Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/508

 370 NOTICE OF DOCUMENTS PKESERVED resident on the island are in general very deficient in educa- tion, and in anything like an interest for intellectual pleasures or pursuits ; while the winter visiters scarcely remain long- enough to become acquainted with the existence of such documents. Under these circumstances it is particularly cre- ditable to the present keeper of the records, JMr. Luigi Vella, that he has, unassisted and without encouragement, drawn up detailed catalogues of all the documents under his care ; and so complete has been the result of his labours, that he is able to turn to abstracts of the various papers, and by means of indices to refer to much information on any parti- cular name or subject. In England, a work of so much labour would have secured encouragement and commenda- tion ; but I fear that the English residents in Malta, even if they were acquainted with what he has done, would requite such researches with indifference, possibly even with ridicule. It is not in my power to give a full account of the contents of the Record-office, but I believe that I can mention enough to show that there are many very curious and valuable docu- ments there preserved, to which the attention of English antiquaries might be addressed with advantage ; the praise- worthy labours of ]Ir. Luigi Vella might thus be turned to account, and he might be stimulated to further industry. The most important series of documents is comprised in six thick volumes of records, chiefly on parchment, consisting of charters from sovereigns and princes, grants of land and other public instruments connected with the Order of St. John, from its first establishment b}'' Pope Pascal II., whose original Bull is in admirable preservation. The greater part of the papers in these six volumes were published at Roiue by Padre Paolo, and copies of his work exist in the Public Library and the Secretary's Office. Many, however, have been omitted, and, in Mr. Vella's opinion, without sufficient reason. A selection of the Bulls of the Popes connected with the Order has also been j)ublishcd. The following collections have never been published, or even, as it is believed, been properly examined. Two volumes of papers connected with the Island of ]Ialta, before it came into the possession of the Knights, forming a series commencing with the year 1397, and carried down to the beginning of tlio sixteenth century.