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HISTORY OP MALTA.

of Heaven on so important an undertaking, the sovereign lord grand-master has laid the first stone, on which are engraven his arms (alion or, in a field gules); and the new city is by his command to benamed the City la Valetta/

In order to preserve to the latest posterity the remembrance ofso important an event, a great number of gold and silver medalswere thrown among the foundation-stones. These represented thenew city, with the following inscription, Melita renascens. On theexergue were engraven the day and year when it was founded.

This ceremony was followed by the most assiduous applicationto the completion of the work. Every one, without distinction ofrank, was employed on the occasion, and that with an eagernessand pleasure inspired by the hope of speedily finishing an under-taking on which the public safety so materially depended. In thismilitary republic, all regarded themselves as concerned; and thegrand-master himself, during a space of two years, never neglectedto overlook the workmen. He passed whole days in this employ-ment ; and not only took his meals like a common artisan, but gaveaudience and issued out orders in the midst of the workmen.

The commander De la Fontaine, celebrated for his skill in for-tifications, was the principal director and superintendant of theseworks; but the want of money to carry them on was soon sensiblyfelt. I he order, therefore, to supply this deficiency, caused copperto be coined, and annexed a different value to the pieces, accordingto the size into which they were cut. On one side were representedtwo hands clasped together, and the other bore the arms of La Va-