CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

193

occasion is recorded, u Some persons speak of a warwith the Saracens as if it were at any time optional,or aggressive,which it was not, but simply defensive.The Mahometans were attacking Christendom from thevery beginning—that being over, so arc our wars.What part of Christendom do the Turks ever assailno w ? So the grand 'master has done very well toabolish both galleys and caravans; a foolish expense.”And perhaps the dolt did not see that, this inutilityof the order conceded, its fall was the logical con-clusion. Indeed, a mischievous set were bent uponworking that up into a truism, with the design ofemploying it as a cogent argument for the abolitionof the order; with a shrewd eye to the plunder whichon such occasions is to be scrambled for, and themost adroit is sure to get rich. But that malevolentavarice was in but a very few of the knights, if inany; but was rife in several about the order, thoughnot exactly knights, and in the consuls, and a n um berof the Maltese; not excepting their principal mer-chants. Nor is it singular, for a similar delusion was inmost countries of Europe. Admiral Neuville, with alarge fleet, arriving from France, obtained leave fora certain number of his ships to enter the harbour, andthus was able to land himself, and judge of things byhis own eyes. Now we know he had secret ordersdetrimental to the sovereignty of Malta; but weVOL. IV.

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