HISTORY OF MALTA.

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number of conventual bailiffs, and the coffers of the order wereentrusted to his care; but this function having been afterwardstransferred to the conventual conservator, and the bailiwicbeing annexed to the language of Germany, the charge ofgrand-treasurer remained a capitular bailiwic attached to theFrench language. The grand-treasurer took his seat in theaccountant’s office according to his rank as grand-cross, thoughalways after the grand commander.

Every different language made choice of an auditor ofaccounts; and having named one to that office, immediatelyappointed another to supply his place in case of necessity.These auditors were obliged to be presented by the languagesto the council, which had the right of refusing them, anevent however which scarcely ever happened; but if it did,the language to which the auditor belonged was under thenecessity of making another choice. If they were appointedby the council, they instantly took the requisite oaths beforethe grand-master. The most ancient of these auditors, viz. hewho belonged to the language of Provence, assembled hiscolleagues every year, and they drew lots for the particularfunctions they were to exercise. Two of the number, as hasbeen already observed, were attached to the service of theordinary chamber, and the others to the storehouses, to revisingthe accounts, &c. &c.; but two of the same nation were notpermitted to act together.

All the members of the order, charged with the manage-