108 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
those Americans, who, having lost every thing by the revo¬ 
lution, are now dependent on our government, who might 
distribute lands amongst them, with the means of convey¬ 
ance, and temporary existence there. 
“ Many of the inhabitants of the Isle of France and 
Bourbon, who do not understand their true interests, 
imagine, that if France undertake to colonize Madagascar, 
it will interfere with their property; and that all the 
interest of the government, arising from their intercourse 
with the Indian colonies, being concentrated on a spot 
which would stand in need of all its protection, the other 
isles would be absolutely neglected. These alarms are 
unfounded; for the government can never have a more 
direct interest in protecting the Mauritius and Bourbon, 
than when, having a more important colony in their neigh¬ 
bourhood, they may fear that an enemy will annoy 
them in the possession of the principal by seizing the 
environs. Besides, the Isle of France can be considered 
only as a military post, and Bourbon as its magazine. If 
France have no other possessions in India, if she deter¬ 
mine not to invade Madagascar, and if her Asiatic com¬ 
merce must remain upon the same footing as at present, 
she ought immediately to abandon two burdensome isles, 
which are not worth the expense of governing, and of the 
protection they demand, only as they may serve alternately 
for posts and defence.” 
The attention of the French government was not long 
occupied by plans for colonizing Madagascar. The war 
broke out in Europe with greater violence than ever; and 
notwithstanding all her success at home, instead of in¬ 
creasing the number of her dependencies, France beheld 
her colonies fall, one after another, into the hands of her 
persevering rival. It was, however, long before Great Bri- 
