MALTA. 
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over the harbour. The whole building is of the same materials, 
and surrounds a quadrangle ; it is built on the solid rock, with a 
flight of steps down to the water, and is kept exceedingly clean. 
The lower story is used to receive goods that are unclean. 
August 11. — In consequence of its being known that no plague 
had existed in Egypt for three years, it was only for the sake of 
form that wx were obliged to perform quarantine. Had a King's 
ship arrived under similar circumstances, she would have been 
immediately allowed pratique, or free access to the town, but this 
indulgence is under no circumstances granted to a merchantman. 
The Board of Health met, and sentenced us to confinement in the 
Lazaretto, for twenty days ; but, in consideration of our clean bills 
of health, and long voyage, gave us two days of grace, and left it to 
the discretion of the captain of the Lazaretto to give us two more, 
if we all continued well. Our imprisonment was by no means a 
punishment after having so long been confined to a merchantman; 
the Governor, and many other gentlemen, paid us visits in the 
presence of an offiger, whose duty it was to take care that they did 
not touch us, nor any article belonging to us, that could communi- 
cate infection. With books and newspapers we were plentifully 
supplied, and the luxuries of ice and fruit, to which we had long 
been strangers, assisted in consoling us for the want of permission 
to visit the town. This morning Sir Alexander Ball sent to inform 
me, that as the fleet would shortly sail for England, and as he 
understood that Captain Rudland wished to go in it, he would 
procure pratique for us in a few hours. This he did, and we 
immediately hastened to the Palace to return him thanks, and 
then took possession of some excellent apartments belonging to 
