HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
363 
by special subscription, articles used in the schools, and 
the support of native teachers, so as to relieve the funds of 
the London Missionary Society. The measure appearing 
eligible, a plan was drawn out, and the king’s patronage 
solicited. After some delay, this was procured. Officers 
were then chosen, and subscriptions entered into. The 
statement of the object and the regulations were translated 
into Malagasy, and a deputation was appointed to ascer¬ 
tain what amount of assistance might be expected from the 
king. Their object, however, did not receive his sanction at 
first; but this was afterwards given to the proposed plan, 
on condition that two of his officers should be allowed to 
attend all the meetings of the Society. 
The donations for this object amounted to one hundred 
and sixty-five dollars, and the subscriptions to one hundred 
and thirty-seven, besides the loan of one hundred pounds for 
the benefit of the Society, by James Hastie, Esq. who lent this 
sum without interest. To the above was added, soon after¬ 
wards, a donation of fifty dollars from his majesty, and the offer 
of ground on which to erect premises for the Society. 
The rules of the institution were such as appeared 
best adapted to the existing necessities of the people, 
for whose advantage a library was provided, to which it 
was agreed that natives of Madagascar should be admitted 
at the recommendation of the members. 
An eligible site having been chosen for the erection of 
premises for the Society, at the north end of the town, and 
near the chapel, an application was made on the subject to 
his majesty. Full explanations were laid before him, and 
he at length consented to make a grant of the land, and to 
allow his convicts to prepare the ground for the building ; 
stipulating, that in the event of the Society ceasing to exist, 
he should have the first refusal of the property, at the 
