HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
381 
confidence to his advice. The numerous instances in which 
he visited the sick, and relieved the distressed in Madagascar, 
afford decisive proofs of his kindness and generosity. It is 
scarcely necessary to add, that they tended to raise him in 
the estimation of the natives, whose temper, genius, and 
character he studied, with honour to himself, and advantage 
to his mission. 
While these circumstances exhibit in a favourable light 
the character of the British agent, they also demonstrate 
the sound policy of the enlightened governor of the Mauri¬ 
tius, Sir Robert Farquhar, by whom Mr. Hastie was 
appointed to his office, and whose liberal views, with regard 
to Madagascar, induced him to afford that effectual aid to 
the agent, without which his exertions must have been 
comparatively few and feeble. 
The widow of Mr. Hastie is at present in this country, 
superintending the education of his only child, for which 
purpose a pension is allowed by the British government. 
The following, is a copy of the letter sent by Radama 
to Sir Robert Farquhar, announcing the melancholy event 
of Mr. Hastie’s death. 
“ Tananarive, 23d October, 1826. 
“ Sir, 
“ I have the honour to do the painful and lamentable duty 
of informing you, that James Hastie, Esq., the enlightened and 
faithful agent of the British Government at my Court for several 
years, is now no more. He expired on the 18th inst., at one 
o’clock, p. m., after having been very ill for a long time. By his 
wise counsels, and promptitude always to assist the needy and 
distressed, he not only attached myself to him more and more 
every year, but also my people, who lament his loss, as a friend 
and a father, who could conduct himself in such a manner as to 
attract the affections of persons of every rank among my subjects. 
