Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Capture Of Malta, And Subversion Of Its Government.
capitulation which was so lamentable to us ; but the torch of truth , borne with an impartial hand through such melanchol y events , has throughout shewn Ferdinand Hompesch guilty of the most stupid negligence , or the accomplice of the perfidious men who have betrayed the Order . « ist , For not having dismisseel from the employments which they occupied known traitors , such as Prince Camillus , commanding , the militia of the country ; Basradont de Ransinjeat , administrator of finances , and now at the head of the munici
pality of Malta ; Bardonncnche , director of the artillery , now employed in the same line in the French service ; Fai , director of the fortifications , fountains , and cisterns ; Toussart , chief of the engineers , and now chief of brigade hi the army of Buonaparte ; and his own Secretary , Doublet , now Secretary of the municipality . ' 2 d , For having obstinately rejected the wise measures suggested to him in word and writing by the Knihtspointed out bpublic estimation as the
g , y firmest supporters of the Order , and having given his full confidence to the commander , St . Priest , a man equally disgraced by his immorality , and his , connections with the conspirators . ' 3 d , For having left the outward towers and forts without ammunition of war , or provisions , which prevented the Maltese from occupying and defending them .
' 4 th , For keeping himself shut up in his palace when the most urgent necessity , and the voice of honour called upon him to animate by his presence the courage of a people . well-disposed , but enervated by a long peace , and tempted by the speeches of the factious , whom his appearance would have dispersed . - ' Sth , For not having punished b y instant degradation , as our laws prescribed , the example of unparalleled and scandalous cowardice given bthe
y Bailli de St . Tropes , on the evening of the 6 th of June , in deserting the post which he commanded , and taking shelter in the city , where his presence farther encouraged the trouble and discouragement of the people . This cowardly and perfidious Knight , instead of being punished , sits at this time in the Council of Hompesch at Trieste .
' 6 th , For suffering himself to be imposed upon by men whom his inactivity alone encouraged to make him the outrageous proposal of surrendering , before the' enemy had a single piece of cannon mounted 011 a battery ; for having consented to demand a suspension of arms , where there had yet been no fighting , and having entrusted with that commission , instead of punishing him as he deserved , a person ofthe name of Formosa , the Dutch Consul , and the author of the seditious assemblage with which he was surrounded .
' 7 th , _ For haying decided on the surrender of the place and the ruin of his Order , in an incompetent Council , and for having employed the most avowed enemy of the Order , Ransinjeat , to conduct the capitulation . ' 8 th , Fhially , alas ! what can acquit him of this crime ?— -for having surrendered the strongest place in Europe , without firing a single cannon , when honour and the example of his predecessors made it his duty to defend it to the last drop of his blood . It
» is to be remarked , that in the infamous treaty which yielded up Malta to the French , the interests of the Grand Master were alone attended to , and nothing was stipulated in favour of the Order . The fad is explained by only this simple reflection . Ferdinand Hompesch and his agents have sold Malta " , and they alone have received the price ; in fait , care was taken not to summon to the Council , which decided on the surrender , the sixteen Elders gf the complete Council , nor the Baillies Tignie , Gourjao , Clagny , Tillet , Bel ' lemont , Loras , La Tour Saint Quintin , La Tour du Pin , & ' c . Sec . which rv . quld have constituted irpre than half the Council , aud without whose con *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Capture Of Malta, And Subversion Of Its Government.
capitulation which was so lamentable to us ; but the torch of truth , borne with an impartial hand through such melanchol y events , has throughout shewn Ferdinand Hompesch guilty of the most stupid negligence , or the accomplice of the perfidious men who have betrayed the Order . « ist , For not having dismisseel from the employments which they occupied known traitors , such as Prince Camillus , commanding , the militia of the country ; Basradont de Ransinjeat , administrator of finances , and now at the head of the munici
pality of Malta ; Bardonncnche , director of the artillery , now employed in the same line in the French service ; Fai , director of the fortifications , fountains , and cisterns ; Toussart , chief of the engineers , and now chief of brigade hi the army of Buonaparte ; and his own Secretary , Doublet , now Secretary of the municipality . ' 2 d , For having obstinately rejected the wise measures suggested to him in word and writing by the Knihtspointed out bpublic estimation as the
g , y firmest supporters of the Order , and having given his full confidence to the commander , St . Priest , a man equally disgraced by his immorality , and his , connections with the conspirators . ' 3 d , For having left the outward towers and forts without ammunition of war , or provisions , which prevented the Maltese from occupying and defending them .
' 4 th , For keeping himself shut up in his palace when the most urgent necessity , and the voice of honour called upon him to animate by his presence the courage of a people . well-disposed , but enervated by a long peace , and tempted by the speeches of the factious , whom his appearance would have dispersed . - ' Sth , For not having punished b y instant degradation , as our laws prescribed , the example of unparalleled and scandalous cowardice given bthe
y Bailli de St . Tropes , on the evening of the 6 th of June , in deserting the post which he commanded , and taking shelter in the city , where his presence farther encouraged the trouble and discouragement of the people . This cowardly and perfidious Knight , instead of being punished , sits at this time in the Council of Hompesch at Trieste .
' 6 th , For suffering himself to be imposed upon by men whom his inactivity alone encouraged to make him the outrageous proposal of surrendering , before the' enemy had a single piece of cannon mounted 011 a battery ; for having consented to demand a suspension of arms , where there had yet been no fighting , and having entrusted with that commission , instead of punishing him as he deserved , a person ofthe name of Formosa , the Dutch Consul , and the author of the seditious assemblage with which he was surrounded .
' 7 th , _ For haying decided on the surrender of the place and the ruin of his Order , in an incompetent Council , and for having employed the most avowed enemy of the Order , Ransinjeat , to conduct the capitulation . ' 8 th , Fhially , alas ! what can acquit him of this crime ?— -for having surrendered the strongest place in Europe , without firing a single cannon , when honour and the example of his predecessors made it his duty to defend it to the last drop of his blood . It
» is to be remarked , that in the infamous treaty which yielded up Malta to the French , the interests of the Grand Master were alone attended to , and nothing was stipulated in favour of the Order . The fad is explained by only this simple reflection . Ferdinand Hompesch and his agents have sold Malta " , and they alone have received the price ; in fait , care was taken not to summon to the Council , which decided on the surrender , the sixteen Elders gf the complete Council , nor the Baillies Tignie , Gourjao , Clagny , Tillet , Bel ' lemont , Loras , La Tour Saint Quintin , La Tour du Pin , & ' c . Sec . which rv . quld have constituted irpre than half the Council , aud without whose con *