provision for the public worship of her subjects; whilst in Italy, and in several parts of the east, under a foreign power, there have been edifices erected for this purpose. It is not perhaps generally known, that the British Government owns the church of St. John, and that of the Jesuits, besides several other chapels in different parts of Valetta, which are at present in the hands of the Maltese, the local administration continuing to pay for the expenses and repairs connected with them.* Now, while we admit that justice demands an equality of privileges to servants of every denomination under Government, we confess that we can see no justice in thus ceding up to one party, what without dispute appertains as justly to the other. Under these circumstances, the stigma upon the British nation is greater, that they have not a convenient place in which their Protestant subjects may attend public worship after their own form.

After having examined all that is interesting in the Governor's Palace, we shall next notice the

* According to the account published in the Malta Government Gazette, the amount of "Repairs in St. John's Cathedral, and several chapels belonging to Government," was in the year 1836, £113. 3s. 7d; and in 1837, £170. 9s. Id.

AUBERGES OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.

There was a palace or inn for each language of the Order where all the members, whether knights, serving brothers, professed or novices, equally eat. The Commanders seldom went thither; indeed those who were possessed of a commandery worth two thousand Maltese dollars could not be admitted; neither could the servants-at-arms, if they had a commandery worth one thousand crowns. The chief of each inn was called the Pillier, and he received either a sum of money, or the equivalent in grain from the public treasury, for the provision of the members of his inn. The rest of the expenses were paid by himself, for which he was indemnified by the first vacant dignity in his language.

In these edifices the knights of each nation not only eat, but assembled together for the purposes of consultation, and the transaction of business. Such as preferred residing in their respective inns to having private houses of their own were permitted to do so; the same privilege was enjoyed by the brother chaplains, and the brother pages, in the service of the Order.

The superior of every language was dignified with a distinctive title, to which were annexed

certain functions, which we shall notice in our description of each inn.

The superior of this auberge was denominated the Grand Commander; who, by virtue of his office was perpetual president of the common treasury, comptroller of the accounts, superintendant of stores, governor of the arsenal, and master of the ordnance. He had the nomination (subject to the approbation of the Grandmaster and council) of all officers from the different languages; and to this he added the power of appointing persons to the various places of trust in the church of St. John, and in the Infirmary.

The Auberge de Provence is situated in Strada Reale; it is a fine building, with a plain but imposing façade. The lower apartments are at present appropriated for the sale of goods by auction, the office of one of the public auctioneers, &c; the upper rooms are let to the Malta Union Club.

Besides the chapel which this language owned in the cathedral of St. John, it possessed another separate church, as did also several of the other languages. That of Santa Barbara belonged to the Knights of Provence; it is situated a little higher up than the auberge, in the same street,

on the opposite side. This chapel is at present made use of by the inhabitants.

The next in order is the

Auberge d' Auvergne.

The head of this inn was called the Grand Marshal; he had the military command over all the Order, excepting the grand crosses or their lieutenants, the chaplains, and other persons of the Grandmaster's household. He entrusted the standard of the Order to that knight whom he judged most worthy such distinction. He had the right of appointing the principal equerry; and when at sea, not only commanded the general of the gallies, but the grand admiral himself.

This auberge is even more simple in its structure than the former; and occupies a site opposite the side square of St. John's church, in Strada Reale. It is at present appropriated for the civil courts, and the tribunals of appeal and com

merce.

Auberge of Italy.

The superior of this language was styled the Admiral. In the Grand Marshal's absence, he had the command of the soldiery equally with the seamen; he also appointed the comptroller and

secretary of the arsenal, and when he demanded to be named to the generalship of the gallies, the Grandmaster was obliged to propose him to the council, which was at liberty to appoint or to reject him at pleasure.

This auberge is situated in Strada Mercanti, opposite to the Auberge de Castile. Over the entrance is a bronze bust of the Grandmaster Carafa, with his coat of arms, and many trophies and ornaments of white marble, said to have been cut from a large pillar which once stood in the temple of Proserpine in the Città Notabile. Below the bust is the following inscription:

Gregorio Carafe Principi Optimo,
belli pacisque artibus maximo
post Ottomanicam classem ductu suo
bis ad Hellespontum profligatam,
relatasque XI. quinquerenium manubias
ad summum Hierosolymitani Ordinis
regimen evecto

Itala equestris natio
Magistrali munere sæculo
amplius viduata
augustam hanc effigiem

reparatæ majestatem indicem D. D.

A. D. MDCLXXXIII.

To this language belonged the small church of Santa Catarina which adjoins it, having a small