HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
525 
in consequence of an edict of the queen of Madagascar, 
no native could profess Christianity, her majesty, addressing 
herself to the members of the embassy, said, “ T ell the 
queen of Madagascar from me, that she can do nothing so 
beneficial for her country as to receive the Christian 
religion.” 
On the 19th of March 1837, having had their final in¬ 
terview with his majesty’s government, and received a written 
communication for their sovereign, the embassy sailed for 
Calais, on their way to Paris; after concluding the nego¬ 
tiations with the French government, they embarked for 
Madagascar, and arrived at Tamatave in the month of 
September following. Hence they proceeded to the capital. 
It is reported that the embassy was not so successful 
with the British government as had been expected; strong 
disapprobation was said to have been expressed at the 
extreme barbarity shewn in the wanton and treacherous 
sacrifice of human life by the queen’s forces; and the 
residence of a British agent, for the protection of British 
interests, was required as a preliminary to any engagement 
on the part of England with the existing government of 
Imerina. 
This result could not be agreeable to the parties by whom 
the embassy had been sent, and the dissatisfaction it would 
produce was probably increased by the success with which 
Andriansolo, the chief of the northern Sakalavas, had resisted 
the attempts of the Hovas to reduce to submission that 
part of the island. Andriansolo, whose name has been 
mentioned more than once in the foregoing pages, is an 
extraordinary and intelligent man. Finding himself unable 
to resist the numerous and well-appointed forces which 
Radama in person, accompanied by Mr. Hastie, led against 
