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HISTORY OF MALTA.

left, which was in a very high wooden tower, contrived by his engi-neers. This was placed upon rollers, and pushed to the very edgeof the breach at Fort St. Michael. During the night a port-holewas opened in the wall, immediately opposite to the breach, wherea culverin was placed charged with chain-shot; but this piece brokeafter the first discharge, and was very soon entirely destroyed.

The viceroy of Sicily set sail with his fleet on the 1st of Sep-tember. The general rendezvous was at the small isle of Linosa,where the viceroy found letters from La Valette, to inform him,that, towards Mugiario, and the flat shore of Melecha, the landingwas safe, and the bottom sound. The wind became very high inthe night, which, joined to rain, thunder, and lightning, separatedthe van-guard from the rest of the fleet. The viceroy put back toSicily, and ordered his troops to disembark; but a tumult aroseamong the soldiers, who noisily insisted on again setting sail. Theofficers were not displeased that these men should thus boldly bethe interpreters of their sentiments on this occasion. The viceroypresently read in their countenances what passed in their hearts; ofwhich indeed it was very easy to judge, by the profound silence theymaintained m the midst of a tumult raised by soldiers under theircommand: he therefore yielded to the general wish, and they re-embarked on the 6th of September. The same day, in the after-noon, the fleet came in sight of Malta, and, on entering the straitsor canal of G oza, the soldiers, and indeed the whole crew, made theair echo with their acclamations of joy. The viceroy not choosino-to risk a descent in the evening, much less during the night, com-