HISTORY OF MALTA.

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The Jesuits, who had formerly superintended the publiceducation of youth, were suppressed in 1769? when the orderseized on their possessions, engaging to pay the annuity whichhad been granted to each of the fathers, and to fill up theprofessorships in their college, which they had hitherto main-tained. This arrangement was a great drain from the publictreasury; nay, it amounted to more than its whole revenue *.Rohan, in order to spare the treasury, and at the same time toimprove the education of the Maltese youth, instituted anothercollege, encreased the number of masters, and supported thewhole at his own expence. He cultivated the sciences him-self with great assiduity, and by his example endeavoured toinspire others with the same taste; he also built an observatoryon the tower of the palace, and furnished it with valuableastronomical instruments. Such indeed is the constant se-renity of the atmosphere, and so mild the temperature of theair in the island, that observations may be taken in almost allseasons; which, joined to the extensive knowledge of thechevalier d’Angost, who directed the operations, gave everyreason to hope for the most interesting discoveries : but, alas!all the chevalier’s labour, together with the building itself, weredestroyed in one moment by lightning; and various circum-stances have ever since prevented its being rebuilt. Hiegrand-master had an extremely well-cliosen library in his pa-lace, the access to which was never attended by the smallestdifficulty. He likewise employed himself in making alterations.

* See the expenditure in the chapter on the Finances.