MALTA AND SICILY. 
157 
mg the winter. At such times invalids 
should not upon any account venture to 
leave the house, where they will probably 
suffer no injury from the effects of this 
piercing wind, as its temperature is not in 
reality so low as those who are exposed to it 
might suppose. 
In justice to this disagreeable little free¬ 
stone rock, I must mention among “ the qua¬ 
lities o’ the isle,” two inducements which it 
offers to invalids to choose it for their liiber- 
nacula. These are, first, that it can boast of 
a beautifully clear and apparently a very 
dry atmosphere; and, secondly, that excel¬ 
lent accommodation can be obtained on 
moderate terms. In Valetta there are several 
very well-conducted hotels, where may be 
enjoyed every English comfort and luxury, 
and invalids in a foreign land will surely 
not esteem it the least of these, that when 
