An account of the Province of New Brunswick : including a description of the settlements, institutions, soil, and climate of that important province : with advice to emigrants

Preface

From all the information I have been able to collect on the subject, it appears that we possess no historical account of the Islands of Malta and Gozo in our own language. It may not therefore be unacceptable to the Public, perhaps, to receive some description of their ancient and modern state, productions, and inhabitants ; since England has added them as a bulwark to her Mediterranean trade. The observations of Brydone on Malta, can only be considered as the cursory remarks of a traveller. Cian tar's dry and diffuse work, intitled " Malta " Illustrata," and extended to two volumes in folio, would probably never be read were it translated. Houel published a picturesque tour through the Islands of Sicily, Lipari, and Malta; but he confines himself to the branch of natural

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history, and gives us no account of the political and commercial situation of that Island. The Chevalier St. Priest compiled a small work in 1 791 ; but as it was printed in the island, pro- I bably very few copies have reached England. It was much esteemed there, and recommended to the attention of travellers. In 1798, (after the conquest of those islands by the Egyptian French army) appeared in Paris a pamphlet, under the title of " Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malte." The historical parts are extracted from Ciantar ; and the editor (who has concealed his name) through his amor patriae has favoured his countrymen with a chapter, " 011 the Advantages which might result to France from her Conquest/' This chapter I have inserted, to give the Reader an idea of the resources it would have offered to the French Republic. — The security and convenience of its ports might have protected a strong squadron to secure their Levant trade, The Maltese brave, active, and hardy, would have served on hoard their fleets. An immense hospital offered an asylum to their sick mariners; and an arsenal,

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vii naval stores. They might have made very extensive dock-yards, and obliged the Emperor to cede to them the liberty of importing timber from the forests of Dalmatia. On account of the cheapness of manual labour, it was preferable to Toulon for ship building. It would have insured their communication with, and protection of, the republic of the ci-devant Venetian islands. They might have swayed the scepter of the Mediterranean from the Pillars of Hercules to the Mouths of the Nile; and put into execution their long meditated plan of re-establishing liberty over the continent of antient Greece. Could they have insured its possession, we may readily imagine that every nerve would have been strained to raise Malta to the throne of the Mediterranean. Manufactories, once established in the two islands, would have annihilated that branch of the commerce of England with Italy, the Levant, and the coast of Barbary. In short, the French emphatically styled Malta " the Cape of Good Hope of the Mediterranean." We are not surprised, then, that such great commercial advantages, as the viii

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above stated, long inflamed the minds of Catherine II. and her successor, to hoist the Russian Eagle on the Castle of St. Elmo : and no wonder it has raised a spirit of rivality and contention between the two greatest commercial nations of Europe. As Malta owes all her grandeur and wealth to the Order, and as the history of the latter is so intimately blended with that of the Island ; I have added a short account of that illustrious body of Knights, which may be interesting to those who have not met with the works of Vertot. In short, I have endeavoured to collect all the information which I think may be useful and satisfactory. If I have met the wishes of the Public by this Historical Epitome, I shall esteem my labours most amply repaid.

As the body of the gallant, and never sufficiently to be lamented Sir R. Abercrombie is buried in the north-east bastion of the fortifications of La Valletta, I have here adjoined the Inscription (the original is in Latin) on his tomb-stone, which Sir R. Wilson has favoured us with.

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To the Memory Of

RALPH ABERCROMBIE, A Native of Scotland, Knight of the Order of the Bath ; A Man

Highly distinguished for his Probity, Magnanimity, consummate Courage, And Military Talents, In the several Wars of America and Holland : Whom George the Third, King of ' Great Britain,

With the universal Approbation of his Subjects,

Appointed Commander in Chief Of the British Army in the Mediterranean Sea : In which Capacity, Completing an Expedition to Egypt, He,

Although every where opposed by the bravest Of the Troops of France, In one forcible Attack gained, and kept Possession of the whole Egyptian Coast j And in his Progress defeated, and suppressed Their Endeavours to oppose him : Until, the British and French Armies Engaging in a sanguinary Conflict near Alexandria On the 2 ist Day of March, in the Year 1801, Whilst fighting in the Foremost Ranks, And in the very Bosom of Victory,

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He received a mortal Wound in his Thigh : Of which, to the keen Regret of all who knew him, He expired

On the 28th Day of the same Month, in the 68th Year of his Age.

He was a Commander Eminently Conspicuous for his Skill in the Art of War* For his Prudence in projecting, And Bravery in executing his Measures; And for his unsullied Honour, in all that Concerned the Glory of his Country and King. ,His Sovereign and Great Britain were alike Grieved at his Loss.

HENRY PIGOT, Appointed by Royal Authority Commander in Chief of the Garrison Of British Troops, stationed In this Island, has piously ordered

This to be raised over the Ashes Of that excellent and well deserving Officer, conveyed hither in public funeral, on the 29th Day of April in the same Year.

Upon this Tomb let no vain Tears be shed, The common Tribute to the common Dead ; But let the Wise, the Virtuous, and the Brave, With godlike Envy sigh for such a Grave.