946 
likewise the pope, contributed very 
considerable sums towards the ex- 
pence. 
La Valette is situate in 35 deg. 
54 min. north. It has three gates : 
the Porta Reale, towards Citta Vec- 
chia, and the interior; that of Mar- 
sa Muscet, leading from the har- 
bour of this name; and that called 
La Marina, being the entrance to 
the town from the eastern and prin- 
cipal harbour. The chiet street is 
the Strada Reale, extending from 
the Porta Reale, to the castle of St. 
Elmo. The rest interseét each other 
at right angles, and are generally 
narrow, for the purpose of keeping 
out the sun. They are all paved, 
and the town being principally built 
upon a hill, very low and easy 
steps are placed on either side of the 
Streets, for the convenience of foot- 
passengers. 
The tops of the houses are all flat 
terraces, from which the rain-water 
is conduéted by pipes into a cistern 
below provided for the purpose. 
Every family is thus furnished 
with abundance of good water at 
home, and there are, besides, pub- 
lic reservoirs and fountains, placed 
in diilerent parts of the town, which 
are supplied by an aqueduét com- 
mencing at Dier Chandal, in the 
southern part of the island, and up- 
wards of nine English miles in length. 
This aqueduét was erected, at a very 
considerable expence, by the grand- 
master de Wignacourt. 
The houses and edifices of every 
kind are built with a white stone, 
Obtained from the quarries in the 
island. ‘It is of, a very soft nature, 
which renders it easily adapted to 
any purpose; and to this facility 
we are to ascribe the numerous or- 
namenis, with which all the archi- 
tecture of the island abounds, as also 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
the beautiful symmetry of the forti- 
fications. 
There is a public library, which 
is well provided with books, both 
as to choice and number. It be- 
longed to the order, and was in- 
creased by the private libraries of 
the knights, which, at their deaths, 
augmented the general colleétion. 
The duplicate copies were sold, and 
the produce thence arising served 
to purchase such eligible books as 
it did not possess. The library con- 
tains, likewise, many gbjetts of cu- 
riosity, as some fine statues, prints, 
and several valuable articles of na- 
tural history. No book is suffered 
to be taken out of the library, but 
seats and tables are provided for 
the use of those who frequent it. 
An immense and very beautiful 
building had lately been ereéted, to 
which the library was to have been 
transferred. This, however, has never 
been carried into execution, and the 
house is now converted into a vast 
assembly and coffee-room. 
La Valette possesses an opera- 
house, small indeed, but neat, though 
now much out of repair. Italy and 
Sicily supply it with very tolerable 
vocal performers, and it is a very 
agreeable entertainment for the gar- 
rison. It was excessively crowded 
every night by the officers of the 
expedition, to whom it was a great 
source of amusement. The price of 
admission is one shilling. 
Provision of every kind is here in 
the greatest abundance. Though 
we overran the island with troops, 
every thing was pretty reasonable, 
and no want was perceived. Sicily 
furnishes a sufficiency of cattle; and 
Malta and Gozo produce quantities 
of excellent fruit and vegetables. 
They possess a very great luxury 
here, which I never knew in any 
island 
