VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 325 



fence, the French continued to advance in 

 gopd order. When the commanding officer 

 thought that he was at a proper diftance 

 from the enemy, he ordered them to return 

 Bcnyowfki's fire^ This fingle volley proved 

 decifive: Benyowfki received a wound in the 

 breaft with a ball, which put an end to hia 

 exiftence, at the moment when he was juft 

 applying a match to a cannon loaded with 

 grape -fhot. Luckily the priming did not 

 catch fire : had this cannon been difcharged, 

 it would certainly have occafioned great dif- 

 order among the French ; and might have, 

 perhaps, caufed their expedition to mifcarry. 

 They were in a fit nation where it was ne- 

 cefiary for them either to conquer or perifli ; 

 they were deprived of every means of being 

 fupported ; all communication with the 

 coaft was cut off ; and they were inclofed 

 in fuch a manner, that it would have been 

 impoffible for them to regain their vefTeU 

 y 3 Imme- 



