THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. 
281 
had to deal with men who were in every sense of 
the word Englishmen and men of integrity, who 
were as true in their friendship to these humble 
allies of Great Britain as they were loyal to their 
sovereign and the trust committed to them. 
In the various philanthropic societies of Eng¬ 
land and the Continent, too, the Malagasy have 
found excellent and unswerving friends, who 
have sent them help both in money and men 
and material to assist their own efforts, and to 
put them in the path which makes for honour 
and prosperity. 
The patience and learning displayed by the 
various members of the organisations which have 
been established at the capital at the invitation of 
the Government in the compilation of grammars 
and dictionaries, and in bringing the language 
into shape and proper scientific form, are worthy 
of all commendation. Nor can one nation happily 
claim the great honour entirely on its own ac¬ 
count, for French, English, German, and Nor¬ 
wegian, as well as American scholars of no mean 
linguistical attainments, have all contributed to 
bring the literature and language of the country 
to their present state of perfection. 
The state of the currency must sooner or later 
receive the attention of the native authorities. 
The present system of employing cut dollars as 
the medium of exchange for business purposes is 
