never calls them Μελιταίοι oι Νησιωται, but Βαρβαροι, The antient Greeks called all nations, that were not of Grecian original, indiscriminately Barbarians. This continued for a long time: but, after they had been conquered by the Romans, and as it were beat into good manners, they by degrees laid aside that saucy distinction, and were more complaisant to their neighbours. Hence we find that Polybius, Diodorus, and others who wrote after the decline of the Grecian power, seldom make use of this expression; unless the people they treat of are notorious for their ferity and rudeness. But, supposing a Grecian writer might continue this partial distinction, and look upon every country, but his own, as barbarous; yet St. Paul cannot be imagined to have acted so: he was no Greek; but a Jew of Tarsus, and in the same predicament as those that are spoken of. Whenever the Apostle calls a people barbarous, you may be very sure it was the real character of the nation. As these therefore are the only people in all the travels of St. Paul that are characterized in this manner; let us see to which of the two islands the title can with most propriety be applied.

We are informed by Diodorus Siculus and others that Melite Africana was first a colony of Phanicians; and was afterwards inhabited successively by Carthaginians, Greeks and Romans. Who will be so hardy as to denominate any of these nations barbarous? They were each of them renowned for

arts, of great power and wealth, and of particular elegance and refinement. As the ancestry was good, the posterity did not fall off. The testimony of Diodorus Siculus will sufficiently vindicate them from barbarousness: 37 Τες δε κατοικέντας τοις εσίαις ευδαίμονας τεχνίτας τε γαρ έχει παντοδαπες ταις εργασίαις" κρατιςες δε τας οθονία ποιέντας τῇ τε λεπτότητι και τη μαλακότητι διαπρεπη τας τε οικιας αξιολογες και κατεσ κευασμένας φιλοτίμως γειστοις και κονιάμασι περιττότερον. Ετι δε ή Νησος αυτη Φοινίκων αποικος. " The inhabitants "of Malta are very happy in their circumstances; "for they have all sorts of artificers for every kind « of work: but they excel most in their manufac"ture of linen, which is beyond any thing of the kind, both in the firmness of its texture and its "softness. Their houses are very noble, being

elegantly ornamented with pediments projecting

forwards, and with the most exquisite stucco "work. This island was peopled by a colony of "Phænicians." He then proceeds to tell us that the Phænicians, observing the goodness of its harbours and its particularly commodious situation, made use of it in their long voyages for a place of refuge and refreshment; which was the foundation of their affluence: δὲ ἦν αιτίαν δι κατοικέντες αυτήν, ευχρησάμενοι κατα πολλα δια της εμπορες, ταχυ τοις τε βιος ανέδραμον, και ταις δόξαις ηυξήθησαν : “ By which

37 Hist. Bibl. lib. 5. pag. 204. Edit. Stephan.

means the inhabitants, receiving vast emoluments "from the merchants that put in there, soon made "a figure in their way of living, and increased in "reputation and splendor." Where is here the least shadow of a barbarous disposition? So much the contrary, one would imagine the author was describing Corinth or Athens in their glory here is all their art and elegance, with a superior vein of industry. By good fortune, time has spared us some samples, to form a judgment of this people. 38 The temples of Juno and Hercules appear by the remains to have been very magnificent, and of great extent and the "coins that were originally struck there are said to be of no ordinary cast. Of this island was that Diodorus, whose character Cicero sketches out after his masterly manner. He calls him, Homo et domi nobilis, et apud eos, quò se contulit, propter virtutem splendidus et gratiosus: "He was a man of rank in his own country; and "made a great figure, and was highly acceptable among those that he went over to, upon account "of his eminent good qualities." It is very diffi

39 Quintinus in 1532 says the ruins were three miles in circumference. See also Fazellus de Reb. Siculis, and Jacomo Bozio, lib. quinto, parte terza: p. 90.

39 See Tab. II. at pag. 25. Fazellus calls them Numismata anea affabre facta. See Paruta Sicilia Numismatica. Tab. 139. Lug. Bat. 1723.

4o Orat. 4. in Verr, sect. 18.