the first translation into maltese of a biblical text, the gospel of st. john, was published in 1822 (trans. ġużeppi marija cannolo), on the initiative of the bible society in malta. the first maltese language newspaper, "l-arlekkin jew kawlata ingliża u maltija" "(the harlequin, or a mix of english and maltese)" appeared in 1839, and featured the poems "l-imħabba u fantasija" "(love and fantasy)" and "sunett" "(a sonnett)".