6o TRAVELS IN UPPEK 



their concourse, which formed an epigram with 

 one of the vows of the knights, was singularly 

 pernicious to the crews of vessels frequenting those 

 seductive and perfidious resorts. 



Brydone has amused himself with telling tales, 

 respecting the knights of Malta, somewhat similar 

 to those of which poor Madame Montagne, at Pa- 

 lermo, is the subject. On my arrival I found the 

 public mind violently exasperated against him, and 

 there was but too much ground for it. The truth 

 is, he describes the manner of life of the chevaliers, 

 without having been in intimacy with a single one, 

 during the whole time of his residence in the 

 island ; his picture, and this is not the only occa- 

 sion on which the same reproach may be addressed 

 to him, is far from being a likeness ; and when he 

 speaks of the mode of duelling between the 

 knights, of the crosses painted on the wall oppo- 

 site to the spot where one of them has been killed, 

 of the punishments incurred by such as refuse a 

 challenge*, they are so many errors escaped from 

 his pen, deceived undoubtedly by lying reports, 

 and too inconsiderately adopted. For my own 

 part, I found the utmost politeness of behaviour, 

 and the kindest attentions in the society of the 

 members of the order with whom I had any con- 

 nexion, and I recollect with gratitude the warm 



* Tour through Sicily and Malta, vol. i, p. 363, &c. 



reception 



