HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
237 
thing favourable until he came to the breach on the part 
of the English government. He then paused, evidently 
incapable of expressing his sense of the injustice of what 
followed; and his eloquent silence had such an effect upon 
the assembly, that it appeared for the time to neutralize 
the impression of every good act and favourable intention 
which the English nation had manifested towards that 
country. Many voices were then heard speaking together, 
and in the confusion which followed, the king observed to 
Mr. Hastie, u You see I am inclined, but my people are 
not. Even he who is not possessed of either a slave or a 
dollar will be against me. I recollect hearing of the con¬ 
duct of the French nation to a late king !” 
Mr Hastie replied, that he was not sent to discuss the 
good of Madagascar with a man who had neither slave nor 
dollar; his mission was to a man who was responsible to 
Almighty God for his conduct. “ Did that great king your 
father,” asked Mr. Hastie, “ consult such persons as you 
have described, when that monarch did things never heard 
of in this country before ? or have you, Radama, consulted 
such persons in what you have done? I repeat again, 
that treaty, if you now avail yourself of the opportunity 
of ratifying and consolidating it, will be for the permanent 
welfare of this country.” 
“ I am very desirous, ’’said the king, “ of this alliance, but 
how am I to convince an ignorant people. No Englishmen 
come to enlighten them. You propose an alliance, and do 
not afford me the means of turning the attention of my 
subjects to your proposals?” 
Mr. Hastie replied, that so long as he permitted the 
slave-trade, no nation could countenance him, nor would 
any persons capable of instructing his people settle in the 
country, as civilized men would not be so mad as to risk 
