HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
447 
the occasion above referred to, is given. It was addressed 
to Mr. Johns, and is dated May 80th, 1831. 
“ May you, Sir, live long, and never be ill, saith your son R—. 
This is what I have to say to you, viz. :■—That I rejoiced much 
when I heard the word of the queen, (the permission to be baptized, 
&c.) so that the way is now free to receive baptism, and to comme¬ 
morate the death of Christ. I am truly very glad to find there is 
nothing now to prevent or hinder any at all who has examined and 
tried himself: therefore, it is my wish to be a partaker of these. I de¬ 
vote myself, both soul and body, to Jesus, that I may serve him in 
all things, according to his will; and I pray to God, in this giving 
myself to Jesus, to assist me by his Holy Spirit, that I may love 
Jesus with all my heart, with all my spirit, with all my strength, 
and that I may not be made to stand any longer in doubt by any 
thing whatsoever. Having thus given myself up to Jesus, both soul 
and body, I now ask permission of you to join the church, and 
unite in commemorating the death of Jesus j and that I may also 
join you to sing and to praise, and to give glory to God as long as 
I shall live. And now, after this, pray for me unto God, that I may 
be assisted to fulfil what I have said, and serve Jesus faithfully 
all my days here on earth. I myself pray unto God to assist me 
by his Holy Spirit to fulfil my vows, that I may serve J esus even 
until I die, 
“ Saith R— 
The attention of the people, to the subjects urged upon 
their consideration by the Missionaries, which had been in¬ 
creasing during the whole of the year, appeared to be 
greatly promoted by the first administration of baptism, 
and the formation of a Christian Church. Numbers ex¬ 
pressed their desire to unite with the Christians, by pub¬ 
licly professing their faith in the Saviour; and much of the 
time of the Missionaries was now occupied in convers¬ 
ing with inquirers, and instructing more fully those who 
were seeking to be numbered among the people of God. 
Special times were appointed for meeting with those who 
