MALTA AND SICILY. 
69 
they were only “ savage flowers? We did 
not attempt to convince our companion-that 
these “ savage flowers” could really be valued 
by persons of sane mind. 
On Sunday morning next we shall be set 
at liberty. The prospect of freedom is very 
delightful, though performing quarantine has 
not been so irksome as we had anticipated, 
for our time has been so fully occupied, that 
the days have passed rapidly with us. In¬ 
deed, were it not for a desire to explore the 
new country around us, and to collect and 
examine its various natural productions, I 
could be very happy in this place for a much 
longer time than we have spent in it, especially 
if many of one family were here together. I 
often think what an acquisition the society of 
a few dear, merry-hearted children would 
have been during our imprisonment. But I 
can easily believe that to many persons the 
