HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
239 
in the same language he had so often used to Radama, 
earnestly entreating them to consider the welfare of their 
country, to abandon private momentary interest, and to agree 
to the terms proposed. 
In the afternoon of this day, a vast multitude were as¬ 
sembled around the palace, when Mr. Jones attended as on 
the former occasion. The king appeared weak and fatigued, 
probably from the unusual claims upon his attention which 
the great point in question presented, and the anxious 
solicitude with which he had pressed the subject upon his 
counsellors, not only through many hours of each day, but 
also through great part of the night. He had sent round 
to collect the principal chiefs of the districts, and even the 
father of his mother was not forgotten in this great national 
assembly. 
In addressing Mr. Hastie, he said that he had now given 
the subject his mature consideration; that his people were 
ignorant, and that nothing less than a covenant to instruct 
them would induce him to comply with the proposed terms. 
Mr. Hastie then stated that he was authorized to take some 
of his subjects to the Mauritius for this purpose, and that 
the government would send him some good artificers with 
their tools, to facilitate the improvement of his people. 
He said several of his people wished to visit England, and 
requested that he might be permitted, at the expense of the 
English government, to send people there for instruction, 
but particularly some of his ministers, to visit the king of 
England, and ascertain if that monarch was really inclined 
to observe the proposed treaty. This, however, Mr. Hastie 
refused to promise, reminding the king, that when the 
governor, in 1817, had offered to take some of his people 
with him to England, the offer had been refused, and that 
now the government might not have any proper escort for such 
