HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
91 
de la Croix, to destroy the settlement, and with it, if possible, 
the Count. Copland relates that he has seen a statement 
declaring that the French ministry sent out a frigate with 
orders to secure him, alive or dead. The Louisa arrived at 
Foule Point on the 7th of May, 1786, having on board a 
detachment of sixty men, of the regiment of Pondicherry, 
under the orders of M. Locher, a captain of infantry. 
After procuring what provisions they wanted, the Louisa 
proceeded along the coast of Angontzy; and having moored 
the vessel about half a league from the shore, they sent two 
boats, well manned, with two pieces of cannon on the bows 
of each, in order to effect a landing. When this was done, 
they marched immediately towards Benyowsky’s settlement. 
After crossing five marshes, they heard the people at work 
at the settlement, and soon after saw a red flag, which is the 
common signal for battle in the island. Benyowsky had at 
this time retired to the fort with two Europeans, and about 
thirty natives who happened to be with him at the time. 
The fort was situated on an eminence, surrounded by strong 
palisades, and defended by two four-pounders and a few 
swivels. These were played off against the French, who, 
however, continued to advance, and, when they had got 
sufficiently near, were ordered to return the fire. The first 
discharge proved decisive. Benyowsky received a ball in 
the breast, and fell behind the parapet. He was barba¬ 
rously dragged forward by his hair, and expired in a few 
moments. 
Such were the conflicting opinions existing at the time 
in which he lived, in relation to the character and actions 
of this extraordinary man, that no conclusions can now be 
justly formed respecting his real merits. The friends of 
Benyowsky have represented him as possessing bravery, 
prudence, resolution, perseverance, humanity, penetration, 
