S2 
those countries which may be fairly ob- 
tained from the native proprietors, as con- 
taining within themselves all the means 
necessary to a most extensive and profit- 
able traffic. But as they are situated in 
the neighbourhood of one of the largest 
and finest islands in the world, the African 
colonies become invaluable. It is, perhaps, 
unnecessary to observe that I mean the 
Island of Madagascar. This country, 
which is nearly 1,000 miles in length from 
north to south, and something more than 
300 in breadth, is situated not 350 miles 
from the S. E. coast of Africa, and abounds 
in cattle, corn, fish, fowl, and all those 
animals and vegetables found on the con- 
tinent. Now, sir, what a scene is here 
displayed to the genius and commercial 
spirit of the English ! If they retain the 
Cape of Good Hope, and its dependencies, 
they in fact command the Island of Ma- 
dagascar ; and that a most extensive com- 
merce may arise from the joint co-opera- 
tion of the two countries, under the con- 
trol of a liberal and enlightened govern- 
