that were held*: the
popes
and
grand-masters being constantly agreed in avoiding these meet-
ings, which, as has been already observed, were both trouble-
some and dangerous.
The persons of whom these assemblies were composed,
,
and the ceremonies observed on the occasion, were as follow:
After hearing a solemn mass of the Holy Ghost, the grand-
master entered the hall where the general chapter was held,
|
* The first of these two chapters was held in 1631, during the grand-mastership of
Antoine de Paule; and the second in that of the grand-master Rohan, in the year 1776.
VOL. I.
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FI ISTORY OF MALTA.
and seated himself under a canopy, on a throne raised three
steps from the ground. Those members of the chapter who
.
filled any dignified post, and who were fifty-four in number,
were placed in the following order:
1
1
1. The bishop.
27. The grand-prior of Germany.
2. The prior of the church,
28. The grand-prior of Ireland.
3. The grand-commander.
29. The grand-prior of Bohemia.
4. The marshal.
30. The grand-prior of Hungary.
5. The hospitalier.
31. The bailiff of St. Euphemia.
6. The admiral.
32. The grand-prior of Catalonia.
-7. The grand-conservator.
33. The bailiff of Negropont.
8. The grand-bailiff.
34. The bailiff of the Morea.
9. The grand-chancellor.
35. The bailiff of Venusia.
10. The grand-prior of St. Giles. 86. The bailiff of St. Stephen.
11. The grand-prior of Auvergoe. 37. The bailiff of Majorca,
12. The grand-prior of France.
38. The bailiff of St. John of Naples.
13. The grand-prior of Aquitaine. 39. The bailiff of Lyons.
14. The grand-prior of Chainpagne.
40. The bailiff of Manosque,
15. The grand-prior of Toulouse. 41. The bailiff of Brandenburg.
16. The grand-prior of Rome.
42. The bailiff of Caspa.
17. The grand-prior of Lombardy. 43. The bailiff of Lora.
18. The grand-prior of Venice. 44. The bailiff of Aquila.
19. The grand-prior of Pisa.
45. The bailiff of Lango and Loza.
20.-.The grand-prior of Barletto. 46. The bailiff of St. Sepulchre.
21. The grand-prior of Messina. 47. The bailiff of Cremona.
22. The grand-prior of Capua. 1800 48. The grand-treasurer.
23. The castellan of Emposta, or the 49. The bailiff of Neuvillas.
grand-prior of Arragon.
50. The bailiff of Acre.
24. The grand-prior of Crato, or of 51. The bailiff of La Rocella.
Portugal.
52. The bailiff of Armenia.
25. The grand-prior of England. 53. The bailiff of Carlostad.
26. The grand-prior of Navarre. 54. The bailiff of St. Sebastian.
1
The second day of this assembly three commanders of
three different languages were elected according to the ma-
1
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FI ISTORY OF MALTA.
267
1
1
jority of votes, by the members of the chapter, to examine
the proxies who acted for the absent languages, priories, priors,
and bailiffs. If their procuration was in due form, they were
permitted to vote; if not, they were excluded from the assem-
bly. When the number of the members of the chapter was
once fixed, every one, according to his official rank and to
that of his language, presented a purse containing five pieces
of silver, and this he gave as a tribute of homage. The marshal,
from the same principle, delivered up the grand standard, and
the most distinguished officers the ensigns of their different
dignities. These were not returned till the chapter had passed
a fresh grant for that purpose. This custom, which cannot be
too much admired, had been established from time imme-
morial in the order of Malta
Three commissaries of different nations were chosen at the
same time to receive all petitions during the first three days
of the assembly, and these were either granted or rejected by
the general chapter; but, as the great number of members of
which it was composed would have made it very tedious to
have examined particularly into every different subject, a
committee of sixteen members, who were all commanders; was
appointed to decide on the occasion. Two of these com-
manders were named by each of the eight languages ; and after
being elected in due form, they made oathi before the grand-
master, who, with the other members of the chapter, likewise
swore to adopt and ratify all their determinations,
>
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ILISTORY OF MALTA."
--
any bus
This committee withdrew to a separate apartment to deli-
berate on the different affairs to be brought before the chapter;
but, lest these sixteen commanders should not be sufficiently
acquainted with the real interests of the order, and perhaps
from the idea that resolutions might be taken contrary to the
grand-master's wishes, his solicitor, with the vice-chancellor
and secretary of the treasury, were admitted into this private
assembly, though without the privilege of voting; the sixteen
alone having the right of regulating, ordaining, and judging
definitively (without appeal) of all affairs referred to them by
the general chapter. These great assemblies never lasted more
than a fortnight, and if at the expiration of that time
siness remained unsettled, it was left to be determined by other
commissaries, who were termed the council of reservation.
Independently of this occasional council, there were al-
ways four others in Malta, which supplied the place of the
general chapter, viz. the common, the complete, the secret,
and the criminal councils.
The common council consisted of the grand-master, the
conventual bailiffs, the knights dignified with the grand cross
residing at the time in Malta, and the proxies of the different
languages. All disputes relative to receptions, pensions, com-
manderies, dignities, and other subjects arising from: bulls
granted by the order, were decided in this council, which dif-
fered very little from the complete one, except indeed that in
the latter two ancient knights were added from each language,
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
269
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1
who, to entitle them to be admitted into the assembly, must
have resided at least five years in the convent. Appeals were
made to this council from the common and the criminal ones,
and it was only of late years that the custom of appealing to
Rome was first introduced ; but it soon became so common,
that in default of a general chapter, affairs of all kinds were
carried before that court, which alone gave dispensations,
made knights of minority, knights, bailiffs, and grand crosses,
,
by favour. It was indeed much to be apprehended, that be-
stowing dignities with so lavish a hand on particular persons,
would in the end have ruined the whole body of the order.
The secret council took cognizance of all state affairs, to-
gether with extraordinary and unexpected cases, which re-
quired an immediate decision. Any serious cause of com-
plaint against either a knight or a brother was brought before
this council, at which the grand-master or his. lieutenant al-
ways presided. The former had the sole right of proposing the
subjects of debate ; he had likewise the privilege of giving two
;
votes, and when the number was equal, his. vote was the
casting one.
There was also another council, usually called the vener-
able chamber of the treasury, and which, in fact, was the
exchequer of the order. .
Before the conventual and capitular dignities were appro-
priated to, and divided between, the languages, the general
chapter, as has been observed in another part of this history,
:
A
1
1
270
HISTORY OF MALTA.
.
bestowed them on the worthiest members of the community,
without regarding any particular nation. But since the
year
1466 these posts have been attached to the different languages,
and the pilliers, or conventual bailiffs, have had a right to claim
the first vacant dignity. For instance, in the language of Pro-
vence, the grand-commander might demand either the grand-
priory of St. Giles, that of Toulouse, or the bailiwic of Ma-
nosque. The grand-marshal in the language of Auvergne
might likewise lay claim to the grand-priory of the same name,
or to the bailiwic of Lyons; but if once he was named to one
of these titles, he could not afterwards apply for another.
Though the commanderies in the language of France were
particularly annexed to each priory, yet still the great dignities
appropriated to that language were bestowed indiscriminately
on all the knights of the three priories belonging to the same
națion; so that, independently of these priories, seniority alone
decided in favour of the knights of the French language of the
three grand-priories of France, Aquitaine, and Champagne ;
and according to that seniority they were named to the baili-
wic of the Morea held in Paris, to that of St. John de Lateran,
and to the treasurership which was united to the priory of
Corbeil.
The dignities and commanderies were in common in the
language of Italy.
The language of Arragon was composed not only of
knights of that kingdom, but of those from Catalonia and Na-
1
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1
..
A
HISTORY OF MALTA.
271.
varre,
>
If the grand-conservator happened to be either an
Arragonian or a native of Valencia, he had a right to the
castellany of Emposta, otherwise called the grand-priory of
,
Arragon.
The bailiwic of Majorca was bestowed indiscriminately on
the inhabitants of that island, or on the Catalonians; and the
bailiwic. of Caspa on the Arragonians and Valencians. From
this dignity the professor was named for the castellany of
Emposta.
The title of the bailiwic of Negropont, at present in parti-
bus and possessed by the Turks, was alternatively given to the
languages of Arragon and Castille. This might be quitted to
become chief of the inn, and also by the mutition of the same
bailiwic.
The dignity of grand-bailiff belonged indiscriminately to
the German and Bohemian knights. This gave a right to the
grand-priory of Germany, which was of more ancient date in
the order than the grand-bailiwic.
The chancellor might have been named grand-prior of
Castille, and in that case he became a grandee of Spain.
The grand-priory of Crato was in Portugal;, but the grand-
chancellor could not be appointed to it, lest he should offend
the king of Portugal, who pretended that the patronage of that
dignity belonged to his crown.
The grand-commander, who was pillier of the language of
Provence, might formerly have held the grand-priory of Hun-
!
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272
HISTORY OF MALTA.
to
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1
gary. Some time afterwards it became the privilege of the
admiral, who, for the time being, was pillier of the Italian lan-
guage ; but, in consequence of the abdication of the Italians
in 1603, this dignity became the property of the language of
Germany, and was bestowed in common on the knights of
that country, and on those of Bohemia.
Though the provinces of Transylvania, Wallachia, and
Moldavia, were formerly the ancient Duci, the order of St. John
gave the name of Duci, in the language of the middle
age,
the kingdoms of Denmark; Sweden, and Norway.
In the History of the Knights of Rhodes, mention is made,
that the grand-master de Gozon (Deodato) wrote into these
provinces to order responsions to be sent from thence; and
that in 1464 visitors were sent thither to keep up a proper de-
gree of regular and military discipline.
Independently of the dignified offices to which the mem-
bers of the order were elevated in the above-mentioned man-
ner, there were other posts and employments which we shall
proceed to enumerate, together with the persons who nomin-
ated to them.
The grand-master had a right to appoint his own lieuten-
ant, and after having named him, he acquainted the council
with his choice, though neither its approbation nor consent
was requisite on the occasion. He likewise named the sene-
schal of his household, who, on entering this office, received a
brief from the pope, to enable him to enjoy it for life.
>
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
273
The vice-chancellor was appointed by the grand-chancel-
lor, the secretary of the treasury by the grand-master, and the
master equerry by the grand-marshal. The grant of each of
these three posts was confirmed by the complete council, and
was for life.
The following officers were chosen by the grand-master :
The cavalerizze, or master of the horse.
The receiver of the grand-master's revenue.
The steward of the household.
The grand-master's solicitor of the treasury.
The grand-chamberlain.
The deputy-steward of the household.
The sub-cavalerizze, or first gentleman of the horse.
The falconer.
The captain of the guards.
Three auditors.
The.almoner and four chaplains.
Four chamberlains.
Four secretaries, for the Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish languagesa
The secretary, or intendant of the revenues of the principality.
The credencier, or clerk of the kitchen.
The garde-manger, or keeper of the pantry.
The keeper of the wardrobe.
4.
1
2
COUNSELLORS of the COMPLETE COUNCIL.
Fourteen counsellors taken from seven
of the languages
named by the languages, and ap-
Eight auditors of the treasury accounts proved by the council.
Two solicitors of the treasury, both of whom were knights, with the grand
cross. They were named by the grand-master, and approved by the
council.
The conventual conservator, already mentioned in the article of conventual
bailiffs.
VOL. I.
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274
IIISTORY OF MALTA.
1
1
The controller of the conservatory, in the gift of the grand-master and council.
The castellain of the castellany. This office commenced on the 1st of May,
and continued two years.
Two solicitors for the prisoners, the poor, the widows and orphans, one of
whom was a knight, and the other a priest, who was either a chaplain or a
brother of obedience.
The protector of the monastery of St.
a grand cross.
: Ursula
Two prud'hommes, or controllers of
a grand cross and a knight.
the church
Three commissaries for the poor beggars . grand crosses.
Two commissaries for dispensing alms, a grand cross and a knight.
Two commissaries for sick poor women. knights.
Two protectors of the catechumens
a grand cross and a knight.
and the new conyents
}
of}
.
}
Three commissaries of redesteption, in } a grand cross and two knights.
}
a knight of the language of France,
The overseer of the infirmary
in the presentation of the grand-
hospitaller.
The prior and sub-prior of the infirm-“
appointed by the grand-hospitaller.
ary
Approved by the grand-master and
The scribe
council.
The armourier, or press keeper
Two prud'hommes, or controllers of two knights named by the grand-ma-
the infirmary
s ster, and approved by the council.
four grand crosses from the four na-
Four commissaries of war and fortifi-
tions of France, Spain, Italy, and
cations
Germany.
Four commissaries of the congrega-
four knights of the four nations.
tion of galleys
Two commissaries for regulating the
grand crosses.
caravans
Four commissaries for naval armaments . three grand crosses and a knight.
A president and four commissaries for
... the congregation of vessels belong-Ya grand cross and four knights.
; }
1
1
ing to the four nations
c
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
275
}
}
of}
1
!
{
of}
3
0
Two commissioners of the chest for the
a grand cross and a knight.
flags
Three commissioners for the novices in
the different languages
a grand cross and two knights.
Two commissioners for the effects of
knights.
the deceased
Twocommissioners for the slaves' prison , knights.
S a serving brother, appointed by the
The governor of the slaves' prison :
grand-master.
Two commissioners of the mint
grand crosses.
Four commissioners of the nobles four knights of the four nations.
Three commissioners of agreements knights.
a knight named by the grand-com-
The governor of the store-houses
mander.
Two prud'hommes, or controllers of
the stores
knights.
Two commmissioners of houses . knights,
knights: but when infectious dis-
Two commissioners of health
tempers were apprehended, four.
grand crosses were joined in the
office.
The commander of the artillery
a knight, appointed by the grand-
{ commander.
Two controllers of the artillery . knights.
S knights named by the grand-ma-
Two commissioners of the soldiery.
ster.
The fiscal or attorney
generally a brother of obedience.
a serving brother, appointed by the
The deputy master equerry
grand-master, who acquainted the
council with his nomination.
The porter of La Valetta
a serving brother, in the gift of the
grand-master.
The governor of the arsenal
a knight named by the grand-com-
mander.
The controller of the arsenal ..
a knight presented by the admiral.
The vestry keeper
The keeper of the candles for St. brother chaplains appointed by the
John's church
grand-commander.
The belfrey keeper
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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3
The general of the galley, who made choice of the admiral's galley, and pre-
sented it to the council.
A captain and patron for each galley.
The reveditor, or inspector of the galleys.
The commodore of the men-of-war.
A captain to each ship, with several subaltern officers.
The proveditor of the men-of-war.
GOVERNORS
)
a
R
Of Goza
St. Angelo
St Elmo
Ricasoli
governments in the gift of the grand-master.
the Town
the isle of La Sangle
The captains of the city La Valetta
The seven captains of the hamlets or
villages
>in the gift of the grand-master.
The captain of the
}a a serving brother
Boschetto
The three judges of appeals, criminal lawyers and doctors of the civil law,
and civil causes
named by the council.
3
i
Dignified Offices without the Convent.
The order always sent ambassadors to the four following courts :
Rome,
those to France and Spain were knights wearing the
Vienna,
grand cross; but knights with only the little cross were
Paris, and
frequently sent to Rome. These embassies were for
Madrid
three years, but that time was often prolonged.
these were changed every three years, and
A receiver for each priory { presented to the council by the treasury.
A solicitor for each priory Şpresented and changed in the same manner as
2 the receivers.
The grand-master was the general patron of all the above-mentioned
offices, the particular ones of which have not been named. This prince, how,
ever, was obliged to acquaint the council with his choice, and that assembly
had the right of admission or rejection.
;
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FIISTORY OF MALTA.
277
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11
)
The above were nearly all the dignities and employments
which the order had to bestow; and the grand-mastership was
the highest degree of eminence to which a knight of justice
could possibly pretend. The ceremony of his election, and
the amount of his revenue, were as follow:-
Immediately after the death of a grand-master, the seal
of his office was broken by order of council, and a lieutenant
appointed to act as chief of the knights, who, jointly with the
council, managed the affairs of government, but without the
privilege of making grants, bestowing favours, or receiving any
benefit from the revenue of the grand-mastership.
The corpse of the deceased was carried on the second day
after his death into the great hall of the palace, and placed on
a catafalque. To the right was a table covered with black
clotki, on which was laid a complete suit of armour, and his
remains were interred the same evening with great funeral
pomp. Whilst the grand-mastership continued vacant, the
conventual conservator was suspended from his office, and the
same day three knights of different nations were appointed to
receive whatsoever sums were owing to the treasury from the
knights who purposed voting at the election. A list was then
made of all who were competent to give in their votes, and
this was fixed on the door of the church of St. John, together
with the names of such knights as, remaining still in debt to
the treasury, were incapacitated from voting for the time.
No one was entitled to vote at the election of a grand-
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HISTORY OF MALTA
years in:
master unless he had been received as knight of justice, was
arrived at the age of eighteen years, had resided three
the convent, made three caravans, and was not indebted more:
than ten crowns to the common treasury. Though the brother
chaplains (provided they were priests), and the serving brothers
of arms, were permitted to give their votes in the different
languages into which they had been received, this circumstance
did not entitle them in future to the smallest share in the
go-
vernment; but the Maltese who, in virtue of a particular dis-
pensation from the pope, had been received into any of the
languages, were not allowed to vote on this occasion, and still
less to be candidates for such dignity. This general exclusion
was probably intended to prevent the ill consequences of having
a Maltese grand-master, who would most likely have been
tempted to make every effort to place the sovereignty of the
island permanently in the hands of his countrymen.
The third day after the grand-master's decease was always
fixed
upon for proceeding to the election of his successor ; and
this important affair was never delayed for a greater 'length of
time, to prevent all canvassing and caballing, and also to avoid
some certain pretensions of the court of Rome, where it was
an established maxim, that whilst this post remained vacant
the pope had a right to prevent the nomination of any par-
ticular grand-master: it was therefore on the third day that,
after the celebration of a solemn mass of the Holy Ghost in the
church of St. John, the whole convent assembled in that place.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
279
The eight languages which composed the body of the order
retired into their respective chapels, except, indeed, that from
which the lieutenant of the mastership had been chosen, which
remained in the nave of the church. Each of these languages
named three electors from among the knights, who were to
vote for the whole : consequently the number amounted to
twenty-four.
The members of the order, assembled in their different
chapels, wrote down, according to seniority, the name of the
knight whom they had chosen first or chief of three electors in
their language ; and, to prove that he was properly elected, they
were obliged to sign their own names at the bottom of the
ticket, and seal it with the signet of their language.
When those who were entitled to votes in a language had
given them in the above-mentioned manner, the solicitor took
the billets or tickets, and counted them over in the presence of
the whole language. This was done to examine whether their
number agreed with that of the votes ; if not, they were im-
mediately burned, and fresh ones taken till there were exactly
as many billets as voters. If, on the contrary, every thing
was found to be in due order, the solicitor and the seniors of
the language opened the billets at the place where the first
elector's name was written: after which, the votes in favour of
the other knights competitors for this distinction were, counted;
and if not one among them had a clear quarter part of the
ballots of his language, the voting was begun again, and con-
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IIISTORY OF MALTA.
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tinued till one of the knights was found to be properly quali-
fied. The knight thus chosen then took the oath ordained in
the statutes to the lieutenant of the mastership, and went into
the conclave. The balloting for the two other electors next
took place, and they were likewise chosen by the majority of
votes: it, however, generally happened that all the three
electors were named at the first ballot.
A clear quarter part of the votes in a language implied
a number which was rather more than a fourth part of the
members who composed the said language; or, in other words,
which was not contained four times in the number of voters.
The clear quarter part of nine was therefore three; of thirteen,
four; and of seventeen, five, &c. Whenever the votes hap-
pened to equal the clear quarter part, the senior carried it, and
the three electors proceeded to take their seats as such in the
conclave. Should the lieutenant of the mastership be chosen
by his language for one of the above-mentioned electors, the
council of state immediately named another to supply his
place, that the government might not remain a moment with-
out a proper superior.
The electors of the respective languages then assembled
in the conclave to the number of twenty-four, who were all
knights of justice or grand-crosses: the bishop of Malta and
the prior of the church were indeed allowed to be of the num-
ber, the dignity of their different offices being admitted, in
their particular case, as an equivalent for noble extraction.-
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
281
>
>
The twenty-four electors having taken the oaths to the lieu-
tenant of the mastership, chose a president for the election,
and this nomination abolished the office of lieutenant. The
triumvirate was afterwards chosen ; consisting of a knight, a
chaplain (who was a priest), and a serving brother, whom the
original twenty-four electors invested with the power of elec- :
tion, and then retired from the conclave.
The triumvirate, after having taken the oaths, went
into the chamber of the conclave, and made choice be-
tween themselves of a fourth elector, who, joined with the
other three, elected a fifth, and so on till they had chosen
thirteen, who with the three original ones made altogether
sixteen in number, that is, two for each language. The pre-
eminence of the languages was not attended to in the choice
of the triumvirate, and the first five electors chosen by it; but
that was not the case with regard to the other eight, who were
nominated according to the rank of their respective languages.
If the triumvirate disagreed in the choice of the fourth
elector, and came to no determination before one hour was
elapsed, they were each obliged to name one person; and these
three were balloted for by the first twenty-four electors, who
made their scrutiny in the vestry on this occasion, when the
choice was determined in favour of him who had the majority
of votes; but if the votes were equal, the senior knight was
elected. The thirteen new electors took the usual oath to the
president of the election, each in his turn, and were afterwards
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joined to the triumvirate; when one or more candidates were
balloted for among themselves, and he who had the majority
was elected grand-master; but when the votes were equally
divided, the knight of the election had the casting vote:
Strange as this extraordinary mode of proceeding may appear
to the reader, the knights had certainly great reason to adopt
it, since this continual change of electors prevented any pri-
vate measures which might have been taken by different per-
sons on so important an occasion, the election entirely depend-
ing on the choice of those who were indebted to chance alone
for the power of voting. All cabals and intrigues were thus
rendered entirely useless, and this noble republic had an op-
portunity of gratifying all the members of the order, each of
whom flattered himself with having had a particular share in
the election of the grand-master.
The ballot being over, the triumvirate quitted the last thir-
teen electors, and went towards the balustrade of the gallery
of the great door, where the knight of the election, having the
chaplain on his right and the serving brother on his left, de-
manded three times of the members of the order assembled in
the church whether they were disposed to ratify the election
of the grand-master who had just been chosen ; and on the
whole assembly declaring its approbation, the knight of the
election proclaimed the grand-master in a loud voice *
1
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:
* At the election of a doge of Venice, all the nobles who had passed the age of thirty years
assembled in St. Mark's Place, and put as many balls into a vase as there were noblemen pre-
sent. Thirty of these balls were gilt, and those to whose lot they fell put in nine of the
..
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
283
:
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If the newly-elected prince happened to be present, he im-
mediately took his place under the canopy, and having taken the
oaths to the prior of the church, Te Deum was sung; after which
he received homage from all the members of the order, and
was carried in triumph to his palace. The treasury, on the
following day, presented three crowns to each member of
the order, whether novices or professed. This was done to
prevent the grand-master's house from being pillaged; and
a day or two afterwards, the complete council put him in pos-
session of the sovereignty of Malta and Goza. He therefore
had not only a military and regular superiority over all the
members of his order, but sovereign power and all regal rights
over his subjects, the laity: this power was, however, in some
degree restricted.
In former times the revenue of the grand-master was very
inconsiderable, but it has since been sufficiently encreased to
enable him to support his princely dignity in a proper man-
This revenue might properly be divided into two parts,
the one arising from the principality, and the other the in-
come annexed to the grand-mastership.
6
2
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9
gilded ones among twenty-one white balls; and this they did in the presence of the state.
The nine nobles who drew the gilded balls chose forty others, all of different families, but
they were allowed to name themselves of the number. These forty were again reduced by
lot to twelve, who chose twenty-five, the first among them naming three, and each of the
others two. The twenty-five again drew lots, and were reduced to nine. These named five
each, making in the whole forty-five, who cast lots once more, and were reduced to eleven,
who, in the last place, made choice of forty-one, and these elected the doge; that is, if their
election was confirmed by the great council, otherwise the whole ceremony began anew,
and continued till forty-one more were elected.
0 0%
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284
HISTORY OF MALTA.
The first consisted of custom-house duties, amounting to
nearly a hundred thousand Maltese crowns, of assizes, duties
on salt, title deeds of demesnes, farms, houses, gardens, and
fines for alienation, making altogether another hundred thou-
sand crowns; duties paid by the admiralty at the rate of ten
per cent on all prizes, mulcts, and confiscations; the whole
amounting to about two hundred thousand crowns.
The second consisted of six thousand crowns annually paid
by the treasury for the support of the grand-master's table,
with two hundred for keeping his palace and country-house
in proper repair: a very moderate sum in proportion to the
dignity of his office, but it serves to shew the economy and
sobriety of the time when such regulations were made.
The grand-master received an annat for all the command-
eries by favour, which the different princes bestowed once in
five years. He had also the perpetual enjoyment of a com-
mandery in every priory. This was called the magisterial
chamber, from being annexed to the mastership, and he had
the privilege of appointing a person to govern it in his name.
The choice of the governor being left entirely to the prince,
it sometimes happened that it was bestowed on a novice.
Whenever the grand-master appointed a knight to one of
these commanderies, he not only received two annates, but
was likewise at liberty to reserve a pension for himself; the
knight, however, was dispensed from paying either the mor-
tuary or vacancy fees,
2
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
285
The whole amount of the grand-master's revenue, accord-
ing to the above calculation, might be estimated in general at
rather above four hundred thousand crowns, making about
forty thousand pounds sterling.
The tiles given by the kings of England and France to
the grand-master have been already mentioned, as well as those
bestowed on the order. The following is that given him in all
public acts.
Dei Gratia, Domus Hospitalis Sancti Joannis Hierosolimi-
tani, Militaris Ordinis Sancti Sepulcri Dominici, et Ordinis Sancti
Antonii Viennensis Magister Humilis, Pauperumque Jesu Christi
Custos.
Letters were addressed to the grand-master in the follow-
ing terms: Alla Sua Altezza Eminentissima il Gran-Maestro
Fra. N:
All the acts passed in the convent styled him Eminentissi-
mo e reverendissimo Signor Gran-Maestro, Fra. N.
ma
1
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286
HISTORY OF MALTA.
:
List of the MAGISTERIAL COMMANDERIES which formed a
Part of the GRAND-MASTER's Revenue.
.'
{
Names of the Languages.
Priories.
Commanderies.
St. Giles
Perenas.
Provence
2 Toulouse
Puysubran.
Auvergne Auvergne
De Salins..
Hainault.
Priory of France
Picton.
France
Champagne
Metz.
Aquitaine
Temple of La Rochelle.
Lombardy
Inverno.
Rome
Mugnano.
Venice
Treviso.
Italy.
Pisa
Prato.
Capua
Ciciano,
Barletta
S Brindisi.
Maruggio.
Messina
Politizzi.
Castellan d'Emposta. Aliaga. .
Arragon
Catalonia
Masden.
Navarre
Galchelas.
England.
England
Pescens.
Ireland
Germany
S Germany
Buez.
Bohemia
Wladislavia.
Castille
S Castille
D'Olmos & del Viso,
Portugal, or Crato Villacova,
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
287
'CH A P.
VI.
;
On the Finances of the Order. General Observations on the Science of
Finance. Meaning of Deficit. Origin of Loans. Venerable Chamber
of the common Treasury; in what Manner composed ; its Functions, ;
Arrangement of the Accounts; general Receipt; Explanation of the
Articles which compose it. The annual Produce, on an Average of
ten Years. Contingent of each Language. Income of different Foun-
dations fallen into the Treasury; their Amount, and how employed.
Explanation of the Articles which form the general Expences of the
Order ; their annual Amount, on an Average of ten years. A Com-
parison between the Balance of the Treasury in April, 1779, and
April, 1789. A Table of Receipts and Expences.
و
7
THE science of finance was never carried to so high a point
of perfection, nor studied with so much attention, as in the
last century. The expences of all the different powers ex-
ceeding their revenues, it was necessary to devise some method
to supply the void in the sovereign's coffers. This void is
termed deficit ; and those ministers who were most skilled in
the art of procuring money were regarded as the most able,
and the only ones, indeed, whom a prince was desirous of re-
taining in his service. This necessity gave rise to what is
called the science of finance ; the knowledge of which raises a
nation to the height of glory, while ignorance of it plunges it
into an abyss of misery.
Such repeated want of money made it necessary to borrow,
by way of loan ; consequently, to establish a certain degree of
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
a
-
credit: whence arose the obligation of giving in accounts,
and the estimation in which a government was held by the
other European powers.
Since, then, in the present order of things, the real so-
lidity of a state can only be judged of by a knowledge of its
finances, I may surely be excused for giving the following par-
ticulars relative to those of Malta, since they cannot fail of
impressing the reader with a most favourable idea of the wis-
dom of the administration and the excellence of the govern-
ment.
The venerable chamber of the treasury might justly be
considered as the general office for the finances of the order,
since every thing relative to the receipts and expences of the
government was considered in that meeting. The administra-
tors frequently published a statement of the accounts, and the
balance resulting. The table of the revenues which composed
it, together with the manner of employing them, will sufficiently
prove that the affairs of Malta were as complicated as those
of the most powerful governments.
The property of the order being dispersed throughout the
different Catholic countries in Europe, made the exact estima-
tion and collection of the revenues difficult and embarrassing.
It was therefore absolutely necessary to have separate coffers,
and every priory had one for its own particular use. The
money deposited therein was afterwards removed to others
established in twenty-nine towns, selected for that purpose on
a
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
289
15
account of their commodious situation.
Those who were
charged with the management of these coffers were termed
receivers, and the money paid in was called receipts. The trea-
sury, having no other means of receiving this money but by
bills of exchange, was under the necessity of acting as a ge-
neral banker. This bank had a correspondence which extended
from Cadiz to Warsaw, and even of late to Petersburg. The
exchange varied so frequently, that an exact statement of
the receipt and expenditure was often attended with much
difficulty.
Most of the articles in which the finances of Malta con-
sisted having preserved their ancient names, which were pecu-
liar to the order alone, I have explained every particular in
such a manner as to give a clear and exact idea of the whole.
But I think it necessary, in the first place, to make the reader
acquainted with the composition and functions of the different
chambers or offices which formed the general administration
of the treasury of the order.
The venerable chamber of the common treasury, properly
so called, was composed of a president, three procurators (one
of whom was for the grand-master), the conventual conservator,
two auditors of accounts, and two secretaries. A commission
of four knights, decorated with the grand cross, was added on
particular occasions. When this assembly took the name of
accountant’s-office, the grand-treasurer and an auditor of ac-
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HISTORY. Or MALTA.
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counts from each language were joined to the above-men-
tioned members.
This accountant's office was likewise erected into a tri-
bunal of justice: and at these times two lawyers were allowed
to plead; the one for the office, and the other for the parties
concerned.
The grand-commander, or, in his absence, his lieutenant,
was perpetual president, in right of his office, of the common
treasury, together with all the chambers and commissions ap-
pertaining thereto. This first dignity in the order had great
prerogatives, among which, the most important was the power
of breaking up the sittings in which he presided. If the sub-
ject treated in the chamber of the treasury met with his disap-
probation, he needed only retire, to stop all further delibera-
tion. His lieutenant, when he acted for him, enjoyed the
same privileges.
The two procurators were placed next the president, and
were always grand crosses of different nations, named by the
grand-master and council for the space of five years, after
which it was necessary that they should be confirmed in their
office ia second time. Only one of the procurators was
changed, because it was necessary to retain a person perfectly
acquainted with the course of affairs. The grand-master's pro-
curator came next: he too was generally a grand cross, and
chosen by the superior, who presented him to the council,
5.
$
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
291
:
which had the right of acceptance or refusal. Its approbation,
indeed, was equally necessary for him as for the others; though
his principal office was to attend, in behalf of the grand-
master, to the distribution of the revenue, with which, in his
capacity, it was greatly his interest to be perfectly well ac-
quainted. The conventual conservator preceded the grand-
master's procurator: he had a vote in all the different cham-
bers, and was chief of the conservatory, in which all the money
and valuable effects in the treasury were kept. This office was
triennial, and all the languages were equally competent to the
holding it. The conventual conservators paid all the drafts
granted by the chamber of the treasury, which of itself could
not give out an assignment for more than the value of five
hundred Maltese crowns. Whenever there was question of a
more considerable sum, recourse was had to the council, which
expedited the affair in the court of chancery.
The conservator gave in his accounts to the treasury every
three months, and produced a register with the assignments for
all the different payments he had made. Every thing of this
sort being dispatched in the chamber of the treasury and en-
tered in a book, the proof was easy.
The moment an assign-
ment was compared with the account taken in the above-
mentioned book, and found just, it was torn in half, filed in
proper order, and remained as a voucher:
The two-auditors of accounts were chosen by lot from
among those appointed by each language to assist in the ac-
1
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
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2
counts of the treasury, and it was necessary they should be of
different nations. They had each a vote, and might be re-
garded as inspectors for all the languages of every thing which
passed in the chamber.
The secretary of the treasury was, properly speaking, only
a first clerk; his office was, however, a very important one,
and required great exactness.
great exactness. This place was in the nomina-
tion of the grand-master and council; it might be bestowed on
a Maltese, and no person could be dismissed from this office
without either being brought to trial or appointed to another
place, of which he had the choice. He had only a consulting
vote in the different chambers of the treasury: his office con-
sisted in balancing and concluding the accounts, in presence of
the two auditors ; in giving, and seeing to the payment of, all
bills of exchange; in short, in attending to all affairs relative
to the management and security of the finances.
There were some occasions when a commission of four
grand-crosses might be added to the usual members of the cham-
ber: for instance, when there was question of economy, or of
making reforms in financial affairs. These grand-crosses were
always of different nations, and only named for a limited time,
which was fixed by the grand-master and council. The grand
commander constantly presided in this commission..
The grand treasurer, or his lieutenant, had the right of
being present when the accounts were given in to the com-
mon treasury: formerly, indeed, he was always included in the
>
HISTORY OF MALTA.
293
:
number of conventual bailiff's, and the coffers of the order were
entrusted to his care; but this function having been afterwards
transferred to the conventual conservator, and the bailiwic
being annexed to the language of Germany, the charge of
grand-treasurer remained a capitular bailiwic attached to the
French language. The grand-treasurer took his seat in the
accountant's office according to his rank as grand-cross, though
always after the grand commander.
Every different language made choice of an auditor of
accounts; and having named one to that office, immediately
;
appointed another to supply his place in case of necessity.
These auditors were obliged to be presented by the languages
to the council, which had the right of refusing them, an
event however which scarcely ever happened; but if it did,
the language to which the auditor belonged was under the
necessity of making another choice. If they were appointed
by the council, they. instantly took the requisite oaths before
the grand-master. The most ancient of these auditors, viz. he
who belonged to the language of Provence, assembled his
colleagues. every year, and they drew lots for the particular
functions they were to exercise. Two of the number, as has
been already observed, were attached to the service of the
ordinary chamber, and the others to the storehouses, to revising
the accounts, &c. &c.; but two of the same nation were not
permitted to act together.
All the members of the order, charged with the manage
294
HISTORY OF MALTA.
.
1
ment of any part of the finances, of whatsoever nature, were
under the control of the venerable chamber of the treasury,
to which they were obliged to give in their accounts.
Whenever this chamber was employed as a hall of justice,
two languages were admitted; the one on the side of the
chamber, and the other on that of the parties concerned.
These entered into the merits of the cause, in presence of
the whole assembly of members, and answered whatsoever
questions any individual chose to put to them. They after-
wards retired, the tribunal deliberated on the affair, and passed
sentence accordingly. The parties were at liberty to appeal
to the ordinary council of the order, and afterwards to the
complete council.
Every priory had a receiver's office, and a separate re-
ceiver appointed by the grand-master and council, who acted
immediately under the orders of the chamber of the treasury,
with which he corresponded, at least every month; when he
sent a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the said
month, and a general account was taken at the end of each
year.
This was revised by the secretary of the treasury, who
likewise presented it to the accountant's office, but not till it
had been verified by four commissioners, when the said office
admitted or rejected it at pleasure.
Nothing could possibly be more admirable than the at-
tention paid to prevent the abuses which generally creep into
the administration of the finances, in almost all governments;
:
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
295
1
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1
but here the superior had only one representative, and even
he could not be admitted without the approbation of the
council.
The different languages had likewise theirs, and no more
than one member of each nation was ever admitted into a
private commission. No person could of himself dispose of a
single farthing, and even the drafts given out by the chamber
of the treasury were limited, and might not exceed the trifling
sum of five hundred crowns.
The following tables of the receipts and expenditure of
the order, during the course of ten years, will clearly prove that
the skill displayed in the administration of the finances, to pre-
vent the public money being improperly distributed or wasted,
was equally great in discovering the proper methods to be
employed, and in making a just and prudent subdivision of
the whole,
.
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HISTORY OF MALTA.
2
TABLE 1.
GENERAL RECEIPT.
ARTICLE I.
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788, inclusive:
!
English Money.
66 de
S.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
Responsions.
THESE were a general tax assessed upon all
the dignities and commanderies of the order.
This appears to have been first levied towards the
thirteenth century, and has since varied according
to circumstances. The order, in a general chap-
ter, had the power of compelling the commanders
to pay into the common treasury the quarter, and
even the half, of their income, and this at plea-
sure: it had likewise the sole authority both to
impose and to regulate these taxes.
The last responsions paid in the last general
chapter, held in 1775, ought to have amounted to
the sum of 500,000 crowns *; but on a represent-
ation being made by the German language, a
diminution was granted, and reduced the respon-
sions to 467,757
475,207 4 6
This-tax was afterwards encreased by the resti-
tution of the priory in Poland, and the creation
of that in Bavaria.
The responsions from Poland were received for
the first time in 1782, and produced 6000 crowns
!
47,520 14 81
* A Maltese crown contains twelve tarins and twenty Maltese grains. A crown is worth
two English shillings, and a tarin two pence.
a
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FIISTORY OF MALTA
297
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
English Money.
k
d.
G.
S.
1
Maltese Money.
a-year. They might indeed afterwards have Crowns.
T.
been encreased to 7,500.
Those from Bavaria, which during the lives of
the first commanderies were only to pay 21 per
cent for each commandery, would immediately
after their deaths have paid at the rate of 10 per
cent, which would have brought in a sum of 15,170
crowns.
i
ARTICLE II.
Mortuary and Vacancy.
The revenue of all vacant commanderies be-
longed to the treasury from the moment of the
commander's decease to the 1st of May follow-
ing*, and this was termed the year of the mortuary.
Likewise the whole of the next twelvemonth, call-
ed the year of the vacancy. For some time past
the revenue of two years was constantly paid in.
This duty was first established towards the middle
of the fourteenth century.
214,721 9 9, 21,472 37
9.
1
1
ARTICLE III,
Passage.
The passage was a fee paid to the treasury by
all those who were admitted into the order.
It was of two kinds, viz. the minority passage,
and the majority passage. The first was paid by
those who entered the order in their infant years,
and took rise originally in the year 1631. This
fee was fixed at 360 Spanish pistoles for the
knights, and 288 both for conventual chaplains
܀
* The year was reckoned by the treasury to commence always on the 1st of May; it con.
sequently ended on the following 30th of April,
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298
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
,
from 1779 to 1788.
À
Maltese Money.
English Money.
Crowns. T. G.
£
do
and serving brothers of arms. The Spanish
pistole is valued at the rate of eight crowns five
grains Maltese money.
There were two majority passages, the fees of
which were equal. The first was that of the
pages, who entered at twelve
tered at twelve years old as page to
the grand-master, and quitted that service at fif-
teen. The second was what might properly be
termed majority passage, and included all knights
received after the age of sixteen. The fees were
125 pistoles; 100 for the chaplains, 115 for the
servants of arms, and 33 for the donats or bro-
thers, who were usually employed in the service
of the inns.
203,344 88 20,334 4
1
...
(
ARTICLE IV.
.
Spoils.
The spoils consisted in the produce of all the
effects of a professed knight at his decease, with the
exception indeed of the quint or fifth part, which,
with the permission of the grand-master, he was
at liberty to dispose of at pleasure.
947,55 0 11. 24,755 00
;
ARTICLE V.
Priory Annates.
Each grand-priory having the privilege of
naming to a commandery every five years, the
knights who were appointed to this dignity paid
the first year's revenue of their commanderies
into the treasury; and this was termed priory
annat.
4,774 S 8
477 g 4
ག
1
-
}
LLISTORY OF MALTA,
299
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
*
di
&i
.
>
ARTICLE VI.
Priory Presents.
The statutes ordained that each priory should
present an offering to the conventual church of
St. John once during the time it was held by the
same person. This present was fixed at fifty
Spanish pistoles from the priories of the first or-
der, and forty from the second, and might be
paid either in kind or in specie. Most of them
preferred the latter method, by which means the
church was deprived of the advantage of these of-
ferings, and the money paid into the coffers of the
treasury.
503
2 15
50 6 5
ARTICLE VII.
3
Presents.
All gifts paid into the treasury at different
times by the knights were comprised in this ar-
ticle.
1,465 8 1
1 .. 146 il
11
4
ARTICLE VIII.
Timber.
All the forest trees of a large size in the differ-
ent commanderies of the order belonged to the
treasury; and the revenue of this article consisted
in the sale of such timber, which was almost en-
tirely cut down in the commanderies situated in
France. This resource was formerly very consi-
derable, but was beginning to fail for some years
past.
ARTICLE IX.
Renounced Pensions.
All pensions being subject to the mortuary
and vacancy duties of the commanderies and
47,982 11 3 4,798 5 11
QQ 2
.
:
300
HISTORY OF MALTA.
1
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788,
Malteſe Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
ke
d.
S.
ܪ
+
other dignities on which they were placed, the
persons possessed of them suffered great inconve-
nience whilst these vacancies lasted ; and as they
happened very frequently, the last general chap-
ter, in consideration of the said inconvenience,
permitted the pensions to be renounced in fa-
vour of the treasury; which, after retaining ten
per cent, agreed to pay the remainder annually
to the pensioner, and that without interruption
either from vacancies or any other cause whatso-
ever. This composition not only cleared the pen-
sions from all the above mortuary duties, &c. but
likewise from any negligence of which the com-
manders might be guilty in the regular payment
of them. This kind of composition had, however,
been abolished of late ycars.
!.
!
1,610 4 8 .
161 08
ARTICLE X.
Rents of different kinds.
This article consisted principally in the interest
of all the funds placed by the members out of the
convent, and which belonged to the treasury after
their deaths. It likewise comprised the rent of a
few houses situated out of the convent, which
were the property of the treasury.
29,951 111. 2,995 2 3
ARTICLE XI.
Different Foundations.
These consisted in divers foundations made by
the members of the order for different purposes,
such as the maintenance of the galleys, hospital,
fortifications, &c.; but the interest being insuffi-
cient to answer the end proposed, the annual
pro-
duct was paid into the public coffer, which, on
..
6
.
.
..
/
HISTORY OF MALTA.
01
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
ind
Maltese Money.
Crowns. I. G.
English Money.
£
d.
i
$.
that account, engaged itself to make up all defi-
ciencies.
6,110 7 0.
61 1 0
5
ARTICLE XII.
Foundations vested in the Treasury.
These comprised the four foundations made by
Lascaris, Paulo
and Caraffa; the admi-
nistration of which was entrusted to the treasury.
This property was all situated in the island. 34,302 5 11
3,430 4 104
ARTICLE XIII.
Houses belonging to the Treasury.
The rents of several houses, storehouses, and a
few gardens in Malta, all of which were the pro-
perty of the treasury.
4,333 6 0 :
433 0.0
mi
ARTICLE XIV.
Lazaretto Dutres,
The storehouses belonging to the Lazaretto
being built by the treasury, all the merchandises
lodged in them to perform quarantine paid about
one per cent of the value of the goods, by way
of indemnification for so considerable an expence. 1,311 9.0 . 131
3 6
ARTICLE XV.
The Pope's Bull, and Printing-Office..
A bull from the pope was granted, and distri-
buted every year*, to permit eggs and butter to
be eaten during Lent.. The sale of this permis-
.
2
܀
* This bull, called the Crusade, was published in Spain and Portugal, and the money pro-
duced from it was applied to the use of the admiralty, and the fitting out expeditions against the
infidels,
1
302
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
omwa
Maltese Money.
English Money.
Crowns T. G.
$.
d.
sion, together with the product of the printing-
office situated in the grand-master's palace,
amounted to
10,557 2 13 · 1,055 14 6
S.
0
ARTICLE XVI.
Duties paid by the Nobles.
A trifling duty ordained by the statutes to be
paid by every member of the order, at his recep-
tion, into the treasury, on condition that the
said treasury should defray the expences of all
law-suits relative to first receptions till such time
as the sentence of the rota should be pronounced.
I
440 87
44 4
14
ARTICLE XVII.
Ransom of Slaves.
The order restored to liberty the Turkish
slaves in its possession on being paid their ran-
som, which produced.
16,617 4 18 1,661 14 6
ARTICLE XVIII.
直
​Minting, or coining of Money.
The order at one time was allowed the privi-
lege of buying up Spanish pistoles, by which
means they gained five per cent; but since the
government encreased their value to six and a
half, the treasury no longer thought it worth while
to convert them into Maltese coins *
2,504 2 0 .
250 8 4
ARTICLE XIX.
Lottery.
The treasury opened a lottery in 1781, which
was obliged to be shut up before the tickets were
* The coinage of gold specie was also sometimes very expensive.
1
4
1
1
1
HISTORY OF MALTA.
309
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns, T. G.
English Money.
£
d.
S.
all drawn; and the value of the prizes left in the
wheel being greater than that of the tickets, the
order gained the sum of .
2,866 7 19
286 13 0
ARTICLE XX.
Interest of Money advanced by the Treasury.
The treasury lent sums of money to the com-
manders, for which they paid interest, and the lan-
guages were security for the payment of the
principal. This loan was only on particular oc-
casions, when it was judged necessary either to
encrease or preserve the revenue of the com-
manderies.
-
6,378 4 0.
637 16 2
ARTICLE XXI.
Sale of real Estates.
This article comprises the product of several
real estates, such as houses, gardens, &c.
4,532 2 0
453 4 2
ARTICLE XXII.
Secret Restitutions.
This article requires no explanation.
653 14 2
65. 8 6
ARTICLE XXIII.
1
Flag Duties.
A duty paid to the treasury by the corsairs who
hoisted the colours of the order on a cruise.
50 0.0
5:00
ARTICLE XXIV..
Different Rents.
So many articles of trifling value were com
prised under this head, that they are not worth
particularising.
110 3 1 . 11 0 6
3}
od
304
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Annual Receipt, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
1
!
Maltese Money,
Crowns. T. G.
English Money
f. so d.
ARTICLE XXV.
Extraordinary Entries.
This article comprised all the sums borrowed
from the treasury in the course of ten years.
45,842 6 12.
4,584 50
'L
1
Annual total of the ordinary receipts, on an
average from 1779 to 1788, inclusive 11,315,299 8 12 · 131,529 19 3
Extraordinary receipts
45,842 6 3.
4,584 50
Total
1,361,141 8 14 . 136,114 4 3
.
:
:
A TABLE of the Sums contributed to the ordinary RECEIPTS by the CONVENT,
and by each separate LANGUAGE.
Common Years.
Cr. T.
English Money.
ke
Cr.
T. G.
G.
S.
d.
os os
580,406 1 2
58,040 122
198,914 8 8
71,9817 4
309,509 9 0
115,056 9 5
156,398 1 185
271,456 10 18
Names of the Countries and dif-
ferent Languages.
Provence
France
Auvergne
France
S Arragon
Spain
Castille
Portugal
Italy
Germany
Anglo-Bavarian
Poland
Convent
27,145 13 6
91,876 2 16
235,334 - 1 8
40,954 5 8
2,156 5
5 1
6,616 8 9
36,500 9 10
9,187 12 6
23,533 6 3
4,095 90
9.
215 12 10
661 13 6
3,650 11
6
Total 1,265,299 8 12
126,529 0 9
1
1
1
..
1
है
11
А
GENERAL TABLE
7
OF ALL
1
1
THE DIFFERENT ARTICLES WHICH COMPOSE THE RECEIPT OF THE TREASURY OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.
NAMES OF THE ARTICLES WHICH COMPOSE THE
RECEIPT.
1779
1780.
Total Amount in
Ten Years.
Average Amount in
One Year.
1781.
1782.
1783.
1784.
1785.
1786.
1787
1788.
ITALIAN NAMES.
T.
T.
T.
T.
G.
3
12
T.
8
6
G, M. Cr.
4492398
4150189
5 274761
6 596412
5
2
5
1
4
T. G. M. Cr.
5 4/467757
7 16232415
8 16176807
6 1209556
T. G. M. Cr.
8 9467757
6 16 214207
10 15190545
4 8 57517
7
3
2
5
T.
4
9
8
G. M. Cr.
5 4492469
4 17205017
5 11 153996
2 1468322
21940
11 8 779
G. M. Cr.
5 476326
4217302
5219528
4250227
18151
10 320
G. M. Cr.
6]479421
6 186925
2236621
il 96514
14
721
G. M, Cr. T.
4472670 2
17|261116
2
267679 10
9165415 8
6 4655
721 10
2
5
8
10
11
10
I
7
9!
1 Risponsioni
2) Mortori e Vacanti
3 Passagi..
4 | Spogli
5| Annate Priordili
6 Gioje Priorali , .
71| Donativi
8 Boschi
9 Pensioni Rinunciati
10| Rendite diverse..
11 Fondazioni diversi
11
|
I
III
G. M. Cr. T.
19|| 4752073
7
5| 2147217 10
||
1 2033447
2475500 5
47747
5032
3
14656 8
8 479825 11
8 16103 8
14 299511 5
13
61105
9
M. Cr.
475207
214721
203344
247550
4774
503
1465
47982
1610
29951
6111
1
G,
6
9
8
11
8
15
1
3
8
15
.
420
10
2
421
8
5
1285
7
10
1
1
8
4
2
-
5
9
5
12
S
2
8
7
4
1
4
1
2
3
11
6
+
3 62721
6 802
181 22271
8 5490
5
6
10
2
4
10
7
10
O CO
4
2
10
6
6 19
11
1
1
53476 10 S 24345
2284 3 15 1449
4 57379
2 14 14685
18 6260 9 6908
13 23691 9 23964
15 6950 2
6874
15 3518 8 18 3671
8 1307 9 1793
10 43136 1 3 52372
18 3036 2 10 2052
18 30058 2 17 25131
13 4966 10 2 9974
12 26889 2 61 25858
6996 7 10 6491
3335 5 3 3549
7 2849
6 15
2763
6 63544
4 11 1601
9 8 17935
6 6 6 5738
3 24937
5
8112
9 16 3347
8 19 2358
4 19989
9 4452
51 63855
195290
18 20969
11 5899
6 3676
4 2799
12
1
1
11
18
10
1
Lascaris
Paola
Perellos.
Caraffa
343024
12
5
9
1
QUATTRO
FONDAZI-
ONI.
10
7
6
8
12 23295 9
5 6288 11
10 3125
71 1775 9
34302
11
11
FOUR FOUN.
DATIONS,
ܒܙ ܒܝ
7
O O O
9 14
10
5
9
2
5
+
-
ENGLISH NAMES.
M. Cr. T. G. M. Cr. T. G. M. Cr.
Responsions
467757 5 4467757
5 4467757
Mortuary and Vacancy 298261 7 15 149793 11 12231988
Passage
152569 11 8164770 9 17 196165
Spoils
239353 8 4216319 15 175861
Priory Annats
2000
1000
Priory Presents.
128 4
116 8
116
Presents
10000
1235 3 17 3421
Woods or Timber
57870 9 7) 46085 7 16 56284
Renounced Pensions
1141 2 16..
Rents of different kinds .. 14247 4 5 37193 11 15952
Different Foundations... 6953 3 14 4859 5 13 4662
Lascaris
19841 9 14 17686 11 19 20927
Paola
4373
4 3417 5 4 6988
Perellos
3247 1 16 3403 3 14 3554
Ca
Caraffa
1667 1 6...
1837
Houses belonging to the
4203 7 17 3916
Treasury
3
77 4859
Lazzaretto Duties
1901
1004 6 3 1280
S The Pope's Bull and ?
4871 3 2 11575 6 9 5715
Printing-Office
Duties paid by the Nobles 305
35
20
Ransom of Slaves....
8315
6567 4 14 8350
Minting or Coining of Money 18268 8 19 59
6 14
2016
Lottery.
2866 7 19
Interest of Money ad-
9304 8 9 5851 11 11
vanced by the Treasury
6859
Sale of real Estates
4027
6
214
Secret Restitutions
557 5 2 568 7 2 1043
Flag Duties
Different Rents
620
5 5
Extraordinary Entries
3920 5
13 || Case del Tesoro
5422
6485
6
11
1
4
14
11
43330
3827 10 171 4857
18
1447
9
5070
4333
5
1
14
1
9
11
14 | Dritti di Lazzaretto..
1524
6
240
1
2255
810
8
3
11 3237 10
11 1482 8
21 12608 1
1812
5
1
805
9 19
5
13117
18
1311
9
10
1
1
1.
15 | Bolla della Crociata
{
5
10
6 10058
1 12878
14331
11
7 16 11147
10 10604
11
16 11780
2
13
2
9
7
10557
19
5
918
11
11
675
80102
855
1200
1
5
154
3319
3
2
405
4775
7
18
6
1348 2
10575
21877
34869
105572
4406
166114
25041
2866
4 181..
8100
7 1 5065
3
}
9
I
11 , 10
19
8 6]
7 19
440
16617
2504
286
1
8
4
2
8
4
19
11
*
5
3
4
5 12 4357
5
5760
4808
7 6129
4
9
4
63780
7 4865
2
{
4
6378
8
4
berasa
13
8813
4
17 7029
16|| Dritti di Nobiltà.
17| Riscalto de Schiavi
18 Zecca
19|| Benefiziata
20 Lucri provenienti .
21 Vendita di Stabili...
22 Restituzioni segrete
23 | Dritti di Bandiera
24 | Introiti diversi.
25 | Introito straordinario
.
1
20000
81
21079
329
4
3
4
7
12
2
1
9
241
11
10
13
2
5
1452
1
7
18
7
945
8
1137
11
1
9
45321
6537
500
1102
458425
1
4532
653
50
110
45842
180 2
500
67 7
1
1
1
127
35
8 10
er or
5 19
151500
1 251 3
(294900 11
6
6
6
3
3
3
1
4
8098
2
3
Total of the common Receipt from the Year 1779 to 1788 inclusive..
13152997
2
21 1315299
2
2
Extraordinary Receipt ....
458425
6
3
45842
6 12
.
:
Total of the whole Receipt
13611422
8 51 1361141
8 14
TAB. II.–Vol. I, p. 305.
1
.
i
។
.!
/
HISTORY OF MALTA.
305
The following FOUNDATIONS, though under the management of Administrators
entirely independent of the Treasury, might still be considered as making part of
its Revenue, because if they had never been made, the general expences would
have amounted every year to a sum equal to that produced by the said Foun-
dations : the first two of which were instituted by the Grand Masters whose
name they bear; the third by a Lady from Sienna, named Sarpi, in 1631 ; and
the three others by different Members of the Order.
Foundations independent of the
Treasury; the Produce of
which was nevertheless spent
in the Interior of the Island.
Names of the Founders and
Foundations.
The Manner in which they
were employed.
Cr.
£.
Manuel
10,500 -
1,050
Collover
U
10,800
Maintenance of Fort
Manuel, with its
garrison.
Maintenance of Fort
Ricasoli, with its
garrison
Maintenance of the
Hospital for Wo-
1,080
}
Incurables
1,500
150
men.
2,500
Il
250
Passalacqua
Lomellini
Maradasi
650
65
11 11
These three sums
were appropriated
to the expences of
the church of St.
John
700
70
26,650
2,665
.
.
,!
1
VOL. I.
.
R R
1
3
,
!
306
HISTORY OF MALTA.
TABLE III
GENERAL EXPENDITURE.
$
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788, inclusive.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
£
d.
ARTICLE I.
$.
2
Ambassadors.
This article includes their salary, with the para
ticular gratifications bestowed on them on differ-
ent occasions; likewise the pay of the secretaries,
with some other expences attached to their office,
which vary every year.
I
1
38,026 70 3,802 13 2
ARTICLE II.
Receivers.
7
This article not only relates to the salaries
paid to the agents and lawyers belonging to the
receivers' offices, but also to the wages of the
secretaries and other inferior persons employed
under them; and to the expences both of the
;
office, and journeys taken on account of the ge-
neral affairs; together with those necessarily in-
curred in carrying on different law-suits relative
to the general privileges of the order.
66,433 1 12. 6,643 6 3
ARTICLE III.
Conventual Churches.
The salaries of the different persons doing duty
at the churches of St. John, St. Anthony, and the
Conception, together with the yearly repairs of
the said churches, made the expence of this ar-
.
.
>
T
1
.
1
:
HISTORY OF MALTA.
307
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
3
s.
$
Maltese Money.
English Money.
Crowns. T. G.
f
de
ticle. The revenue of the three foundations of
Passalacqua, Lomellini, and Maradasi, being em-
ployed in the maintenance and repairs of St.
John's church, lessened the expences of the latter. 11,597 2. 15 • 1,159 14. 41
ARTICLE IV
Alnus.
Which includes some trifling sums dispensed
annually to a few convents, such as the Capu-
chins and Cordeliers ;-the vestments bestowed on
all Christians who, having groaned in captivity
for some time, had obtained their liberty from
the infidels, and were passing through Malta on
their return to their own country ;-the money
j
given to different poor people for services ren-
dered to the order ;-fourteen hundred crowns,
granted to the poor at the Floriana, and six hun-
dred salmes of corn ;~-together with two thou-
sand four hundred and fifty crowns in money,
distributed among the poor of the island by
commissioners appointed for that purpose by
the council. The same commissioners were like-
wise to see that four hundred loaves were given
every day to a certain number of poor women. . . 17,309 11 10 , 1,731
1,73100
+2
ARTICLE V.
A
i
Grand Hospital.
The whole of the inhabitants of Malta and
Goza, together with all foreigners without dis-
tinction of country or religion, were admitted
into this hospital. The sick cost the treasury
from five to six tarins, or one shilling, per day;
but for some few years past, the expences of the
grand hospital had been augmented.
79,476 0
RR 2
;
7
3
7,947 12 0
1
.
1
!
308
HISTORY OF MALTA,
.
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T.
G.
English Money.
kai
d.
S.
ARTICLE VI.
Hospital for Women.
The whole revenue of the foundation for in-
curables, was likewise applied to the uses of this
charity.
1
18,676 10 1.2 . 1,867 13
9
ARTICLE VII.
*
.
Foundlings.
A certain number of legitimate children like-
wise partook of this charity ; but this favour was
only conferred on those whose parents were in
a state of the greatest indigence.
1
6,146 9 15
614 13 6
ARTICLE VIII.
Gratifications:
Annual pensions bestowed on different Maltese,
whose services and attachment to the order die-
served to be rewarded.
1,070 16.
107 0
02
ARTICLE IX.
Gratifications after Death.
A part of the salaries of writers, and other
persons in the service of the order, which was
granted after their decease to their widows, and
even sometimes to their daughters.
2,326 6 10, 232 13
2
ARTICLE X.
Nuns of the Order of St. Ursula.
Annual pensions bestowed on the Ursulines in
Malta, who were associated with the order.
519 5 8
5 8 . 51 18 10
ARTICLE XI.
Nuns at Toulouse.
These nuns were called Maltese; because they
were all of noble extraction, according to the
-
!
1
IIISTORY OF MALTA. .
309
:
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
d.
S.
1730 40
73 0 0
295 3 7
29 10 6
-
rules of the order, and were likewise dependent
on the grand-master. Their finances being in an
impoverished state, they from time to time re-
ceived assistance from the order.
ARTICLE XII.
Nuns of Martel.
This convent was in Querci, and equally be-
longed to the order. The nuns were in the same
distressed circumstances, and required the same
assistance, as those at Toulouse.
EXPENDITURE FOR THE NAVY,
Every thing belonging to the navy is com-
prised in this article; the whole expence of which
amounted to 474,942 cr. 9 t. 13g.
ARTICLE XIII.
Galleys.
The squadron of galleys, which before the
building of men-of-war consisted of six, and even
sometimes seven, was afterwards reduced to four.
The ordinary expences were under the direction
of different persons, viz. : every thing relative to
the maintenance of the crew of galley-slaves and
other sailors, was under the immediate inspection
of the congregation for the galleys. A provedi-
tore was employed for the rigging, and the com-
mandant of the arsenal for the refitting.
These three separate departments were all un-
der the inspection of the treasury.
"
1
310
HISTORY OF MALTA.
1
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788,
S.
w
Maltese Money.
English Money.
Crowns. T. G.
,
d.
A commissioner was appointed to overlook all
the extraordinary expences of building the gal-
leys: he gave in his accounts directly to the
treasury, without consulting the above-mentioned
parties. The expence of building six galleys
amounted to 225,043 crowns annually.
225,043 00. 22,504 60
..
ARTICLE XIV.
A
*
.
Men-of-war,
Were first established in Malta in 1704, when
the squadron consisted of three ships of the line.
These were afterwards encreased to four, but of
late years diminished to one sixty-gun ship and
three frigates. All expences relative to the men-
of-war were regulated by a particular congrega-
tion, entirely independent of the treasury; which,
however, provided money and all other necessary
materials for this purpose. No account was ne-
cessary to be given in of the manner in which
the money was employed; except to the council
alone, to which an annual statement was con-
stantly made. Two frigates cost 236,693 crowns;
and in 1781, two men-of-war were sold for
177,221 crowns.
235,827 1 9. 23,582 14
7
>
3
ARTICLE XV.
:
Extraordinary Armaments.
The galleys and men-of-war being dispatched
to Algiers to assist the Spaniards, it was thought
necessary to arm two sloops and a galliot to pro-
tect the navigation in the canal of Malta. A
tartan was likewise armed in 1779. These dif-
ferent expences amounted to the sum of 20,895 cr.
8 t. 19 g.
2,089 6 18
208 190
+
S
1
.
1
.
HISTORY OF MALTA,
311
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
-
Maltese Money,
Crowns. T. G:
English Money.
£
d.
s,
ARTICLE XVI.
Guard Galliots.
There were always two-to guard the port, in
e of any extraordinary event. The expence
amounted to
:
4,915 6 10
6 10.. 491 11
1
!
ARTICLE XVII.
Office of Health.
The
expence of this office was more than usual
in 1785; assistance being not only sent to the
inhabitants of Lampedosa, but to the crew of a
French vessel which was at that time attacked
by the plague.
1,253 9 18
125 0 2
ARTICLE XVIII.
Basins for holding Timber.
The timber for ship-building was always kept
in water, as the best method of preserving it.
The wet-docks employed for that purpose were
termed basins; which, being in a ruinous condi-
tion, required repairs, estimated to cost
864 0 18
86 0 2
ARTICLE XIX.
Cleansing the Port,
.
Amounted to
4,680 5 2:. 468 0 10
ARTICLE XX.
1
A
The Lighthouse of St. Elmo.
Placed at St. Elmo Point, for the purpose of di-
recting vessels, and shewing them the entrance
into the port. It was only lighted from the 1st.
of October to the 1st of May.
269. 39
26 18 7
Total amount of the expences of the navy
. 474,942 9 13. 47,494 5 7
..
1
---
..
312
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten
years, from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns, T. G.
English Money.
from
d
LAND FORCES.
All military expences relating to the land ser-
vice were classed under this title. These were
placed in different articles; which in ten years
(from 1779 to 1788, inclusive) amounted to
1,730,385 cr. 8 t. 38.; or 173,038 cr. annually.
a
}
ARTICLE XXI.
Maltese Regiment,
Was raised in 1776, and composed of 1055 effect-
ive men.
127,612 10. o. 12,671 5 9
ARTICLE XXII.
1
:
Artillery.
This article included the whole expence of the
corps of matrosses, together with the pay of the
commandant of the artillery.
8,564 3 O., 856 S 6
ARTICLE XXIII.
Horse and Foot Guards.
This was a fixed expence for maintaining a
certain number of men, who went their rounds
throughout the whole island, on foot and on
horseback, to ensure the public safety during the
night.
306 94
30 13 7
ARTICLE XXIV.
1
The Guards of St. Julian.
Chasseurs placed at the cove of St. Julian in
1777, to prevent the troops from deserting.
.܀
1
ARTICLE XXV.
Service of the City,
Included the appointments of the majors, aide-
majors, and adjutants; together with the mainte-
1
II ISTORY OF MALTA.
.
313
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten
years, from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
£ s, d.
nance and repairs of all the corps de gardes in
the city Valetta.
2,826 3 6
3
282 12 6
ARTICLE XXVI.
i
1
12,764 11 2'. 1,276 9.0
Fortifications.
The maintenance and repairs of all the fortifi-
cations in Malta, and the dependencies thereof.
ARTICLE XXVII. AND XXVIII.
Castles of St. Elmo and St. Angelo.
The expences of these two forts consisted in
the pay of the old soldiers or invalids who did
duty, in the maintenance of the corps de gardes,
and every thing relative to the service of the two
castles,
St. Elmo
Castles
St. Angelo
-'.
6 16.
195 19 2
1,959
846
2 5.
84 125
ARTICLE XXIX.
Goza, and the Towers in that Island.
This article included the appointments of the
governor of Goza, and his lieutenant, as also
those of different persons acting as overseers of the
guard at the castles and towers of that island ; with
other expences relative to the maintenance of
those who did duty at the towers in Malta.
1,439 0o.
143 18 0
ARTICLE XXX.
Ordnance and other. Arms.
This article regarded the purchase and found-
ing of cannon, the making of carriages for ditto,
the purchase of arms; in short, the annual cost
of every thing necessary for keeping up the ord-
hance and small arms.
15,461 10 14 · 1,546 39
VOL. I.
SS
i
314
HISTORY OF MALTA.
".
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten yeus,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
£
d.
s.
The total expence of the military department
1,730,389 cr. 9 t. 3g.
173,038 11 14
in ten years
In one year
17,303 18 0 0
BUILDINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY
REPAIRS,
;
This article does not require explanation.
ARTICLE XXXI.
New paving the Streets.
The treasury, in 1771, advanced money for
paving the streets entirely anew; likewise for
making canals in them all, to carry away filth of
every kind. The proprietors of houses engaged
to pay a just proportion of the expence : but
the greatest part of the buildings in the city Va-
letta belonging to the treasury, a large sum re-
mained to be paid.
>
8,392 Il 15
839
6 0
ARTICLE XXXII.
✓
The Quays in the Port.
Expences occasioned by the damage done by
the frequent inroads of the sea,
ARTICLE XXXIII.
Arsenal for the Galleys.
This new building, began in 1776 and finished
in 1783, cost 63,986 crowns,
ARTICLE XXXIV.
Rope Yard.
This article included principally the expence
of building storehouses for hemp in the rope-yard
which formerly were situated at a distance.
1,346 5.18
134 13 0
4,965 2 19
496 10 5
542 10 10
54 5 9
w
IIISTORY OF MALTA. .
315
&
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
he
d.
ARTICLE XXXV.
Lazaretto.
The expence of the considerable repairs made
at the quarantine at the Grand Port, together
with the workmen employed at the new store-
houses just begun at the Lazaretto.
2,808 3 15
280 16 6
ARTICLE XXXVI.
Storehouses for the Galleys.
Extraordinary repairs of several storehouses
belonging to the treasury, which are sometimes
absolutely necessary to be done.
715 8 8 5
71 11 5
ARTICLE XXXVII.
Powder Mills.
Expence of building the said mills, 7,966 cr.
796 og 7
,
79 13 %
3
ARTICLE XXXVIII.
>
Crowns.
Storehouses near the Custom-house.
Four storehouses near the Custom-house, on the
quay of the Grand Port, being in a most ruinous
state, were obliged to be rebuilt, and cost 62,010
The rent amounted to 2,280 crowns,
including the valuation made of that which
had been ceded to the congregation for the gal-
leys. The sum employed for building the said
storehouses might therefore be considered as a
capital placed out by the treasury at rather more
than three-and-a-half per cent.
5,823 5-19
582 6 11
SS 2
316
HISTORY OF MALTA,
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
ko s. d.
ARTICLE XXXIX.
Conservatory and Library*.
The old building, in which was the library,
being too small for the number of books belong-
ing to the deceased knights, which were continu-
ally sent to encrease the original collection, the
conservatory being even dangerously out of re-
pair, and the mint being the property of the
French language, which had occasion to make
use of the building, it was resolved to erect a new,
edifice sufficiently spacious to contain the library, .
conservatory, mint, two halls, a storehouse for
the congregation för war, with sėveral shops on
the ground floor, which might be let at a very
considerable rent.
5,348 3 16
534 16 7
ARTICLE XL.
New Burying-ground.
The sum here mentioned is only part of the
8000 crowns employed in making a new burying-
ground, began in 1777 and finished in 1779.
This is situated out of the town, and was intended
as a place of interment for those who died in the
grand hospital.
>
52 10 4
5 5 0
ARTICLE XLI.
Lighthouse at St. Elmo.
The expence of putting up a new lantern,
1108 crowns.
110 9 18
11 1 7
* The place where the coffers, plate, diamonds, and other effects belonging to the treasury, were
kept. The knight who was entrusted with the care of these different articles was called the
Conservatory.
;
!
HISTORY OF MALTA.
317
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1788.
!
Maltese Money.
Crowns. · T. G.
English Money.
d.
$.
ARTICLE XLII.
.
Hospital.
Expence of removing the linen to a house fac-
ing the hospital, which was extremely out of re-
pair. This house was called La Camerata, and
cost the treasury
.
-
2
722
6 6 12 . . 72 5 1
ARTICLE XLIII.
Grand-Master's Palace.
This article included the 200 crowns paid an-
nually for the repairs of this building, together
with the salaries of the grand-master, two audit-
ors, and likewise those of two other persons em-
ployed in the service of the palace,
562 11
3 . 56
56 5 0
ARTICLE XLIV.
Falconry.
Expences of sending and presenting hawks bred
in Malta to the kings of France, Spain, and Por-
tugal, and the viceroy of Sicily. The order made
this present every year.
1,039 3 19
103 18 7
ARTICLE XLV.
Tables :
By which was understood the table kept at the
expence of the treasury for the novices and pro-
fessed knights resident in the convent, except a
certain number of commanders, who, being
knights, received a revenue of 2000 crowns from
their commanderies. The chaplains and servants
of arms who had commanderies worth 1000
crowns annually were also excluded.
They
318
HISTORY OF MALTA,
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten yeart,
from 1779 tn 1788, inclusive.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
£.
d.
were, however, allowed four salmes of corn every
year, together with two measures of oil, and
thirty-four crowns in money; the whole of which
might be estimated at 150 crowns. 6000 crowns
allowed the grand-master for the expences of his
table by the treasury, were likewise included in
this article. These were formerly placed under
that of the grand-master's palace.
53,957 4 3 . 5,395 14 9
ARTICLE XLVI.
Soldée and Noviciate.
These two expressions meant-first, an annual
sum paid by the treasury to every professed
knight-and second, a certain sum bestowed one
single time on each novice, for the purpose of
purchasing clothes. The said sums were dis-
posed of as follows:-22 crowns to the knights;
16 crowns 6 tarins to the chaplains and servants of
arms; 12 crowns 6 tarins to the deacons; and 7
crowns to the novices, who, however, only re-
ceived 41, on account of the drawbacks.
1,490 2 19
149 0 5
ARTICLE XLVII.
Treasury and Conservatory.
The expences of the general treasury-office,
together with that of the conservatory, which
might be regarded as an appendage thereof. This
consisted in the salaries of all persons employed in
these offices, and in the repairs of the buildings.
8,337 6 16
883 15 2
ARTICLE XLVIII.
Chancery.
Salaries of the different writers or clerks, pa-
per, pens, and other necessary articles, together
with repairs, amounted to the following sum :
1,690 8 19. 169 1 6
16
+
HISTORY OF MALTA.
319
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1789.
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
.
d.
S.
ARTICLE XLIX.
Slaves' Prison.
In addition to the slaves who composed the
crew of the galleys, and who were included in the
article of the said galleys, there were a consider-
able number in the city, shut up in a place called
the Slaves' Prison, part of whom were employed
in manufacturing linen cloth and cotton, for sails
for the galleys and men-of-war, whilst the rest
worked at the docks, fortifications, &c. &c. The
maintenance and clothing of these slaves amount-
29,428 11 14
ARTICLE L.
Neophytes.
The expence of the newly-baptised slaves, who
were kept separate from the others.
8,834 6 18
ed to
2,942 18 0
883 9 2
ARTICLE LI.
-
Purchase of Slaves.
A great quantity of slaves being necessary for
the land and sea service of the order, the treasury
was under the necessity of purchasing some every
year from private individuals, to keep up the usual
number.
4,488 6 0.448 17 0
1
ARTICLE LII.
Castellany.
Some trifling salaries to the persons who
composed the tribunal of justice called by that
name.
222 8 16
22 5 6
ARTICLE LIII.
Fountains.
The espence of making and keeping in repair
all the public cisterns throughout the city, and in
t
1
ث
320
HISTORY OF MALTA,
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten
years, from 1779 to 1788.
English Money.
d.
8.
ܪ
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
the different forts and castles, was included in this
article. The expences of 1779 could not be re-
garded as those of a common year, since a very
fine cistern in the Floriana, near the church of the
Conception, was finished at that time.
2,920 5 14.
292 10
ARTICLE LIV.
>
Postage of Letters.
The following persons being exempted from
paying postage, caused the expence of this ar-
ticle:--the grand-master, his receiver, his three
secretaries for the different departments of France,
Spain, and Italy; the inquisitor; the members of
the ordinary chamber, consisting of six persons;
the commissioner of the post-office; and finally,
all ambassadors and receivers.
20,396 2 11. 2,039 12 6
.
1
..
ARTICLE LV.
1
Annuities left by Will.
Annual pensions given by the knights to dif-
ferent people, which at their death were allowed
by the treasury, and a fifth part of their effects
employed for that purpose.
}
2,971 9 17
297 3 8
--
-
:
ARTICLE LVI.
Annual Pensions,
Paid by the treasury to different persons by com-
mand of the council and the order at large.
10,930 11 10 . 1,093 1 10
ARTICLE LVII.
The Interest of different Loans.
This article included the interest of money
borrowed at different periods--first, from Rome,
1
1.
$
1
HISTORY OF MALTA:
321
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten
years, from 1779 to 1788.
:
English Money
£ s, d,
49
Maltese Money,
Crowns. T. G.
which from 1726 to 1762 received 2 per cent;
second, from Spain in 1761, 1762, and 1763, at
2, 25, and 24 per cent; third, frequent sums
borrowed from the convent at 3 per cent. These
last loans were principally intended for fulfilling
the engagements entered into by the order of
Malta with that of St. Lazarus, relative to the
final division of the property of the order of St.
Anthony. '
48,877 10 13
4,887 15 9
ARTICLE LVIII.
Drafts and Remittances.
The treasury having been obliged to make use
of drafts and remittances to enable it to employ
the greatest part of its revenue, which was deer
posited in the different receivers' offices, must ne-
cessarily have either gained or lost by the ex-
change in the course of ten years. An accurate
account having been taken, the loss amounted to
768 8 12
76 176
ARTICLE LIX.
Wood at Melicutta.
A large plantation was made in the commandery
of Melicutta in Calabria, in 1763, in hopes of its
yielding in the space of a few years a sufficient
quantity of timber for ship-building. The order,
however, had as yet received no advantage from
this plantation.
1,823 11 16 .. 182 80
ARTICLE LX.
Library.
This article would in future have been rather
less expensive to the order; not only from the
>>
VOL. I.
TT
v
1
5
322
HISTORY OF MALTA.
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years, ,
from 1779 to 1788.
--
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
f
d.
annuity of three hundred crowns left in perpe-
tuity for its maintenance, but from the sale of the
duplicates of books, which were latterly become
very considerable. This library formerly con-
sisted of nearly thirty thousand volumes; but the
collection had been greatly augmented since 1788,
and amounted in 1798 to more than sixty thou.
sand.
85 3 2
. 8.10 6
ARTICLE LXI.
State Plate,
This belonged to the treasury, but was used
for many different purposes, particularly for the
grand-master's palace, the hospital, galleys, men-
of-war, and ambassadors at Rome and Paris. The
expence of keeping it up, and adding to it at dif-
ferent times, amounted to
3,277 58
327 14 11
រ
ARTICLE LXII.
Jesuits' College.
After the destruction and expulsion of the or-
der of Jesuits in 1769, the treasury received the
revenues annexed to the college, and defrayed all
the expences. The outgoings exceeded the re-
ceipts
1,847 8 16
184 1.5 6
?
ARTICLE LXIII.
Property belonging to the Antonines.
This article included the expences attendant
on the union of the order of St. Anthony to that
of Malta, together with some yearly pensions
given by the order to the ancient Antonine friars;
likewise the remainder of the sum agreed upon
1
:
;
:
?
HISTORY OF MALTA.
323
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years.
froni 1779 to 1783.
English Money
ho
al
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
to be paid to the order of St. Lazarus, as an in-
demnification for the share it formerly had in the
property of the Antonines.
73,294 8 15.
7,329 96
ARTICLE LXIV.
1
1.
A conciliatory Plan for the Priories of the Lan-
guage of Italy.
The Piedmontese knights, who formed the
greatest part of the priory of Lombardy, having
wished to separate themselves from the other
priories of the Italian language, it was thought
necessary to oppose their resolution; and though
the order could not succeed in maintaining as
perfect an union as formerly subsisted between
the priories of that language, it nevertheless
contrived to preserve it for three very essential
objects, viz. the dignities, commanderies, and fa-
vours, bestowed by the grand-master, such as
pensions, &c.
-
· 10,114 6 1?
1,011 9
ARTICLE LXV.
Restitution made to the German Language of the
Profits arising from the Biennial and Triennial
Tax.
The same motives which had induced the or-
der to exempt the language of Germany from
paying the whole of the responsion fixed by the
tast general chapter, engaged it also to restore a
part of the two above-mentioned taxes; the whole
of which had been yery nearly paid into the trea.
sury.
4,027 1 13
Τ Τ 2
402 14 3
+
S24
HISTORY OF MALTA,
1
v.
+
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten
years, from 1779 to 1788.
سرما
:
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money
fo S. d.
ARTICLE LXVI.
IVorkshops and Storehouses.
Different necessary expences in the workshops
belonging to the ordnance, rope-yards, &c. which
could not be calculated under any particular ar-
ticle of ordinary expence. Likewise the wages
of clerks and storekeepers; together with the re-
pairs of the storehouses, and replacing the differ-
ent worn-out articles contained therein.
182,644 . 8 1 18,264 5 12
ARTICLE LXVII. .
Institution of the Anglo-Bavarian Language in
1782 ;
The expences of which amounted to 14,081
crowns,
1,408
1 1 1
140 16.3
.
ARTICLE LXVIII.
Recovery of the Property belonging to the Order,
situated in Poland.
The estimation here made is only of one part
of the expence, the whole of which amounted to
,
72,998 crowns; but the bailiff de Sagrameso, who
was employed in negotiating this business, having
secured 30,115 crowns arising from the Polish
property, the real expence of the treasury was
only 42,885.
1,419 7 13 i 141 19 3
ARTICLE LXIX.
7
5
Illuminations on the Birth of the Dauphin,
Amounted to 2,331'cr. or 2331. 2s.
233 1 5 . 23
23 6.3
S
an
1
!
IIISTORY OF MALTA,
S25
Annual Expenditure, on an average of ten years,
from 1779 to 1783.
i
Maltese Money.
Crowns. T. G.
English Money.
ke
d.
$.
ARTICLE LXX.
!
$
Assistance sent to the Inhabitants of Calabria and
Messina.
The most tremendous earthquake having laid
waste Calabria and Messina in 1783, the order im-
mediately dispatched galleys to the relief of the
sufferers: the expence of this expedition was esti-
mated at 17,038 cr. or 1,703l. 165.
1,703 10 0 170 18
7
ARTICLE LXXI.
Expences relative to the last general Chapter.
The confirmation of the statutes of the above-
mentioned chapter cost the order 5491 cr. or
549 l. 2 s.
549
1 14
•
54 18 3
ARTICLE LXXII.
ܝ ܙ - ܕܝܢ.: ;z܀
Purchase of Freeholds.
A small house bought for the use of the hospi-
tal, 1,854 cr. or 1851. 8s.
185 5 0
50
18 10 10
ARTICLE LXXIII.
Expences of different Kinds.
This article included a variety of objects, too
trifling in their nature to be placed under separate
heads.
3,090 10 7 .
309 I 9
ARTICLE LXXIV.
i
Extraordinary Expences.
All the different sums paid by the treasury dur-
ing ten years, towards discharging, in part, the
debts it had incurred, amounting on the annual
average to
25,400 7 1. 2540 I 2
Total amount of the general expence
1,236,4596 3. 123,645 19 1
3
i
1
ì
926
HISTORY OF MALTA.'
Annual Expenditure, an an average of ten yeals,
from 1779 to 1788.
English Money.
܀
Maltese Money
Crowns, T. (.
S.
da.
RECAPITULATION.
Ordinary receipt
Ordinary expence
1,315,299 & 12
1,236,459 6 3
131,529 19 3
123,645 19 1
ma
Balance
78,840 2 9
7,884 0 2
Ordinary and extraordinary receipt
rdinary and extraordinary expence
1,361,141 8 14
1,261,860 02
136,114 4 3
126,186 0 0
0
Balance
99,281 8 12
9,928 4 3
1
...
1
-
1
END OF THE FIRST
VOLUME.
!
-
akong
܀
mis
..
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE TREASURY
At the End of April 1778 and 1788.
ARTICLES.
Particulars of each
Article on the 30th of
April, 1778.
General and comparative Amount in these two
Years.
Particulars of each
Article on the 30th of
April, 1788.
Recapitulation.
1778.
Recapitulation.
1788.
1778.
1788.
T.
G.
G.
T.
.
M. Cr. T.
Cash remaining in the Coffers
659785 10
Value of the Effects in the different Store-houses 1544870
G.
12
18
M. Cr. T.
659785 10
1544870
G. M. Cr.
12 1140235
18 1939901
M. Cr.
1140235
1939901
G.
7
T.
9
3
M. Cr.
2204655
T.
11
M. Cr.
3080137
7
G.
7
9
3
10
101603
4
4 16
111378
4 15
Credit bearing Interest.
Of the Knights, at 21 and 3 per Cent.
That of the University and different Founda-
tions, including the Mont de Piété, at 2 and
at 3 per Cent.
And others at 5 per Cent.
206932
8
4 316191
919
167121
16
307966
2 10
7655
8 19
29466
8 19
2166920
1 13
3045004
6 18
+
Credit without Interest.
Of Responsions
Renounced Pensions
Knights
Students, including the University
Money advanced for new paving the Streets..
Alban's Commanderies
Jesuits' College
Property of the Antonines .
Houses belonging to the Treasury,
621322 3 11
22330 1 4
689574 2. 16
225235
2 17
41166 11 17
88046 10 9
27574 -3 5
123805 1 3
11674 2 12
1850728
3
14
835297 10 10
127355 6 10
468635 3 8
239153 10 4
72731 9 12
6334) 1 1
46231 7 1
856752 4 7
27538 11 15
2737038
4
8
13
12
4
565135 2
Debts at Interest.
In France, to the Antonines, at 8 and 9 per Cent.
At Rome, at 2 and 3 per Cent.
At Palermo, at 41 per Cent.
At Madrid, at 21 per Cent.
At Valladolid, at 2 and 24 per Cent.
To the Convent, at 3 per Cent.
11
18505
621072
17700
708547
163219
136866
11
8
9
7
3
2
1665912
6 8
1870331 7 15
708547
163219
433430
13
6
ادب
7
13
4
1
13
Credit
Debts
2166920
1665912
1
6
3045004
1870331
6
7
18
15
8
Balance of Credit against Debts
501007
7
5
1174672
11
حد
3
General Amount of the Cash, and Effects in the different Store-houses 2705663
6 15
4254809
11
10
TAB. IV.To be placed at End of Vol. I.
$
А
.
GENERAL TABLE
OF ALL
THE DIFFERENT ARTICLES WHICH COMPOSE THE EXPENSES OF THE TREASURY OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.
NAMES OF THE ARTICLES WHICH COMPOSE THE
EXPENSES.
1779
1780.
1781.
1782.
1783.
1784.
1785.
1786.
1787
1788.
Total Amount in Ten
Years.
Total Amount in
One Year.
1
G.
T.
G.
T.
T.
M.Cr.
G.
1
AMBASCI-
ADORI.
#
wewe
.
Valentino
337
6 19
11
1
}
ن م د
191 3323
1* 17
+
struttugung
11
1
L
9118
other ONOW on Co.
5T
10
6 17
NO ON
18
.
0
19
1
10
6 19
948
1
9 16
| 07.Amor
5 |
.
RICEVIDORI.
4 17
1
12
9 14
I
1
12
On Wed
4
OUT ON
59-7713B2B 1
1
NYA COCO
ol
-
1
1
1
93686
1
17] 9043
On 00 AM WOO
1
1
lo
COALA
S
.
O
6 11
+
1
1
1
|
2
.
+
1
Glor
1
1
2064 7
of}
15
5
.
-
9211606
2A
4 191
SPESE RELATIVE
ALLA MARINA.
g 4431
2
.
i
1
1
•
1
22
يه دني
+
1
ܠܓܙ
SPESE MILITARI
RELATIVE ALLA
TERRA.
4 10
!
1
డులు,
Illl
I
1
6 17
3 |
.
1
I
1
M.Cr.
M.Cr.
T. G.
T. G. M.Cr. T.
M.Cr.
G.
M.Cr.
M.Cr. T.
T.
M.Cr.
G.
ENGLISH NAMES.
T. G. M.Cr. T. G.
ITALIAN NAMES.
M.Cr.
G, M.Cr.
G.
T.
M.Cr. T. G.
Roma.
Rome
32162 5 13 30516 11
2 19318
9 14471
5
9 12948 1 1 15403 8 7) 19507 10 8) 14099 1
11
8 14907 9 4| 15516 2 11 188852 5 12 18885
2 19
Parigi
Paris.
4687 6
9511 6 10 3428 2 16 3943 2 16! 4678 2 16 3428 3
2820
3260 5
4833 4
7010 5
47601 2
4760 1 8
Madrid
Madrid.
5617 5 14 4355 10 7 3949
2
8 19 3722 17 532
7 13 2489 10 12363 2 71 7179 1 9 11255 7 14 4793 9
56259 6
5625 11
Napoli
Naples
6872 4 12 6872 4 11 13239 10 10 9200 2 14 6800 6 97052 5
6764 2 5
6663 5 191 6007 6
12 14103
7 84176 11 19 8417
8
Palermo.
Palermo
2519
16
851
13
3370 1 9
Madrid
Madrid.
2460
2 2411
9
2462 5
3318 8 19 3839 2 11 3082 3 17
4452 3 11 3709 8 3 3401 1 9
5413 19
34551 6 1 3455 1 16
Tolosa
Toulouse
579 10 2 253 3
245
1497
1 608 8 5 493 8 5
486
15 472 7 15 619 4 15 477 7 15
5733 7 13 573 4
Alvernia.
Auvergne
3258 5
171 3444
8 16 3642 5
17 3397 2 177 3301
3431
9 17
9 7 1761 L 1 1754 3 17
1635
28950 5 5 2895
Marseglia
Marseilles
4352 11 15
3 5
2631
4864
2
2
10 4961
5
3271
161 4465 11
3986 11 10 4401 '7 4991
15 47044 3 1 4704 5 2
Aquitaine.
586
Aquitania
8
519 4 10 496
602
518
9
6 13 489 4 15
5
475 10
490 10
475 10
903 10 5
5559
6 3
555 11 8
Champagne
2
777
407
Sciampagna
5
440
1
6 18
639
6 372 11
455
637 8
10
416 8 3721 8
1368
7
9237 3 19 923 8 16
Arragon
749
4
Aragona
738
14
8
1012
4
5
735
15
5 10
760
733
6 18
4 8 736 11
740
979 1 15 735 10 12
7922 5 13 792 2 9
Valenza
Valencia
117 3 8 117 3 15 117 2 17 119 4 8 116 2
123
8
3 1
117
19
119 10
3
117 1 5 121 4
1186 8 14
118 8 1
Catalonia
1618 10
607 11
Catalugna
3 1617
9
5
393
13
18
442
9
1746 10
5
737
1484
11
4
7
171 1791 9
1054
2
11495 9
1149
Navarra..
Navarre
13
94 10
94 10 2 94 10 31 94 10 1 94 10 2 94 10 3 94 10 2
94 10
2 94 10 2 94 10
3
13
94 10 3
Paris.
1611160
8402
1
5
5
6
5
13712
11 15394
3
Parigi
1010960
11
4585
6
1
5 14300
101 8090
15| 12198
114248
7 1 15443 4
16 11424
Valladolid.
Valladolid
558
1
5
443 11
470 1
6 10962
789
13
6
2
8
11
1504
15 1405
171 1295
2 11 1874 8 14
1829 11
21134
12
2113 5 2
Alicante.
Alicant.
16
10 160 5
176 10
17 7 15
205
68
2 171
Majorca
34 2
34
7
2
Majorca
8
342
34
9
2
Portugal
2386
1
2318
42937
8
2644
7 12
7
2
2383
3770
2439
5
Portogal
2
6
1
1
4 19 2614
9
26161
4
6
2616
2443
17 2223
5
9
3
7
Rome
Ronin.
4444 6
3582
3766
10
8
12 4364 5
94691
4 2896
4
5
13
12
2762
4
3209 11 4263 1
8
5 4959
38940
3894
Torino
Turin
1614
6 11
3
1800
6
11
1960
276
11
7 13 3374
1313
9 8 3048 2 9
10
1671
12
7 9
16426
649 6 11 716
1
14
1642
9
7
Milano
Milan
373 11
353
14 331
5
10
338
11
8 332 5 2 338 11 13 744
13
10
765 5 12 758 7 12 754
6
8
8
5092 11
3 11
509
Genova
Genoa
3031
3035
10
6
3454
11
3038 3
8
5 3049 1
3470 9 9
3064
3466
9 16
9 1 3186 2 2
31862
3064 7 7
3186
7 5
3
Firenze
Florence
1039
1051
1
1
1748
923
77 6 1255
4 1827 5 8
5
3427
3 4267 16 1632 11 13
2123 9 1
5
19296 4
1929 7
Venezia
Venice..
3387
8 14 3693 4
3603
9
15 3420 2
11
3686 6 17 3387 8 14 3387 8 14 3503
12
3387
8 14 3363 8
34821
3
2
9
3482 2 2
Napoli
Naples
6488 3 11 6909 11 9 5058 1
8916.8 11142 11 10 9174 11
2
9687 7 14 9823 11 7 14933 11 10
8
91179
7 9117 11
Palermo
Palermo
3162 4 14 4125 4 7 4343
12 4364 8 4. 5327
5 4451 9 7
4343 2 10 5514 5 5 4367 9 12 4895 3 17 44895 13
4489
6
Messina
Messina
636 8 4 608 4 5 597
608
7 19
4 4 597 7 19 597 7 19 475 10 8 762 8 15 473 7 13 432 1 8
8 14
5790
579 17
Alemagna
Germany
741 5
860
7
5 13
8
1388
900
10
19
18 954
15
9
1847 7 18
887
] 2 1786
5
1023
6
867 9
0
12
10235
13
Boemia
Bohemia
4976 3 13 4754 2 16 4791 2
4842
5
4793
9
6 8 4648 9 4 4775 5
5052 6 2
1
4671 7 13
4650 8
47777
8
4777
8
Anglo-Bavara
Anglo-Bavaria
1064 7
532 6
532 5
57910
610 11 2
3320 3 2
332
6
3 Chiese convertuali.
Conventual Churches
12358 11
9660
11
2
12602
171 12385 2
3 4 10933 4 51 15505 6 2 11284
5 15 11957 5
14
3
3
19 9923
9361 6 12 115972
11597 15
4 Elemosine.
Alins
15802 11 2 19023
10 18851
5
181 16340
1
9 2 17881 6 15 16324 5 6 17622 1
31 18300 2 81 17729
15219 3 15
10 19
18
173094
17309
5 Ospedale Grande
Grand Hospital
6
79697 6
68361.
2 89070 10 2 67842 10
13 61487 6
9
871612 10 10 80798 1 14 94597
88648 5
16 92643
6
1
1
1 794760
3
79476
6 | Ospedale delle Donne
Hospital for Women
16764 11 17| 20157 4 2 18270
151 17615
7 11 17421 7 17462
9
1 5 18109 4 622901 6
7 19319 4 1 18746 8
12
5
186768
18676 10
9 16
7 | Bambini Esposti
Foundlings
2
5734
7478
5228
4
5065
2
1 4
5 4 5176
6146
1 3 5211 9 4
6245 5 4 7458
6
61468
7266
1
8 10
6604
7
10
15
9
8 Beneineriti
Gratifications
1164 2
661
635
4
10
540
4
2
10
540 10 4 3645 6
780 10
9
4 901 2
8
16
780 10
9
2 1049
10700
4
1070
9 Piazze Morte
Gratifications after Death 3525 7 14 2291
2301
1
2058
9
2182
7 18
5
2 16
6 10
101
2254 8
1
10 2356
5
4 2038
2326
14
23265
2192 1
9
14
10 Monache di S. Ursola
Nuns of the Order of
869 9 3 578
465
7 13
2
359 2
686 10
4
9
304 4
St. Ursula..
458 6
520
8
2
5
457 2 2 494 8
5194
519
11 Monache di Tolosa
Nuns at Toulouse
750
2386
4166 8
4
8
7303
4
730
12 Monache di Martel
Nuns of St. Martel ..
2952 9 15
2952
15
9
3
295
7
13
Galere (A).
Galleys (A)....
6
188582
2239623 14209059
4 S
2 3229082
1 258764 11237399
6
4
5
3 11251264
225043
9257425
1
6202132
2250435
7
9
14
Navi (B).
Men of War (B).
230319 4
--238965
9193780
5
11
911 270311
1
298821 1
2
4347379 10 291767 1 9247249 8 12210221 17206675 11
9
6 B 2358271
235827
9
15
Armamenti straordinari Extraordinary Armaments
305 4
20590
20895 8 19
6 18
2089
16
Galeotte di Guardia
Guard Galliots..
4544 7 13 5351 1 4 5614
6986 11
4
8
6
11
4 3678
5183
8
10
10
8
4064
18
8
19
4
7 63962
5336
8 15 49155
4915
9
17
Sanita
Office of Health
692 7 11 690
1364
10 1047
265
1 10
5 2 1253
5
18
3
2
7 294
1
727
10 5049
3
7
2
12532
1330
13 1072
1 14
18 Risarcimento dei Bacili Basins for holding Timber
2062
3148
8
8640
4
2654
12
18 864
11
18
11
2
775
2
3
12
19 Ripulimento del Porto. Cleansing the Port
949
1316 8
7 17 3240
6051
1671
2
10
46804 3
11 6
4080
5340
9
3
4
7
5
8655
5775
8404
2
5349 10 10
5
1 4
20
Funale S. Elmo ,, St. Elmo's Light House
239
272 5
273
17
248
3
254
11
9
2
12
299 10
258
10
11
3
270
269
I
270
2692 10
6
305
12
77
9
21
Regto. di Multa ..
Maltese Regiment
117815 10 7137827 4 11120820
4125086 10 4130992 7 5126323
9
8
3
9 131803
5 6136032 8
7122265 5
I
127612 16
14|127100
16 1276128 11
Artiglieri
Artillery
8894 11
10
19 9015
85642
13 9058
8564
11
8989
15
8 8 9104 8
4
4 8118
5
3
8043 5
17
4
8213
19 8036
8166
17
3
18
9 2
2
23
Turcopoli e Bundo-
Horse and Foot Guards
306
306
4
9
300
306
1
9
306
306 14
4
9
4 306
9
9
306
9
3067
4
9
306
4
306
lieri
306
4
77 17
9 4
4
9
9
24
Guardie di S. Giu-
The Guards at St. Julian.... 1346 1 4 1277 4 1 1149 8 15
4
1778 10
1200 4 10 1180
1180
1167
2
6
1158
12571
6
1183
liano
1257
9
25
Servizio della Piazza Service of the City .
1960 6 16 3286 8 5
2656
2522
6 11
191 2926 11
7
8
2826
1
14 2198
3197
5 15 2145
4
6
5
28263 2
171 4497 5 4 2871 2 15
26
Fortificuzioni
Fortifications
9712
6118
10
7
5 11127
1 12240
5
1 13856
8 14869
4 11 15987 4 5 16117 1
2
14 12217 8 10 15403
3 12 127649 17 12764 18
27
Castel S. Elmo..
Castle of St. Elmo
2747 10 16 2565
2533
5
5
4 2337
2077
12 1790 2 10
1464
9
11
12
10
1374
9 16
1423
8 2
1280
18
3
19595
4
7
1959
28
Castel S. Angclo ...
Castle of St. Angelo
844
947
1
831
9
8
791
12
8 758
7
6
846
806
8461
1
4
1163
8
8
734
15
2
1 17
10
2 10 776 11 5
$08
29
Gozo e Torri
Goza and its Towers
1396 4 13 1526 7
6 13
1807
1206
1352
7 14
10 17 1632 10 10 1422 2 19
1458 9 6
4
1293
6 1293
14390
1439
30
Stato d' Armied Ar-
Ordnance and other Arms .. 36293 8 10422 3 9 5272
31 13131
7
1
6543
10
11 13 55279 4
154618
12
13290 8
15461 16
13 14937 3 16 13700
11 4
5 9
tiglerin (c)
21
Rinnovazione dalle
New-paving the Streets 11814 4 16 7045 2
12 11903
3
8 12 11159
2
710948 11
12 9057 11
7108 11
8
16 6683 2 3 1479 15 6729
9 4 83929 9
Strade
8392 18
32 Moli delle Marinc... The Quays in the Port
1246 10
6
4 2274 2
6
424
13164 11
5 1746
5 17
7
209
1441
10
4
8
2163
1346
5
9
2
4
20
2836 3
1101 9 5
33
Arsenale delle Galere.. Arsenal for the Galleys
6
13827
8 14043 4 31 10555
5
49652
4
4965
1527
5
7
61
71 9698 6 9
34
Corderia
Rope-Yard
548
2093
5428
7
9
11 13 2786
1
542 16
1
9
Barriera e Lazzaretto
Lazzaretto
3865 8
6235 8 7
5
73742 3
1 9' 3498
10741
4 11
1
28083
6
2808
12
36
Magazzini del Rive-
Store-houses for the Galleys
3741 9. .
9 19
3415
10
12
11
7156 10
715
ditore delle Galere
37
Molino della Polvere Powder-Mills
6538 11
1427 2
1
9....
7966 9 796 12
38
Magazzini vicino la? S Store-houses near
the
270 1 18
3
8800
5951
8 12148
2
9
7
0 9849 4 1 9403 5
711811
58234
9 3
11
5823 8
10
Dogana ..
Custom-House
Biblioteca e Conser-
503 5
2113
A Conservatory and Library
10
7 12 14963 5 14 13149 4
53483
15 22739 1 101
1 18
6
5348
ondoria ..
528 5
52
17
16
Nuovo Cimiterio.. New Burying-ground ..... 528 5 17
1108 3 3
110 16
Fanale S. Elmo .. Light-House at St. Elmo.. 1108
3
5
7225 17
4
Hospital
Ospedale
722 10
17
7225
Grand-Master's Palace.
43 Palazze Magistrale
518
518
518
967
518
4
5177 7
518
16 518
518
3
3
15
19
518
5629
562 18
Falconry
18 1154
44 Falconeria
1272
11
766
852
7
111
1
2 1184
2
5
9 13
989
2
842
2
6
3 8
16 945 7 6 1213
14
9
19! 1172
10393
1039
Tables
3 56553
45|| Tavole
161 51350
50996
71 55109 11
56048
6
71 57151
9
11
5 50627
5
5
5
8
12
9
10 56461
1 53375 7
53957
14 51837
539573
9
1445
Soldée and Noviciate
1538 6
4
1
10
2
2
1300
46|| Soldea e Noviziato
1499
11
1
1542
1371
12
1515 11
1692 4
1500
1496 6
5
15
1
14
19
3
4
1490
14902
6569
12 8811
8225
4
3
Treasury and Conservatory.
13
1
7734 10
5 2 7999
3
5
7 8723
8529
8
47 || Tesoro e Conservadoria
8488
6 15
1
9
10
2
8702
3 2
8337
14 9593
83375
Chancery
1504 19 2155
1497
3 2
48 || Cancellaria
5
1496
101
1
2894 4
5
8 1366 3
1642
16
1528
5
1497
3 17
7 1
1334 8
1
8 16907
7
7
1690 14
6 16 33648 6 131 26141
Slaves' Prison
5 22835
7
4
16 26776
15 29235
11 35358
6
7 18 39250
1
8 32161
22389 11
3
2 26492
1
17
9
294289
49 Prigione de Schiavi
29428 18
88345
3
8260
4
11
8582
98394 4
9608
50|| Neofiti
Neophytes
3 14
16
2
6
18
10
7
10
8
11 10947
197372 11 7908 10 7 10174
9725
9
8834
768
Purchase of Slares
2800
4
4634
12 20000
2546 10
105
7536
12
71
2
9
4557 11
44885
10
1749
187
4488 10
51 || Compra de Schiavi
6
217
6
217
6
217 6
217
6
52 | Castellania
Castellany
6
157
269 10
217
217
6
277
2227
14
4
217
222
6
1648 4 16
Fountains.
1399
8
2308
4
3743
5 14
12 1668
8
18
10
6
4655
53 | Fontane
1
6
1114
3
3
1
15
10293
950
29204
9
2920
:9
6 21436
4 131 18674
2
10
6 14 17255
4
4
5 24638
8 24039
13 23811
14 16139
1
18 16053
10
4
17572
1
71 24341
1
203962
Postage of Letters
54 || Porto di Lettera
20396
6 3 4101
3065
3023
3065
3
13
4 3117
16
81 2993
2555 5
8
2
71 2594
7 2630
2
Annuities left by Will..
7 2573
79718
55 | Legati Vitalizi
7
7971 16
7243
4
14
9 14 7045
5
Annual Pensions.
7113
3
2
6 14243
6638
15 13809
5
11
11
56 | Pensione Vitalizie..
16 12257
2
181 14313
2
181 12658
77
9
109309
181 13985
10930 18
19
Interest of different Loans
5
4
1| 42108 12 41126
14 43877
57 | Lucri dei Capitali passivi
5
11 52431
448778
2
16 37758
14
48277
1/ 41317 2 43457 11 8
10 11
48094 3
2 50529 11
44877 16
1 16315
3494
8
6
221531
23836
7
6
Drafts and Remittances
7687 1 19
58 Tratte e Rimesse (D)
768 14
4 13 2424
6 18
633
2043
Wood at Melicutta ..
465
1482
2
4
10
8
445
10
3
18
5
1823
7127 11
1211
7 12
17
2405
16).
13
18239
59 || Boschi di Melicucca
4
134
7
1
702
10
1
347
2.
1
850
60 Biblioteca (E)
395 1
5
589
15
Library
19
9 18
85
209
8
6
4 10
6
16 13128
3628
7567
3
5
61 Argenteria di Stato (F)
7
1
748
State Plate
1587
32774
8
3277
171 8549
13
9
9
295
11
2066
11
1961 10
Jesuits' College
1961 10
11 1738 2 6
3
11
1603
1603
2
10 11
1603
10
2343
11
10 11
10
3 16
4 11
1774
1819
18477
1847 14
62 Collegio del Gesu ..
ſ Property belonging to the
10 15 111069 18 120458
1
14 39753 10
1
2 19 23933
4
13205550 7 13
3
3
8 148995
21609
1970 10.
G 732947
63 || Beni di S. Antonio (G)
73294 14
Antonines...
64|| Piano conciliativo per ¿
A conciliatory Plan for
5 24177 8 1 50862
546 9
9 16 7336 10 17
506 11
61319 19 10
101145
Priorati della Lingua
the Priories of the Lan-
5 15 10114 10
d' Italia
guage of Italy ...
65 | Restituzione della biennale
S Restitutions made to the?
40271 4 5
6 20650
4027 2
e triennale Imposizione
19620 11
German Languages.. S
d'Allemagna
8 131 14348
9! 16864
4 21403
8 9685
9
11
2
2
18264 8
2
11
8 1
1
21 11859 3
17548
11 19785
Work-shops and Store-houses 16662
2
12 15139
2 13 182644
8 39347
66Ufficine e Magrezzeni
67 || Stabilimento della Lingua
Institution of the Anglo-
6081
3 15 8000
14081
2
3 15 1408
Anglo-Bavara
Bavarian Language.
Recovery of the Property
69 Ricuperazione dei Bei di
4 11
14196
1419 12
14196 4 11
belonging to the Order
Polonia..
s
in Poland ..
Illuminations the
69 | Illuminazione per la Nascita?
2331
2331
13
233 2
del Delfino di Francia
Birth of the Dauphin
70|| Soccorsi dati alla Citta di
Assistance sent to the
Messinci e Provincia di
Inhabitants of Cala-
16380 2 4 658 5
1703 16
3
17038 7 7
Calabria, in occasione dei
bria and Messina ...
Terremuoti
71|| Esiti relativi all'ultimo Ca-
Expenses relative to the?
746
2
4 15
4
151.
5491
4745
549
last General Chapters
pitolo Generale.
1854 21
1854 2
Purchase of Freeholds..
185 8
72 Compra di Stabili
2322 1 18
Expenses of different kinds
3122
2
3114
3676 11 19
1573 6
5 5521 6 15
11
2450 11
2297 7 15
15 1105
8
5723
9
7
30908
73|| Esiti diversi...
4
10000
153736
3
Extraordinary Expenses
36773
25400 10
9 17 3333
19 254005 10
74 Esito straordinario
21074 11
29087 6
12364595
Total of the Common Expenses from the Year 1779 to the Year 1788 inclusive......
1
19|| 1236459 6 3
SPESE MILI-
TARI RELA.
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M.Cr.
T.
G.
M.Cr.
T.
3
w
a
G.
(A) From the Total Amount
2284938 7 8 there has been a Deduction of..34503
0
(B) From the Total Amount 253549233 8
a Deduction of 177221 19
(c) From the Total Amount. . . . 168871 6 5
a Deduction of 14252 7 1
(D) From the Total Amount
.65177 2 16 .
a Deduction of 57490 17
(E) From the Total Amount.
2377 8 19
a Deduction of 1527 7 4
(F) From the Total Amount
...35505
35505 3
a Deduction of 2730 8 14
From the Total Amount.... 740443 3
a Deduction of
7495 11 16
1
•
.
TAB, V.-To be placed at End of VOL. I.
online sistemi
9
1