srs VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xiv. 



King William IV. reigned in England, and he was friendly 

 to her majesty's country, as her own ambassadors who had 

 visited his majesty could testify; and that now Queen Victoria, 

 the present ruler of England, did not change in regard to 

 INIadagascar, but was her majesty's friend, and the friend of 

 the government and people of Madagascar. 



"VNTien this was interpreted, the queen spoke to her orator, 

 who replied that her majesty knew that the English did not 

 change, or were not uncertain in their friendship, and that 

 neither did she, the Queen of Madagascar, change in her 

 friendship; that she cherished friendship towards England, 

 the government of England, and towards Queen Victoria, and 

 desired ever to do so. 



I replied, I was sure it would be gratifying to the English 

 to know this, for England desired to be friendly with all 

 nations, and considered peace, and friendship, and commercial 

 intercourse amongst nations the best means of promoting the 

 happiness of all. I said that the Right Hon. the Earl of 

 Clarendon, Queen Victoria's chief minister for all arrange- 

 ments with foreign nations, having heard that I was about to 

 visit Madagascar, had desired me to tell her majesty, and her 

 majesty's government, that the English government never 

 had entertained any other than the most friendly intentions 

 towards JNIadagascar ; that the government of Queen Victoria 

 cherished no other wishes or intentions now ; and that if her 

 majesty had heard any report to the contrary, such report 

 was altogether unfounded. I added, that it was stated in a 

 letter which the Right Hon. the Earl of Clarendon directed 

 to be written to me before I left England, " that the govern- 

 ment of her majesty the Queen of England are most anxious 

 for the welfare and prosperity of Madagascar ; and desire to 

 maintain the most amicable relations with the queen; but 

 they have no claim, and no intention, to interfere with the 

 internal affairs of the island." 



