Byron, Newman, Scott, and Thackeray: Writers in the Lazaretto

Abstract

In retrospect I realize that internment helped people to discover unknown sides of themselves. They conserved their emotions and kept a careful inventory of hopes and feelings. J.G. Ballard, Empire of the Sun (1995) 10 In the course of my research on the effects of quarantine on travelers general, and on writers particular, I have come to believe that internment, this case quarantine at the Lazaretto Malta, though not to be compared with a Japanese internment camp, had a similar effect, though to a lesser degree, on travelers the Mediterranean--specifically on four 19th century British writers, Lord Byron, John Henry Newman, Sir Walter Scott, and William Makepeace Thackeray. I begin with an account of being quarantined Malta the first two decades of the 19th century. (1) Quaranlena, as the term implies, was originally forty days of isolation during fatal epidemics for travelers a building known as the Lazaretto. Two places Malta were associated with quarantine. The first makeshift barriers were erected the Marina Grand Harbour the landing place which came to be known as the barriera--a barrier of railings compelling travelers to speak at a distance with the friends or passers by while waiting medical examination. Later, the larger establishment, known as the Lazaretto, was built on Manoel island the Marsamuxetto harbour and later Fort Manoel itself which was built to guard the eastern side of Valletta by order of Portuguese Grand Master, Manoel de Vilhena after whom it was named. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The original Lazaretto goes back to the Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris who decided to build a permanent building where travelers could undergo quarantine times of serious epidemics, such as cholera and the plague. The Lascaris building was known as the palazzo or palazzo vecchio and dates back to 1643. The structure consisted of several floors overlooking a large courtyard. Entrance to the first floor was through a central courtyard which was approached through a large portico facing the sea and an imposing staircase which led to a large balcony running along the four sides of the courtyard A marble tablet above the portico carried an inscription Italian warning the inmates not to disfigure the walls under penalty of double quarantine, or eighty days. Chi ardisce di mar care o guastare le mura Lazzaretto farra quarantena doppia Etching or marking graffiti such as names or outlines of ships was presumably common and were engraved moments or hours of sheer boredom. One bored Spanish mariner inscribed verses dated 1795 Spanish to recount his ordeal when his ship La Perla sailing from plague ridden Constantinople was caught a heavy storm at sea. Having recovered somewhat from their tormentos the crew at last reached Malta and were confined en este Teatro de Purga --out of the fire into the flying pan this case, as the manner ruefully remarks. Por ser furiosa la peste Many travelers, including Lord Byron, inscribed their names on the walls of the outer courtyard. One marble inscription was done 1797 (with the permission Of the authorities) by a captain of His Danish Majesty's Brig Sarpen, as a mark of gratitude for kindness shown the Lazaretto in reconoscimento de piaceri ed accoglienze ricevute questo lazaretto. I should like to focus on a few details order to give an idea of what conditions of confinement really were for the inmates of the Lazaretto. After giving their names to the officer charge, passengers would be allowed to go ashore and choose their rooms - usually there was a scramble to secure the larger rooms. Servants were hired arid obliged to follow their masters, and, 1821, were paid one shilling eight pence, a day's wages plus seven pence a day for living. They would also come under the same quarantine conditions as their masters. Passengers were provided with two chairs, a table and a wooden bedstead. …