Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/694

658 his part, that he had done little or nothing towards the actual prosecution of the siege. lie had, it is true, landed a few pieces of artillery, and had begun to throw up a few batteries; but this was merely to terrify the inhabitants, and not with much view to actual use. Indeed, his instructions from the directory forbade the prosecution of his plans against Malta if lie should nwet with any determined resistance. It was fearcil, and with reason, that the safety of the expedition would be compromised if lie were detained for any length of time before the walls of Valetta, and that the dreaded English fleet would be upon his track. Anxiously, therefore, had he lookM for the first proffers of surrender, which his emissaries within the town had assured him were about to be made.

Not a moment was lost after the arrival of the deputation in securing the object of the mission. General Junot, the aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, M. Poussiélgue, in charge of the commissariat chest., and a knight of St. John, named Dolomire, who formed one of a party of savants accompanying the expedition in order to study the geology of Egypt, were nominated to treat for the surrender. These three at once entered the town to arrange the conditions. Von Hompesch received them in due state, surrounded by his council, and prepared to open the proceedings with all the customary formalities. When, however, the secretary (lemanded of the Grand-Master what preamble he should draw up, Junot rudely interrupted him, exclaiming, “What preamble do you want? Four lines will settle the entire business, and these Poussilgue will dictate.” It was evidently the intention of the French envoy to carry everything with a high hand; nor was there any one present daring enough to oppose him. The following armistice was therefore signed:—

Art. 1.—A suspension of arms for twenty-four hours (to count from six o’clock this evening, the 11th June, till six o’clock to-morrow evening) is granted between the army of the French republic, commanded by General Bonaparte, represented by Brigadier-General Junot, aide-de-camp to the said general on the one side, and his Most Eminent Highness and the Order of St. John on the other side.