so when this was done, others also which "had diseases in the island came and were "healed: who also honoured us with many "honours, and when we departed, they "laded us with such things as were necessary." See 28th chap. Acts.

Here is an interesting and pleasing account of its ancient inhabitants; may its modern inhabitants also increase, not only in hospitality, but in all other Christian graces, which most dignify and adorn human nature. Traditions of St. Paul are often cited, and his memory is highly venerated by many of the Maltese.

During the recent revolutions in France, Italy &c. this island has passed into the hands of the English, whose government the inhabitants in general highly esteem. May their confidence in, and happiness under it, continue to increase.

This port is capable of containing an immense number of shipping, the main harbour alone will, probably, contain three

hundred sail, and in addition to this there are two inlets or harbours from it, which will contain many more; in one of these inlets is the arsenal, and every convenience for carreening ships of the heaviest burthen.

The view of the city, and its neighbourhood, with the fine landscape at the bottom of the bay, is noble and pleasing. Malta abounds with the most delicious fruits, oranges, lemons, olives, figs, melons, and pumpkins, are easily obtained, and pease, beans, pulse, roots, herbs, and other garden produce, rise from a very thin surface of earth, with little cultivation; cotton also abounds in various parts; indeed the whole island may be compared to a hot-bed, as to the sudden appearance of its productions. It is about twenty-one miles in length, and twelve in breadth, and all its vicinity produces a variety and abundance of fish*.

Sailing to the westward of the island, we had an extraordinary visit of porpoises; our ship was sailing in a fresh gale and lowering atmosphere, at the rate of six er seven miles an hour, notwithstanding her rapidity,

The air is clear, and though excessively hot in summer, is very healthful. The refreshing breezes, which are almost constantly prevalent during the hot months, are so refreshing and invigorating, as suddenly to rise the body from a state of lassitude and debility, to comparative strength and activity; how graciously has Divine Providence tem. pered these hot climates!

The attentive reader will consider a sketch of its history, as not uninteresting; the earliest accounts say it was peopled by the Carthaginians; several old inscriptions in Punic characters have been discovered.

St. Paul's shipwreck on this island, des. cribed with all that sublime simplicity peculiar to the Bible, in the 27th and 28th

these ploughers of the ocean kept pace with ease, and played their gambols for hours successively; whether their appearance always presage a tempest, according to a received opinion among seamen, I will not undertake to assert, but that soon after our arrival in port, much tempestuous weather was experienced is certain.

chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, has through the depravity of nature, caused a superstitious reverence for this remarkable island; it was given to the religious order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, in 1530, whose predecessors distinguished themselves in those absurd and impious wars, falsely called holy.

At

When the Christians were driven out of Palestine, by the Saracens, these knights retired to Cyprus; they afterwards took the island of Rhodes from the Turks, and defended it against almost the whole of their unwieldy power for two hundred years. length after an arduous siege of a whole year, during which the Turks lost eighty thousand men, though the knights were reduced even to six thousand men; they capitulated on advantageous terms, and retired to Malta.

Almost ever since their establishment in this island, they have been at perpetual war with the Turks. Solyman invaded them with an immense army, and after

many exertions to gain possession, was obliged to abandon his last effort with the loss of twenty thousand men. This small island was hereby made the means of setting bounds to the overgrown and unwieldy power of the Ottomans, since which the horrors of warfare have been considerably softened and in general been confined to predatory excursions.

The dreadful sentiment of perpetual warfare, and of extermination, has caused terrible devastation and bloodshed. War among the most civilized states is always a scourge; but, when waged under the idea of rooting, as it were a nation out of the earth, it becomes horrible indeed.

But blessed be God, this monstrous sentiment of perpetual warfare, has lately considerably lost its predominancy, especially among the Maltese; their generosity in this respect has been manifested; for, to their honour be it spoken and recorded, they have lately kindly treated as friends many of that nation, whom their less enlightened