HISTORY OP MALTA.

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among the members of the order were not ignorant of the planformed by the conspirators, whose plot at last became manifest,and from three to four hundred possessed themselves of thefort St. Elmo. The bailiff de Rohan, universally esteemedby the knights, was immediately appointed general of theland and sea forces. The valour and unanimity of the mem-bers and troops of the order, under the command of so re-spectable a chief, presently succeeded in retaking the fort, anddestroying the root of the sedition. Some of the principalrebels were delivered up to justice: whilst others were eitherbanished or imprisoned ;—a pernicious and ill-timed cle-mency, since we have seen the same turbulent spirits makeno small figure in the late disasters of their country.

The people could never be prevailed upon to join in thisrebellion, notwithstanding those were concerned in it whohad the greatest influence over their minds. They felt toohappy under the government of the knights to wish for anychange: and the plot was entirely formed by two orders ofmen; the first of which was composed of the priests, whowished to throw off all temporal and legitimate authority, tosubmit themselves to a spiritual and illegal power, from whichthey promised themselves the dangerous privilege of governingthe consciences of their fellow-citizens. The second consistedof some Maltese of infamous characters, who, finding them-selves without resource under a wise and enlightened admi-nistration, hoped to profit by the general disorder which always

VOL. II.

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