Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/727

Rh an address to the inhabitants, announcing that his Britannic Majesty took the Maltese under his protection, and pledged himself to render them contented and happy, and to respect their religion and its ministers. He also announced that their chief, Captain Ball, would no longer remain among them, as the exigencies of the naval service called him elsewhere. The position occupied by Ball at this moment was somewhat anomalous. He had endeared himself to the islanders, and had acquired so much influence over them, that he was looked upon, and unhesitatingly obeyed as their chief. This led to some jealousy between him and General Pigot, who refused to recognize his independent position. As a result of this feeling, Ball was sent back to his duty, and the appointment as civil governor given to a Mr. Cameron. This selection gave great offence to the Maltese, who found that after all they had accomplished and suffered to rid themselves of their French masters, the English appeared to neglect their just claims to consideration. This feeling shewed itself so strongly that the British government wisely yielded to it, and in the following year replaced Mr. Cameron by Sir Alexander Ball, as he then was called, he having in the interim been made a Knight of the Bath.

By the treaty of Amiens it was proposed to restore Malta to the Order of St. John, with a condition that a Maltese langue was to be established, supported by the territorial revenues and commercial duties of the island; the langues of both the French and English nations being permanently suppressed, and no individual belonging to either country admissible into the fraternity. The British forces were to evacuate the place within three months after the conclusion of the treaty, and the fortress was then to be garrisoned by Neapolitan troops until the Order had organized a force of its own. This part of the treaty of Amiens (the tenth article) was strongly opposed by the Maltese, and they petitioned boldly against it. Fortunately for all parties, the transfer never took place. Governor Ball, who was fully alive to the injustice and impolicy of the measure, delayed the surrender of the island by every means in his power, and the result proved the