MALTA-DIFFICULTY OF CULTURE.

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despair upon a labour so unpromising, and turn with disgust from hardships for which they can expect so slight a remuneration. Yet wherever industry would be available, they appear readily to have exercised it. The valley, of which I speak, bears ample testimony to this truth. The smallest space, whether upon the summit or upon the sides of the rock, has had the stone broken and cultivated; walls are raised for inclosures; and steps, constructed with much neatness and skill, afford a passage upward from one field or compartment to another. These places are open to every inclemency of the weather; and though its mutations are rare, yet in the rainy season, the water rushes down with tremendous force, and, in a single night, sweeps away the whole expected harvest of the husbandman. But his perseverance is greater than his loss; he resumes his laborious occupation beneath a burning sun, and gathers, at last, the very limited recompence which nature's parsimony admits. The excessive idleness of the Maltese has been too much and too invidiously dwelt upon. Instances to the contrary there are of course; but the native character appears to me dis

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CHARACTER OF THE MALTESE.

posed to activity. Subjugated as they have been, and rendered the tool of every faction, ecclesiastical as well as civil, can we be surprised that they should then shun the labour of which they were not permitted to eat the fruit; and, becoming habituated to idleness, can we imagine that they should cast off long-existing evils at the beck of a new government; or, that years should not elapse before they could assume a more energetic character, and a manlier tone of mind? It has been confessed to me, that they are skilful workmen, and good soldiers, (there is a corps in the pay of the government,) and I see continual proofs of a persevering industry, from which those who hold them cheap would turn away in despair, yet I hear every where the cant of their laziness; whereas a strenuous effort to improve and amend them would better become the station and the heart of the prejudiced declaimer. Civilization will never go forward as it ought, if such feelings continue to dwell in the minds of those who are alone able to give this people effectual assistance; and if so much narrow calculation, as commonly occupies the thoughts of those in whose way

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they are thrown, should continue to prevail, it will be vain to look for that reciprocity of spirit and sentiment, which can alone indissolubly unite two remote and differing people.

The evening of this day was occupied by a pleasant dance at Major Fox's.

Friday, 17th Dec.-I resumed my search after books, and discovered one or two upon which I set some value. For instance, a very beautiful manuscript, entitled,

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Regles et Maximes des Statuts de l'Ordre de Malte. Pour Messire Anthoine de Sade Eyguières Commendeur d'Espalion en 1715.” This work being unpublished, and containing a full account of all the regulations touching the knights of Malta, is extremely interesting. And the authenticity of its details is obvious, from its having been drawn up under the direction and for the use of a commander of the order. It tolerably thick quarto, comprising 423 closely-written pages, together with a copious index. It seems to have been three years in progress, if we may trust the first page of the MS. "A Malte le premier jour du mois de Janvier de l'année 1712." There is, indeed,

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MALTA CURIOUS MANUSCRIPT.

much curious matter in it. As for instance, “De la table du pillier.”

"First,-Two soups, without garnish; two dishes of boiled veal, weighing ten pounds and a half each.

“Two dishes of roasted mutton, weighing ten pounds each; the dish du regale of nine singing birds, when the grand commander eats there, besides four roasted pigeons.

“ Item,—Two dishes of fricassee; two plates of radishes, figs, or melons, according to the season; two dishes of boiled mutton for the valets of the ancients, who eat in the pillary, (au pillier;) seven grains a day to each of the ancients for two other dishes of fricassee, that they may serve three grains in the morning and four grains at night; six dishes of desert according to the season."

it

And then of those who eat at the Auberge,

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seems, that they were not to spill their wine upon the ground on pain of the seton, (‘sur peine de la settane';)" nor to carry out of it any kind of provision on the same singular penalty. Also, whoever complains “mal-apropos," as the MS. phrases it, of what is

13

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given at the Auberge," pour la premiere fois la settane et seconde aussy."

Whoever beats the valets of the Pillary, but without shedding blood, was, for the first offence, to be condemned to a quarantine,—a fast of forty days; for the second, six months' fast in the day time; for the third, he lost two years of seniority. Nobody was to enter the kitchen against the will and pleasure of the "maistre de sale," on penalty of the seton for the first and second offence, the quarantine for the third.

"The ancients of France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, eat with the grand master on feast days. They did not wash their hands at the conclusion of the repast as the others did ; but went from the table, and placed themselves behind the chair of the grand master, who ought to oblige them to cover." [Faire couvrer -perhaps the table.]

“When the pillar of England goes to court, the grand master ought to salute him with the hat, and to make him cover when he

goes to see him dine. He eats with the grand master when he goes to see him in the country."