The Express.
London, England, 1856-05-14 00:00:00

DISORDERS AT MALTA.

(nor ooz own

MALTA, MAT 7.

On the evening of the 6th, about a quarter past
7 p.m., some 40 moldier, of the Italian Legion passed
the police office in Strada Reale singing a patriotic
song. Inspector Corners, hearing this, followed the
men into Strada St. Lucia, requesting they would
case. In an instant he was stabbed in lour placee.
He was picked up and conveyed to the police offioe,
where he expired a little after 9 o'clock the same
evening. The Italians dispersed on seeing him fall,
before any of them could be arrested. M. Conon
wu a man highly respected by all classes' and his
lolosswill be greatly deplored. He leaves a family to
lament his loss.

The Maltese populace, became excited on learning
his fate, and a crowd sweembled round the police
station. They had free admission to see the body,
a circumstance which is to be regretted, as it only in-
creased their excitement. The Maltese have a
prejudice against the Italians of Piedmont,
beause they believe they have fought against
the Pope, and also en account of their
liberal feelings. The members of the Legion, since
they have been here,have much offended the bigotted
and ignorant Maltese, and the feeling against them
has been increased by one of them having
struck a priest, a thing hitherto unknown here.
The sight of the body of Inspector Comore, and the
wounds, had a visible effect on the people ; many I
observed enter calm enough, but come out grinding
their teeth and much excited. Towards the middle
of the day, on the 7tb, on some of the Italian Legion
being seen, the Maltese began to hiss, whistle, hoot,
&o.; this soon led to extremities, and the town be-
ams a seen, of confusion. Four Italian officers re-
treated before the attacks of the populace to the
Marserauseella gate, the sentry at which refused to
let the mob pass, so the officers got down the steps;
but the Maltese mounted the button, and pelted them
with flag-stones, slates, buckets, and anything they
could get hold of. While a party at the Marina
attacked them there, they defended themselves as well
as they could without attacking the Maltese.
Capt. Childs, with a party of Artillery in fatigue
dress, came to their relief—for the boats had
put off so as to prevent any chance of their escape
that way. At length a boat was got to return and
take them in, but not until they had been much hurt
and wounded. The Artillery then formed and drove
the mob away at the point of the bayonet : in fact,
they ran away from the English soldiers when they
saw they would defend the Italians.
The whole town was in the greatest confusion, the
rabble rushing frantically from one scene to another.
General Sir J. Pennetather has been indefatigable in
his exertions, and, owing to the high respect in
which he is held by all classes, his directions were
implicitly followed. The soldiers and salon, of
whom there were very many in the town, behaved in
the most exemplary manner—all steady and sober—
implicitly following the directions they received, and
stopping as far as they could the excitement. Many
of the shops were shut up, and the town exhibited a
most unusual spectacle.
I observed with pleasure the Hoe. Victor Houlton,
chief secretary to government, mixing calmly with
the mob, and by his quiet and commanding present*
and his efforts doing much to quiet the tumult.
At about two it became known that the inerce
would not be buried till next day ; and, it being
evident that the exhibition of the body was aliment-
leg the excitement of the people, it was at last for-
bidden. This measure, the admirable disposition of
the troops, who were posted in the commanding
quarters, the attitude of the party of polioe, and
the quiet, calm, but firm bearing, I might say the
courteous bearing, of the authorities to the citizens,
soon calmed the people down.
The Italian Legion are all now in the island which
' forms Fort Manuel, cut off from all communication
; with the inhabitants. Sir John Pennefather has
visited and tranquillised them. H.M.S. Hannibal,
• 91, with the flag of Sir H. Stewart, has been
moved from the peat harbour to a station in the
' quarantine opposite the Fort Manuel, and having
the energetic and popular admiral on board, it will
do much to prevent any outbreak.
At 8 p.m. the town and the people calm and quiet;
every arrangement made to instantly suppress any
outbreak. Four Italian ofiloers wounded, and a few
hard knocks to others, are the casualties of the day,
with about a dozen in prison.
It is to be regretted that large musts of French
soldiers witnessed the scenes in our town this day.
MAY 8.
Throughout the night and this morning the town
has been perfectly quiet. The shops are open, and
people have returned to their usual avocations. I
refrain from repeating the current reports of the
place, which are naturally much exaggerated; but
from the firm, quiet, and admirable conduct of the
troops who are now guarding the town, the excite-
ment will calm down. The inspector was carried to
Clefts, Vecchia this morning, at 4 a.m., for interment,
and now that the body is removed, and with it the
great cause of excitement, we may fairly calculate
that the tumult is over. It is to be hoped that the
Maltese, who are so carefully protected by the mili-
tary and naval authorities, will appreciate this boon,
and learn to treat them better.
Some alteration is absolutely called for, as during
war and at other times the English and other troops
have been treated as though they were intruders, as
persons who had no business here, and so far from
meeting with kindness and welcome, have found
many difficulties thrown in their way. I know one
well paid English employB here, whose situation is
almost a sinecure, but who hes drawn a large income
for many years, who says that it is very wrong of
the English government to send recruits here
to be drilled, for it does away with the
quiet of the place—this man a government servant,
living in a government house, and enjoying all sorts
of government privileges. This person should be
removed, and be released from serving a government
he blames; and such an example would have a most
beneficial effect on others. The persons of English,
Maltese, and all others should have protection from
the present arbitrary system of arrer, and an altera-
tion—great alteration—made in our prisons ; removing
Dr. Coiling., who is totally incapable, arid sending
some person from England who understands the
management of prisons and men.
The Italian Legion remains closely guarded in firt
Manuel. All is quiet. The boatmen state that they
were ordered away by the police, when they retreated
from the lialisn officers, who wished to embark to
escape to Fort Manuel from the fury of the populace.

NAT 9.

The town and neighbourhood have recovered from
the excitement. The Italians are strictly confined to
Fort Manoel, but the Hannibal removed this morning
from the position she had taken up commanding the
feet, to her old station in the Great Harbour. It is
vary hard on the Italians to be shut up as they
are, but under the circumstances it is the beet thing
that could be done. Four of their officers are
mach injured. One will have his nose taken
off. The men are most indignant at the
treatment their officers received, and it nquired every
effort of their superiors to restrain them from swimming
across to the rescue. Lieutenant• Colonel Barnaby,

who deservedly is mach esteemed by the Italians, win
indefatigable in his exertions to quiet them. The
Italians certainly had much, very much, to exasperate
them, and the insults and contumely they had to en-
dure in the streets was beyond bearing ; their men
and some of their subordinate officers have been most
infamously beaten by the police.
The Maltese who were arrested for their attacks
on them on the day following the death of the sub-
inspector, have all been acquitted, and this exasper-
ates the Italian, still more.