ciiAr. XV, CHARACTER OF THE YOUNG PRINCE. 431 



when there was a conspiracy among his o^vn adherents to 

 destroy his most formidable and determined enemies, he 

 peremptorily forbade anything of the kind on his behalf; 

 and at length, not being certain that this prohibition would 

 restrain his followers, he actually went himself and personally 

 informed his rivals of the threatened danger, and thus saved 

 their lives. 



But while thus humane and just, the prince is neither weak 

 nor cowardly. His affection for his mother appeared to be 

 strong and faithful, and his loyalty equally so. -And though 

 not insensible to the miseries of the people, but, on the con- 

 trary, feeling deeply the calamities produced by the measures 

 of the government administered in her name, he more than 

 once said that, in the event of any danger, he would be the 

 first to die in defence of his mother. And yet it is said he 

 allows no suitable occasion to pass without counselling a 

 mild and equitable rule. His keen sense of the injustice 

 of the severities and cruelties inflicted upon the Christians 

 contributed in all probability to induce the prince to be- 

 come their friend; and when ultimately repudiating the 

 claims of the idols of his country, he identified himself with 

 the Christians, though thereby imperilling his prosjDCcts of 

 the crown, and subsequently, when he is said to have re- 

 monstrated against all open persecution, whatever the conse- 

 quences to himself might be, he evinced a degi-ee of moral 

 courage not always associated with the gentle demeanour and 

 humane disposition which he has so uniformly manifested. 



It is the attribute of God alone to see the end from the 

 beginning ; but whatever may be the future of Eakotond 

 Eadama, he has been one of the greatest blessings to his own 

 country in the important crisis through which it is now 

 passing, occupying a position somewhat analogous to that 

 of our own Edward VI., at the dawn of the Eeformation, but 

 with even sounder principles and greater charity ; for while 



