236 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
fare of his country, and to let no past act prevent his 
availing himself of the means of protecting his people, now 
that the king of England offered him the means of doing 
so. 6 ‘ Recollect,” said Mr. Hastie in conclusion, 6i you are 
now trading with a few renegadoes—I am sent here to 
offer you the alliance of a powerful monarch, and amity 
with the nation that rules the sea.” 
Shortly after this conversation, the king met his coun¬ 
sellors in public, and the British agent was requested to 
appear before the assembly, and explain the nature of his 
mission. Mr. Hastie begged permission for Mr. Jones also 
to be present; for though he had no concern in political 
affairs, the government agent was desirous of obtaining his 
concurrence in all that might transpire; and the king 
evincing great pleasure in the proposition, Mr. Jones was 
accordingly requested to be present. On his arrival, Mr. 
Hastie commenced with describing the disinterested con¬ 
duct of the British government, in seeking an alliance with 
Radama; the advantages he had derived, and would in 
future derive, from that alliance; and the evils that would 
ensue, should he refuse to cement a friendship thus begun, 
by pursuing a traffic disgraceful and inhuman, and which 
was carried on only in his country—a country that naturally 
possessed such other resources, as with the amity proposed 
would render the monarch powerful, his people happy, and 
would make his name live for ever. 
This was minutely explained to the assembly by the 
king in such a manner, as clearly shewed he intended the 
arguments should carry conviction to the hearts of his 
people. His ministers, however, murmured amongst them¬ 
selves ; but he desired them to speak—and Rafaralahy, the 
most powerful chief, repeated the history of the commence¬ 
ment of the alliance, and the treaty of 1817, detailing every 
