HISTORY OP MALTA.

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The French beginning to suffer from the want of wood, andknowing there was a great quantity constantly kept in reservein the great basin, determined to take some measures to pos-sess themselves of it. They therefore agreed to make a sallyon the Coradin side: which, however, proved equally unsuc-cessful with their attempt on casal Zabber; and they were obligedto make good their retreat after a sharp discharge of musketry.and artillery, four hundred bombs and balls being fired on theoccasion. The Maltese, whom they had ever called and treatedas wretched peasants, proved themselves worthy of the praises oftheir very enemies, who could not possibly refuse doing justiceto their undaunted courage.

The English, in the beginning of December, again sum-moned a surrender, again threatened a general bombardment,and again received a laconic refusal. They therefore, on thefollowing evening at half past ten, took advantage of an ex-tremely dark night, and unmasked some fresh batteries towardsfort Manual, from whence, and likewise from those beforeerected, they fired on the city with great perseverance tillmidnight. The people believed the bombardment commenced,the consternation became general; and what greatly contri--buted to encrease it, was some balls having entered the cityValette, which had never happened before: and though no onewas hurt, the inhabitants imagined themselves no longer safe,and entreated permission to depart. General Vaubois feltmuch disinclined to let people of fortune quit the city : as tothe rest, he did not object to their departure; from which he