A comparative study of two historical moments in nineteenth century Malta : the 1830s and the 1870s

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to inquire and delve into the social and economic aspects of nineteenth century Malta by looking closely at and comparing the Royal Commissioners' Reports of 1836-38 and 1877-78 and the circumstances in which they were written. These two periods, forty years apart, were chosen for this comparative study because as shall be seen, British colonial policy towards Malta, their most valuable possession in the Mediterranean, changed radically. An analysis of the main aspects of public policy and administration: from the language question, to the economic system and the system of taxation, to the public administration of the Island, is the primary concern of this work. This change in the political philosophy of the colonial power not only affected Maltese society and economy in general, but also brought about the emergence of Maltese politics as we know them today. The main themes are analyzed within the international background as well as within the local, political background, in order to obtain a clear insight into the main issues of the time. Since not many students tend to look at these reports directly-and tend to rely on secondary sources written by historians who have used them-I thought that they were worth a fresh look to see how the Maltese were looked at through the eyes of British policy makers. In order to avoid any bias, I also delved into some Maltese petitions in order to get an insight into society of the time and look at the way the Maltese felt and were treated.