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this romantic story was invented with the concurrence 
of the count, that he might thereby gain over to his 
interest the native chiefs, and render himself indepen¬ 
dent of the French government, who, indeed, seemed 
disposed to let the colony sink, is uncertain. Far, 
however, from attempting to undeceive her, he con¬ 
firmed the fact, or rather fiction, and told Susanna he 
had particular reasons for keeping the affair of his 
birth a secret; but that she was at liberty to acquaint 
any of her confidential friends with it. From this pe¬ 
riod there is not a doubt but that he formed a design 
to establish a regular government in Madagascar, 
upon liberal principles; and it will be seen in the 
sequel, that this design was not wholly a visionary 
one. He appears to have studied the character of 
the people with great attention; and he saw plainly 
that such a circumstance as that we have related, 
would not fail to work upon their sensibilities, and 
cause them to rally round him if necessary : having, 
therefore, confirmed the report, he left it for a more 
favourable opportunity, to take the full advantage it 
was calculated to afford him. 
A war being on the point of breaking out between 
Hyavi, the chief of Foule Point, and the Betalimenes 
and Fariavas, the governor was requested by the 
latter to go and mediate between them. He accord¬ 
ingly set out with two officers and six hundred Sam- 
barive warriors, which number was augmented, before 
he reached the place of destination, to nearly six 
thousand. Upon his arrival, he learned that Hyavi 
