affair is a farce, is ridiculous enough.  We are guarded by the officers of health in a peculiar sort of livery or uniform with yellow neck, who stroll up and down with every man that stirs—­and so mend the matter.[492] My friends Captain and Mrs. Dawson, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Lord Kinnedder, occupying as military quarters one end of the Manuel palace, have chosen to remain, though thereby subjected to quarantine, and so become our fellows in captivity.  Our good friend Captain Pigot, hearing some exaggerated report of our being uncomfortably situated, came himself in his barge with the purpose of reclaiming his passengers rather than we should be subjected to the least inconvenience.  We returned our cordial thanks, but felt we had already troubled him sufficiently.  We dine with Captain and Mrs. Dawson, sleep in our new quarters, and, notwithstanding mosquito curtains and iron bedsteads, are sorely annoyed by vermin, the only real hardship we have to complain of since the tossing on the Bay of Biscay, and which nothing could save us from.

Les Maltois ne se mariaient jamais dans le mois de mai.  Ils espererent si mal des ouvrages de tout genre commence durant son cours qu’ils ne se faisaient pas couper d’habits pendant ce mois.

The same superstition still prevails in Scotland.

November 23.—­This is a splendid town.  The sea penetrates it in several places with creeks formed into harbours, surrounded by buildings, and these again covered with fortifications.  The streets are of very unequal height, and as there has been no attempt at lowering them, the greatest variety takes place between them; and the singularity of the various buildings, leaning on each other in such a bold, picturesque, and uncommon manner, suggests to me ideas for finishing Abbotsford by a screen on the west side of the old barn and with a fanciful wall decorated with towers, to enclose the bleaching green—­watch-towers such as these, of which I can get drawings while I am here.  Employed the forenoon in writing to Lockhart.  I am a little at a loss what account to give of myself.  Better I am decidedly in spirit, but rather hampered by my companions, who are neither desirous to follow my amusements, nor anxious that I should adopt theirs.  I am getting on with this Siege of Malta very well.  I think if I continue, it will be ready in a very short time, and I will get the opinion of others, and if my charm hold I will be able to get home through Italy—­and take up my own trade again.

November 24.—­We took the quarantine boat and visited the outer harbour or great port, in which the ships repose when free from their captivity.  The British ships of war are there,—­a formidable spectacle, as they all carry guns of great weight.  If they go up the Levant as reported, they are a formidable weight in the bucket.  I was sensible while looking at them of the truth of Cooper’s description of the beauty of their build, their tapering rigging and masts, and how magnificent it looks as