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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Description Of The Island Of Malta
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF MALTA
THE account we now present to our readers ' of this island is drawn from the best sources of information ; from which it will appear , that it must have fallen into the hands ofthe French from treachery . THE position of Malta , in the centre of the Mediterranean , offers a safe retreat to all the ships which navigate those seas . Its port is the hand of natureand all the of art have
vast , formed by , resources been exhausted in fortifying it against an attack . The Emperor Charles V . from a belief that Malta , from its position , was well qualified to secure the coast of Sicily , and to threaten that of Africa , made it over , in the year 1630 , to the Knig hts of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , with a charge of defending it to the utmost of their power , lest the conquest of this island should cast too much weig ht into the nnlitical balance ofthe enemies ofthe House of Austria .
This island , which consists of one single rock , is 20 miles iii length 12 iu breadth , and 60 in circumference . Its southern part is formed of high , steep , and inaccessible rocks , and the other parts . are defendecfby entrenchments , cut out in the rock , by batteries and bv turrets , the guards of which advise each other , by signals , of the approach of any vessel which appears any way suspicious . Theseform
turrets , constructed at a small distance from each other , a crescent , at the extremities of which are placed two castles ; at the entrance ofthe chief port , where the signals are repeated with a rapidity which ensures the speediest defence of the whole coast , by conveying , within a few minutes , the intelligence to the town , which is < he centre of all the land and sea forces of Malta . The island of Gozzo ,
dependant upon Malta , is separated from -it by an arm of the sea , about 5 or 6 miles broad ; in the midst of which lies another rock , called Cumin , likewise furnished with turrets , which repeat the signal ' s made in the former island , and convey with equal rapidity
intelligence to Malta . The entrance of the port is defended on one side by the fort St . Elmo , which is fortified with different lines of batteries , and on the other by the fort Ricazoli , which is protected with batteries down to the water ' s edge , so that no ship can pass the fort without the most imminent danger of being sunk . If , however , any vessel should chance to enter tbe harbour , she would be unavoidably destroyed by the immense batteries of La Valette , and of the other forts which defend the port .
The different fortifications of the island -are mounted with above 1500 pieces of cannon , of which 500 are of brass . The land forces amount to 16 , 000 men , which can immediately be brought into the field , in case of necessity , as all persons fit for service , fju _ i _ Li 6 to 60 years of age , are enrolled and incorporated into rerygWh ^ SivJMhis number the island of Gozzo supplies 4000 . The flM & l ^ rce consists of two ships of 6 * . gum , 1 frigate of 3 6 , 4 gal ! ig ^ , and ' a ' gahMs , I L O D ft '
c l—l u t /— I r , \ i I-IBRARY Jzf
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Description Of The Island Of Malta
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF MALTA
THE account we now present to our readers ' of this island is drawn from the best sources of information ; from which it will appear , that it must have fallen into the hands ofthe French from treachery . THE position of Malta , in the centre of the Mediterranean , offers a safe retreat to all the ships which navigate those seas . Its port is the hand of natureand all the of art have
vast , formed by , resources been exhausted in fortifying it against an attack . The Emperor Charles V . from a belief that Malta , from its position , was well qualified to secure the coast of Sicily , and to threaten that of Africa , made it over , in the year 1630 , to the Knig hts of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , with a charge of defending it to the utmost of their power , lest the conquest of this island should cast too much weig ht into the nnlitical balance ofthe enemies ofthe House of Austria .
This island , which consists of one single rock , is 20 miles iii length 12 iu breadth , and 60 in circumference . Its southern part is formed of high , steep , and inaccessible rocks , and the other parts . are defendecfby entrenchments , cut out in the rock , by batteries and bv turrets , the guards of which advise each other , by signals , of the approach of any vessel which appears any way suspicious . Theseform
turrets , constructed at a small distance from each other , a crescent , at the extremities of which are placed two castles ; at the entrance ofthe chief port , where the signals are repeated with a rapidity which ensures the speediest defence of the whole coast , by conveying , within a few minutes , the intelligence to the town , which is < he centre of all the land and sea forces of Malta . The island of Gozzo ,
dependant upon Malta , is separated from -it by an arm of the sea , about 5 or 6 miles broad ; in the midst of which lies another rock , called Cumin , likewise furnished with turrets , which repeat the signal ' s made in the former island , and convey with equal rapidity
intelligence to Malta . The entrance of the port is defended on one side by the fort St . Elmo , which is fortified with different lines of batteries , and on the other by the fort Ricazoli , which is protected with batteries down to the water ' s edge , so that no ship can pass the fort without the most imminent danger of being sunk . If , however , any vessel should chance to enter tbe harbour , she would be unavoidably destroyed by the immense batteries of La Valette , and of the other forts which defend the port .
The different fortifications of the island -are mounted with above 1500 pieces of cannon , of which 500 are of brass . The land forces amount to 16 , 000 men , which can immediately be brought into the field , in case of necessity , as all persons fit for service , fju _ i _ Li 6 to 60 years of age , are enrolled and incorporated into rerygWh ^ SivJMhis number the island of Gozzo supplies 4000 . The flM & l ^ rce consists of two ships of 6 * . gum , 1 frigate of 3 6 , 4 gal ! ig ^ , and ' a ' gahMs , I L O D ft '
c l—l u t /— I r , \ i I-IBRARY Jzf