HISTORY OP MALTA.

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vereign; who, in his turn, must necessarily be odious to his sub-jects. Yet, surely, all conquerors who are ambitious of obtain-ing the interesting title of the benefactors of mankind—a title,alas ! given to so very small a number by posterity—must everbe desirous to maintain their newly-acquired subjects in theirformer happy situation; and, if possible, make them forget bya succession of fresh benefits, those which had rendered theirpredecessors so truly and so justly beloved.

Russia had undoubtedly formed the wisest plan, when,wishing to add the possession of this island to her vast domains,she determined to preserve the order of St. John of Jerusalem,as the only means of making it a useful and flourishing colony.To this it may perhaps be objected, that though the above-mentioned facts cannot be denied, nor the utility of the orderdisputed, it would be impossible, after the cruel losses it hassustained, either to support the hospitals, or provide the arma-ments which rendered its existence so extremely important tothe trade of the Mediterranean. Five languages still remain ofthe original eight which composed the order of Malta;—thatof Italy, which unfortunately has lost half its possessions ; thatof Anglo-Bavaria, and those of Arragon, Castille, and Germany,which have suffered in a less degree. There still, however,exist some benefices which bring in a considerable revenue,and which of late years have been almost exclusively possessedby either princes, or the near relations of popes and cardinals.Let the order then, in future, fix the maximum of each com-

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