HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
377 
As a mark of consideration for his meritorious services, 
his excellency the governor recommended him to the British 
government, for a commission in the army, and, in the mean 
time, he was appointed to be preceptor to the two Malagasy 
princes who had arrived at Mauritius for instruction. Mr. 
Hastie was subsequently directed to accompany them on 
their return to Madagascar, where, as has been already 
stated, he was appointed assistant agent to Mr. Pye. 
His faithful services in this capacity have already been 
described. It remains only to add the testimony of those 
who knew him well, to the general tendency of his trans¬ 
actions with Radama, and his influence in the court of that 
king. 
Seven years actively employed in the service of Mada¬ 
gascar, and two in a state of uneasy suspense and mortifi - 
cation respecting it, at Mauritius, may justly be deemed 
sufficient to entitle Mr. Hastie to the character of a faithful 
agent to his government, and a steady friend and benefactor 
to Madagascar. Few men could perhaps be found more 
alive than he was, to the honour of his own country and 
government, more anxious to sustain its dignity in the eye 
of foreigners, or more zealous in the pursuit of those objects 
which he knew his government supported in its connexion 
with the island of Madagascar. Few men, it may also be 
said, have been able to obtain greater success in their 
measures—measures calmly deliberated upon, and arranged, 
and then steadily and perseveringly pursued. In all that 
related to the extinction of the slave traffic in Madagascar, 
to the formation of a well-ordered native army on the 
European model, as the great means of securing the ascen¬ 
dancy of Radama, and to the introduction of many valuable 
European arts and sciences, adapted to the wants and 
condition of the island, Mr. Hastie was indefatigable in his 
