BRIGADIER GENERAL GRAHAM'S SPIRITED ADDRESS TO
THE MALTESE PEOPLE ON 19TH JUNE 1800 ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR
GALLANT ACHIEVEMENT
"Brave Maltese"
"You have rendered yourselves interesting and conspicuous to the world. History affords no more striking example. Betrayed to your invaders, deprived of the means of resistance, external slavery seemed to be your inevitable doom.
"The oppression, the sacrilege of your tyrants became intolerable. Regardless of consequences, you determined at every hazard to vindicate your wrongs. Without arms,without the resources of war, you broke asunder your chains. Your patriotism, your courage, your religion supplied all deficiencies. Your energy commanded victory and an enemy formidable to the best disciplined armies of Europe yielded in every point to your unexampled efforts and hid their disgrace behind the ramparts. The gallant battalions of Casals have ever since confined them there, with a vigilance and patience worthy of the cause of freedom. You called for assistance: the Powers acting in alliance for the support of civil society and of religion hastened to your relief; arms, ammunition, money and corn have been supplied to you. Their ships have intercepted the succours of the enemy.
"My master, the sovereign of a free and generous people sent me with a handful of men to assist you till a powerful force could be prepared for the reduction of La Valette. The circumstances of the war have hitherto retarded it but this is a precious moment and might not be lost. What is to be done to profit by this favourable juncture? I anticipate your answer. You are ready to unite in a mass, to complete the glorious work you began. To arms, then, Maltese! Let the universal cry through the island be: 'For God and our country!' Who is there so deaf to every sense of duty and honour that will not gladly obey such a call? None, none but traitors or time-serving cowards! We do not wish for such among our ranks. That unerring voice, which will distinguish with the title of hero every man who exposes himself for his country, will equally stamp their names with indelible infamy. Quit, then, your habits of industry for a few weeks; dedicate yourselves under the immediate directions of your own officers and under the guidance of those whose professional skill and experience will direct your labours most beneficially, to the great and important object of the conquest of your enemies. A weak and dispirited garrison, unequal to the defence of such extensive works, cannot withstand your efforts. Success will reward your toils and you will soon return to the bosom of your families proud, justly proud, of having saved your country ".
(Reproduced from THE STORY OF MAN IN MALTA by A. V. Laferla - 1939)
Copyright © Ivan Magri-Overend, President of THE ASSOCIATION OF MALTESE COMMUNITIES IN EGYPT (A.M.C.O.E. - Founded in Alexandria in 1854 & Transferred to London in 1956) incorporating THE FRIENDS OF MALTA GC (1992)
We would like to thank Mr Ivan Magri-Overend for his most kind permission to reproduce the above copyright material from the A.M.C.O.E. NEWSLETTER (Issue No. 70, p 2) published in September 1997