Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/423

Rh laws. The keys were then presented to him, and he made his entry amidst the acclamations of the people, who trusted, and not without reason, that a new era was about to dawn on them under the vigorous sway of the Hospital.

The first care which occupied L’Isle Adam on his arrival at Malta was the selection of a suitable and defensible position for his convent. The fortifications which he found existing were of the most paltry description. The Città Notabile was indeed surrounded by a rampart and ditch, but of so miserable a character as to be almost worthless. The only other attempt at a defensive work was a little fort, called St. Angelo, which, although considered the main protection to the island and its harbours, was very feeble, and only armed with two or three small pieces of artillery.

In order the better to comprehend the locality here referred to, and the alterations which were carried into effect under the directions of the Grand-Master, it will be well to enter into a short description of this part of the island. The main harbour is divided into two parts by an elevated and rugged promontory projecting from the mainland in a north-easterly direction, and called Mount Soeberras. The height of this tongue of land is such as to give it command over all the surrounding points. The eastern of the two ports thus formed is in its turn divided into three creeks by two minor promontories which jut out from the mainland on its eastern shore. Of these two peninsulas the one nearest the entrance of the harbour was that on the extremity of which stood fort St. Angelo. Behind the fort, and extending back as far as the mainland, was a small town, or rather village, known by the name of the Bourg. The other promontory was called St. Julian, and was not in any way occupied. The western harbour, which did not present such facilities for safe anchorage as the main port, contained within it an island which greatly interfered with its use. It was further much subdivided by the sinuosities of its coast line. On this Bide there was no attempt at any work of defence or even habitation.

The practised eye of L’Isle Adam was not long in perceiving