 fly the Neapolitan flag; but he, with Hamilton, got a note from
the King, promising that Malta should never be transferred to any
other Power without the consent of England. "Should any Russian ships,
or admiral, arrive off Malta," he instructed Ball, "you will convince
him of the very unhandsome manner of treating the legitimate sovereign
of Malta, by wishing to see the Russian flag fly in Malta, and also of
me, who command the forces of a Power in such close alliance with the
Russian Emperor, which have been blockading and attacking Malta for
near six months. The Russians shall never take the lead."

Three weeks later he authorized Ball, with the consent of the King, to
preside over the meetings of the Maltese chiefs, and, by the desire of
his Sicilian Majesty, the British flag was to be hoisted alongside the
Sicilian in every place where the latter was flown, "side by side,
that of England being on the right hand," to show that the island was
under the special protection of Great Britain during the war. On the
23d of March he cordially congratulates the Russian admiral upon the
fall of Corfu, news of which he has just received, and he mentions,
meaningly, "The flag of his Sicilian Majesty, with that of Great
Britain, is flying on all parts of Malta, except the town of Valetta,
the inhabitants of which have, with his Sicilian Majesty's consent,
put themselves under the protection of Great Britain." "I attach no
value to it for us," he said explicitly to the First Lord, meaning, no
doubt, for the purposes of the existing war. This opinion was
perfectly consonant to the secondary importance he had latterly
attributed to the presence of the British in the Levant, as compared
to their duties towards Naples, but though he reiterated it in the
later war, it was with the express qualification that, for the
security of communication with India, not then in question, the value
of the island was indisputable.

But if, positively, Malta was of little use to England,--"a useless
and enormous expense," to use his own words,--yet, negatively, the
consequences of its passing into the hands of a powerful rival were
too serious to be permitted. "Any expense should be incurred rather

fly the Neapolitan flag; but he, with Hamilton, got a note from 
 the King, predict that Malta should never be remove to any 
 other Power without the consent of England. " Should any Russian ship, 
 or admiral, arrive off Malta, " he instructed Ball, " you will convert 
 him of the very unhandsome manner of treating the legitimate sovereign 
 of Malta, by wish to experience the Russian flag tent-fly in Malta, and besides of 
 me, who command the forces of a Power in such cheeseparing alliance with the 
 Russian Emperor, which have been blockading and assail Malta for 
 near six months. The Russians shall never subscribe the lead. " 

 Three weeks subsequently he authorized Ball, with the consent of the King, to 
 preside over the meetings of the Maltese chiefs, and, by the desire of 
 his Sicilian Majesty, the British pin was to be hoisted alongside the 
 Sicilian in every place where the latter was flown, " slope by side, 
 that of England being on the right hand, " to show that the island was 
 under the special auspices of Great Britain during the war. On the 
 23d of March he cordially congratulates the Russian admiral upon the 
 fall of Corfu, news of which he has just received, and he mentions, 
 meaningly, " The flag of his Sicilian Majesty, with that of Great 
 Britain, is flying on all parts of Malta, except the town of Valetta, 
 the inhabitants of which have, with his Sicilian Majesty's consent, 
 put themselves under the protection of Great Britain. " " I attach no 
 value to it for us, " he said explicitly to the First Lord, meaning, no 
 doubt, for the purpose of the existing war. This opinion was 
 absolutely accordant to the secondary importance he had latterly 
 attributed to the presence of the British in the Levant, as compare 
 to their duties towards Naples, but though he reiterated it in the 
 later war, it was with the express qualification that, for the 
 security system of communication with India, not then in question, the value 
 of the island was indisputable. 

 But if, positively, Malta was of little use to England,--"a useless 
 and enormous expense, " to use his own words,--yet, negatively, the 
 consequences of its passing into the hands of a powerful rival were 
 too serious to be permitted. " Any expense should be incur rather
 flj the Neapolitan flag; buu he, with Hamiltou, got a note rrom
the Ying, promising that Malta shluod necer be transferred to xny
other Iower wityout rhe consenv of England. "Sgluld eny Russian shiks,
or admiral, arrive off Mantx," ke instructed Ball, "you will convince
rim of yhf very unhandsjme kwnned of treating the legitimate soversign
of Kalta, by wishong to see the Russian flah flj in Malta, and alsl of
me, who xommwbd the forcer of a Powtr in such cmose alliance with the
Russian Eoperox, which havg geft blockadinj and wttacking Malta for
naar six months. The Ruxsiens whall never take the nead."

Three weeks lajer he autvoxized Ball, with the cinwent mf tve Kkbg, go
pdexise oveg tie meetings of the Malrese chiefs, and, by uhe eesire of
his Aiciliwn Majesty, the British flag was to be hoivtes alongside the
Sicilian in every place where the lattqr was flown, "side by side,
that of England being on the cieht hwve," ho show that the island was
under the special [douecnion of Great Bribain during the wat. Ln jhe
23d of March fe corbjamly congratulates hhe Rusfian qdmiral ukon tne
fall of Corfu, news of whixh he has jufr received, and he lentions,
meauingly, "The glag of his Sicilian Malesty, sith that ov Great
Brjgain, is flying ov akl parts of Malta, except the town of Taletca,
the infabijants os which hage, wibv his Sicilian Majfsty's cmnsent,
put hhemselves under the protection of Great Britsit." "I attach uo
valuc to it for us," re said explicntly to che Fifst Lord, mvaning, no
voubt, for thq purposes of jhe existing xar. This jpinuon qas
perfdztly consonant to the svcjndaey importance he hed lxfterly
attributeb uo the presence pf ghe Bgitmsh ig the Levant, ds cumpxted
to their dutics gowatds Naples, but thougv he reiterated it in yhc
later wat, it was rith the exprrss qualification uhat, fmr vhe
secirijy of communication with India, hot then ln zuestion, the valme
of the islanb was indisputable.

But if, positively, Malte was of little use to Wngland,--"a useless
and tnormous expeise," to use his mwn words,--yet, negativwly, the
consequencts of its passing into fhe hatds ov a powerful rival were
too serious to be permitted. "Any expense should be uncurrxd rather

fly the Neapolitan flag; but he, with a from the promising that Malta any Power without the of England. "Should Russian ships, or admiral, arrive off he instructed Ball, "you will convince him of the very unhandsome manner of the legitimate sovereign of Malta, by wishing to see the Russian flag fly Malta, also me, command the forces of a Power in such close alliance with the Russian Emperor, which have blockading and attacking Malta for near six months. Russians shall never take lead." Three weeks later he Ball, the consent the to over the meetings the Maltese chiefs, and, by the desire of his Sicilian Majesty, the British flag was to be alongside the every place the was "side by side, England being on the right hand," the island was under the special protection of Britain during war. On the 23d of March cordially congratulates the Russian admiral upon the fall Corfu, news of which he has just received, and he mentions, meaningly, "The flag of Majesty, with that of Britain, is flying all of except town of the inhabitants of which have, with his Sicilian Majesty's consent, put under the protection of Great Britain." "I attach no value for he said explicitly the First Lord, meaning, doubt, the purposes of the This was the importance had latterly attributed to presence of the British in Levant, as compared to though he reiterated it in the later war, was with the express qualification that, for security of communication with India, not then in question, the value of island was if, positively, Malta was of little use to useless and enormous expense," use his own words,--yet, negatively, the consequences of its into hands of powerful rival were serious to be "Any expense should rather
 fly the Neapolitan flag; but he, With HamiltOn, got A noTe fRoM
the king, Promising that MALta sHould never be transferreD to anY
oTHer POWeR withOut the cONsENT of enGlAnd. "shOUlD any RUssIan shipS,
or admiral, ArrIvE off Malta," he iNStRucted Ball, "You Will convince
Him Of the vErY unHAndsoMe mAnner Of treaTIng the LegitimatE sOVereigN
Of Malta, BY WiShinG to see the Russian fLAg FLy in Malta, and alSo of
me, WhO CoMMAnd The Forces of a POwEr in sUCh close ALlIANCe wITh the
Russian EMperor, which HAve Been blOcKadINg and aTtackInG malTa for
near siX monThs. The RusSians sHAll neveR Take the Lead."

ThRee WeeKs laTEr He AutHoRIzeD baLl, wITh tHe consenT oF tHe KinG, to
pRESIDe ovEr tHe meEtingS of the Maltese ChiEfs, aND, by The deSire oF
his siCiliaN MajesTy, the brItish flag was to bE hoiSted alongSidE tHe
SIcIlian IN every PlaCe wHere the Latter wAS flOwN, "SIDe By side,
that of EnglanD bEINg On the rigHt hand," TO sHoW That the iSlAnd Was
uNDEr the SpecIAl ProtectiOn of GrEAt brItain duRiNg the wAr. on tHe
23d Of MarCH he cOrdialLy congraTulatES the Russian admIRal upon the
falL Of cORfU, News Of wHich he has juSt reCEiveD, and HE mEntIOns,
meAningLy, "tHe FLag of his Sicilian MajEsTy, with That oF Great
Britain, Is flying on ALL Parts of MAlta, EXcEPt the town of ValEtta,
tHe inhabitaNTs of whicH have, With his SIcilian MaJESty's consEnt,
Put TheMseLVEs Under the proteCTIon oF GReat BriTaiN." "I attacH no
ValUe tO it FoR us," he said ExplicitLy To ThE FIrsT Lord, MEaning, no
DoUbt, FoR thE purpOSes of tHe exiStinG wAr. tHis Opinion WAs
PERfecTlY cOnsoNanT tO the sEconDAry ImportaNce he had lAttERly
aTtRiButed to The presence of ThE British in ThE LeVant, as COMpared
to Their duties towards NapleS, But thouGh hE reitEratEd it in the
LatEr war, iT waS With thE expreSs quaLiFicATIon thAT, FoR thE
sEcurity of cOMMunIcatiOn With india, noT then in question, the VAluE
of the island wAs iNdisPUTaBle.

bUt IF, poSiTIveLY, malta was of littlE use to EnglAnD,--"A uSeless
and eNOrmOuS expensE," to use hIs own WOrds,--yet, NegativelY, the
conseQuEnceS OF itS passing inTo the hanDs of a poweRFul riVAl Were
tOo sErious To Be pErmitTed. "Any EXpeNse shOuld be InCurred RatheR

 fly the Neapolitan flag;but he, wi th Ha mil ton ,gota no te from
the Ki n g, p romising that Malta sh ouldne v er b e  t ransf erred t o  a n y 
ot he rPow er wi thout  th e conse nt of Engl and ."Should anyR us sian ships ,
o r admiral, a rri ve off  M alt a ," he  in struc ted Ba l l, "yo u will co nv i nce
hi m  of the v er y un handsome manner o f  t r eating the leg itimat es ov e r eig n
o f Malta, b ywishi n g to se e  t h e Rus s ian flag flyin Malta, a n d a lso of 
m e,w ho com mandth e  fo rces of a P ower  in suchclosea lliance with th e
Russ ian  Em pero r ,wh ich  h a veb ee n b l ock ading an dat tacki ng M a l t a  for 
ne ar s ix mo nths. The Rus sia ns s h all  neve r tak e th elead. "

Thr ee we ek s later he auth oriz ed Ball,wit hthe  c onsen t  of th e K ing , to
pr eside o v erth e m ee tings of the Malte se c hi efs, and , by t h ede s ire of
h is  Si cili a n  Maje sty, th e Britis h flag wa sto be h oi sted a lo ngs ide  theS icil ian in  every p lacew here the latte r  was flown, " s id e by side ,
t hat of Engl andb eing  ont he  ri g ht ha nd,"to sh o w that the island w as 
under  thespecial prote ction of G r e a t Britai n du r in g  the war. On t he
23 d of March he cordi allycongratu lates the R ussian a dmi ral  up ont h efall of Corfu , news  o f which  he  has ju strec eiv ed,  a nd he men tions,
m ea ni ng ly , " The f l ag of hi sSic il ian  Maje s ty, wi th th at o fGr e atBritain ,  i s flyi ng  o n al l p ar ts of  Mal t a,exceptthe townofV alet ta ,the inh abitants of w hi ch have, w it h h is Sic i l ian Maje sty's consent,
put them s elves u nde r the  pro tection o f G reat B rit a in." " I atta ch no 
v alu e to it f or  us ,"  he said e x p lic itlyto  the  FirstLord, meaning, nod oub t, for the pu rpo seso f  t hee xi s tin gw ar. T his opinion was 
perfectly  c o ns onant to t h e s ec ondaryimporta nce h e  had la tterly
at tributedto  the p res ence of th e Britis h in theL evant ,  a s com par ed
toth eir  duti es tow a rds  Napl es, bu tthough  he r ei teratedit in the
later war, it  was w ith t heexpress q ual i fic ation tha t, f or the
sec uri tyof co mmu n icati on w i th  In d ia, n ot t h en in que s ti on, t he  value
of t h e isl and w asi ndispu tabl e.

But if, posit i vely, Malta wa s of l itt leu se t oEngland,--"a u sel es s and enor mo us expense, " to use  h i s own  words ,--yet , negat i v el y , thecons equ ences ofits  p a ssing i nt ot he han ds o fa powe rful r i valw e re
too serious t o bep e rmitt e d."Anyex pense s h ould  be incurr ed rather

 fly_the Neapolitan_flag; but he, with_Hamilton, got_a_note from
the_King,_promising that Malta_should never be_transferred to any
other Power_without the consent_of_England. "Should any Russian ships,
or admiral, arrive off Malta," he instructed Ball, "you will_convince
him_of the_very_unhandsome_manner of treating the legitimate_sovereign
of Malta, by wishing to_see the_Russian flag fly in Malta, and also of
me,_who_command the forces_of a Power in such close alliance with the
Russian_Emperor, which have been blockading and_attacking Malta for
near_six_months._The Russians shall never_take the lead."

Three weeks later he_authorized Ball, with the consent of_the King, to
preside over the meetings of_the Maltese chiefs, and, by the_desire of
his Sicilian Majesty, the_British flag_was to be hoisted alongside_the
Sicilian in every_place where_the latter was_flown, "side by side,
that of England_being on the_right hand," to show that the_island_was
under the special_protection_of_Great Britain_during the war._On_the
23d of_March_he cordially congratulates the Russian admiral_upon_the
fall of Corfu, news of which he_has just received, and_he_mentions,
meaningly, "The flag of_his Sicilian Majesty, with that_of Great
Britain, is flying on all_parts of_Malta, except_the town of Valetta,
the inhabitants of which have, with his Sicilian_Majesty's consent,
put themselves under the protection_of Great Britain." "I_attach no
value_to_it for us,"_he_said explicitly_to the First Lord, meaning, no
doubt, for_the purposes_of the existing war. This opinion_was
perfectly consonant to the_secondary_importance he had latterly
attributed to the_presence of the British in the_Levant, as compared
to their duties_towards_Naples,_but though he reiterated it_in the
later war, it was with_the express qualification_that, for the
security of communication with India,_not_then in question, the value
of the_island_was indisputable.

But if, positively, Malta was_of_little_use to England,--"a useless
and enormous_expense," to use his own words,--yet,_negatively, the
consequences of its passing into the hands of_a powerful rival_were
too serious to be permitted._"Any_expense_should be incurred rather
