С НА Р. ISLE DE is Fort Louis, which is well fortified. According to an enumeration, in 1776, the Ifle de Bourbon contained 6340 whites, and 26,175 black flaves, chiefly employed in agri- FRANCE. culture. The population of the Isle de France then amounted to pretty nearly the fame numbers of whites and blacks respectively. Population. 273. The productions of these two islands are much the Spices. fame. But I have great reason to believe, that a very material improvement has, by this time, taken firm root in both. For, during my stay at Paris, in 1787, I was informed that M. Ceré procured from Ceylon, and planted in the Ifle de France, of which he was governor, 3000 cinnamon trees, and 10,416 clove trees, 18 of which laft foon advanced in growth; alfo 18 nutmeg trees, 10 of which have fince produced 1088 fine nutmegs, so ripe that the wind shook them down. From these plants, 60 others have been produced, befides 20 which were partly diftributed in the Island, and partly fent to the neighbouring Island of Bourbon, and to Cayenne, in S. America. In 1784 there were in the nursery 124 more young plants, of which 20 were ready to be sent abroad. In June 1785, 10 young trees, in the Ifle de France, yielded 800 nutmegs, and 9 others had about 500 far advanced. The fame year 24 were sent to Bourbon and 260 were planted in the nursery.-In 1786, the Dutch, in the true spirit of monopoly (see § 112 note) sent a vagabond to the Isle de France, to destroy' these plantations, by corrupting the nursery men. But prudence, or rather cunning, is not always combined with villainy. The plot was timely difcovered, and doubtless heads, and 5 fhillings for those of monkeys. A friend of mine tells me he once received, in behalf of a black watchman, 15 fhillings cur. for rat's heads. X. CHA P. would have drawn a deserved punishment on the fellow who was charged with it's execution, if he had not made his escape. It is no wonder, however, that the Dutch are jealous of their monopoly of spices; for, when I received the foregoing information, I was affured that their trade in thefe articles brings them in 18,000,000 of livres Tournois, or about £750,000 fter. annually. MADAGAS CAR. Former flou rishing eftablishments there. Colony attempted in 1767. 274. "The French," fays the compiler of the Atlas maritimus et commercialis*, "have carried the discoveries in Madagascar to the highest perfection, both on the coaft and in the inland parts. The following brief account, by one of their governors, feems the best yet published."-" Our people have had a fettlement on this island, ever since 1622, and we have now, not only a peaceable poffeffion, but feveral well fortified houfes, on the coaft, and flourishing plantations within the land. Our principal ftrength is at the southernmost point of the caft fide of the island, called Fort Dauphin, with a good garrifon. It is fituated in lat. 25° 6' S. We have fince reduced a confiderable part of the island, the natives being, at peace with us, and very much pleased with our religion alfa; fa that feveral of them are converted to the Chriftian faith." 275. About the year 1654, the chief feat of their power was transferred from Fort Dauphin to the Ifle de France and Bourbon. But they have ftill retained poffeffion of the former; and have made feveral attempts to extend, or to regain, their acquifitions in Madagascar. In 1767, a colony was attempted on that island, under M. de Maudave. Printed, London 1728. " But "But it was foon perceived that this enterprize was 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 falfe principles, is far from being improbable; and, from the minister's own words, juft quoted, we may fafely infer that it was given up from false œconomy. We fhall make this inference with the more confidence, when we confider 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 Benyowfky, 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 fure that I fhould infert them; rather wifhing to ftimulate than to gratify the reader's curiosity, relative to that interesting piece of biography, the Memoirs of the Count de Benyowsky, tranflated from the Count's own MSS. and from authentic, official documents, chiefly by the editor, the learned and ingenious Mr. Nicholfon. CHAP. X. MADAGAS CAR. Benyorky's noble enter prize, in 1772 277. I must therefore content myself with stating a few Is not proprincipal facts, relative to this extraordinary enterprize. In perly fitted * See the letter from the French minifter 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 fketch is chiefly compiled. out. X. L MADAGASCAR CHA P. 1772, 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 fuccess, in an undertaking of national magnitude, than to inspire the Count with confidence in the fair minifterial promises he received, of ample future fupport. In the mean time, the ministry, 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. Oppofed by the government and merchants of the Ifle de France. Lands at laft in Madagas car. 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 appear 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 intend ant, I fhall not prefume 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 adverse to the views of the Count. 279. After great delay, and a tardinefs fcarcely diftinguishable from the most infulting oppofition, and which, in the fervants of an arbitrary government, feems unaccount able X. able on any supposition favourable to the French ministry, 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 goo effective, in the Bay of Antongil, on the 300 N. E. coaft of Madagascar. 280. Before the 5th of September, the Count had constructed all the necessary 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 fuperior to those with which, as we shall hereafter fee, 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 seems 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 same number of their men, to make a road towards Angontzi, 63. English miles in length. MADAGAS CAR. Builds fort road. and makes Distributes digs a canal. lands and Oppofed by fome chiefs, fupported by 282. Among his other difficulties, the Count unfortunate ly had to ftruggle with the hoftility of fome of the chiefs. Their jealoufy of independence, was originally excited by others. that |