Hastings
masked
A facemask is placed around the
mouth of the burial monument
to Lord Hastings – a sign of the
pervading reality of COVID-19 in
Malta.
The monument was placed in
honour of Francis, Marquis of
Hastings, by his family at what is
now known as Hastings Gardens,
in Valletta. Hastings was appoint-
ed governor of Malta in 1824 but
died at sea off Naples two years
later aboard HMS Revenge while
attempting to return home with
his wife. She returned his body
to Malta, and following his earlier
directions, cut off his right hand
and preserved it, to be buried
with her when she died. His body
was then laid to rest in a large
marble sarcophagus in Hastings
Gardens, Valletta. His hand was
eventually interred, clasped with
hers, in the family vault at Lou-
doun Kirk.
The garden offers views of Flori-
ana, Msida, Sliema, and Manoel
Island.
14
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 JANUARY 2021
EYEWITNESS
PHOTO BY JAMES BIANCHI
