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HISTORY OF MALTA.

occasion, that the French were perfectly convinced of the won-derful fanaticism of the Maltese; consequently, how necessaryit was for the preservation of public peace to wink at their pre-judices, and to spare their feelings, in this particular*.

But, notwithstanding this conviction, the president of thegovernment gave an order for several of the churches to beshut up; by this means preventing the faithful from the freeexercise of their religion. They likewise sent off the ministers,in whom the people placed an unlimited confidence, and for-bade the ringing of bells, on pretence that they were to haveserved as signals for the insurrection.

The insurgents were not long ignorant of the execution oftheir partisans in the city; but as there were several others stillremaining who were firmly attached to their cause, they de-termined on risking an assault. They therefore advanced withtheir ladders even to the bottom of the ramparts; but disputesarising among themselves, a general confusion took place, andthey retreated precipitately, leaving some of their companionsdead on the spot.

The besiegers were so ill provided with ammunition, thatthey raised very few batteries in the beginning, and those butvery inconsiderable ones. When, however, they were joinedby the English and Neapolitans, who furnished them withmortars and a great provision of powder, they erected others of

* Ransijat, page 81.