MALTA AND SICILY. 
189 
of a fire, with the viper writhing in the flames. 
This figure usually stands in St. Paul’s church, 
from which it is annually brought forth and 
earned through the principal streets of Va- 
letta. Next in the procession were the clergy, 
amounting to two or three hundred in num¬ 
ber, including the students, the youngest 
walking first. These were followed by the 
canons of St. Paul’s church, and last of all 
came the bishop. All the company carried 
long wax candles, but on this occasion the 
wind was so high, that they could not be 
lighted. 
Since I began writing this letter we have 
formed an acquaintance with a Capt. R ——, 
a Swiss gentleman, who has this morning 
informed us that in a few days he proposes 
going to Messina, to which place we have 
suddenly concluded to accompany him, for 
we are weary of this desolate isle. How 
