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HISTORY OF MALTA.

CHAP. II.

An Earthquake in Calabria and Sicily; Relief sent thither by theOrder. Reception of the Maltese Galleys at Reggio and Messina.Generous Conduct of the Knights; they distribute Provisionsamong the Poor, and assist the Surgeons in dressing the Wounded.Dreadful Scenes, which presented themselves on every Side. TheGeneral and Captains of the Galleys bestow Alms on the distressedSufferers.

1 H E Maltese galleys in 1783 were employed upon a verydifferent occasion than the preceding ones, and which I shalldescribe in a more particular manner. These formidable war-riors, who had hitherto attacked the coasts of Barbary, andby fire or sword either consumed or driven the infidels fromtheir habitations, were now become, according to their originalinstitution, charitable hospitallers, who landed on a Christianshore to rebuild the shattered dwellings, and restore them totheir former possessors.

Intelligence of the dreadful ravages caused by an earth-quake in Calabria and Sicily, where Messina and Reggio wereentirely destroyed, being received in Malta between six andseven in the evening, orders were immediately given to preparefor sea the galleys, which at that season of the year were al-ready laid up in ordinary. These were fitted out with a degreeof diligence and speed, which plainly proved that a much su-