the same street, opposite the Monte di Pietà, is the

BANCO DEI GIURATI.

In the time of the Order, the office of the Magistracy for supplying the inhabitants with corn and other articles of food, and for fixing the market-prices was held in this building. This court consisted of four native Magistrates elected by the Grandmaster, and was presided over by a Bailiff Seneschal. Until the late abolition of the corn monopoly under the British government, the office of the Grain Department was held here. At present it only contains the archives of all the public and official writings belonging to deceased Notaries.

QUARANTINE HARBOUR AND

LAZARETTO.

The gate called Marsamuscetto leads down a long flight of stairs, and over a drawbridge, to the shore of the Quarantine Harbour. Here is a large building, the upper part of which is occupied by the Health Office, and that of the Captain of the Port; and the lower floor is divided into separate open apartments, where the captains of vessels in quarantine generally come with their boats in order to transact business with the people of the town. This is called the Parlatorie

and each room is provided with two wooden rails in order to prevent the parties from coming in contact with each other.

Taking a boat we may cross over to visit the Lazaretto, accompanied by a guardiano, whose business it is to see that we do not infringe any of the sanitary laws. Before landing, this person must demand permission at the Quarantine Office, and if there is no objection, we are at liberty to proceed and call upon any friend whom we may have undergoing his imprisonment in this establishment. Each division of the building is provided with a small room close to the shore, where persons are permitted to converse with each other, under the same restrictions as mentioned in the Parlatorio. The fixed regulation in regard to the payment of boats in this harbour frees the stranger from the annoyance he usually meets with from the boatmen in the other. The price is 6d. for each half hour.

On arriving in a vessel from a suspected port, the traveller is invited by one of the officers of the establishment to land and visit the apartment where he is destined to pass his quarantine. In case he wishes to hire furniture over and above that provided by the Government, consisting of a table, two chairs, and two bed-boards and trestles, he may do so from a person privileged for

the purpose, who, at a pretty high rate, will supply him with any thing he may require. In regard to food, should the person not possess the means of ordering a breakfast and dinner at the high rate charged by the Trattoria connected with the Lazaretto, he stands a good chance of suffering from hunger, unless he has friends in the town who will undertake to supply him; because the only plan by which he may otherwise procure it, through caterers, is so badly regulated, as frequently to occasion the greatest inconvenience to travellers. As the guardiano placed over you is not allowed to serve in any way, (though you are obliged to pay him a salary, besides supplying him with food) one must almost necessarily hire a servant, who may charge as much as 2s. 3d. per day. In the latter case, however, the sum to be awarded is according to agreement; but as it regards the guardiano, the price is fixed by the Government.

The day on which the passenger lands begins to count as the first of his term; but should he neglect to open his trunks, &c. in order to air his baggage on this day, he runs the risk of being detained a day longer. The morning of the termination of his quarantine goes into the account as one day, and he is permitted at an early hour to leave for the city.

The chief part of the magazines and other buildings of the Lazaretto were built by the Grandmaster Lascaris, but have been lately much improved by the British Government. They occupy a site on a small island which is joined to the mainland on the western side by a stone bridge. On the same island stands a strong bulwark called

FORT MANOEL.

This fortress was erected by the Grandmaster Ant. Manoel de Vilhena, in the year 1726, as appears from an inscription over the entrance, surmounted by a copper bust of the founder. The walls of this fort are very strong, enclosing a spacious yard, in which are three ranges of buildings, each containing two rows of apartments, capable of lodging a garrison five hundred strong. Adjoining one of the above buildings is a small church, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova, at present only used occasionally by some clergyman who may happen to be in quarantine.

In the centre of the court stands a bronze statue of the Grandmaster Vilhena, on a high square base, containing an elaborate eulogy, on its four sides, of the virtues and mighty deeds of the founder. The observation of Sig. D' Avalos in regard to this monument is worthy of notice.

He suggests that it should be transplanted over to some conspicuous place in Valetta, in order to embellish the city; as, where it now stands, it is almost buried, and can neither be seen nor admired by the public.

On account of the increasing concourse of strangers to the island, this fort was recently appropriated to the service of a Lazaretto, for which purpose it is at present used. These quarters are much to be preferred to those already described, as they possess all the conveniences of the other, together with good air and a spacious square to walk in.

The Quarantine regulations of Malta are very strict, so that although persons and vessels affected with the plague have several times been entertained in the establishment, such have been the precautions taken, that no accident has ever been known to occur through improvidence or neglect.

To the north-east of Fort Manoel, on the point called Cape Dragut, in memory of that famous corsair who was slain here during the great siege of Malta, stands another called

fort tigne.

This fortress was erected in the year 1796, under the direction of the Commander Tousard, and