MALTA. 
485 
Barbary being now in friendship with the inhabitants, affords abun- 
dant supplies; and the impossibilityofaTurkishsiege^orof thepoHcy 
of foreign states inducing an attempt to starve the island, precludes 
the necessity of great magazines. From Sicily small vessels arrive 
daily with the produce of that island ; but the most valuable article 
procured from it, is snow from mount Etna, which not only is a 
luxury to the rich, but an invaluable medicine in the hospitals. 
The Maltese, under the protection of the British flag, are rapidly 
rising in prosperity, by the success of their commercial specula- 
tions, and every inch of their little island will soon be cultivated 
like a garden. Sir Alexander Ball has wisely established a botanic 
garden, and actively exerts himself to procure every article which 
he thinks will flourish, and add to the comfort or luxury of the in- 
habitants. He, at the same time, conciliates the minds of the higher 
orders, by those attentions, which the suavity of his manners ren- 
ders still more irresistible : and he attaches to his government the 
lower orders, by a proper attention to their innocent prejudices. 
The French name is held in universal detestation on account of 
the severities they exercised, after the island was blockaded. On 
one occasion they made a sortie from Gitta Vittorioso, and surprised 
the inhabitants of a neighbouring village, in the market place. 
They immediately put to death, men, women, and children ; but a 
few who escaped, gave notice to the surrounding villagers, who in- 
tercepted them in their retreat, and put them all to the sword. After 
this, the indignation was so great throughout the island, that Sir 
Alexander Ball was obliged to offer a reward for every Frenchman 
brought in alive, to prevent their being put to death. 
Towards the land. La Valetta is perfectly impregnable, and 
