The printing press in Malta under the British (1800- 1836)

Abstract

After the expulsion of the French and the coming of the British to Malta in 1800, the monopoly of printing was kept in the hands of the local British Government by not granting permits for private printing-presses to be imported or set up. The legal basis of such action was the Codice de Rohan which forb ade the setting-up of any business without permission a law confirmed by the British administration. Actually permits to set up private presses were given to some missionary societies and to the Commmissariat Department. but these private presses were not open to the Maltese publ ic who had to use the Government Printing Press. Manuscripts for publication were accepted subject to the following conditions : (i) they could not contain censure of the British Government in Malta or in any other part of the British Empire or of any fo reign government friend ly to Great Britain : (ii) they could not contain censure of any person in a private character or capacity: (iii) they could not contain religious arguments.