179 
induced them to relinquish an undertaking, which, 
considering the opposition of the neighbouring chiefs, 
would in all probability require large supplies to sup¬ 
port. 
After the return of Monsieur Maudave to Europe, 
the French government made another proposal 
on the subject of establishing a colony at Mada¬ 
gascar, to Count Benyowsky, a Polish nobleman of 
distinction. As the history of this celebrated indi¬ 
vidual caused a considerable stir in this country, and, 
indeed, throughout Europe, at the period of which we 
are writing, and is in some measure necessary to throw 
light upon the subsequent transactions, we shall pre¬ 
sent the reader with a short account of his life, as 
extracted from a letter written by himself to the go¬ 
vernor of the Isle of France. 
Count Benyowsky, otherwise Baron d’Aladar, was 
born in Hungary, of an illustrious family, and served 
as a general in the armies of the Empress of Russia. 
His father was of the house of Aladar XIII., and 
his mother was descended from the family of the 
Counts of Rerary. 
After the death of the King of Poland, in 1 765, he 
went to Warsaw, to support the interest of the suc¬ 
cessor to the crown of Poland, whose kingdom was 
about to be invaded. He had not been there long 
before an order was issued by Prince Repnin, the 
Russian minister, for his arrest, which obliged him 
to decamp, and remain incognito till a turn should 
take place in public affairs. Shortly after, the general 
iv 2 
