494 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
u We have received your letter brought to us by the officers of the 
palace, and we are happy to find that the disposition we have 
manifested in your country, and in teaching good disposition and 
wisdom, has been acceptable to you. 
“ Nevertheless, we are exceedingly grieved respecting your word, 
which says, Religious worship is not to be performed by your 
subjects. For we know and are assured, that the Word of God is 
beneficial to men, and the means of making them wise, whoever 
they may be, and that it renders illustrious and prosperous those 
kingdoms which obey it. And this teaching of ours, the Word of 
God, together with teaching the good disposition, and the arts and 
sciences, are the purposes for which we left our native country. 
“ We, therefore, must humbly and earnestly entreat of your 
majesty not to suppress our teaching the Word of God, but that 
we may still have the means of teaching it together with the 
useful arts and sciences. 
“ And with regard to your word, saying we are not allowed to 
purchase land ;* we have heard the message, and submit to it; and 
we will not purchase land—for you, Madam, are the sovereign of 
the country. 
“ May you attain to a happy old age ; and we pray to God to 
bless you: may you long live, and may your kingdom prosper, 
say we Europeans. 
(Signed) “ Johns, Freeman. 
Chick, Cameron. 
Kitching, Baker.” 
To this letter of the Missionaries an answer was sent by 
two chief officers of her majesty, repeating the substance 
of the former message, and stating that no change in the 
customs of their ancestors could be allowed to any natives 
of the country. 
Orders had been issued for a general assembly of the 
people at the capital. All residing within sixty or seventy 
miles were required to attend; and, on Sabbath-day, the 
* This simply refers to a notice addressed to all Europeans on that 
subject. It is merely a repetition of an old law to the same effect. 
