Treasures of Malta

In his letter (December 1), John Muscat wishes to know about a cannon in the passageway of the Tower of London. He does not however give a description of this cannon as I understand there are six cannon still remaining from a number of cannon that were taken from Malta in 1838 and are still in the UK. Five of them vary in length from six feet seven inches to 19 feet.

The sixth cannon is five feet one inch in length and many attempts by Maltese action groups have been made to return this one to Malta. This cannon is with a carriage bearing the arms of the Order of St John and Francisco Ximenes de Texada and is on display in the Tower of London.

Known as the "Ximenes cannon" it was looted with other treasure from the Order of St John at Malta by Napoleon and then seized by Captain E.J. Foote of the British frigate HMS Seahorse on June 27, 1798 from the French frigate La Sensible while en route to Toulon.

These relics, including the Ximenes cannon, were taken to England where they were put on display in the Tower of London. Most of the items were destroyed in a fire which gutted the Tower's storehouse in 1841.

Britain however has no obligation to return to Malta the Ximenes cannon or any of the other surviving relics captured from the French frigate La Sensible. When these items were seized from the French they became "spoils of war".

In regard to Mr Muscat's query on the return of La Vallette's sword and poniard which were placed in the Louvre Museum in Paris about 1840, it would have to be a gesture on behalf of France if they agreed to return them. It would be interesting to know why some people consider Malta has a claim on these two relics when it is known that La Vallette's sword and poniard were the property of the Order of St John.