3 67 
that the monks forced upon them. This, however, is not 
christianizing; and we much question whether the French 
priests ever effected the conversion of one Madegasse: 
for if they had, the effects would be seen to this day. 
Christianity is, indeed, like leaven, and when once intro¬ 
duced in its purity, has the power of the Almighty himself 
for its protection, and his Holy Spirit for its teacher: and 
if one native of Madagascar had ever felt the truth of the 
gospel on his heart, he could not have remained satisfied 
without communicating it to his countrymen. 
And after the French had done with the Madegasses 
as subjects, or rather, when the latter had done with the 
former as masters, the case was, if possible, rendered still 
worse:—then came the slave-trade to blast the morals of 
the natives and the character of Europeans. War then 
assumed a new and a more detestable feature amongst the 
former; for instead of being prosecuted to save their lives , 
they were continually incited to gratify their avarice—a 
passion which, till that unfortunate era, was scarcely known 
by them: and Europeans were continually to be seen 
plotting together, to excite the poor heathens to mutual 
revenge; that they might thereby gain fresh victims to 
satisfy the Western Moloch ! 
Now, let the reader glance his eye over the transactions 
of the last ten years of the history of this people, and 
say which is the system that is best calculated to benefit 
the Madegasses ? As soon as British influence was esta¬ 
blished, its beneficial effect began to be felt; and although 
we have a high opinion of the discernment of the Made¬ 
gasses, yet it is no great proof of it that they soon be¬ 
came attached to our countrymen. Instead of plotting 
for their destruction, the %orthy agents of the British 
government have been laying the most judicious plans for 
their emancipation and civilization ; the accomplishment of 
their wishes has been already detailed, and the manly and 
humane manner in which the whole proceeding has been 
