217 
but he told them they ought to sue for pardon 
rather than peace, and he should continue in their 
province to give them time to come to a determi¬ 
nation. 
While the army remained here, which was pro¬ 
tracted till June, the long expected despatches arrived 
from France, after a delay of two and a half years. 
By the first letters the governor opened, he had the 
satisfaction of learning, that the Sirenne had been 
sent with ammunition, provisions, and money, for the 
purposes of trade, and that larger supplies might 
be expected at the end of the year. He now 
began to hope, that the distresses and privations of 
the colony were at an end, and that he should soon 
be in a capacity to pursue his plans for its establish¬ 
ment on a solid footing. But what were his feelings, 
when, on opening subsequent despatches, he found 
that the Sirenne had been wrecked to the south of 
Fort Dauphin, and every thing was lost! while on 
the other hand, a private letter from the French 
minister, informed him that he must confine his 
operations to the “ preservation of the posts already 
established, as his Majesty had not fully determined 
to have a colony at Madagascar.” Confounded at 
this intelligence, he instantly called a council of his 
officers, to consult with them as to the steps necessary 
to be taken. 
After a long consultation, they were unanimously 
of opinion, that it was expedient instantly to suspend 
the military operations against the Seclaves, and re- 
