162 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the return of the heir-apparent, and his brother, to King 
Radama, after an education at Mauritius, founded on the 
best principles of humanity, and the first rules of good 
government, will not fail to crown his excellency’s endea¬ 
vours towards that main object, with complete success. 
“Should your health permit, you will accompany the 
princes to the king of Ovah : and as you are already in 
possession of his excellency’s instructions to Captain Le 
Sage on the last mission, it will be unnecessary to give 
you any particular orders on the general objects of useful 
inquiry or observation. 
“Mr. Hastie, who has been the preceptor of the princes, 
was first brought to his excellency’s notice by his distin¬ 
guished zeal, activity, and intrepidity, in saving the govern¬ 
ment house at Port Louis, on the 25th of September last, 
from destruction by the flames, which had already com¬ 
municated to the roof, and which were extinguished only 
by his exertion at the peril of his life; he was, in conse¬ 
quence, recommended home for a commission in his ma¬ 
jesty’s army, which he has every reason to expect shortly 
from the justice and liberality of his royal highness the 
Commander-in-Chief. His merits in conducting the edu¬ 
cation of the young princes have been most exemplary. 
He is, therefore, entirely to be depended upon, and the 
information he has acquired from his early habits of inter¬ 
course with the Ovah princes, chiefs, and followers, may 
be highly useful to the mission. It is, therefore, his 
excellency’s desire that he may be considered next in rank 
to yourself at Madagascar, and treated with all that con¬ 
sideration to which he is so justly entitled. 
“ Should ill health, or any other accident, prevent your 
fulfilling the present mission yourself, the whole of the 
instructions, rules, and documents relative thereto, are to 
