284 
MADAGASCAR. 
The advances of the great western nation 
into the eastern world, with its coinage, its ideas 
of progress, its manufactures, and its successful 
competition in the open markets with the long- 
famed productions of Lancashire looms, are facts 
which give weight to the conviction of a gradual 
confederation of nations, and afford ground for 
hope that the time will come when universal 
interests will dominate and direct the policy of 
all civilised communities. In this extension of 
the peaceful and civilising operations of legiti¬ 
mate commerce, we see the partial solution of 
the problem of vainglorious and unjust wars, and 
of ruthless invasions of territory and unjust op¬ 
pression of the inferior races. 
It is to be regretted, however, that England, 
so long the great commercial centre of the world, 
should appear to be obliged to give place to 
another power, even though it be a federation 
worthy of that honour and respect with which 
every Englishman must regard the United States 
of America. “ There is a great deal of human 
nature in people,” even English people; and 
this prospect will scarcely be pleasant to the 
majority of my readers, especially amongst the 
industrial and toiling classes of the north. 
It is impossible to treat of the history and 
present condition and future prospects of Mada¬ 
gascar, without bearing testimony to the remark- 
