LETTERS

FROM THE

MEDITERRANEAN.

VOL. II.

FROM THE

MEDITERRANEAN;

CONTAINING A

CIVIL AND POLITICAL ACCOUNT

OF

SICILY,

TRIPOLY, TUNIS, AND MALTA:

WITH

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

ANECDOTES AND, OBSERVATIONS,

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

THE PRESENT STATE OF THOSE COUNTRIES, AND THEIR RELATIVE

SITUATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

By E. BLAQUIERE, Esq.

"Fas est et etiam ab hoste doceri "-Virgil.

"Quiconque prefere sa propre gloire aux sentimens de l'humanité, est un monstre
d'orgueil, et pas un homme."-Fenelon.

LETTERS

FROM THE

MEDITERRANEAN.

LETTER I.

Quid tibi pastores Libyæ, quid pascua versu,
Prosequar; et raris habitata mapalia tectis;
Sæpe diem, noctemque et totum ex ordine mensum
Pascitur, itque pecus longa in deserta sine ullis
Hospitiis; tantum campi jacet omnia secum
Armentarius Afer agit, tectumque, laremque'
Armaque, Amyclæumque canem, Cressamque pharetram
Non secus ac patriis acer Romanus in armis
Injusto sub fasce viam cùm carpit et hosti
Ante expectatum positis stat in agmine castris.

VIRG. Georg. 3.

Preliminary Observations-Geographical Delineations-Description of Tripoly, &c.

Tripoly in the West, 1811.

REPEATED visits to this regency having enabled me to make some remarks on its present civil and political relations, I address them with pleasure to you; as, from our intimacy, you will, I am sure, excuse my inaccuracies of style and