Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/708

672 with them the Maltese regiment, the Grand-Master’s guard, and a great number of the sailors of the island. The garrison that was to be left behind was placed under the command of General Vaubois, and consisted of the following troops

7th Light Infantry ... ... ... 900 6th Regiment of the Line ... ... 518 41st Ditto .. ... 285 80th Ditto ... ... 650 19th Ditto ... ... 700 Total 3,053

with five companies of artillery. The departure of Bonaparte caused no relaxation in the rigour and despotism of the French policy, and it gradually dawned on the unfortunate inhabitants that the liberty, the equality, and the fraternity, for which they had so fervently prayed, were practical nonentities, and that these high-sounding, philanthropic titles were but cloaks to a tyranny, compared with which the rule of the Grand-Masters was mild indeed. Ransijat himself, though a Frenchman, and warmly attached to the new order of things, of which, moreover, he was one of the leading agents in his capacity as president of the commission of government, has enumerated a list of some of the principal grievances under which the Maltese laboured during the few weeks immediately succeeding the expulsion of the knights. This list, drawn up by one not likely to exaggerate the evil, shows the rapacious character of the French government. Chief among them may be mentioned the following:—

1. When Bonaparte carried away the Maltese soldiers and. sailors, he engaged, on behalf of the French government, that a certain sum should be paid for the maintenance of their families. This was not done, ‘although a stoppage for the purpose was made from the men’s pay. The unfortunate women and children were consequently reduced to utter destitution.

2. The sum of 300,000 francs had been kept back from the indemnity guaranteed to von Hompesch, ostensibly for the purpose of paying his debts, but the money was not devoted to that purpose. Many other knights who had been expelled were