53 ° 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
instructions; nor was it long before they were confirmed in these sentiments, as 
the agents, thinking themselves fixed in their situation, sought for a pretext to 
quarrel with the Governor Malartic, and even went so far as to threaten to have 
him hanged. They were likewise so imprudent as to menace, in the same manner, 
M. des Crozilles, the member of the Colonial Assembly, who had demanded that 
their instructions should be laid before them. 
July 20th. The agents reviewed the national guard of the port, and were 
astonished to find it about four thousand strong. In short, they were received 
with an appearance of mistrust, which became general. These fears were com¬ 
municated to the inhabitants of the interior parts, who, having conferred together, 
came armed to the town. 
During these two days the Colonial Assembly, particularly charged with the 
safety of the colony, had established a committee of nine members, to correspond 
with the agents, and endeavour to obtain some information of their future inten¬ 
tions. 
The silence, in which they persisted, no longer left any doubt of their design of 
putting into execution the decree abolishing all slavery in the French colonies. 
The inhabitants therefore, being convinced of the imminent danger which threatened 
them, were influenced by one common determination to engage in the dismission 
of the agents; but as it was apprehended that the troops might support them, twenty 
young Creoles devoted themselves to the welfare of the colony, and vowed the death 
of these instruments of republican despotism. 
In this morning, of the 21st of July, almost all the inhabitants of the colony were 
assembled on the public place at the door of the government-house, where the 
agents continued to reside, although informed of the danger which threatened them. 
The Governor-general Malartic was taken from his government, and carried in 
triumph to the Colonial Assembly. The agents then ordered General Magalon, 
who came with them/to cause the troops to take arms against the inhabitants: this 
order the general excused himself from obeying, by declaring that as he was under 
the command of General Malartic, he could receive none which had not his signa¬ 
ture affixed to them. The agents in vain informed him that they deposed General 
Malartic, and appointed him as his successor. 
In the mean while some young Creoles entered the government-house, by the Win¬ 
dows, and announced to the agents that, being charged with orders that brought on 
