Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/563

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the Knights of Malta.
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2. Receivers.—As already stated, the Order had found it necessary, from an early time, to appoint special receivers, whose duty it was to collect and remit to the treasury the responsions as they fell due from the commanderies and priories. Including travelling and law expenses, they figured in the estimates for £6,600.

3. Churches.—The expenses connected with the coiventual churches of St. John, St. Anthony, and the Conception amounted to £1,160.

4. Alms.—A sum of £1,700 was expended under this head.

5. Hospitals.—The grand hospital, the hospital for women, and the foundling establishment were maintained at a joint cost of £10,400.

6. Navy.—The charge under this head was £47,500, which was thus divided: galleys, £22,500; ships, £23,600; and other charges, £1,400.

7. Land Forces.—The land forces cost £17,000, of which the Maltese regiment took £12,600; the artillery, £1,000 ; the staff £280; the ordnance, £1,500; the fortifications, £1,300; sundry other minor amounts making up the balance. In considering the charges for both navy and land forces, it must he remembered that they were officered by knights, and that nothing accrued for the pay or maintenance of these. Also that dockyard work and repairs to fortifications were carried out at very slight cost by the labour of the slaves who swarmed in the island.

8. Table money.—The tables kept at the auberges cast the Order £5,400, which sum included the £600 allowed to the Grand-Master for his own table. It will be remembered that the conventual bailiffs drew an allowance or ration for each person entitled to dine at the table of the auberge. The sum here charged formed but a small part of the actual cost of the tables; the remainder came from the bailiffs themselves.

9. Offices.—The expenses of the treasury and of the chancery amounted to £1,050.

10. Slaves.—The maintenance and clothing of the slaves, when employed on shore, cost nearly £3,000, exclusive of those who, having embraced Christianity, were kept separately, and were supported at an expense averaging about £1,000. About