HISTORY OF MALTA.

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much greater importance, which were principally directedagainst the grand port, in order either to destroy the men-of-war riding in the harbour, or to prevent other vessels fromentering it. But, notwithstanding these works, and the vigi-lance of the squadron which constantly kept at sea, some smallvessels contrived to slip into the port.

The French placed their shipping out of the reach ofcannon-shot, and masked them in such a manner that theyhad no further cause of apprehension from the effects of thebombs.

The English, to encourage the Maltese, and to attachthem more firmly to their interest, took them under their im-mediate protection, and sent a commissioner to the French toinform them of their conduct. In twenty-two days afterwardsan Englishman, accompanied by three Maltese, went in thesame capacity to the Floriana, and presented a letter from oneof the officers who commanded the land forces to general Vau-bois, to acquaint him, that all vessels going out of the portladen with effects belonging to the Maltese, would be imme-diately visited, every article seized, and restored to the rightowners.

General Vaubois retained the three Maltese as prisoners,and sent back the Englishman with a letter to commodoreBall, expressing his surprise that a commissioner should besent from a land officer, whose right of addressing him on suchoccasions he absolutely denied. Commodore Ball frequently

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