Correspondance between the canons of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul of Valletta and the Government of Malta

Abstract

The Canons of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul of Valletta, in pursuance of the notifications issued on the 24th November and 1st instant, beg leave to state to your Honour, as the person individually authorized to investigate the grievances of the inhabitants of these possessions, that they having obtained from the head of the Catholic Church the privilege of wearing certain ecclesiastical decorations, in consideration of religious services rendered to the population during the awful ravages of the plague in 1813, the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Notabile sued them in the Courts of Rome for the purpose of depriving them of what they had lawfully obtained, and were already enjoying. The issue of the suit at law having proved favourable to the Canons of St. Paul, the concession having been confirmed, the Government of these islands, in opposition to the existing laws, proclamations, and promises, issued in the name of His Majesty, interfered in favour of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church, and all at once they were ordered, through the Executive Police, to discontinue wearing the decorations, with threats, in case of disobedience, which compelled them to yield to force.