a vessel for Surat which had called there on her way from France. With his family and a few friends he embarked, and, when about to depart, the attention. of those on board the vessel was attracted by signals of distress from the shore. The long-boat was immediately placed in the water, and reached the shore in time to save a few who had escaped being massacred by the natives. It appears that the French were surprised in their church, outside of the walls of the fort, and there, while performing midnight mass, they were nearly all massacred, a catastrophe which was the effect of the hostility of the native priests, or idol-keepers, engendered by the inconsiderate zeal of Father Etienne, which had already cost him his life, and ended in this tragedy, A.D. 1672. After this signal failure of the two Companies formed by France for the possession of Madagascar, it will not be surprising to hear that for a long time the Government of France did not look favourably on any project for attaining an object which Richelieu had pointed out as the means of commanding the Indian Ocean and the trade of the East; and for which Colbert, with his accustomed sagacity and resources, it is stated, had been able to raise fifteen millions sterling to carry out, and afterwards to support with a subsidy of ten millions. Nearly a hundred years elapsed after the sad catastrophe at Fort Dauphin before France was again induced to make an attempt on the possession of this Queen of the Indian Ocean. In 1746 we find that the Great Mahé de la Bourdonnais visited Madagascar; and that, subsequent to that visit-viz., in 1750-the Island of St. Mary, on the East Coast of Madagascar, which was always looked upon by the French East India Company with the desire of acquisition, was ceded to Louis XV. and the French Company of the Indies; but this cession led to no important results. Perhaps in no part of the world has France, notorious for her failures in colonising, met with such reverses as in her endeavours to establish a colony in Madagascar. Already we have seen arms, money, and priests fail in making a permanent impression on the natives of this island. War they have ever met with defiance and incendiarism; three times since the landing of Pronis in 1642 was Fort Dauphin reduced to ashes, and as often rebuilt. Treachery on the part of the French begot the undying hate which the Madagascar people bear them to this day; and dearly has France paid in her own blood for the negroes reduced to slavery by the infamous conduct of Pronis. In 1768 a distinguished officer, M. de Maudave, was sent to take command of Fort Dauphin by the Ministry of the Duc de Praslin. All other measures having failed, those of conciliation, which should have been used from the first, were now adopted. His instructions were to renew, and constantly to maintain, the most friendly relations with the natives; to hold a fort in their territory with their tacit consent; and, on no account, to risk hostilities with them. This rational mode of gaining a footing in the country was carried out in a most praiseworthy manner by M. de Maudave, and so convinced was he of ultimate success, that he proposed to the Government of France a feasible means of strengthening his position by entering into agricultural pursuits; and, for this purpose, obtained from the natives the cession of a portion of the coast, about nine or ten leagues in length, which was situated on the banks of the river Fanzahère. Here he endeavoured to form a settlement; but, unsupported by France, without any means, and entirely neglected by the Government, he was forced to abandon his project, and quitted the colony in 1769. France, engaged in the American War of Independence, found but little leisure to embark in either commercial or military operations in Madagascar. 25 CHAPTER IV. The French Government authorise Benyowski to form a Settlement in Antongil Bay - Autobiography of Count Mauritius Augustus de Benyowski - Banished to Kamschatka-The Russian Governor-Aphanasia Nilow-Conspiracy to seize the Government of the Colony and escape to the Marian Islands The Red Ribbon-Corporal, with four Grenadiers, are seized-Panic of the Garrison-Splitting the Governor's Skull-Embassy of a Woman and Drummer to the Cossacks— The Archbishop preaches in favour of Revolution—Seizure of the Corvette-Escape of Benyowski-Arrival in France— Appointed to the Government of the French Settlements in Madagascar-Jealousy of the French Officials at the Isle of Arrival at Antongil Bay-Success with the Natives-Turpitude of M. Poivre, Governor of the Isle of France-Benyowski is elected King of Madagascar-Account of the Ceremony-Proceeds to Europe and AmericaBenjamin Franklin-Benyowski returns to Madagascar-Invasion of the French-Death of Benyowski. France MADAGASCAR UNDER BENYOWSKI. A.D. 1773. IN 1773, Maurice de Benyowski received from the French Government authority to establish a settlement in Antongil Bay. During his government the French establishments on the East Coast of Madagascar assumed a strength and appearance of permanency which, at one time, almost realised the dream of Richelieu, and gave to France not only possession of the Queen of the Indian Ocean, but also, by its resources for shipbuilding and provisioning the neighbouring colonies of Bourbon and Mauritius, enabled France to dispute the Empire of the East. To understand the benefits conferred on Madagascar by Benyowski, it will be necessary somewhat to enter into the career of this wonderful man; we therefore subjoin the following account of him, which has been derived principally from his Autobiography. Count Mauritius Augustus de Benyowski, one of the magnates of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Poland, was born in the year 1741, at Verbona, the hereditary lordship of his family, situated in Nittria, in Hungary. In early life the Count had taken an active part in the political affairs of his own country, and, falling under the displeasure of the - Russian Government, was banished to Kamschatka, where he arrived on the 3rd of December, 1770, being then twenty-nine years of age. The pains and perils to which the Count and his companions in exile were subjected, were borne for some time in murmuring sufferance, until the accidental discovery of an old copy of Anson's Voyages inspired them with an idea of making their escape from Kamschatka to the Marian Islands. The Count and some of his companions formed a confederacy for this purpose. While these transactions were secretly passing, the fame and abilities of Count Benyowski reached the ears of the Russian Governor, M. Nilow; and, as |