fubject to the grand-mafter's authority, till the enemy, fhould be expelled.

The viceroy, although ftill fufpected of interpofing unneceffary delays, at length fulfilled his promife; and on the feventh of September landed fix thousand men, under Don Alvaro de Sandé and Afcanio della Corna, in that part of the island which lay at the greateft diftance from the Turks; after which he immediately carried back the fleet to Sicily.

"In the mean time, intelligence being brought to Muftapha that the Spaniards were landed, and marching towards him, he was thrown into the most dreadful confternation. Senfible that his foldiers were much disheartened by their ill fuccefs, he imagined that he was about to be attacked by a fuperior army, confifting of the braveft and beft difciplined troops in Spain. Without waiting for information of their number, he forthwith raifed the fiege, drew his garrifon out of St. Elmo, and leaving all his heavy cannon behind him, embarked his troops with as much precipitation as if the Spaniards with fuperior forces had been in fight. He had fcarcely got on board when a deferter arrived from the Spanish camp, and informed him, that with fifteen or fixteen thousand men, he had fled before an army that did not exceed fix thoufand, having no general at their head, and commanded by officers who were independent of one another. The bafha was overwhelmed with fhame and vexation by this intelligence, and would have immediately disembarked; but this, he knew, he durft not attempt without confulting Piali,

Hafcem, and his other principal officers.

"While he was deliberating upon it, the grand-mafter improved to the beft advantage the leifure that was afforded him. He employed all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, as well as the foldiers, in filling up the enemy's trenches, and demolishing their works; and put a garrifon without delay into fort St. Elmo; in which the Turks now beheld from their fhips the ftandard of St. John erected where that of Mahomet had lately food.

"This demonftrated to Mustapha how much new labour awaited him in cafe he fhould return to the fiege; but being enraged against himself on account of the precipitancy of his retreat, and difquieted at the thoughts of the reception which he had reafon to expect from Solyman, he wished to atone for his imprudence, and to wipe off the reproach in which it had involved him, by victory or death. Piali, who from his jealousy of the bafha's credit with the fultan, was not forry for the failure of his enterprife, reprefented, in a council of war convened on this occafion, that as the troops were much difpirited and worn out, it would be expofing them to certain deftruction, either to lead them againft the enemy, or to resume the operations of the fiege. But a majority of the council were of a different opinion; and it was refolved to land the forces again without delay.

"The Turkish foldiers complained bitterly of this unexpected refolution, and obeyed the orders to difembark with the greatest reluct ance. Their officers were obliged

to employ threats with fome, and force with others. At length the number intended was put on fhore, and Muftapha fet out at their head in fearch of the enemy.

"The grand-mafter had not neglected to give early notice of their march to the Spanish commanders, who had intrenched their little army on a steep hill, which the Turks would have found almoft inacceffible; and it was the opinion of fome of the principal officers, that they should avail them felves of the advantage of their fituation, and stand on their defence. But this propofal was rejected with ifdain by the bold adventurous De Sandé, and the greatest part of the Spanish officers; and the troops were led out of their encampment, to meet the enemy in the open field. This conduct, more fortunate perhaps than prudent, contributed to increase the dejection of the Turkish foldiers, and to facilitate their defeat. Having been dragged againft their inclination to the field of battle; and being attacked by the Spaniards with great fury, both in front and flank, they fcarcely fought; but, being ftruck with a fudden panic, they fled with the utmost precipitation.

Muftapha, confounded and enraged by this pufillanimous behaviour of his troops, was hurried along by the violent tide of the

fugitives. He fell twice from his horse, and would have been taken prifoner, if his officers had not res cued him. The Spaniards pur. fued brifkly till they came to the fea-fhore. There Piali had his boats ready to receive the Turks, and a number of fhallops filled with musketeers drawn up to favour their efcape. Without this precaution, they must all have perished; and even notwithstanding the protection which it afforded them, the number of their killed amounted to two thoufand men, while the victors loft only thirteen or fourteen at most.

"Such, after four months continuance, was the conclufion of the fiege of Malta, which will be for ever memorable on account of that extraordinary difplay of the most generous and heroic valour by which the knights, fo few in number, were enabled to baffle the moft vigorous efforts which could be made to fubdue them by the moft powerful monarch in the world. The news of their deliverance gave univerfal joy to the chriftian powers; and the name of the grand-mafter excited every where the highest admiration and applaufe. Congratulations fent him from every quarter; and in many ftates public rejoicings were celebrated on account of his fuccefs."

were