THE CORONATION OF RAN AVALON A III. 257 
they can, a rough kind of Gatling or mitrailleuse, which 
is considered a serviceable article by Colonel Willough¬ 
by, who is now installed as military adviser to the 
Government. Only the other day he and the prime 
minister were out testing the powers of this new 
instrument of destruction. Whether it will be practi¬ 
cable to make it really effective in the field remains to 
be seen. 
“ The Vice-Consul has been honoured with a banquet, 
at which representatives from various classes of British 
subjects were present. Everything passed off very 
pleasantly, and many good wishes for the prosperity of 
England and Madagascar were expressed. At the 
public reception which had been previously given him 
by the Queen, her Majesty, speaking through her Prime 
Minister, used these words—‘ I am very pleased that my 
friend Victoria, Queen of England, has appointed you 
to be Vice-Consul here in Antananarivo, and I greatly 
rejoice at seeing the representative of Great Britain 
coming to dwell in my capital, for that shows to us 
again the amity and good friendship there is between 
the two kingdoms.’ 
“As one result of the coming of the Vice-Consul, 
the Association of Eoreign Besidents, which was formed 
when danger appeared to be imminent, ceased to exist. 
It held its last meeting yesterday in the lecture-hall of 
the London Missionary Society’s College, and decreed 
its own dissolution, in consequence of our now being 
under the official protection of her British Majesty’s 
representative. 
“ The sixth monthly meeting of the Congregational 
Churches in Imerina has just been held, and was as 
crowded as ever with pastors, deacons, and delegates 
R 
