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HISTORY OF MALTA.

ment of any part of the finances, of whatsoever nature, wereunder the control of the venerable chamber of the treasury,to which they were obliged to give in their accounts.

Whenever this chamber was employed as a hall of justice*two languages were admitted; the one on the side of thechamber, and the other on that of the parties concerned.These entered into the merits of the cause, in presence ofthe whole assembly of members, and answered whatsoeverquestions any individual chose to put to them. They after-wards retired, the tribunal deliberated on the affair, and passedsentence accordingly. The parties were at liberty to appealto the ordinary council of the order, and afterwards to thecomplete council.

Every priory had a receiver’s office, and a separate re-ceiver appointed by the grand-master and council, who actedimmediately under the orders of the chamber of the treasury,with which he corresponded, at least every month; when hesent a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the saidmonth, and a general account was taken at the end of eachyear. This was revised by the secretary of the treasury, wholikewise presented it to the accountant’s office, but not till ithad been verified by four commissioners, when the said officeadmitted or rejected it at pleasure.

Nothing could possibly be more admirable than the at-tention paid to prevent the abuses which generally creep intothe administration of the finances, in almost all governments;