OHAF. XV. 
CHARACTER OF THE YOUNG PRINCE. 
431 
when there was a conspiracy among his own adherents to 
destroy his most formidable and determined enemies, he 
peremptorily forbade anything of the kind on his behalf; 
and at length, not being certain that this prohibition would 
restrain his followers, he actually went himself and personally 
informed his rivals of the threatened danger, and thus saved 
their lives. 
But while thus humane and just, the prince is neither weak 
nor cowardly. His affection for his mother appeared to be 
strong and faithful, and his loyalty equally so. And though 
not insensible to the miseries of the people, but, on the con¬ 
trary, feeling deeply the calamities produced by the measures 
of the government administered in her name, he more than 
once said that, in the event of any danger, he would be the 
first to die in defence of his mother. And yet it is said he 
allows no suitable occasion to pass without counselling a 
mild and equitable rule. His keen sense of the injustice 
of the severities and cruelties inflicted upon the Christians 
contributed in all probability to induce the prince to be¬ 
come their friend; and when ultimately repudiating the 
claims of the idols of his country, he identified himself with 
the Christians, though thereby imperilling his prospects of 
the crown, and subsequently, when he is said to have re¬ 
monstrated against all open persecution, whatever the conse¬ 
quences to himself might be, he evinced a degree of moral 
courage not always associated with the gentle demeanour and 
humane disposition which he has so uniformly manifested. 
It is the attribute of Hod alone to see the end from the 
beginning; but whatever may be the future of Rakotond 
Radama, he has been one of the greatest blessings to his own 
country in the important crisis through which it is now 
passing, occupying a position somewhat analogous to that 
of our own Edward VI., at the dawn of the Reformation, but 
with even sounder principles and greater charity; for while 
