440 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and, therefore, they forbid us to entertain despondency. Never 
have I observed, so much as now, the great effect already produced 
by the gospel here. Conversation among the natives on the sub¬ 
ject of religion is frequent, and the preached gospel reaches, with 
an impressive force, the consciences of some of the people. There 
is certainly no inducement for us to slacken in our exertions, but, 
on the contrary, to labour while it is called to-day. We have 
under our superintendence, not fewer than two thousand, five hun¬ 
dred children, and, with this charge, it behoves us to feel our per¬ 
sonal responsibility. ‘ Whatsover thy hand findeth to do, do it 
with all thy might . 7 77 
It was under these circumstances that Mr. Jones, the senior 
Missionary, the pioneer of missionary labour in Madagascar, 
felt himself necessitated, by long-continued illness, to seek, 
in a return for a season to his native land, the restoration 
of health, which had been greatly impaired by the influence 
of the climate, and the hardships and trials connected with 
the establishment of the Mission. On his taking leave, 
the deepest regret was manifested by the Missionaries, 
several members of the government, and many of the people. 
From the queen he received a letter, testifying her high 
sense of his character, and the value of his labours, and 
giving him permission, should his health permit, to return, 
and pursue the great objects of his Mission. Several 
marks of respect were given by the government to Mr. 
Jones, on his leaving the country. A salute was fired when 
he set out from the capital; and besides the letter from the 
queen, a guard of twenty men accompanied him to the 
coast. He left the capital on the 23d of June, reached 
Mauritius in safety,'and in the month of March of the 
following year, proceeded to England, where he arrived 
with his family in improved health, on the 29th of June, 
1831. 
