ABSTRACT
The first half of the chapter heavily focuses on the treaty of Amiens (1802), the uncertainty around Malta’s fate, and the diplomatic campaigns that ultimately resulted in Malta remaining under Great Britain’s aegis. Center to this story is Captain Alexander Ball, one of Nelson’s “band of brothers,” and the primary liaison between the British, Maltese, and the King of Two Sicilies during the Siege of Valletta. Ball helped convince the policy makers in London that Malta must be retained and then became civil commissioner of the islands. The chapter then contrasts perceptions with realities in Malta’s government and delves into the unique and vital Maltese institution: the Universita.
