X. MADAGAS CAR. "But it was foon perceived that this enterprize was CHA P. founded on false principles; and it was abandoned, from the impoffibility of affording the advances of every kind, which M. de Maudave required for the new colonists*." That the enterprize was founded on false principles, is far from being improbable; and, from the minister's own words, juft quoted, we may safely infer that it was given up from false œconomy. We fhall make this inference with the more confidence, when we consider the feeble support given by the court of France to their next attempt to make an establishment on Madagascar. 276. The attempt alluded to was made in 1772, under the conduct of the Count de Benyowsky, a Polish nobleman who, whether we confider the vigour and capacity of his mind, or the astonishing variety and danger of his adventures, muft certainly be ranked among the most extraordinary characters that any age or nation has produced. My limits will not contain the minute particulars of the expedition, and, if they could, I am not sure that I fhould infert them; rather wifhing to ftimulate than to gratify the reader's curiofity, relative to that interesting piece of biography, the Memoirs of the Count de Benyowsky, translated from the Count's own MSS. and from authentic, official documents, chiefly by the editor, the learned and ingenious Mr. Nichol fon. Benyo/ky's noble enter prize, in 1772 277. I must therefore content myself with stating a few Is not pro principal facts, relative to this extraordinary enterprize. In perly fitted * See the letter from the French minister M. de Boynes, to Meff. De Ternay and Maillart, dated March 19, 1773, in "Memoirs and Travels of the Count de Benyowsky," 2 vols. 4to. from the text of which, together with the preface of the able editor, and the documents and vouchers annexed, this fhort sketch is chiefly compiled. out. CHA P. 1772, X. MADAGAS Oppafed by the government and merchants of the Ifle de France. Lands at laft in Madagaf car. the Count prevailed on the court of France to enter into his views; and he was accordingly placed at the head of the expedition, with a corps of 300 volunteers under his command. But his prefent fupplies of every kind were evidently lefs calculated to infure fuccefs, in an undertaking of national magnitude, than to inspire the Count with confidence in the fair minifterial promifes he received, of ample future fupport. In the mean time, the miniftry, thought proper to refer him to the government of the Isle of France, who were ordered to furnish him with fhips and provisions, and, in every respect, to co-operate with him in the undertaking. 278. In September 1773, the Count landed on the Isle of France, there to experience a fucceffion of the most mortifying disappointments. Whether he there betrayed any symptoms of that ambition which, though it does not ap pear to have been ill directed, was certainly an ingredient in his character; or whether, as feems far more probable, a vile spirit of intrigue, which, as I myself have experienced, was perfectly characteristic of the former French placemen, tinctured the characters of the governor and intendant,. I shall not presume to decide. Neither fhall I attempt to appreciate the degree of influence which the evident averfion of the jealous traders of the Isle of France to any establishment at Madagascar, had on the minds of the government of that colony. I fhall only mention the fimple fact, as established by the proofs before me, that they were, from the beginning, extremely adverfe to the views of the Count. 279. After great delay, and a tardinefs fcarcely distinguishable from the most infulting oppofition, and which, in the fervants of an arbitrary government, feems unaccount able X. MADAGAS able on any supposition favourable to the French miniftry, CHA P. the Count finally took leave of his dilatory coadjutors, on the 2d of February 1774; and, on the 14th, he arrived, with his troop, not 300 effective, in the Bay of Antongil, on the N. E. coast of Madagascar. CAR. and makes road. 280. Before the 5th of September, the Count had con- Builds fort structed all the neceffary works on the lands which he had purchased, including a refpectable fort and a road 6 French leagues (about 21 English miles) in length, and 24 feet in breadth. His means were certainly very flender, and, unaided by his addrefs among the natives, would have been quite inadequate. They were, however, greatly superior to those with which, as we shall hereafter see, Mr. Beaver lately performed fimilar wonders at Bulama. " 281. On the last mentioned day (September 5th 1774) he began to distribute grounds among his troops, for the commencement of a vigorous cultivation, on which he feems all along to have been intent. From the 14th to the 16th of February 1775, he was again employed in diftributing lands of a fuperior quality; for they naturally produced fugarcanes, cotton, indigo and tobacco. He had already found means to engage about. 6000 of the native blacks, whom he found both willing and expert labourers, to join the harbour with the neighbouring river, by a canal, above an English mile and a half in length, a work which they actually performed in four days; and, on the 9th of March, we find him agreeing with two chiefs, for about the fame number of their men, to make a road towards Angontzi, 63 English miles in length. . 282. Among his other difficulties, the Count unfortunate ly had to struggle with the hoftility of fome of the chiefs Their jealoufy of independence, was originally excited by that Distributes lands and digs a canal. Oppofed by fome chiefs, others. fupported by MADAGAS CAR. CHAP. that perfidy and tyranny, which, the Count officially ob X. ferves, ruined all the former French fettlements in this island; and which appears, on this occafion, to have been inflamed by emiffaries from the Isle of France. The Count, however, was not unprepared to meet his enemies. After various skirmishes, which he could not poffibly avoid, and in which his troops, or rather his allies, conducted by himself and his officers, were generally successful, we find him (April 2d 1775) at the head of 22,000 armed natives. An engagement seemed unavoidable, when the Count proposed a negociation, in which he fucceeded fo compleatly, that the adverse chiefs took the oath of friendship, and the day ended in feftivity.-On the 14th of October, he purchased from the King of the North, the Island of Noffebe on the N. E. coaft, in S. latitude 13° 15'.-November 21ft. Having yet received no effectual fupplies, and his remaining brave fellows being almost naked, he collected a number of the native women to fpin and weave cotton cloth; and having fucceeded in tanning leather, he fet his fhoe-makers and taylors to work, and, in a fhort time, compleatly cloathed his troop. On the 17th of November, the storekeeper died, leaving all his account-books blank. He was a man of bad character, appointed by the government of the Isle of France, with a view to difcredit and embarrass the undertaking.—With a fimilar intention, they fent the Count, on the 27th of December, only four recruits, and these were notorious vagabonds. Cloaths his troops in the country cloth Not fupported by the nistry. 283. On the 14th of March 1776, he had yet received no French mi- order whatever from France.-August 23d, he obferves that the island enjoyed perfect tranquillity; that the chiefs of the whole east coast were united to the establishment; that the weft was ready to join in the common intereft; that agri culture culture had every where been increased; and that nothing CHA P. but support was wanting to improve this happy juncture. X. MADAGAS CAR. The Count a Madagas 284. A circumstance must now be noticed, which explains, in a certain degree, the conduct of the French ministry, and which, with some, may serve to justify it.-An reported to aged negrefs, fifty years before, had been ftolen from be the fon of Madagascar, and fold as a flave in the Isle of France, to- car princess. gether with a princess of the royal family of Ramini, the greatest and the most ancient in Madagascar, and which, in this long interval, had become extinct. The Count brought back this negrefs to her native 'country; and, whether by his concurrence or not is uncertain, she reported that he was born by the princess-the son of her forrowful exile. The remembrance of beloved kings, and sympathy with the fuppofed offspring of their unfortunate princefs, were easily excited in the minds of a people naturally fufceptible of tender impreffions; and the chiefs, formerly' subject to the Ramini family, now wearied out with their diffentions, were ready to acknowledge the Count, as their Ampanfacabe, or fupreme chief.-Had this circumstance been known much earlier, the conduct not only of the Count, but of the French miniftry, and the government of the Ifle de France, would have been almost divested of mystery. It would then have been apparent, that the Count entertained an ambition, which might have called for the vigilance and direction of the other parties. But ftill it would not have been clear, that his ambition was of that mischievous kind which ought to be violently counteracted, far lefs totally repressed; for it really does not appear, that he had any views incompatible with the peace and happiness of mankind. 285. This extraordinary affair (if then first known to the Count |