HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
467 
All ordinary occupations were suspended, and the public 
attention completely engrossed by the efforts of the govern¬ 
ment to prepare against the expected invasion. It was 
proposed to add 25,000 men to the forces already enrolled; 
and for this purpose, every one in the schools, both pupils 
and teachers, upwards of thirteen years of age, was drafted 
into the army. It was also expected that the remaining 
junior classes would also be taken in the next reinforcement 
that might be ordered; and this proceeding, as might be 
expected, rendered the parents more unwilling than ever 
to send their children to the schools under the patronage 
of the government. 
To prevent their being drawn into the army, many oi 
their parents resorted to the plan of purchasing slaves, and 
sending them to school as substitutes for their own children; 
by which means their own children escaped when the army 
was reinforced from the schools, and it was supposed that 
this was one cause of the order forbidding the instruction 
of slaves, for the order was not so rigidly enforced as some 
had been. 
Shortly after the report of the arrival of a French expe¬ 
dition at Bourbon, an emissary from the court of Rome 
landed at Tamatave, bearing, as he stated, propositions for 
the introduction of the Romish faith among the people. 
The ecclesiastic represented himself as Count Henry de 
Solage, vicar apostolic. He had been to India and New 
South Wales, and stated that he was charged with special 
communication from Charles the Tenth, king of France, 
and the pope. He wished to proceed to the capital, but 
was detained by Prince Corroller on the coast, until the 
pleasure of the queen could be known; and letters announ¬ 
cing his arrival were sent up to the capital. In the mean 
time he persisted in going towards the capital, and after 
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