OF No. XVII. ART. I. Malte par un Voyageur François. Saggio di Agricoltura per le Isole di Malta e Gozo del Observations on the Climate, Manners, and Amusements Materials for a History of the People of Malta. By II. Sermons by Samuel Horsley, LL. D. F. R. S. F. S. A. 1 30 39 IV. Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest Trees and the Propagation of Timber in his Majesty's Dominions, together with an Historical Account of the Sacredness and Use of Standing Groves. By John Evelyn, Esq. Fellow of the Royal Society. With Notes by H. Hunter, M.D. F. R.S. 1812. The Fourth Edition, with the Editor's last Corrections, and a short Memoir of him. 45 V. A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, A Geographical Memoir of the Persian Empire, accom- in his Mission to the Court of Persia. VI. Correspondance Littéraire, Philosophique, et Critique, addressée à un Souverain d'Allemagne, depuis 1770 jusqu'en 1782, par le Baron de Grimm et par Diderot 57 89 VII. An VII. An Introduction to Medical Literature; including a VIII. The New Art of Memory,' founded upon the Principles taught by M. Gregor Von Feinaigle, illustrated by Engravings. Dr. R. Grey's Memoria Technica,' or Method of arti- IX. Comedies of Aristophanes, viz. The Clouds, Plutus, X. Travels in various Countries of Europe, Asia, and Afri- XI, Poems, by S. Rogers. XII. The Expediency maintained of continuing the System 117 125 139 162 207 = 218 This day is published, price 21. 2s. a whole-length Portrait of THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM PITT; Engraved in the Line-manner by Mr. BRAGG, after a Picture painted by the late JOHN HOPPNER, Esq. R. A. This Portrait was the last for which Mr. Pitt sat, having been painted for Lord Mulgrave, in the October preceding his death. It is the same from which, with the permission of Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Nollekens copied his celebrated Bust. Sold, by Appointment of Mrs. HOPPNER, by J. MURRAY, 50, Albemarle Street. THE QUARTERLY REVIEW. MARCH, 1813. ART. I. Malte par un Voyageur François, 12mo. Saggio di Agricoltura per le Isole di Malta e Gozo del Padre Carlo Giacinto, &c. &c. 8vo. Observations on the Climate, Manners, and Amusements of Malta. By William Domeier, M. D. 8vo. Materials for a History of the People of Malta. By William Eton, Esq. &c. 8vo. IF F singular anomalies never fail to arrest our attention, Malta, which presents so many deviations from the common order of things, moral and physical, is surely calculated to excite curiosity and interest. In a political point of view, she has far stronger claims upon our notice. Every year, we might almost say every month, which has elapsed since the renewal of hostilities, has afforded additional proof of the advantage, or rather of the necessity of this island to Great Britain, so long as she shall wish to maintain her station, either as a belligerent or a commercial power in the Mediterranean; and we trust that by this time the tenenda est Melita, is become as favourite a political maxim with Englishmen as the delenda est Carthago, was with the Romans. But if time and experience have convinced us of the soundness of such a principle, those two great teachers, in shewing us the value of our prize, have also shewn us that the system upon which we have hitherto acted is not the best calculated for its preservation. We believe we speak the common opinion, in considering our policy in the government of our foreign possessions as defective; but whilst a modification of the present system, if a radical change cannot be effected, is become necessary in all, it is no where more imperiously called for than in Malta. Postponing those considerations, which are general to our colonial acquisitions, we shall examine such points as are peculiar to that island; and after observing, that we view the spirit of cabal, which has exhibited itself there, through no exaggerated medium, and that we hold the main pretensions of the malcontents to be not less unreasonable than their power is insufficient to enforce them, we are yet of opinion that the causes of this spirit of disaffection, however remote or indirect, clearly call for inquiry. We We are much mistaken if there be not more of mischief than is yet visible, and if the clamour of the few do not derive confidence from a general spirit of restlessness; which, if not soothed or repressed, may, at no great distance of time, ferment into faction more deep and dangerous than the present. Some general principles of government may be laid down, but very few indeed that are abstractedly applicable to all cases, and which do not require to be modified according to the genius of the people for whose benefit they are intended. To an inquiry therefore into what has led to the appearance of discontent, to which we have alluded; to a consideration of tre remedies which may be most capable of arresting its growth; in short, to any discussion of the present political state of Malta, we must bring a sufficient acquaintance with its former circumstances, and above all a knowledge of the genius and manners of its inhabitants. If therefore in the general view which we shall take of the island and things relating to it, we should enter somewhat into detail on this head, or dwell on traits which to some may appear trifling or perhaps ridiculous, we shall answer, that not only such an assemblage of features is absolutely neces sary towards forming a fair picture of national character, either in a philosophical or political consideration of the subject, but that, in the latter point of view, such peculiarities are even sometimes individually of much more importance than the world might at first sight be disposed to admit. Few, unfortunately very few and insufficient, are the sources from which we can hope to derive the information on the various heads under which Malta and its sister islands merit investigation; and we have selected the books before us, rather as a specimen of the class of works to which we would recur, than because they have fulfilled our expectations. The first, however, which is a succinct compilation from older authors, though superficial, contains some account of old Malta, and as full a description of its antiquities as will satisfy any but the professed antiquary. The second is passable as far as it goes, and though the author's place of superintendant of the Botanic garden in La Valletta is, necessarily, as nearly a sinecure as that of riding-master to the doge of Venice; he shews acquaintance with the state of cultivation, such as it is, and in proposing plans for its improvement, has interspersed his essay with some notices respecting the habits and character of the peasantry. The third, though its professions are not very large, amongst other things, (though the author seems to have forgotten his engagement,) undertakes to treat of manners. He has however failed not more egregiously in this than all other parts of his work; some of which, we will not say his supposed education, but mere common sehse sense and common observation would have been competent to execute with success. Those who have passed a winter in Malta, may judge of the accuracy of his notices on climate, by his remark on the rarity of rain during that season: those who have never travelled but on maps, will duly estimate his geographical information by his assertion, that Lisbon and Naples are the two most southerly parts of Europe; and an idea of the profundity and truth of his medical observations may be formed from his dictum, that society is of benefit to the invalid from its promotion of the cutaneous perspiration. For the stile, or rather idiom, it would shock 'brass-visaged barbarism' himself. But enough of the doctor! We pass to the work of Mr. Eton, formerly superintendantgeneral of the quarantine department in Malta; and if we could ́ draw an omen from the title of the book, or the name and station of the author, this would be a happy ascent in the scale of publications, which we have chosen as subjects of review: but a strange fatality (may we escape its influence!) hangs over this subject; and Mr. Eton has disappointed us equally with the rest. His title is a mere cloak; as his book is a masked battery against the present form of government established in Malta, mounted with an old, rusty, unserviceable, and ill-directed artillery which, if it has not been shaken to pieces by its own fire, may be dismounted by a single hostile discharge. If the first works on which we have commented, were other than what they are, and if there was any thing like a redemption of the promise of his title-page, or candour or consistency in the publication of Mr. Eton, our task would be more simple than it unfortunately is; but insufficient or vicious in various respects as are these different volumes, we see no means of disentangling, or of eking out the perplexed and broken web which lies before us. We are therefore reduced to the necessity of spinning one of our own, making use of such of their materials as we think applicable to our purpose, or giving our reasons for rejecting them where the case appears to require it. In no country in Europe did the yoke of authority press so grievously as in Malta: a domineering system of policy was the only principle of government with the order of St. John, nor was the systematic rigor to which they were subjected the principal evil which her inhabitants had to endure; they had to bear with the more offensive profligacy and insolence of the individuals who composed it. Next in rank to these were the marquisses, counts, and barons, who for the greater part, we believe, derived, and often purchased, their honours from the grand master, Their nobility was in truth little more than titular, they were treated with no consideration by the knights, and consequently were little respected by the people. There was little commerce, and almost every path A 2 leading |