Missionaries are pushing on their moral conquests far into the heart of the sable kingdoms of the Interior. The result of these simultaneous exertions in so many opposite directions, has been to bring Africa more immediately under the fixed attention of the public, in an aspect widely different from that in which alone it had been customary to regard that devoted continent, as the mere nursery and mart of slaves. And should a line of intercourse with the interior, from any one of the points at which an entrance has been made good, be permanently maintained, it cannot fail to lead to the introduction of the civilizing arts, and eventually to the diffusion of that higher and better knowledge which can alone give effect to all plans of civilization.

The abolition of the slave-trade in the island of Madagascar, is, in every point of view, a most important and interesting event. Of all our allies, the only one who has fulfilled his engagements to abolish this infamous traffic, after all the negotiations, indemnifications, and subsidies which have been, employed in order to bribe the concurrence of their Most Christian, and Most Faithful, and most faithless majesties, the only one who has kept his word, is the half-savage sovereign of Madagascar, Radama, king of Ova. This extraordinary man, in the intelligent zeal he discovers for the civilization of his people, not less than in the good faith by which his conduct has been characterized, deserves to rank far above most of the sovereigns of civilized Europe. So strong possession has the idea of civilizing the Island, taken of his mind, that he has determined to make any sacrifice necessary to its accomplishment. He is described as about thirty years of age, of an affable and cheerful disposition, and of a strong, intelligent mind. In his intercourse with his subjects he is kind and familiar, and they almost adore him.' Bred up among savages, he had never been taught either by experience or by books, to appreciate the value of the benefits which he is so solicitous to extend to his subjects; and the large revenue which he derived from the slave-trade, rendered it in the highest degree improbable that he should readily consent to abandon it.. The attempt, moreover, was attended on his part by no small difficulty or danger. The trade had been so long established, and was so completely interwoven with the whole system of civil and military policy, that the chiefs, who derived the principal part of their revenues also, from that source, were determined to counteract the design. The first step towards accomplishing it, was the suppression of the annial attack on the island of Johanna and the Comoros. This took place in 1816, in consequence simply of the representa

tions of Governor Farquhar; but at that time Radama had not sufficient power to enforce the observance of another proclamation, commanding the abolition of the Trade itself. In the course of 1817 and 1818, upwards of seventeen hundred slaves had been transported from Madagascar to the Mauritius alone. The intercourse which Radama kept up with the British, was, however, the means of his becoming more and more convinced of the impolicy and iniquity of the trade. In the mean time, his power and influence continually increased; and when, in the year 1820, a fresh proposal of a treaty for the total abolition of the Slave-trade, was made by our Governor at the Mauritius, Radama found himself in a situation that enabled him to enforce a compliance with his proclamation.

Mr. Copland's narrative of the circumstances attending this important measure, extracted from the Missionary Accounts, though not entirely new to many of our readers, will be found extremely interesting. Mr. Hastie, who was appointed com missioner to undertake the management of the affair, sailed from the Mauritius in the beginning of September, having attached to his suite the Rev. Mr. Jones, a missionary who had previously visited the island. The deputation arrived at Tamatave on the 9th.

The chief of this place, named Jean René, was brother to the King of Ova, He received them in a very courteous manner; but informed them, that his brother was then engaged in a war against some of the southern chiefs, and that he himself was at war both in the north and south. The commissioner also learned, that both the natives and Europeans at Tamatave, who were interested in the slave-trade, were resolved to do all in their power to prevent his proceeding to the interior, and thus, if possible, to frustrate the design of his embassy.

The scene which presented itself at Tamatave and the neighbourhood, was of the most heart-rending description. Two slave vessels had just made up their cargoes, and sailed a few days after the arrival of the British; but there were a great number of slave-dealers waiting the arri val of more victims, who were expected from the interior, the fruits of the wars which then prevailed. Mr. Hastie despatched a messenger to the king of Ova, informing him of his arrival, having previously learned that his majesty had returned victorious to his capital

On their journey to Tananarive, the capital, the mission met upwards of 1300 slaves, fettered and chained together, who were proceeding to the place of sale. An answer of the most favourable nature from the king, reached Mr. Hastie at a town in their route, which led across numerous rivers and mountains, and by many large and strongly fortified towns and villages, to Tananarive, where they arrived after a journey of three weeks, having travelled about two hundred and seventy miles. Here Vol. XVII. N.S.

the embassy was met by two native princes, who had been at the Mauritius to be educated under Mr. Hastie's superinten dence. The king's secretary' came soon after to inform the commissioner, that his majesty rejoiced exceedingly at his arri val, and to appoint the hour for his presentation. The account of the interview has a little too much of the magnificent thrown into it, by means of the terms, royal palace,' court yard, &c. which transport us to St. James's, rather than to the donac of an African chief. But the courtesy and good-will of Radama did not evaporate in empty ceremony. Several conferences were held with his majesty, during successive days, on the subfect of the treaty, without any thing decisive being agreed on. At length, at a second meeting of the grand cabar, which the king had convened for the purpose of ascertaining the sentiments of his subjects, and to which both Mr. Hastie and Mr. Jones were invited, the king told them, that he had maturely considered what had been said on the subject, but repeated, what he had urged before, that his people must first be instructed, in order to enable them to have a clear idea of the advantages of the treaty; and he requested permission to send some of them to England for that purpose. Mr. Hastie promised that every means should be adopted for promoting the instruction of his people, and adverting to the object of Mr. Jones's mission, judiciously pointed out what had been effected in the South-Sea Islands, where, through the agency of a few missionaries, idolatry had been abolished, Christianity em braced, wars put a stop to, and the arts of civil life introduced. This representation is stated to have made a strong impression on the mind of Radama. On the following day, he sent a letter to Mr. Hastie, addressed to Governor Farquhar, în which he stated his anxiety to conclude the proposed treaty, but required that he should be allowed to send some of his people to the Mauritius and to England, and that artificers should be sent to Madagascar. This led to further conferences, in which it was Mr. Hastie's object to avoid committing himself, without further instructions, by any specific stipulation. But the king was firm, and on the 11th of October, he transmitted to the commissioner his final determination; namely, that the treaty should be signed that day, and the former proclamation abolishing the Slave-trade, republished, provided Mr. Hastie would agree to take twenty of his subjects for instruction; ten to proceed to the Mauritius, and ten to England. Mr. Hastie hesitated, but only for a moment. He was exceeding the au thority with which he was invested; but, after consulting with Mr. Jones, he declared his determination to agree to Radama's proposal, even if he should be obliged to take upon himself the

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expenses of the ten Madegasse youths who were to be sent to England The treaty was accordingly agreed on, a cabar convened, the proclamation issued, and despatches forwarded to the different districts, to put an entire stop to the selling of slaves for exportation. Thousands of natives were assembled round the palace, awaiting, in anxious suspense, the determi nation of the conference. As soon as the happy result was announced, and the British flag hoisted in union with that of Madagascar, a burst of transport,' says the Narrator, the spontaneous tribute of a grateful and feeling people to their monarch for the gift of liberty, shook the palace, and overpowered the thunder of the cannon which were firing on the hill. The slaves who had been conveyed to the coast, were, on the promulgation of the treaty, sent back into the interior, to be employed in husbandry and domestic services; and such," it is added, was the vigilance of the officers appointed to superintend the observance of the proclamation, that not a slave was sold or sent out of the country, and the European slave-dealers were constrained to retire confounded and dismayed at their disappointment.'

A few days after, the selection took place of the young persons to be sent to England and the Mauritius for education. A great competition ensued as to whose children should have the king's permission to go, it being considered a very high honour. Such was the eagerness manifested, that one person said he would give three thousand dollars for permission to send his child. "Well," said the king, "give me fifteen hundred and he shall go." After a little hesitation, the man answered he would give that sum. "Well," rejoined the king," as you are in earnest, and sincere in your request, he shall go for nothing." The selection was made from amongst the children of the richest and most respectable people in the capital. Princes Rataffe and Endrian Semisate, brothers-in-law to Radama, were deputed to conduct these youths to their destination; the former to England, and the latter to the Mauritius.

The Madegasse youths who accompanied Prince Rataffe to this country, are at present under the care of the British and Foreign School Society. When they have completed their education, they are to be placed under proper masters, to be instructed in various trades and manufactures. Immediately after the affair of the Slave-trade had been disposed of, Mr. Jones, the nature of whose mission had been previously explained by Mr. Hastie, was admitted to a conference with the king. Radama assured him, that he had nothing so much at heart as the instruction of his people, and requested him to inform the Directors of the Missionary Society, that his pro

tection and support should be extended to any missionaries they might think proper to send. S

Help me," said he, " to enlighten and civilize my subjects, and also assured Mr. Hastie, that this alone was the basis of the treaty just concluded. "Had money," said she," been the object, I would never have agreed to it; but I will now support the plan with all my might."

In August last, the Directors of the Missionary Society seat out the Rev. Mr. Jefferies in the quality of missionary, with four other persons as mechanics. Mr. Jones also continues to reside at the court of Radama, and has sixteen children, placed under his care by the king, for the purpose of receiving an English education, among whom is the heir apparent. The British Government, with a liberality that does them honour, have declined interfering with the views and proceedings of the Missionary Society. It is greatly to the credit of Radama, that while he is perfectly willing that his subjects should be instructed in the Christian religion, and declares that he has himself no faith in the superstitions of his country, he is pe culiarly anxious that no violence should be offered to the religious prejudices of his people, and has no idea of exerting his royal authority to compel them to become converted. Un der these favourable circumstances has Christianity obtained an introduction into this vast island, one of the largest in the world, having the patronage of the king and his nobles, not," remarks the Writer, as a matter of court policy, as is too fre quently the case in polished nations, but in the honest simplicity and sincerity of their hearts, because they are convinced of its superiority over, their present, system of res ligion.' dh tuiteated: lans What effect the example of Radama may have on other African states, it is impossible to say. To have annihilated one depôt of slaves, and to have proved the practicability of abolishing the traffic by the introduction of civilization, are great points gained. One of the first results of the efforts of the Missionaries will be, we may reasonably presume, the cessation of in-e fanticide, which has hitherto prevailed, under the direction of their magicians, or astrologers, to a horrid extent; the fate of the new-born infant being determined by the aspect of the planets or some other omen, or by the lucky or unlucky character of the month or day of the month, on which it is born. The superstitions of the Madagasses are, in many respects, peculiar. Their religion appears to be a sort of mongrel Mohammedanism, either derived from the Arabs with whom they have

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