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Britain and Malta 1787 - 1798 Roger Vella Bonavita Courtly Love: A Short Note on the Tales of the Franklln and the WIfe of Bath Louis J. Scerri Hydroponics - Plants without Soli Carmel Galea 1I."Muta Maltl)a" braala Test ta' RHerenza graall-lstraarrlg tal-GraJla tal-Poeil)a Maltl)a Oliver Friggieri Some Fallacies and Misconceptions In the Maltese Islands Guido Lanfranco Invito Alia Lettura Del "Saul" Louis D. Baluci Computer Arithmetic Lawrence Borg Number 1 Autumn 1977 HYPHEN - Journal of the Upper Secondary School, Valetta. Editorial Board: Chairman: V.F. Buhagiar M.A. (Lond.) Arts Editor: V. Mallia-Milanes MA Science Editor: C. Eynaud B.Sc. Members: L.J. Scerri MA, J. Zammit Ciantar BA Price per copy: 30 cents Annual subscription by post: 90 cents Original articles related to the Advanced Level curricula are to be addressed to: HYPHEN Upper Secondary School Valetta CONTENTS Foreward ... Britain and Malta 1787-1798 Roger Vella Bonavita 2 Courtly Love: A Short Note on the Tales of the Franklin and the Wife of Bath Louis J. Scerri ... 19 Hydroponics - Plants without Soil Carmel Galea ... 25 II-"Muza Maltija" bflala Test ta' Riferenza gflall-Istflarrig tal-Grajja tal-Poezija Maltija Oliver Friggieri 29 Some Fallacies and Misconceptions in the Maltese Islands Guido Lanfranco 34 Invito Alia Lettura Del "Saul" Louis D. Baluci 40 Computer Arithmetic Lawrence Borg 44 Copyright held by.respective authors Number 1 Autumn 1977 Foreword Since Upper Secondary structures were introduced in both state and private systems of educcttion there has been a growing demand for a cultuJ1al link which could draw young students in these schools with similar objectives and aspirations closer together. Hyphen means to forge that link. Students in this area of education are colflfnonted with problems of adaptation to novel modes of study when more self-reliance and personal research are expected of them. The Upper Secondary School is offering this contri­ bution to help these -3tudents in their studies within and beyond the boundaries of Advanced Level programmes required for admission into institutions of higher learning. This supplement to basic ,text-books aims at easing the arduous work of research without supplanting it. It is meant to anouse the interest of young people and encourage them to search for knowledge beyond the limits of require­ ments of examinations a.t the end of their course of studies. Our main objective is to make a contribution towards the intellectual and moral development of future Maltese leaders in diverse fields of know/edge during a very impor­ tant phase of their education. We trust that this journal will help us fulfil our ambition. Victor F. Buha,giar Head/Upper Secondary School BRITAIN AND MALTA 1787 -1798 Roger Vella Bonavita The normal school history text-book with Paul I of Russia and a year later does not concern itself with abortive Napolean expelled the knights from diplomatic negotiations. Nor should Malta. After 1798, Britain's policy in it, for to cover minor moves and the Mediterranean was dominated by counter-moves in the extremely com­ a determination not to repeat her plicated world of diplomacy would earlier mistake; it was essential to oc­ obscure the main theme of the text­ cupy or at least to neutralise the tiny, book and thus defeat the purpose for but strategically invaluable Maltese which it was produced - that of pre­ Islands. It is arguable that had Bri­ senting the history ofa period or of tain come to an agreement with the a coun~::.r clearly and concisely. None­ Order, the knights' will to resist the theless the student of history must the french would have been much be reminded constantly that what he stronger and the capture of Malta reads and often what he is taught is that much more difficult, Napolean a very simplified - sometimes gross­ might even have refused to risk ass­ ly oversimplified and hence distorted aulting the strongest fortifications in - account or analysis of a particular Europe. series of events. The earlier inability of the british At times abortive negotiations can government to appreciate the vital throw interesting and useful light on necessity of acquiring a secure base at more important developments and Malta, for a while proved disasterous this is so in the case of the unsuccess­ to Britain's position in the Mediter­ ful negotiations between the Order of ranean. Her fleet and troops had to St. John and Great Britain during the evacuate the area in 1796 for a time, last decade of the eighteenth century. for want of adequate supplies and The negotiations illustrate on the one maintenance facilities. She was un­ hand the Order's struggle for survival able to prevent the french from mov­ in the hostile environment created by ing a large army by the sea to Egypt. french revolution and the wars that France had successfully challenged followed, and on the other Britain's Britain's supremacy at sea and minis­ first unsteady steps towards the evo­ ters quaked at the thought of India lution of her Mediterranean policy - falling to french arms. The govern­ central to a proper understanding of ment's policy in the Mediterranean British foreign policy down to the since Britain joined the war against Suez crisis of 1956. More important France in 1792 was manifestly a com­ the negotiations highlight IYIalta's plete and utter failure. strategic importance, both positive The balance was to some extent and negative, to great powers vie­ quickly restored through Nelson's bril­ ing for control over the Mediterran­ liant victory at Aboukir Bay-the Bat­ ean. The negotiations failed; in 1797 tle of the Nile; Britain's morale and the Order reached an understanding prestige rose - the immediate danger BRITAIN AND MALTA 1787-1798 3 was over. But Britain's supremcy in interest in Malta.1 But in fact, the de­ the Mediterranean was not fully es­ lay was caused by William England's tablishe.d until Malta was· unquestion­ unsllccessful efforts to collect the ably under her sole control and this commission without paying the nor­ was not absolutely. certain until 1814. mal fee. The consul does not appear The failure of Pitt"s government to to have been a man of any great abi­ come to terms with the Order of St. lity and the british government never John cost Britain dearly - it also cost trusted him with any important mat­ the Order the principality of Malta. ter. He was obviously a creature of De Rohan, the Grand Master of. the De Rohan for the Grand Master also Order, made the first of a series of made him consul for Sweden and the moves between Malta and Britain. In Baltic states in 1787, created him a 1789 he heard that the british govern­ Donat of the Order with a pension of ment intended to appoint a resiOent 100 gold scudi and in 1787 granted agent in Malta, subordinate to the bri­ him the reversion of the post of tish consul-general in Sicily. The mat­ cancelliere delle milizie (which was ter was not terribly important, but De worth 2,000 scudi a year) and in 1796 Rohan, Uke his predecessors, objected made him the first consul for the to any· suggestion, however trivial, United States in Malta. The foreign .that Malta was in any way part of, or secretary was wise to ignore him. dependent on, the Kingdom of the The effects of the french revolution Two Sicilies. Moreover, he had two on the Order's ifortunes are well · years earlier, as was normal practice known. On September 19th, 1792, in Malta appointed one William Eng­ the property of the knights in France larid to the post of british consul in was confiscated. The next day, french Malta. Accordingly, on 20th May forces under Kellermann and Dumou­ 1789, De Rohan wrote to the british riez forced the prussian army, repute­ foreign secretary explaining that an dly the finest in Europe, to retreat at agent dependent on the consul-gene­ the cannonade of Valmy. The follow­ ral in Siciily was incompatible with ing day, 21st Sept. 1792, Louis XVI the independent status of the neutral was deposed; France became a repub­ principality of Malta. He suggested lic. Within a few weeks french arms that the foreign secretary should con­ succeeded when Louis XIV had failed: firm the appointment of William Eng- Nice, Savoy, most of the left bank of · land. The foreign secratary, on 16th the Rhine and the Austrian Nether­ October the same year, wrote accept- lands were occupied. Naturally the · ing De· Rohan's proposal and thus Order's property in these areas was William England became the first confiscated. Then, on 19th November, (and the last) british consul in Malta the republic proclaimed that France to hold the . King's commission; as would assist all people to gain free­ well as the Grand Master's patent, for dom and thus declared war on the his office. monarchies and aristocracy of Europe. In practice William England did It is in this context of violent not obtain his commission until 1794 change and of fear of the new force and this long delay has 1;>een regarded unleashed in Europe that we must as evidence of Britain's total lack of view an appeal for british protection J.. Cf. CavaJiero, RE., The Last of the Crusaders, (London, 1960), p.206. 4 HYPHEN sent from Malta by William England Order. in December 1792. Presumably the The british government's attitude consul would not have made such a to the flagging fortunes of the Order, request on his own initiative and to the situation in the Mediterranean without reference to his patron the and possibly to the Order's request Grand Master.
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