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HIST0RV OF MALTA.

of Sardinia’s having been forced to abdicate his crown, and ofthe brilliant success of the French army in Italy. There weregreat rejoicings throughout the city on this occasion, and thetheatre, which was usually shut up on Fridays, was opened thatevening. Boulard, commandant of fort Manuel, and Roussel,an officer under his command, had received permission to goto the play. On returning at night to their quarters, theypassed port Marsa-Musceit, where they perceived some menwho appeared to make signs for them to approach; they were,however, at too great a distance for their answer to be heard,and their being at that hour on the sea-shore close under the wallsof the city was too suspicious a circumstance for the officersto accept the invitation. Commandant Boulard, on returningto Fort Manual, thought it his duty to dispatch Roussel to re*-connoitre. He accordingly embarked on board a very smallboat; so small, indeed, that it would not admit of his takingwith him more than seven men. On approaching the shore,they perceived a great number of men, some of whom betookthemselves to flight, whilst others threw themselves into thesea, and the ditches of the city: they, however, succeeded intaking some of them, and a general alarm being given, thirty-four were apprehended.

This enterprise had been formed with more than usualsecrecy, and no one had the smallest suspicion of what wasgoing forwards. Gulielmo, a native of Corsica, aged sixty-four,was at the head of the affair. He had resided in Malta from