DIVISION OF THE ISLAND.

The island of Malta may be said to contain two principal cities, three towns, and twenty-twocasals or villages scattered over a part of the country. Many of the latter, from their size, population and building might be termed towns; and a few have been dignified with that title by several of the Grandmasters. As, for instance, Casal Zebbug is sometimes called Città Rohan; Casal Curmi, Città Pinto; and Casal Zabbar, Città Hompesh.

The two principal cities are Valetta and Città Notabile, called also Città Vecchia, and in Maltese Mdina, situate about the centre of the island. Borgo, Senglea and Burmulo, the three chief towns, occupy the two promontories on the opposite side of the harbour, towards the east of Valetta.

In order to render the different descriptions as clear as possible, I shall class those objects which are most interesting and deserving of notice under separate heads, though by so doing, I may

sometimes be found guilty of repetition. Valetta being the capital, I shall commence with it, including its suburbs and fortifications.

Valetta is situated on the east side of the island, in Long. 14° 30′ 25′′ E. Lat. 35° 53′ 4′′ N. It is built upon a promontory of land anciently called Shaab-er-Ras, the jutting out of the cape. Before the arrival of the Order, the capital of the island was the Città Notabile; and the present site of Valetta was occupied by a few huts, and defended by the fort of St. Elmo, which at that time was very insignificant compared with its present size and strength. The first stone of the new city was laid by the Grandmaster La Valette, on the 28th. of March 1566; and the whole was completed by his successor Pietro de Monte, on the 15th. of May 1571.

The situation of Valetta is very convenient for commerce; the appearance of the town from the sea is delightful, nor does the interior produce the disappointment so common in towns of the