HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
89 
persons to instruct the natives in the various arts of civil 
life. This proposal met with the decided disapproba¬ 
tion of the council, on account of the danger he would 
incur in going to France ; and it was long before he was 
able to convince them of the importance of the object, and 
of the advantages that would result from the voyage in 
respect to the future commerce of the island, and the 
introduction of the arts and manufactures. At length they 
consented, and in full kabary delegated to him the power 
of concluding treaties of commerce and friendship, and of 
engaging skilful artisans and manufacturers to come and 
settle on the island: a regular document to this effect was 
drawn up, and signed in the name of the nation, by the 
three kings present, Rafangoro, Hyavi, and Lamboin. 
After having taken every precaution against confusion 
or disturbance amongst the people he left behind, the 
Count took his leave of the chiefs, who accompanied him 
to the sea-shore, where he embarked on board the brig 
La Belle Arthur, which he had freighted to convey him to 
the Cape of Good Hope. 
Little remains on record of the Count’s subsequent his¬ 
tory; most of the documents relating to it having been 
destroyed. On his arrival in France, it is known that 
he had a long and violent altercation with that government; 
at the close of which, however, he so far gained his point, 
as to obtain swords for his conduct during his government 
of Madagascar: the injustice of the authorities in the 
Isle of France was also held up to the general and justly 
deserved execration of Europe. While in France his cause 
was ably advocated by the celebrated Dr. Franklin: but 
the French minister had resolved not to have any further 
transactions with him; he therefore entered into the 
service of his Imperial majesty, to whom he made pro- 
