The Pirate of the Mediterranean

The Pirate of the Mediterranean
a Tale of the Sea
by W.H.G. Kingston
CHAPTER ONE.
Malta, which I have selected as the opening scene of the following
story, is, from its historical recollections, its fine climate, and brilliant
skies, a very interesting spot; although, for such beauty as its scenery
possesses, it must be acknowledged that it is indebted very much more
to art than to nature. Notwithstanding, however, the noise it has made
in the world, and will, I suspect, should we ever be driven into a war
with our vivacious continental neighbour, again make, it is but a rock
some twenty miles long, and twelve broad, in the middle of the
Mediterranean, with a smaller rock, Gozo, to the north of it, and was,
probably, at one time of this planet's existence, merely a continuation
of Sicily or Italy's toe, or a lump, as it were, kicked off into the middle
of the sea. If, also, report speaks true, the very soil which gives verdure
to its valleys, and nourishes its sweet-scented orange-groves, was
imported from richer lands; yet, notwithstanding this, a larger number
of inhabitants of every religion, colour, and costume, continue to exist
on its surface, than on any similar-sized portion of the globe. But in its
capital, Valetta, with its magnificent fortifications, and superb harbour,
are centred its chief attractions, and which have gained for it a name
imperishable on the page of history as the bulwark of Christendom,
against the pagan hosts of the Saracens.
But as my tale is with the present rather than with the past, I will not
stop to describe how, when it was called Mileta, Saint Paul landed on
the island,--how the Vandals and Goths took possession of it, and were
driven out by Belisarius,--how in 1530, the Knights of Saint John of
Jerusalem, driven away from Rhodes, here settled,--how they built a
fortress which withstood the mighty army of the Turks, and how those

gallant gentlemen hurled back the infidels defeated and
disgraced,--how they at length degenerated, and its inhabitants,
deceived by treachery from within and without their gates, yielded their
liberty to the great enemy of Europe, Buonaparte, and were
unmercifully ill-treated, and pillaged,--and how, in the year 1800, with
the the aid of an English fleet and a small English army, they drove out
their conquerors, and put themselves under the protection of Great
Britain.
How Mr Cameron was first Civil Commissioner, and was succeeded by
Sir Alexander Ball, a man justly endeared to the inhabitants as the
sharer of their toils and victory,--how he was followed by Sir
Hildebrand Oakes, after whom reigned, as their first Governor, for
eleven years, commencing in 1813, Sir Thomas Maitland, called by
irreverent lips, King Tom; a gallant soldier, and the terror of ill-doers,
on whose decease the Marquis of Hastings and General Ponsonby
successively became chiefs.
It was during the time that one of the three last-mentioned governors
ruled the land, that the events I am about to narrate took place, and as it
is in the capital, Valetta, and its magnificent harbour, that our scene
more particularly lies, it is somewhat important that the reader should
have them described to him.
Valetta is situated on that side of the island which faces the north-east,
though towards the southern end of it. The harbour is of a very peculiar
shape, and if the reader should not happen to possess a chart of it, he
may form one by placing his left hand on the table, with the fingers
separated as widely as possible from the middle finger: then let him
bend up the third finger of his right hand, and place, widely apart, the
tips of the others over the forefinger of his left hand. The middle finger
of his left hand is Valetta, with Saint Elmo Castle on the nail, and its
palaces and ramparts running along up to the knuckles. The space on
the right is the Great Port, and on the left, Port Marsa Musceit, or the
Quarantine Harbour. The tip of the little finger of the right hand is Port
Ricasoli. On the bent-up third finger is the Bighi Palace, now a naval
hospital, built by Napoleon as a residence for himself. The middle

finger is the Burgh, with Port Saint Angelo at the end. The fore-finger
is called Isola, with the Cotonera fortifications at the knuckle, and the
thumb is denominated Carodino, where the Palatario is situated, while
the spaces between each of the fingers are smaller harbours of great
depth and security; and from Port Saint Angelo, numerous tiers of
frowning batteries completely enfilade the entrance of the harbour--the
approach to which is further defended by Forts Saint Elmo and Ricasoli.
On the opposite side of Port Marsa Musceit, are two forts--Port Tigne
at