[483] See Sailor's Song, _Cease, rude Boreas_, etc., _ante_, p. 402:
"The Storm."
[484] See _ante_, vol. i. p. 253, note.
[485] Lasting from 21st June 1779 to 6th February 1783.
[486] Compare the reflection of the Chevalier d'Arcon, the contriver of
the floating batteries. He remained on board the _Talla Piedra_ till
past midnight, and wrote to the French Ambassador in the first hours of
his anguish: "I have burnt the Temple of Ephesus; everything is gone,
and through my fault! What comforts me under my calamity is that the
honour of the two kings remains untarnished."--Mahon's _History of
England_, vol. vii. p. 290.
[487] Nothing like these Bristol riots had occurred since those in
Birmingham in 1791.--Martineau's _History of the Peace_, p. 353. The
Tranent (East Lothian) and Bonnymoor (Stirlingshire) conflicts took
place in 1797 and 1820; the Manchester riot in 1826.
[488] Afterwards Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, so long in command of the
Turkish Navy.
[489] See long letter to Mr. Skene in _Life_, vol. x. pp. 126-130.
[490] In the memorable siege of 1565.
[491] Manuel de Vilhena, Grand-Master 1722-1736.
[492] An example of the rigour with which the Quarantine laws were
enforced is given by Sir Walter on the 24th:--"We had an instance of the
strictness of these regulations from an accident which befell us as we
entered the harbour. One of our seamen was brushed from the main yard,
fell into the sea and began to swim for his life. The Maltese boats bore
off to avoid giving him assistance, but an English boat, less knowing,
picked up the poor fellow, and were immediately assigned to the comforts
of the Quarantine, that being the Maltese custom of rewarding
humanity."--Letter to J.G.L.
[493] High Admiral of the Turkish fleet before Malta, and slain there in
1565. See _Dragut the Corsair_, in Lockhart's _Spanish Ballads_.
[494] The dates are not to be absolutely depended upon during the Malta
visit, as they appear to have been added subsequently by Sir Walter.
[495] Wife of the Lieut.-Governor, Colonel Seymour Bathurst.
[496] In 1790 the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem
consisted of eight "Lodges" or "Languages," viz.: France, Auvergne,
Provence, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Anglo-Bavaria.--Hoare's _Tour_,
vol. i. p. 28.
[497] John Hookham Frere, the disciple of Pitt, and bosom friend of
Canning, made Malta his home from 1820 till 1846; he died there on
January 7th. He was in deep affliction at the time of Scott's arrival,
having lost his wife a few months before, but he welcomed his old friend
with a melancholy pleasure.
For Scott's high opinion of Frere, as far back as 1804, see _Life_, vol.
ii. p. 207 and note.
[498] Grandmaster of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and defender
of Malta against Solyman in 1565.