25th.-Weather delightful and wind fair; the island of Bourbon was distinctly seen at the distance of about forty miles, at 4 o'clock P. M.

26th.-Wind and weather favourable. On going upon deck immediately after dinner, about half after 4 o'clock, La Virginie, (formerly the Wizard,) a regular trader between the Mauritius and Madagascar, was seen at three or four miles distance. We bore towards her, and soon afterwards our Captain ordered a gun to be fired as a signal that she should lie-to, with which she immediately complied, and stood towards us. We now bore directly down upon her, and being very anxious to hear the news from Madagascar, I accompanied the Agent in the gig, and we boarded her. After some enquiries addressed to the Captain, Mr. Lyall asked if Mr. Campbell was still at Tamatave, to which he replied, "There he is, at your side."

Having held a conversation with that gentleman, it was deemed of importance, for political purposes, that he should return with us to Madagascar, and accordingly Mr. Lyall made the proposition to him. To this he consented, upon the ground of public duty, and on the Agent granting him a letter to his Excellency the Governor, taking the responsibility of the measure upon himself. In a short time we reached the Erin, and Mr. Campbell, with two domestics belonging to the mission, followed, and got on board just as it became dark, and we proceeded immediately on the voyage.

27th.-Pleasant weather and good sailing. Afraid of approaching too near the land in the night, the Erin lay-to some hours.

28th. About 7 o'clock A. M. the land was distinctly perceived, and soon afterwards the Isle of Prunes and Point of Tamatave were easily distinguished.

When within a few miles of the shore, I was delighted with the fine appearance of the country-hills rising behind hills in beautiful amphitheatre-and could not avoid contrasting the charming aspect of nature with the mortal fever of the climate.

At 10 o'clock, we anchored in the roads of Tamatave. The Agent having written a letter to his Majesty, Radama, I was dispatched, habited in my best uniform, with it to the King. Of my trip on shore I made the following report.

Having reached Government House, I found the Governor of Tamatave (Mr. Robin†) rising from bed, who received me in his shirt and trowsers. Having taken the letter for his Majesty, he informed me that he had gone a short distance into the country to make an appeal, according to custom, to some of his people upon the coast, and he desired me to wait a short time, when I should receive an answer, as he would forward the letter immediately by a courier, which he accordingly did in my presence.

Lieutenant of the 82nd Regiment, appointed by his Excellency Sir G. L. Cole, (since the death of Mr. Hastie,) as ad-interim Agent at Madagascar.

+We suppose that it is usual for the higher persons at Madagascar to assume English names for, besides this Mr. Robin, we find, farther on, a Mr. Philibert, and a Mr. Corroller, holding high offices.

Mr. Robin then politely asked me to sit down, and ordered English beer to be presented, of which I heartily partook, as the day was very warm and I very thirsty. He having previously sent for a Mr. Redington, an Englishman, and a resident of Tamatave, to act as interpreter, wrote upon half a sheet of paper his name, rank, and titles, and laid it before me; by these means I was early made to know that he was Grand Maréchal of Madagascar, Commander-in-chief of the Forces, General and private Secretary of his Majesty, Radama, Governor of Tamatave, &c. &c. &c. He next made numerous enquiries respecting Mr. Lyall's character, all of which I answered to the best of my judgment. He then stated, that King Radama was very partial to men of good understanding and general acquirements; that having heard very good accounts of Mr. Lyall, he had anxiously anticipated his arrival ever since he knew of his appointment, and that his Majesty was now very desirous to see him.

The Governor spoke very indifferently of the late Agent, but I could plainly perceive that the Governor did not like him, and that he evidently spoke under the influence of personal feelings; and I learned afterwards, that both H. M. and Mr. Robin had treated Mr. Campbell with indignity.

Previous to my going on shore, I was ordered to ask for horses at whatever time King Radama should fix upon to receive the Agent.On mentioning this circumstance to the Governor, he immediately replied, that horses would have been sent though they had not been asked for; and besides added, that if Mr. Lyall, or any of the gentlemen on board, wished to take a ride this afternoon, as many horses as they required could be ready at half an hour's notice.

In a couple of hours the messenger returned from his Majesty, with a note to the Governor, who then wrote a letter to the Agent.

I returned to the ship, and Mr. Lyall sent his compliments and thanks to the Governor, and requested him to be so good as order four horses to be in readiness at 4 o'clock.

A little before the above hour, Mr. Lyall, accompanied by the Captain, Mr. Campbell, and myself, went on shore, but the horses not being quite ready, Mr. Robin asked the party into his house. The Agent entered and I accompanied him, when a general conversation followed, and an offer was made, on the part of the King, and also of the Governor, to do every thing in their power to make our sejour comfortable and agreeable. He more especially added, that Mr. Lyall had only to let him know how many horses he required, and he should have them at all times; remarking that four excellent ones, completely caparisoned in the English style, were in readiness. We left Mr. Robin, and the party mounted and rode for about an hour and a half; during which time we made a visit to the tomb of the late Mr. Cole*, which is situated upon a gentle eminence behind the battery, and about the eighth part of a mile from it, and on the border of a small wood, that appears to form the cemetery for persons of distinction. A number of tombs were remarked in the neighbourhood, but none of

Formerly a captain in the army, who accompanied Mr. Campbell to Madagascar on a separate mission, and not meeting with the reception he had anticipated, it is reported that he took it so much to heart, as to be the chief instigator of his death.

them equal to Mr. Cole's, except one of the former commandants of Tamatave who was murdered at Ivondrow.

I was happy to see that the Malagashes, as well as most other barbarous countries, seemed to do homage to the dead; and it is but justice to the memory of Mr. Cole to add, that both king and peasant spoke well of him.

29th.-Having heard a great many reports at Mauritius, and also numerous details of affairs from the late agent, which gave every one an idea that the British government had already done too much for King Radama, and that the sycophants, by whom he was said to be surrounded, by their fulsome praises, well-timed flattery, and detestable deceit, had actually made the King forget himself, the Agent therefore determined to make our landing in Madagascar as imposing as possible, well aware that parade and show-gold and silver-brilliant uniforms and gaudy colours, generally speaking, have a great effect, particularly over the opinions of savages and semi-barbarians, and bearing in mind how much depends upon first impressions; it happened very fortunately that I had expended a little extra upon my uniform, and Mr. Lyall no small sum, which enabled him to appear in a very respectable manner at the court of Radama.

Having also learned that his Majesty now assumed a haughty, independent, and authoritative tone and demeanour-that he imagined himself the greatest monarch upon earth-that he seemed quite intoxicated with his power at home, and his renown abroad, and that he had treated the British envoys, Mr. Campbell, and the late Mr. Cole, with much indifference, neglect, and indignity, the Agent had taken the resolution, from the moment of our arrival, to act with great caution, dignity, and independence, but at the same time with every becoming deference and politeness.

It is here necessary to observe, that the last resolution was much strengthened on hearing from the late Agent, that he had formerly sat on the king's right hand at dinner; but, since Mr. Robin's elevation, he had put him upon his left, and yielded his place to the Grand Maréchal.

It was also very fortunate that, through his Excellency Sir Lowry Cole's goodness, the Agent had been enabled to keep to his resolution of not proceeding to Madagascar in a merchant vessel; as no doubt such a step, merely on account of the appearance, would have lowered him in the eyes of the King and his grandees.

Having made these preliminary remarks, I shall now endeavour to detail the proceedings of the day.

Being dressed in our best uniforms, the Agent's is allowed to be handsome and mine very gaudy, we got into the gig, and were pulled astern of the Erin; during our progress toward the shore, a salute was fired from the Erin, which was returned from the battery.

Mr. Robin in his best uniform, which, though gaudy with gold lace, certainly is not that of a Grand Maréchal, and mounted upon a brown charger, was at the shore ready to receive the Agent; we proceeded towards the Battery, or temporary residence of King Radama, at Tamatave, of which I shall here give a short description, in order that the ceremonies that took place may be better understood.

The Battery occupies a large square of ground, upon a slight elevation, nearly at the N.W. end of Tamatave, and is furnished with a few cannon. It is surrounded by high, strong palisades, forming a complete square, and has a door in the centre of each side, at all of which sentinels are stationed. At a few yards distance from the palisade is a square of buildings, of various magnitudes, and all detached from each other; the principal edifice, fronting the chief gate, is the dwelling of Prince Rataffe, (who was in England,) brother-in-law of the King, and commandant of Tamatave, while the rest form magazines, store-houses, stables, dwellings for attendants, &c. The Battery is always given up to the King, during his residence at Tamatave; though the principal building, or palace, only contains three apartments, none of which are very large; yet being well arranged for parade as well as comfort, and being very clean, the residence is by no means despicable. Besides, in one corner of the square, towards the shore, there is a small tower elevated for the king, and neatly furnished, where he passes his time when the weather is very hot, and transacts his private affairs. But to return to the business of the day. When within a short distance of the Battery, a messenger having informed the Governor that the troops were not completely in order for the ceremony, he asked the Agent, as well as myself, to enter his house for a few minutes. As soon as we were seated, Mr. Robin having informed the Agent (previously) that he had wines, ale, porter, &e. desired him to say what he would drink; being in a profuse perspiration, from the heat of the weather, and a warm uniform, each of us cheerfully accepted some beer, and had scarcely drank, when two of his Majesty's officers arrived, and informed Mr. Robin that the King was now waiting to receive the Agent. We immediately mounted our horses, and soon reached the Battery.

Having entered on horseback, about five hundred troops, all in English uniform, and drawn up around the square, presented arms, and the band struck up God save the King. We descended from our horses, and were conducted across the square toward the house already described, where the King awaited Mr. Lyall, and by the time we arrived there his Majesty was at the door ready to receive us. Mr. Robin presented the Agent to King Radama, who immediately shook hands with him very cordially indeed. Mr. Lyall now presented me to his Majesty, with whom he also shook hands in the same manner.

Agreeably to the custom of the country on a first presentation, we each left a piece of money in his hand, saying, "A tribute of respect to your Majesty."

The King then entered the chief apartment, approached his seat, and made a sign to Mr. Lyall to take the chair on his right hand, which he immediately accepted. Mr. Robin was seated on the left of the King; Mr. Corroller, late Governor of Tamatave, now General, Secretary-in-Chief, and Aide-de-Camp to Radama, was placed on the Agent's right; I myself on the left of the Grand Maréchal. Prince Rataffe, Mr. Phillibert (the Grand Judge), and about twenty of the King's officers, were also present, who stood for some time around the room, and then, by a signal from his Majesty, beseated themselves.

Mr. Lyall now rose and delivered a letter of introduction from his Excellency Sir G. L. Cole, to his Majesty, besides some other letters;

several volumes respecting his travels in Russia, all elegantly bound, which excited Radama's minute attention; a machine for spinning silk, which was sent by Col. Stavely; a letter, and a splendid Bible, from the Treasurer of the Missionary Society; a Circassian arrow, a Tartar whip, &c. With the whip the King was greatly amused. He kept it a long time in his hand, shewing it now and then to his officers, and laughing heartily at its broad flap, which makes a noise upon the horse's sides.

A long conversation was kept up with his Majesty, who appeared quite able to continue it. He talked of King George IV., the state of England, Sir R. T. Farquhar, Sir G. L. Cole, our voyage, and of Mr. Lyall's intention of going immediately to Tananarivon, from which the King powerfully dissuaded him, because the bad season had already commenced, and he feared we might catch the fever; at the same time he added, "If you wish to go, I do not mean, in any way, by what I have said, to prevent you; but I give it as my advice, that you should return to the Mauritius, and I shall await your arrival with impatience next June."

To his Majesty's advice, who consulted some of his officers in our presence on the subject, Mr. Lyall bowed assent, and it was in my opinion conscientiously given; for nearly every person in Tamatave said that we should be risking our lives by advancing into the interior, and even added, that now the coast was dangerous, and that we ought to leave it as soon as possible.

*

Mr. Lyall then informed the King that he had also brought with him about twenty volumes of the newest and best books on military tactics; and that Mr. M- was capable, if his Majesty desired it, to instruct his troops in the new manœuvres, according to the work of Sir Henry Torrens. To this his Majesty immediately replied, that he felt greatly indebted to the British Government for their kindness in selecting Mr. M, and also to Mr. Lyall for having brought the books; and then added, that as his soldiers were but half civilized, and had with much pains and patience become pretty expert in the exercises, agreeably to the old, or Dundas's, Regulations, if he attempted any change, the chance was they would be confounded, and would not perform their exercises well, according to one system or the other. At the same time he said, that hereafter he might be induced to have some recruits trained according to the new system, but that he would be better able to judge when he had seen the new movements performed.

The conversation having turned upon uniforms, Mr. Lyall said he was sorry to learn that the magnificent coat lately sent from England to his Majesty was by far too large. The King replied, "Yes, too large, too wide, too big every way-it is like a sack, but certainly it is a handsome, a superb one." He then asked if we would wish to see it, to which the Agent replied in the affirmative, if it was his Majesty's pleasure. Begging to be excused for a moment, the King withdrew into an adjoining apartment, and in a couple of minutes appeared in his beautiful scarlet and superbly embroidered coat, which was found, as he had described, by far too large. His Majesty laughed heartily at himself, and said, that the people in England must imagine him to be * The writer.-ED.