https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29344 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:33:14 GMT 2026-04-18T12:33:14Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/130623 Title: Daħla editorjali/Editorial note Abstract: Din is-sena l-Università ta' Malta qiegħda tfakkar għeluq l-erba' mitt sena mit-twaqqif tal-Collegium Melitense (1592-1992). Jixraq ħafna li s-sehem li jagħti d-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ħdan l-Università f din l-okkażjoni juri r-rabta bejnha u t-tagħlim tal-ilsien nazzjonali. Għalhekk il-Journal of Maltese Studies din id-darba hu ħarġa specjali fġieħ l-ewwel għalliem tal-Malti fl-Università, Mikiel Anton Vassalli (1764- 1829), illum magħruf minn kulħadd bħala Missier l-Ilsien Malti u meqjus bħala ħassieb u riformatur, daqskemm bħala ribell u studjuż li lemaħ fil-bogħod u sa minn kmieni l-qawmien għaqli tan-nazzjonalità Maltija, imsejsa qabelxejn fuq l-għarfien sħiħ tal-ilsien Qadim tal-ġżira. Fri, 01 Jan 1993 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/130623 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29556 Title: Another clue to Vassalli's authorship of "Recherches" Abstract: In his provocative, interesting contribution (The Sunday Times, September 6), Or Giovanni Bonello tried to solve the riddle of the authorship of the book Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malte, published anonymously in Paris in 1799. Or Bonello brought valid arguments to discredit the attribution to Mgr. Onorato Bres and to propound the theory, apparently for the first time ever, that the Recherches were written by none other than Mikiel Anton Vassalli (1764-1829). Fri, 01 Jan 1993 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29556 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29555 Title: The political ideas of M.A. Vassalli Abstract: The excellent study by Mr Frans Ciappara on Mikiel Anton Vassalli's early years and his expressed desire to join the priesthood have thrown new strong light on Vassalli's formative years. It so happens that several years back I had come across the same collection of correspondence which I did not expand upon due to a number of reasons. I am though mainly drawn to Vassalli's political ideas which I have a strong feeling we have been consistently misconstruing. It seems to the present writer that Mr Ciappara has not fully exhausted the material he has come across. The text of Vassalli's letter to Bishop Labini dated April 30, 1788 makes a strong and special impact; for through it transpires the geniune impellent reason behind Vassalli's call to the ecclesiastical state, primarily motivated by an overwhelming desire to expand and specialise his potential in oriental languages. Attached to that letter, there is also a breve or attestation signed by the CardinalBishop of Palestrinlt Marc' Antonio Colonna, issued on February 28, 1788 in which it is stated clearly that Vassalli "a mense Julii Anni 1785 ad presentim usque infrascriptam die in hac alma urbe commemorantem". This ties up neatly with known facts, namely that in 1785 he had won a prize for Arabic at a local school 4 , after which he must have proceeded directly to Rome. Fri, 01 Jan 1993 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29555 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29554 Title: Vassalli et les refugies maltais, principaux agents de la culture du coton en France (1807-1814) - More about the "Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malte" Abstract: This article examines the link which Vassalli had with the cotton industry both in Malta and in France. The second part of the article deals with the possible authorship of the work "Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malte" attributed to Vassalli. Fri, 01 Jan 1993 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/29554 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z