Introduction

This chapter introduces British Malta through the lens of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His experiences as a secretary working for Alexander Ball reveal the workload and responsibilities of a British administrator in Malta. The rest of the chapter sets up the scope and purpose of the book, which examines the incorporation and early administration of Malta by the British between 1798 and 1835. Of particular importance were Malta’s civil commissioners (later governors). Looking through the lens of these mid-level administrators, especially their personalities, capabilities, and decisions, this book portrays an overarching narrative of failure during Malta’s early experiences with British rule.