Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-29
MALTA.

MALTA
This puny island, situated in the Medi-
terrsnean, between Africa and Sicily, tho
only 90 miles by II ia extent, has been
the theatre of very remarkable scenes. Ii
was here that ST. Paul, In bis voyage to
Rome, was attacked by viper, as related
in the 18th chapter of the Ac.s. Near
MeIita, an ancient and fortified city OF this
island, is small church, dedicated TO st.
Paul, adjoining TO which is statue of the
Saint, with a viper on bis hand. said to be
placed on the spot where he shook the vi
per off, without having been hurt. 10 1880
soon after the beginning of Luiher's refor-
nation, and while Christian Europe was
in extreme dread of tie Turks, the Em-
peror Charles V. coded the perpetual
sovereignty Of Malta, and its dependen-
cies, to the Knights Hospitaliers, OF ST.
John of Jerusalem, who, having been exc
PEELED from Rhodes by the Turks, we're
at this tine wandering over Tue Medifer-
ranean III quest OF an asylum. Thirty six
years after, that is. in 1866, Malta was
attacked by the Turks, who we're obliged
10 abandon the enterprise with the loss of
thirty thousand men. 10 1898, il Was sur
rendered 10 the French without even a
shadow of resistance; but was soon after
captured from them by the British, Tho
hold if still, aud prize it too highly ever
to give il up voluntarily. 10 whatryer
| light, (ssys British reyiewer) We view
Malta, its value to this country cannot be
TOO highly appreciated. As a military
posi-, afforsiillg us Inc probable means Of
watching aud defeating the designs Of
France, it is, al this period (I8o5) inesti-
mable, aud as commercial station, calct,-
lated TO facilitate our intercourse with the
Levant and Black sea, it possesses every
advantage; Tor where can more desira-
bic situation be imagined for depot, than
an island placed in the centre Of the Medi-
,erraDean, containing sale and cspacious
. harbors, and possessing the most complete
| Lazasetto 10 Europe
i Beisgelin, one of the Knights Of Malta,
has written history uf it, from which Inc
5 following curious particulars are extract
, ed. 1t was ancienlIy little less than bar
rem rock; but such quantities of soil have
been brought from Sicily that it is now be-
come fertile island. I" Necessity, the
lparent of industry, has Taught the Maltese
10 make sort of artificial land in the har-
rem part of the island They begin by
dwelling the rock; which, however, they
aliow to incline little, that all superabun-
dant water may run off. They then heap
together some stones broken into small
pieces of an irregular form, which they
lplace about foot high, and cover with a
bed of the same stone nearly reduced 10
powder On this, they first place bed of
earth, brought either from other parts of
the island, or taken out of the clefis Of the
rocks; then bed OF dung, and afterwards
a second bed of earth. Such, indeed, is
the perseverance of the proprietors of this
ground, that it becomes in time equally ier-
title with natural land.
i g The Maltese are remark ably sober, g
Glove, garlic, or an onion, anchoyies dip
ped 10 oil, aud salt fish, being their usual
diet.
! 'sIn summer, when the wind blows from
the S. E. the usual purity Of the air is SC
greatly altered, that we're it to change q
few degrees more, il would be impossible
TO breathe; and the insensible perspiratiou
Of the body would form so thick an aimos
phere, that suffocation must infslIibly en-
sue. -Connecticut Mirror.