# A History of the Knights of Malta/Chapter 25

ChAPTER XXV.
1797—1798.
Ferdinand Joseph Antoine Herman Louis von Hompesch, to whose name is attached the melancholy distinction of having been the last Grand-Master of Malta, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of de Rohan. He was the first knight of the langue of Germany who had ever been raised to that office. It is said that do Rohan during his last moments demanded of those surrounding him who was to be his successor. He was told that the bailiff von Hompesch appeared the most probable candidate. “The German,” remarked de Rohan, “is not a bad selection, provided he be well advised; but he is not the man for such a crisis as this, and I shall be the last to die Grand-Master of an illustrious and independent Order.” It is averred that von Hompeech did not desire the post, and that it was with difficulty he was persuaded to allow himself to be named as a candidate. This cannot be reconciled with the well- known fact that he expended a large sum of money to secure his election, and was ever after hampered by the debts he then created. He had begun life as a page to the Grand-Master Pinto, and had reached the dignity of a grand-cross at a very early age, probably owing to his high connections, springing as he did from one of the noblest families of the Lower Rhine. For twenty-five years he was envoy of the Order at ​Vienna, and at the end of that time was made grand-bailiff of Brandenburg. He was the youngest Grand-Master elected for centuries, being only fifty-three years of age.
His rule opened with a gleam of prospenty from the favourable disposition of the emperor of Russia towards the fraternity. Paul I. had always been its enthusiastic admirer, and now that he had reached the throne, he gave a practical proof of his Mend- ship. The Polish priory was largely augmented and converted into a Russian one, with a revenue of 300,000 forms. This priory was divided into ten commanderies for knights and three for chaplains, and was incorporated into the Anglo-Bavarian langue. The emperor also assumed the title of “Protector of the Order of Malta.” In the council of Rastadt, which opened in 1797, it was proposed to combine the Order of St. John with that of the Teutonic knights, but the project fell to the ground in the midst of other more important matters. Indeed, there was so strong a feeling amongst the revolutionary party in favour of the destruction of both fraternities, that no measure tending to strengthen them was likely to prove acceptable.
At length the year opened which was destined to remove the Order from the home where it had dwelt during nearly three centuries. The treasury was at this moment in an alarming state of deficit; most of its revenues had been confiscated, or were unavailable; the plate and jewels had been either melted down or disposed of, and but little remained to defray the expenditure necessary for placing the island in a proper state of defence. At this time there were present at the convent the following knights, viz.:—200 of the three French langues, 90 Italians, 25 Spanish, 8 Portuguese, 4 German, and S Anglo-Bavarian, making a total of 332; but of these only 280 were, from age and other causes, capable of bearing arms. The garrison consisted of the Maltese regiment of 500 men, the Grand-Master’s guard of 200, the battalions of the men-of-war and galleys, 700; artillery, 100; chasseurs of the militia, 1,200; and sailors, 1,200, making a total of nearly 4,000 men; to which might be added 3,000 of the simple militia of the island, who, under ordinary circumstances, might be counted on to do faithful service.
The destruction of the Order was determined on by the followilig decree, which was drawn up by the French directory, dated ​Paris, 23 Germinal, an VI. (12th April, 1798):—“Considering that the Order of Malta has placed itself, of its own accord, and from the very commencement of the war, in a state of hostility against France; that it has actually made an express declaration of war by a manifesto of its Grand-Master of the 10th October, 1794; that he has even protested by this insolent proclamation that he neither ought, nor could, nor would recognize the French republic; considering also that the efforts which the Order has made both before and since to aid the coalition of the kings arrayed against liberty have always accorded with this expression of its sentiments, and that even quite recently it has attained the culminating point of its action against the republic, by receiving into its midst and admitting to high office numerous Frenchmen universally known as the most determined enemies of their country, disgraced for ever by having borne arms against her. Seeing that everything announces on the part of the Order an intention of yielding its territories to one of the powers now at war with France, and by such means to paralyse the naval power of France in the Mediterranean; that in all respects this Order is, as regards the French republic, in the same position as all the other powers with whom at the time of the establishment of the constitutional régime the nation had found itself in a state of war, without any declaration to that effect on her part, but by the simple fact that they have placed themselves in that position; considering that there is, therefore, no necessity for any enactment on the part of the Corps Législatif to enable the directory to take such steps against the Order of Malta as the national honour and interest demand, the following decree is made:—
“Art 1. The General commanding-in-chief the army of the East is desired to take possession of the island of Malta.
“Art. 2. For this purpose he will at once direct against the island of Malta the forces under his command, both military and naval.
“This decree will not be printed.”
A supplementary decree of the same date ran as follows:—
“Azt. 1. The order given to General Bonaparte, commander-in-chief of the army of the East, by the decree of this day’s date, to obtain possession of the island of Malta, shall not be ​carried into effect by him unless he considers it feasible without risking the success of the other operations confided to his charge. The executive directory leaves everything in this matter to his judgment.
“This decree will not be printed.”
These two resolutions show the intention of the French government to seize upon the island of Malta if practicable, and prove that the reasons for its attack subsequently put forward after the island had fallen into its hands, were mendacious pretexts. The matter was at the time a secret between the directory and those to whom its execution was intrusted, and meanwhile the world was thrown into general alarm by the rumours of an extensive expedition preparing in the French arsenals of the Mediterranean, the destination of which was as yet unknown. The restless spirit of aggression with which the young republic was imbued rendered every nation suspicious and uneasy on the score of this vast armament, and arrangements were on all sides set on foot for resistance.
One power alone continued careless and inactive in the midst of the general alarm. Whilst the note of preparation arose in every other country in Europe the island of Malta remained in a state of supine and indolent security. Warnings had been despatched to the Grand-Master, but they were unheeded. An ill-placed and incomprehensible confidence on his part, joined to the most palpable treachery on that of his advisers, led to the engendering of a fatal sense of security, from which he was not aroused until the enemy was at the door. He had even received the most distinct notice of the destination of the French expeditionary force from the bailiff de Schenau, the ambassador of the Order at the congress of Rastadt. That dignitary had written to him in the following terms:—
“I warn your Highness that the expedition now preparing at Toulon is intended against Malta and Egypt. I have my information from the private secretary of Mons. Treilliard, one of the ministers of the French republic. You will most certainly be attacked; take, therefore, all necessary measures for defence. The ministers of all the Powers in alliance with the Order who are now here have received the same information as myself, but they know that Malta is impregnable, or at all events in a ​position to offer a resistance of three months’ duration. Let your eminent Highness, therefore, be on your guard. Your own honour, and the preservation of your Order, are concerned in the matter. If you yield without a defence, you ‘will be lowered in the eyes of all Europe. I may add that this expedition is looked upon here as likely to prove a disgrace to Bonaparte. He has two powerful enemies in the directory, who have taken this opportunity of getting rid of him—Rewbell and Larevillière Lepaux.”
Such a letter as this, coming from a source so worthy of credence, must, one would imagine, have placed von Hompeach on his guard; but this was not the case. He conceived himself so secure in the friendly disposition of the French republic that he scorned all preparations for resisting an armament which he felt assured was not aimed against his fraternity, and the terror of which was, he believed, merely a bugbear existing in the agitated minds of nervous and timid politicians.
Such, then, was the comparatively unprepared condition of Malta, when, on the 6th June, 1798, a French fleet, consisting of eighteen sail, accompanied by seventy transports, appeared off the island under the command of Commodore Sidoux. Permission was demanded for a few of the vessels to enter the harbour and water; this was granted, two of the transports being admitted for that purpose, as also one of the frigates for repair, the remainder lying at anchor outside. Every effort was made by the knights to mark their strict neutrality, and their readiness to offer hospitality and assistance as well to the French as to the other powers whose fleets might approach their shores. On the 9th June the main portion of the expedition appeared, with the rest of the forces, the whole being under the command of General Bonaparte in person. The squadron thus united consisted of fourteen line-of-battle ships, thirty frigates, and 300 transports, the commander-in-chief being on board the flagship l’Orient.
On his arrival before Malta, Bonaparte at once despatched the French consul Caruson to the Grand-Master, demanding free entrance into the grand harbour for the whole fleet, and that his troops should be permitted to land. Such a request of itself proved the object which the French general had in view; to have yielded the required permission would have been simply ​to surrender the fortress without an effort. Von Hompesch, by the advice of his council, returned for answer that it was contrary to the rules of his Order, and to the treaty which had been made with France, Spain, and Naples in 1768, to permit the entry of more than four ships of war at a time. This rule he was not prepared to abrogate; but any assistance which he could render to the sick would be tendered with the utmost pleasure and promptitude. The letter concluded with a hope that the Order might still trust to the loyalty and good faith of the French nation, with whom it had always lived in peace and harmony.
This refusal was taken on board the French flagship by Caruson, who, at the same time, informed Bonaparte that treason was rife within the town. Caruson did not return on shore, but forwarded the following letter to the Grand-Master on behalf of Bonaparte, who did not condescend to correspond with him personally.
“9th June, 1798.
Your highness,—
“Having been nominated to proceed on board the admiral’s ship with the reply which your eminence made to my request for to the squadron to water in your harbour, the commander-in-chief Bonaparte is highly indignant that such permission should have been restricted to four vessels at a time, for how long would it not take for 500 sail at this rate to procure water and such other necessaries as they are much in want of? This refusal has the more surprised General Bonaparte since he is not ignorant of the preference you have shewn to the English, and the proclamation issued by the predecessor of your eminence. General Bonaparte has determined to obtain by force what should have been granted to him of free will, in accordance with the principles of hospitality which form the basis of your Order. I have seen the stupendous armament which is under the command of General Bonaparte, and I foresee the impossibility of the Order making any resistance. It was to have been wished, therefore, that under such adverse circumstances your eminence, for the love of your Order, your knights, and the whole population of Malta, had proposed some measures of accommodation. The general has not permitted me to return to a town which he considers himself obliged to ​regard as hostile, and which has no hope save in his mercy. lie has, however, given strict orders that the religion, the property, and the customs of the people shall not be interfered with.”
Prior to thus openly declaring war, Bonaparte had given the most detailed orders to the various generals who were to take part in the attack, as to their respective proceedings. General Baraguay d’Hilliers was to land at Melleha bay, General Vaubois at St. Julian’s, General Desaix at Marsa Scirocco, and General Regnier at Gozo.
The force to be landed by Baraguay d’Hilliers was not intended for the assault of the fortress, He was merely to occupy that part of the island near Melleha bay, and to keep the inhabitants in cheek. The actual attack was confided to generals Desaix and Vaubois, and the orders to the former ran as follow—
“The commander-in-chief desires General Desaix to start at once in one of the ship’s boats to reconnoitre this evening (the 9th June) the whole of the coast from St. Thomas bay to that of Vie de Sciaat. He is informed that the admiral has directed his convoy to proceed to the entrance of the harbour of Marsa Scirocco. The general wishes you to select the most favourable spot for landing at Mama Scirocco. He desires that to-morrow morning before daybreak 300 or 400 men should land in boats at one of the spots you may have selected out of range of any battery at the same time that three or four of the ships of your convoy which draw the least water shall approach the harbour of Mama Scirocco under pretext of watering. By this means you will secure your landing. The marine general du Chayla, with four men-of-war, will anchor at the distance of a mile from Mama Scirocco to support the landing. The general desires that directly you are master of all the batteries and towers, so as to be able to anchor in security in the bay of Mama Scirocco, you should advance on the town and endeavour to seize on a gate by surprise or to escalade at some point in the Cottonera lines which has no ditch. But if the enemy be vigilant the general desires that you should content yourself with investing fort Ricasoli and the Cottonera lines, communicating on your left with General Vaubois, who will land in St. Julian’s bay and invest the other side of the town. You will only ​land the troops that are required for this open4ion, and no cavalry. You will give orders that directly the convoy enters Marsa Scirocco bay they shall commence to water and secure forage for the horses. You must be ready to leave again in three days. You will make bread and feed your troops in the villages of Zabbar, Zeitun, Gudia, and Tarsehien. You must prepare everything for your landing to-night, but you must do nothing hostile until you receive fresh orders. You will tell the inhabitants that the French do not come to change either their customs or their religion, that the strictest discipline will be maintained, and that the priests and monks shall be specially protected. The general commanding-in-chief will issue a proclamation for the whole island.”
An order was also addressed to General Vaubois, who was to undertake the attack of the fortress from the north, and was to extend his force after landing at St. Julian’s, so as to connect with the left of that advancing from the south under General I)esaix. Further instructions were also issued to General Regnier, who was to land in Gozo and take possession of that island. In all these much stress was laid upon the necessity of informing the inhabitants that the French had no desire to change their customs or religion, and that all priests and monks would be specially protected.
Meanwhile, within the convent no one talked openly of surrender, and yet no prompt measures of defence were taken. Von Hompesch himself was perfectly useless in the crisis, not prepared indeed to yield, but at the same time unable to take the most ordinary precautions for the general safety. Without the walls of the palace treason stalked openly and undisguisedly. The emissaries of the republic were to be seen everywhere discouraging the loyal, seducing the vacillating, and pointing out to all the folly of attempting a resistance when no preparations had been made, and when the feelings of the garrison were so divided on the point.
On the evening of the 9th June Bonaparte gave his final orders to the generals who were to effect the landing, and on Sunday, the 10th June, at four o’clock in the morning, the disembarkation of the French army began. Eleven different points were selected for this operation, and the towers of St. ​George and St. Julian yielded without resistance. By ten o’clock in the morning the whole outlying country was in the hands of the French, and all the detached forts, with the solitary exception of St. Lucian’s tower, in the Marsa Scirocco, had yielded to them. By noon 15,000 men had landed, and the heads of their columns had advanced close to the defences on the side of the Cottonera lines. Several knights, who had been taken prisoners during this operation, were brought before Bonaparte, who expressed himself highly indignant at finding Frenchmen in arms against their country. lie is reported to have said, “How is it that I am destined constantly to meet with knights who have taken up arms against their country? I ought to give directions to have you all shot. How could you believe it possible that you could defend yourselves with a few wretched peasants against troops who have conquered the whole of Europe?” Notwithstanding this outburst of anger, he gave instructions that the prisoners should be well treated, nor had they eventually anything to complain of on that score.
Treachery and panic had all this time been working their way within the town. Von Hompesch, instead of endeavouring to restore discipline and confidence, remained buried in his palace in the company only of a single aide-de-camp; he did not even name a lieutenant to aid him in the juncture. The commanders of the various posts, unwilling to take upon themselves the responsibility of action, remained passive, and the French were permitted to assume their positions unmolested. At length a feeble attempt was made to check the advance of the French by a sortie; but the Maltese regiment, which was sent out for this purpose, having been received by the enemy with a heavy fire, soon gave way, and retreated into the town in such confusion that they suffered the loss of their standard. At the same time a knight named de Soubiras made a diversion with a small fleet of galleys, with which he left the grand harbour. On approaching the spot where the French were still continuing their disembarkation he opened fire, but was speedily forced to retire without having rendered any effectual opposition to the operation.
Before night the division under Desaix had invested the Cottonera lines and fort Ricasoli, whilst Baragitay d’Hilliers ​was in possession of all the centre of the island. Vaubois had seized the Città Vecehia, and Regnier was master of Gozo. Night only added to the general confusion and dismay. Shots were heard on all sides, and the garrison was called on to fight, not only against the open enemy in its front, but also the insidious treachery in its midst. Everywhere the most complete disorganization was apparent; the soldiers deserted their standards, the people collected together in threatening crowds, cries of treason were heard on all sides. Throughout this night of disorder the French emissaries were busied in exciting the people to acts of violence, and in pointing out those who were in reality the most zealous in eudeavouring to protract the defence, as the traitors by whom they were being betrayed. The infuriated multitude, stimulated to a pitch of frenzy by these foul calumnies and scandalous aspersions, soon proceeded to acts of violence, and several unfortunate knights fell victims to their blind rage. Amongst the number may be named de Vallin, who, after being stabbed, was thrown into the sea; do Montazet, who was murdered by the troops at Benissa point; d’Ormy and d’Aridelard, the latter of whom was killed in the endeavour to save a confrère from the fury of the populace. Many others were seriously wounded, and the mob, raging with the excitement of the moment, dragged their bleeding victims to the square in front of the Grand-Master’s palace.
About midnight a deputation from some of the leading Maltese proceeded to the palace, and in audience with the Grand-Master demanded that he should sue for a cessation of hostilities. They pointed out that there was palpable treason at work; that no orders were being executed; that the plan organized for defence was not carried out; that provisions ammunition, and despatches were all intercepted; and that the massacre of the knights which had already taken place proved the hostility of the people. Unless, therefore, a speedy surrender were determined on, there was every reason to fear that a wholesale butchery would ere long ensue. To this demand von Hompesch returned a refusal, without, however, taking any active measures to render that decision effectual. Before long a second deputation made its appearance, and ​announced that if he did not promptly capitulate the Maltese would open negotiations with Bonaparte themselves, and treat for the surrender of the town without further reference to him.
Alarmed at this threat, von Hompesch summoned his council to deliberate upon the demand of the insurgents, and at that dead hour of the night the dignitaries of the Order assembled within the palace, and proceeded to debate the question. Whilst the discussion was going on, and different views were being put forward, a tumult outside the door of the council-chamber betokened a fresh interruption. A few moments after, a body of rioters rushed in, bearing in triumph on their shoulders Boisredont de Ransijat, the treasurer of the fraternity, who had, at the commencement of hostilities, written to the Grand-Master announcing that, as a knight of the Order of St. John, his duty was to combat against the infidel, but not to take part in a struggle against his countrymen, at the same time tendering the resignation of his office. Von Hompesch had ordered the recreant commander to be confined in fort St. Angelo, and now the friends of the revolutionary party had released him by force. This incident completed the panic of the members. Alarmed less the city should be surrendered without reference to them, they decided that a deputation should be selected to wait upon General Bonaparte, and demand a suspension of arms as a preliminary to capitulation. The persons named for this duty were the bailiff Saousa, the knights Miari and Monferret, the Maltese baron d’Aurel, and M. Fremeaux, the Dutch consul. As soon as the mission had departed on its errand, orders were sent by von Hompesch to the different posts to cease firing, and ere long a complete silence reigned through. out the town, broken only by the distant booming of the guns of St. Lucian’s tower, at the Mama Scirocco, commanded by La Guérivière, a valiant knight, who maintained an active resistance in his little isolated post until the 11th June, when he was forced to surrender, his garrison having been twenty- four hours without food.
Bonaparte, who had all along been kept acquainted with the course matters were taking, had awaited with impatience the demand for an armistice. Ho was so certain that his friends would secure the surrender of the plane without much effort on ​his part, that he had done little or nothing towards the actual prosecution of the siege. lie had, it is true, landed a few pieces of artillery, and had begun to throw up a few batteries; but this was merely to terrify the inhabitants, and not with much view to actual use. Indeed, his instructions from the directory forbade the prosecution of his plans against Malta if lie should nwet with any determined resistance. It was fearcil, and with reason, that the safety of the expedition would be compromised if lie were detained for any length of time before the walls of Valetta, and that the dreaded English fleet would be upon his track. Anxiously, therefore, had he lookM for the first proffers of surrender, which his emissaries within the town had assured him were about to be made.
Not a moment was lost after the arrival of the deputation in securing the object of the mission. General Junot, the aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, M. Poussiélgue, in charge of the commissariat chest., and a knight of St. John, named Dolomire, who formed one of a party of savants accompanying the expedition in order to study the geology of Egypt, were nominated to treat for the surrender. These three at once entered the town to arrange the conditions. Von Hompesch received them in due state, surrounded by his council, and prepared to open the proceedings with all the customary formalities. When, however, the secretary (lemanded of the Grand-Master what preamble he should draw up, Junot rudely interrupted him, exclaiming, “What preamble do you want? Four lines will settle the entire business, and these Poussilgue will dictate.” It was evidently the intention of the French envoy to carry everything with a high hand; nor was there any one present daring enough to oppose him. The following armistice was therefore signed:—
Art. 1.—A suspension of arms for twenty-four hours (to count from six o’clock this evening, the 11th June, till six o’clock to-morrow evening) is granted between the army of the French republic, commanded by General Bonaparte, represented by Brigadier-General Junot, aide-de-camp to the said general on the one side, and his Most Eminent Highness and the Order of St. John on the other side. ​“Art. 2.—Within these four-and-twenty hours deputies shall be sent on board l’Orient to arrange a capitulation.
“Done in duplicate at Malta this 11th June, 1798.
On the following day General Bonaparte entered the town, where he established his head-quarters. As he passed through the stupendous works of the Valetta front, and saw their great strength, he exclaimed, “Well was it for us that we had friends within to open the gates for us, for had the place been empty we should have had far more difficulty in obtaining an entrance.” Bonaparte had reason to congratulate himself; his proverbial good fortune had certainly not deserted him. Had he been detained for a short time before Valetta, the British fleet, under Nelson, would have been upon him, and the battle of the Nile would have been anticipated, and fought beneath the ramparts of Malta. Bonaparte disgraced, his army destroyed, his fleet scattered, would have made a very different figure on the stage of Europe from that which he was destined to occupy as the conqueror of Egypt. Fate had befriended him. The capture of Malta and the expedition to Egypt had been contrived by his enemies as a trap to insure his downfall. The cowardice of von Hompesch had turned the scale in his favour; and when Europe learnt, with stupefied amazement, that the powerful fortress of Malta had surrendered to his arms in two days, a fresh laurel was twined into that chaplet of glory which already encircled his brow,
It may be well for a moment to glance at the events just recorded, as they were seen from a French point of view. The following narrative, written by Marmont, gives a graphic account of that part of the operations in which he was engaged:
“Directed to land in St. Paul’s bay with five battalions, I was the first Frenchman who set foot on the island. Some companies of the regiment of Malta, who were posted on the shore, retreated without fighting. We followed them, and they retired into the town. I invested the place from the sea as far as the aqueduct, in order to connect myself with General Desaix, who had landed on the south of the town. I approached the city and came across a horn work, that of Floriana, covering the ​place on this side, but unarmed. I established posts as near to it as possible, so as to confine the garrison. I had no sooner completed these arrangements, than I saw the drawbridge lowered, and a large and disorderly body of men marching against me. I called in my outposts at once, and retired slowly and in good order, firing from time to time on the head of the column, that I might check its advance. I sent directions to two battalions of the 19th Regiment, encamped beyond cannon shot range from the town on the right and left of the road, to place themselves under cover, and to show themselves only when I arrived at the spot and gave the word. This was carried out as I wished. The Maltese, seeing me retreat, took courage. Arriving thus massed in column close to the spot where the 19th was, this regiment shewed itself, and received them with a deadly fire, which threw them into the utmost disorder. I at once attacked them with my troops, and routed them. We followed, charging with the bayonet, and killed a considerable number. I carried off with my own hands the standard of the Order, which was displayed at the head of the column. These poor Maltese soldiers, simple peasants as they were, and only speaking Arabic, argued thus with themselves: ‘We are fighting against Frenchmen; we are led by Frenchmen; therefore the Frenchmen who command us are traitors.’ in their rage they massacred seven of the French knights who had led them in the sortie, and yet it had been the French knights only who had counselled resistance. Such treatment was not encouraging. Consequently they sent me an emissary the next morning to say that, if the negotiations then on foot did not lead to the surrender of the town, they would hand over to me St. Joseph’s gate (now called the Porte des Bombes). The negotiations, however, were successful, and the capitulation was signed. Thus were celebrated the obsequies of the Order of St. John, fallen from its ancient glory and splendour by its cowardice and want of firmness. The Maltese were furious. We had at first much uneasiness as to the carrying into effect of the capitulation. These peasant soldiers were in possession of two inner works, very lofty cavaliers, closed at the gorge, armed, and commanding the whole town, called forts St. John and St. James. They refused to surrender even after we had entered the gate, ​and penetrated within the enceinte. It was by the merest chance they did not continue their resistance, and if they had, it is impossible to say what effect this one obstacle would have had in the position in which we then were.”
The capitulation, in virtue of which the island of Malta passed for ever from under the dominion of the Order of St. John, was signed on the 12th June. It was couched in the following terms:—
“Art. 1. The knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem shall give up the city and forts of Malta to the French army, at the same time renouncing in favour of the French republic all rights of property and sovereignty over that island, as also over those of Gozo and Comino.
“Art. 2. The French republic shall employ all its credit at the congress of Rastadt to procure a principality for the Grand-Master equivalent to the one he gives up, and the same republic engages to pay him in the meantime an annual pension of 300,000 French livres, besides two annates of the pension by way of indemnification for his personal property. He shall also be treated with the usual militsry honours during the remainder of his stay in Malta.
“Art. 3. The French knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, actually resident in Malta, if acknowledged as such by the commander-in-chief, shall be permitted to return to their native country, and their residence in Malta shall be considered in the same light as if they inhabited France. The French republic will likewise use its influence with the Cisalpine, Ligurian, Roman, and Helvetian republics, that this third article may remain in force for the knights of those several nations.
“Art. 4. The French republic shall assign an annual pension of 700 French livres to those whose age exceeds sixty years. It shall also endeavour to induce the Cisalpine, Ligurian, Roman, and Helvetian republics to grant the same pension to the knights of their respective countries.
​“Art. 6. The knights shall not be deprived of their private property either in Malta or Gozo.
“Art. 7. The inhabitants of the islands of Malta and Gozo shall be allowed, as heretofore, the free exercise of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Holy Roman religion. Their privileges and property shall likewise remain inviolate, and they shall not be subject to any extraordinary taxes.
“Art. 8. All civil acts passed during the government of the Order shall remain valid.
“Done and concluded on board l’Orient before Malta, on the 24th Prairial, the sixth year of the French Republic (12th June, 1798).
“The Commander Boisredont de Ransijat,
“Baron Mario Testaferrata,
“Dr. Giovanni Nicolas Muscat,
“Dr. Benedetto Schembri,
“The bailiff of Torio Frisari,
“without prejudice to the right of dominion belonging to nay sovereign the king of the Two Sicilies,
“The chevalier Felipe di Amanti,
“Counsellor Bonani.”
Such were the terms of the capitulation which transferred the island of Malta to the French. The standard of the Order was removed from its proud position, and the degenerate descendants of L’Isle Adam and La Valette were doomed to the degradation of witnessing the substitution in its place of the French tricolour, without having even the satisfaction of feeling that they had struck one good blow to avert the catastrophe. For nearly three centuries successive Grand-Masters had lavished their own fortunes and the treasures of the Hospital in rearing a frowning mass of ramparts and batteries at all points. The opinions of the leading engineers in Europe had been sought to suggest fresh additions that should render the fortress of Valetta impregnable. It had long been looked on as one of the most powerful strongholds in Europe, and yet, in less than two days, it had surrendered with scarce the trace of a struggle to the army of France. The cowardice and negligence, the incapacity and blindness of von Hompesch, combined with the ​treachery of those under him, had done all that Bonaparte could have desired, and it must have been with feelings of no little exultation, that on the 13th June he penned the despatch to the directory, in which he announced his victory. As soon as that despatch was received in Paris, the following state paper was issued, addressed to the council, wherein are shewn the grounds upon which the republic intended to justify this wanton aggression in the eyes of Europe:—
“Cithens Representatives,
“The government of Malta has for a long time past dared to manifest the most hostile intentions towards France; it has boldly received and greatly favoured not only the emigrants who have retired to Malta, but also those amongst the knights who have actually served in the army of Condé.
“The nature of its constitution demands the strictest neutrality, but at the very moment when it publicly professed to preserve it, permission was granted to Spain, while at war with us, to recruit sailors in Malta, and the same permission has since been given to England, though it has constantly been refused to France in the most offensive manner.
​“The government of Malta could not certainly at that period prove itself more inimical to France, and this state of warfare has never ceased to subsist.
“On the 21st Prairial of this year, the commander of the French forces in those seas requested permission to water at the various watering places within the island; but this demand was refused in the most evasive manner, the 0-rand-Master alleging that he could not permit more than two transports to enter at the same time, so that it would necessarily have taken up more than 300 days to furnish the whole of the French troops with water. What effrontery thus to insult the army of the republic commanded by General Bonaparte!
“On the morning of the 22nd Prairial the French troops landed on several different points of the island, and in the course of the same day the place was invested on all sides. The cannon from the city kept up a very brisk fire. The besieged made a sally, when the colours of the Order were taken by the brigadier Marmont at the head of the 9th brigade.
“On the 24th, in the morning, the knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem gave up the city and forts of Malta to the French republic, and likewise ceded to the said republic their rights of sovereignty and proprietorship, not only over Malta, but also over the islands of Gozo and Corn mo.
“The republic made the acquisition in Malta of two men-of-war, one frigate, four galleys, 1,200 pieces of artillery, 1,500,000 pounds of gunpowder, 40,000 muskets, and many other articles not yet particularized.
“(Signed) Pechell, President.
“La Garde, General Secretary.”
General Bonaparte did not condescend to pay any personal respect to the chief whose sovereignty had been thus easily torn from his grasp, nor did he honour him with a visit. Von Hompesch, on the other hand, anxious to secure certain concessions and privileges for himself and his fraternity, determined to overlook the marked slight thus cast upon him, and to seek himself the interview which the French general did not appear disposed to demand. Accompanied by a body of his knights, ​with downcast air and stripped of the insignia of their rank, he presented himself before the victorious general. The interview was brief, and, so far as he was concerned, highly unsatisfactory. The requests which he preferred were refused, and he himself treated with scant courtesy.
Von Hompesch had put forward a claim to all the plate and jewellery belonging to the palace, and attached to the office of Grand-Master; but the demand was refused, upon the plea that it was proposed to make him an allowance of 600,000 francs as an equivalent. Of this sum 300,000 were retained for the ostensible purpose of paying his creditors, who were very numerous, and who, since he had been stripped of his revenues, were becoming clamorous for their dues. Of the balance, 200,000 were paid in bills on the French treasury, and 100,000 only in cash. At his special request he was permitted to carry away with him the three relics which the Order had always held in such high veneration, namely, a piece of the true cross, of which it had originally become possessed in the Holy Land, the right hand and arm of St. John the Baptist, and the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Philermo. These, however, were stripped of their valuable cases and ornaments before they were handed over to him. Von Hompesch embarked at two o’clock in the morning of the 18th June, on board a merchantman bound for Trieste, and was escorted by a French frigate. The suite who accompanied him consisted of the two bailiffs of Lombardy, Montauroux, and Suffrein de St. Tropez, the commander de Lecondas, his grand-chamberlain, and seven other knights, with two servants-at-arms.
A general dispersion of the fraternity now took place. Von Hompesch for a short time resided at Trieste, where he published a lengthy justification of his conduct, which had but little effect in removing the stain cast on his reputation by his weakness and cowardice. Ha was at length induced to resign his office, and retire into private life. He left Trieste for Montpellier, where he lived in the strictest seclusion, alike shunning and being shunned. He died on the 12th May, 1805, of asthma, a complaint from which he had been of late years a great sufferer. A few months before his death he enrolled himself a member of the fraternity of Blue Penitents of Mont​pellier, and he was buried in the chapel of that community. lie died in such extreme poverty that the physicians who attended him in his last moments received no remuneration for their services, and no funds of his own were forthcoming to defray the expenses of his funeral.
The great body of the knights, who, on their expulsion from Malta, were cast homeless and destitute on the world, proceeded at once to Russia, the emperor of which country still retained the title of Protector of the Order, and was the only monarch who of late years had shown any sympathy with them. By him they were received in the most gracious manner, and with the most flattering cordiality. His desire was to become Grand-Master in lieu of von Hompesch, that he might with that title found a claim to the island of Malta. This wish soon became known to the knights assembled at St. Petersburg, and although von Hompesch had not at the time sent in his resignation, they summoned a council, and on the 27th October elected the emperor their Grand-Master. The nomination was utterly illegal, not only from the fact that the post was not yet vacant, but also because none of the elements necessary for a valid election were present. The proclamation of appointment itself specifies that the members taking part in it were only the bailiffs, grand-crosses, commanders, and knights of the Russian priory, together with such of the fugitives from Malta as had taken shelter in St. Petersburg. Invalid as the act was, Paul graciously accepted the proferred dignity in a proclamation dated on the 13th November, and on the 10th December he was publicly invested with the insignia of his new office.
The emperor, however, did not consider his appointment free from cavil as long as the election of Hompesch remained unannulled. He therefore caused such pressure to be brought to bear on that unfortunate chief, that on the 6th July, 1799, a formal act of abdication was forwarded to St. Petersburg, and Paul was henceforth left to enjoy his barren dignity undisturbed. His first step was to create a second Russian priory for such of his subjects as were members of the Greek church. The new priory consisted of ninety-eight commanderies, and its revenues amounted to 216,000 roubles, payable out of the public treasury. lie then announced to all the courts of Europe the ​measures he had taken with regard to the Order, and invited candidates from every nation to enrol themselves once more beneath the White Cross banner. He also sent instructions to Prince Volkouski, commanding the Russian troops in the Ionian islands, to join the force which was then blockading the island of Malta.
At his death, in 1801, his successor, Alexander, nominated Field Marshal Count Soltikoff lieutenant of the Mastery, and directed that he should convene a meeting of the council of the Order at St. Petersburg to deliberate on its future action. This assembly, which called itself the sovereign council of the Order, met on the 22nd June, 1801, and proposed a substitute for the original mode of election to the Grand-Mastership, such as was rendered absolutely necessary by the altered condition in which the fraternity was placed. Local chapters-general were to be convened in every grand-priory, and lists were to be by them prepared of such knights as were eligible for the vacant office, the actual nomination from amongst the names thus put forward being vested in the Pope. In accordance with this arrangement the bailiff de Ruspoli, a member of the langue of Italy, and formerly general of the galleys, was selected. This knight declined the empty and barren dignity thus offered to him, and the Pope afterwards named John de Tommasi in his place.
One of the first acts of the new chief was to assemble a conclave of the Order in the priory church of Messina on the 27th June, 1802, where he formally promulgated his appointment as Grand-Master. Nothing, however, of any importance to the interests of the fraternity was proposed at this meeting, nor, indeed, in the then unfortunate state of affairs, were they capable of much amelioration. Tommasi resided until his death at Catania, and when that event took place, in June, 1803, the Pope, who declined any longer to take upon himself the responsibility of nominating a Grand-Master, in violation of the statutes of the Order, contented himself with naming the bailiff Innico Maria Guevara as lieutenant only. He was followed, in 1814, by the bailiff Audrea di Giovanni, at whose death, in 1821, Antonio Busca was appointed. During his rule a project was set on foot for the establishment of the fraternity ​in Greece, with a view to the ultimate recovery of the island of Rhodes. For this purpose attempts were made to raise a loan of £400,000, but without success. Busca changed the locality of the convent from Catania to Ferrara, by permission of Leo XII., dated on the 12th May, 1827, and he died in that city in 1834. lIe was followed successively by Carlo Candida, Filippo di Colloredo, Alessandro Borgia, and Giovanni Battista Cesehi di Santa Croce. This latter chief was appointed in 1872, and in 1879 Pope Leo XIII. raised him to the dignity of Grand-Master, a title which had been in abeyance since the year 1803, and which he still holds. During the rule of Candida the fraternity removed to Rome, where the members still reside.
This branch of the Order at present consists of portions of the Italian and German langues, with a few other scattered fragments. Of the langue of Italy the grand priories of Rome, of Lombardo-Venetia, and of the Two Sicilies still survive of the langue of Germany, only the grand-priory of Bohemia; whilst the other fragments, which are affiliated to the convent under the title of associations, are the Rhenish Westphalian the Silesian, and the British. The latter are, of course, Roman Catholic, and have been professed in Rome.