S78 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
OIIAP. X1Y 
King William IY. reigned in England, and he was friendly 
to her majesty’s country, as her own ambassadors who had 
visited his majesty could testify; and that now Queen Victoria, 
the present ruler of England, did not change in regard to 
Madagascar, but was her majesty’s friend, and the friend of 
the government and people of Madagascar. 
When this was interpreted, the queen spoke to her orator, 
who replied that her majesty knew that the English did not 
change, or were not uncertain in their friendship, and that 
neither did she, the Queen of Madagascar, change in her 
friendship; that she cherished friendship towards England, 
the government of England, and towards Queen Victoria, and 
desired ever to do so. 
I replied, I was sure it would be gratifying to the English 
to know this, for England desired to be friendly with all 
nations, and considered peace, and friendship, and commercial 
intercourse amongst nations the best means of promoting the 
happiness of all. I said that the Right Hon. the Earl of 
Clarendon, Queen Victoria’s chief minister for all arrange¬ 
ments with foreign nations, having heard that I was about to 
visit Madagascar, had desired me to tell her majesty, and her 
majesty’s government, that the English government never 
had entertained any other than the most friendly intentions 
towards Madagascar; that the government of Queen Victoria 
cherished no other wishes or intentions now; and that if her 
majesty had heard any report to the contrary, such report 
was altogether unfounded. I added, that it was stated in a 
letter which the Right Hon. the Earl of Clarendon directed 
to be written to me before I left England, “ that the govern¬ 
ment of her majesty the Queen of England are most anxious 
for the welfare and prosperity of Madagascar; and desire to 
maintain the most amicable relations with the queen; but 
they have no claim, and no intention, to interfere with the 
internal affairs of the island.” 
