"
The Maltese at Valletta, a people singularly, and, as we should
say, morbidly, addicted to the seeming enjoyment of the most horrid
discords, on Good Friday Eve, have the custom of _jangling_ the church
bells with the utmost violence, in execration of the memory of Judas;
and I have seen there a large wooden machine (of which they have
many in use), constructed on a principle similar to that of an
old-fashioned watchman's rattle, but of far greater power in creating
an uproar, intended to be symbolical of the rattling of _Judas's
bones, that will not rest in his grave_. The Maltese, as is well
known, are a very superstitious people. The employment of _Judas
candles_ would, no doubt, if properly explained, turn out to mean to
imply execration against the memory of Judas, wherever they may be
used. But in the expression _Judas bell_, the greatest conceivable
amount of _discord_ is that which is intended to be expressed.
ROBERT SNOW.
6. Chesterfield street, Mayfair, March 23. 1850.
[To this we may add, that the question at present pending
between this country and Greece, so far as regards the
claim of M.
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