The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-03 00:00:00

MALTA.

To secure the safety of this island Vice-Admiral
Sir W. PARKER, Naval Commander-in-Chief, has
issued the following orders, accompanied by secret
instructions : _ _

" Hibernia, at Malta, June 16.
" (General Memorandum.)
" As it is essentially necessary, in the present dis.
turbed state of Europe, that the character of all vessels
entering the harbour of Valletta or Marsamuscetto by
night should be distinctly ascertained, to guard against
any hostile surprise, or the machination of evil-disposed
persons,
" It is my direction that the guard is rowed with such
vigilance during the night, as will, in combination with
the boats of the marine police establishment, effectually
ensure the strict examination of every vessel, however
small, which may approach either harbour between sun-
set and daylight.
" The Wee Pet steamer, or some other vessel, is to be
stationed, during the summer, off Fort Ricasoli, where
moorings are to be laid down of sufficient strength for
the security of a sloop of war or steamer of the third
class, should it be required.
" The ship having the guard is in future to prepare
two guard boats for the duties of, the night, one of
which is to repair to the Wee Pet, or other vessel (not
actually in commission) which may be anchored off
Ricasoli at gunfire, and to place in her a guard of six
men with muskets and blank cartridges, under the di-
rection of a mate or senior midshipman, who is to be
provided with sky rockets, blue lights, and flash pans,
with powder, for signals. Ball cartridges are also to
be provided, but they are not to be issued to the men
unless there is reason to apprehend an attack from any
guar ter.
" This party is to be under the direction of the guard,
and is not to be finally withdrawn before sunrise, but
may be relieved during the night as the captain of the
ship having the guard may direct.
" The guard vessel, off Ricasoli, is to be visited once
at least every night watch by the officer of the guard,
but always at uncertain hours, to ascertain that the
men are on the alert, and that a good look-out is kept.
The night guard boats are to be constantly in the liar.
hour's mouth, and in fine weather to row once or twice
in each watch, so far as the warping buoy at the entrance;
being at liberty, in rough weather, to make fast to the
guard vessel from time to time.
" On the approach of any vessel to the harbour, notice
is to be given from whatever point she may be first dis-
covered, by a flash of gunpowder, which must be re-
peated by the guard vessels and guard-boats of her
Majesty's ships. Arrangements are also made that
this flash shall be, in like manner, acknowledged by
Vle guards in forts Ricasoli, St. Elmo, Tignifi, and
Manoel ; by those of the Health Department, stationed
on shore in quarantine harbour, and by the marine
police watch boats. Thus it is hoped nothing stirring
will escape observation, and that every speronara or other
vessel will henceforth be examined without fail. But
the officers of the guard-boat are to be very cautious not
to subject themselves to quarantine unnecessarily.*
"If any vessels are found to contain passengers in
addition to their proper crews, they should be imnfe•
diately accompanied to the police boat, and no person
allowed to land till the object of the vessel is satisfac-
torily ascertained.
" Any occurrence of a suspicious nature is to be re-
ported to the flag or senior officer's ship without delay.
" Should the naval guard vessel or boat discover the
approach of two or more armed steamers or any other
vessels of doubtful character, whose movements are
suspicious, they are immediately to burn a blue light,
closely followed by a rocket, and to fire muskets in quick
succession, till answered in a similar manner by the
nearest ship of war, and the guard-boat is to repair to
the flag or senior's officer's ship as expeditiously as pos-
sible to report thereon, when measures are immediately
to be taken to assemble the crews at quarters, or man
the boats, as circumstances may require.
" If no doubt is entertained that the strange vessels
are approaching with hostile intention, two rockets are
to be fired, one immediately after the other.
" But should either of these signals be made by the
guard-boats, and the strangers are afterwards discovered
to be friends, two blue lights, about three yards asunder,
are to be burnt simultaneously, to announce the same.

" The ship having the guard is always to have a suf-
ficient watch on deck, with boats at the guess warp ready
to act, in the event of fire or other accidents. The
captain oc her is always to sleep on board, and, without
especial permission from the senior officer in port, is
not to proceed to any distance by day from which he
cannot be called on board at the shortest notice.
Li" A confidential communication, sealed up, of the ar-
rangements which will be observed by the garrison in the
event of any hostile act, is herewith delivered to the.
Rear-Admiral Superintendent and the respective cap-
tains and commanders, a copy of which is to be delivered
to the officer of the guard, and to be only opened by him
in case of two rockets being fired, in quick succession,
from Forts Tigne, Ricasoli, or St. Elmo. It is to be re-
turned to the captain or commander of the ship when-
ever she may be relieved in the guard.
(Signed) " WM. PARKER, Vice-Admiral.
"To the Rear-Admiral, and respective Captains and
Commanders of her Majesty's ships and vessels under

my orders."
On shore strict military duty is enforced, and mea-
sures quite necessary for an island situated as Malta is,
with so many strangers there from all European coun-
tries, political refugees, &c., are being taken; and several
posts at which till now a corporal or sergeant's guard
were on duty, are to be supplied by a subaltern's guard,
and others are to be doubled.
A chain is to be laid across the harbour. No boat,
however small, enters at night without being brought to
and examined. _ _

The fleet still remains, but is quite ready for anything.
The quarantine lately imposed by the Sicilian Govern-
ment on arrivals from Malta has been taken off at the
request of the Government.
His Royal Highness the Prince d'Aquilla has sent his
horses (part only) and carriages to the island, from
Naples, and is expected to arrived here himself on a
future day. A man named Byrne is in charge
of them. To judge of the quantity of specie which ac-
companied the stud. it is presumed that other Members
of the Neapolitan Royal Family may make their ap-
pearance.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Capua is strictly
prohibited from having the use of any portion of his
brother's stud.
It is said that the French steamer Menette has been
taking soundings at the back of the island, and that
on the 24th the fourteen ships of war were descried
from the heights of St. Gozo.