170

HISTORY OF MALTA.

ourselves in a body, and at least have the sweet consolation } ^

in our misfortunes of offering, as in the original houses of the ' titf

order, an asylum to the poor and sick of all countries and re- th e

ligions ? Thus would the benefactions we have received froma magnanimous prince and a generous nation be employedin a manner worthy of ourselves, and of the motives which cai

procured them for us.

In those happy times when the hospitals of Malta were

thrown open for the relief of suffering humanity, did it ever ^

occur to a member of the order, to question those who pre-

sented themselves at the gates with respect to the country they ^

inhabited, or the God whom they served ? No; they, on the

contrary, hastened to assure the unfortunate sufferer that the S ^ e '

Me

God of mercy and charity was the Deity they adored ;—that

God who taught his disciples, that the whole universe being

the work of his all-powerful hand, its inhabitants were equally

his children, and, as such, indiscriminately entitled to every anc

assistance and consolation, during their residence in this tran- s 0e

sitory world of tears and misery, wherein it was his good plea- tise

sure to place them. be<

To you, seamen of different nations, I may more particularly ot h

address myself; since to you the lazzarettoes and infirmaries of thei

Malta have constantly been open. Say then, the treasures youtrusted to their care, were they not always faithfully restored ?

Was any recompence ever demanded for the most unremittedattendance ? The knights themselves, whilst presenting you the