King; and on Monday I trust we shall be en route for the capital, the King, I am credibly informed, anxiously awaiting our arrival.

I should have mentioned to your Excellency that no other mission has yet arrived at Madagascar, or gone up to the capital, though the two officers mentioned as being sent down have been sent for the purpose of doing honour to your mission, and to one expected from the French. I have, &c.

The Governor of Mauritius.

W. A. MIDDLETON.

(Inclosure 2.)-The King of Madagascar to the Governor of Mauritius. Antananarivo, October 20, 1861.

SIR,

I HAVE received your letter, dated 20th September, 1861.

I received it from the hands of Colonel Middleton and the other officers and gentlemen of the embassy. I am much obliged to you for the condolence you expressed on the demise of my royal mother. I am also much obliged to you for your cordial congratulation on my succession to the sovereignty of Madagascar.

I have further to inform you, that it is my very ardent wishes that a good feeling of friendship should always exist between me and Queen Victoria, and between my people and her people, so that trade and commerce may greatly increase, to the mutual advantages of both parties.

I have also a great desire for the improvement of my country, that trade, commerce, agriculture, and the arts and sciences may enlighten and prosper my people.

I and Her Majesty am very much obliged to, you for the handsome presents that you sent to us by the hands of Colonel Middleton. We send you by him two silk cloths, two cotton cloths with borders, manufactured in our country, as well as 40 bullocks.

Wishing you health, joy, and happiness.

The Governor of Mauritius.

I remain, &c.

RADAMA II.

(Inclosure 3.)-Lieutenant-Colonel Middleton's Second Report to the Governor of Mauritius.

SIR,

Mauritius, November, 1861. HAVING already reported my arrival in the island of Madagascar, and reception there by the Hovah authorities, I have now the honour of submitting to your Excellency a short account of the proceedings of the mission while in the island.

After visiting the fort, we were for 3 days preparing for our start to the capital, and this, as we found afterwards, was by no means the easy affair we had been led to suppose. On the 1st of October we started from Tamatave, and for four and a half days, our route

1

was on rivers and lakes, in pirogues, the greater part of our heavy baggage proceeding the same marches by land. On quitting the pirogues, we halted at a village to organize the bearers for our palanquins and baggage, and, after great difficulty, we started, fairly en route for Antananarivo.

Although we had announced our intention of paying well every day, and never failed to do so, still our great difficulties arose from the bearers perpetually running away, and often when we were ready to start at daylight we found many of the men missing, and there was much trouble and difficulty in finding others. These people had evidently been deceived at some former period, and had become so suspicious that they would not believe our promises to pay them; added to this also, the King had proclaimed that they were free to do as they liked, and I do not think that these people were quite prepared for this sudden proclamation of general freedom.

At last, notwithstanding all the difficulties, and after travelling for 15 days, and walking nearly the whole way, we arrived at a little village called Andraisoro, two miles from the capital.

At the distance of 4 days' journey from the capital, I had forwarded the Colonial Secretary's letter to the Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with one from myself, announcing our approach, to which I received in answer a flattering welcome from the King, expressing his anxiety to receive us. On arriving at the little village above-mentioned, I forwarded to the King, through the Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, your Excellency's letter of introduction of the mission. Almost before I thought it could have reached the King, I received a letter from him, welcoming the mission to the capital, informing me that 5 officers of his palace would be sent with his band and large guard of soldiers to conduct us on horseback, in State, to the houses prepared for our reception, and considerately adding, that, although anxious to receive us immediately, he thought we would require a day's rest, and the day after that he would receive us in State.

Our entry into the capital was of the most gratifying kind, and, I believe, never have strangers received such honours in Madagascar. The entry was very long and fatiguing, lasting from 7 till 104, and in a burning sun. Very shortly after entering our houses, a number of officers of the palace requested an audience to offer us presents of welcome from the King and Queen. These consisted of an immense bullock, fattened in a peculiar manner, and a quantity of turkeys, fowls, &c.

The whole of our proposed day of rest was devoted to receiving deputations and presents from every person of any importance in the capital. This lasted from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. This day also the mission was invited by the King to a dinner, to be given in the

house of one of his chief officers. This is the way in which the King always entertains.

On the 18th October, about noon, 5 officers with a band, and guard of the King's own grenadiers, dressed in scarlet with white trowsers, arrived from the palace to conduct us to the King. Three o'clock had been originally named as the hour of our reception, but the day threatened rain, so the King sent to beg us to come earlier. On arriving at the palace, we found in the square a large body of troops under a marshal, ready to receive us, which they did, presenting arms and playing a march. We were then received at the gate of what is called the "Silver House," the lesser palace (the larger palace being closed for a year, on account of the late Queen having died in it), by Rahaniraka, the principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and by him conducted into the audience-room and presented to their Majesties, who received the whole mission. with the greatest cordiality and empressement, shaking hands with all.

*

*

*

I now presented in due form your Excellency's letter of congratulation, at the same time expressing in your Excellency's name, and in the name of the people of Mauritius, an earnest desire that the good feeling existing between the two countries might continue, and the trade be promoted and extended for the mutual advantage of both nations. I also congratulated him upon his accession. The King received the letter with marked satisfaction, and had it translated to him.

*

*

I may here remark that, except all the high Hovah officers of State and of the palace, not a single person was allowed to enter the room, and no European, with the exception of your Excellency's mission, was admitted or present with us during our reception or leave-taking. After the usual compliments and inquiries after the health of Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort, and Royal Family, as is customary, I was asked to propose the health of the King. This was drunk, the band playing "God save the King,” and presenting arms. The King then proposed the health of Our Gracious Queen and Her Consort, which was received with the same honours; and, after that, the health of the Governor of Mauritius.

After some further conversation on various subjects, during which the King expressed his great delight at the arrival of the embassy, and his thanks to the Governor of Mauritius for sending it, remarking that it had tended more than anything else to strengthen him on his throne, we took our leave. I had previously expressed to the King my desire to leave for Mauritius at an early day, and accordingly Monday, the 21st October, was fixed by him for our farewell audience.

On the 19th October, we were received at dinner in the King's name at the house of Rainlavone, the brother of the Prime Minister. It passed off most successfully, and all the usual toasts were drunk; and here, again, we received demonstrations on every side of the importance the King's Ministers, officers, &c., attached to your Excellency's mission. They unanimously declared that it had fixed the King firmly on the throne, and would, they had no doubt, save much war and bloodshed.

On Monday, the 21st October, we took leave of the King (with the same ceremony as on the day of our reception. I was enabled on this day to present the King with the two horses, sent as presents, they having fortunately arrived the previous day in good condition, though they had to swim 10 rivers, and travel over the same rough mountain and forest roads that we traversed. The King expressed himself much gratified and highly pleased with them. I had, on the day of our reception, given to the King the authenticated list of the presents sent by your Excellency's Government to him, and expressed my regret that I could not personally present them, as I heard they could not reach the capital for more than a month. The King begged me to give his thanks to your Excellency and the Mauritius Government, and to say how highly he valued the expression of your goodwill. His Majesty then informed me that he had sent orders to the Governor of Tamatave to furnish me with 40 bullocks for presentation to your Excellency, and 20 as a present for myself. The King also gave some of the native cloths for your Excellency.

I did not like to dispose of these bullocks at Tamative; so I requested Mr. Mellish to obtain freight for them; and on their arrival in the island I will cause the whole to be made over to the Government, according to your Excellency's orders.

On the morning of the 22nd October we left, on our return journey for Tamatave, which place we reached in 12 days, after the usual amount of difficulty as regards transport. After entertaining the Hovah authorities at dinner on the 4th November, we embarked, all in good health, on board Her Majesty's steamer, Brisk.

I regret that this despatch should have been so long in reaching your Excellency; but I must plead indisposition. A full report from the mission is in course of preparation; but I fear some days must still elapse before it can reach you, as I am sorry to say that several members of the mission are or have been suffering from severe fever.

I cannot close this report without bringing to your Excellency's notice the admirable way I have been assisted by the other officers and gentlemen you associated with me in this mission, and ex

pressing my high sense of the abilities and of the cordial co-opera

tion they ever gave me.

The Governor of Mauritius.

I have, &c.

W. A. MIDDLETON.

(Inclosure 4.)-Lieutenant-Colonel Middleton, nnd others, to the Governor of the Mauritius.

SIR,

Port Louis, November 25, 1861. WE have the honour of submitting a report, detailing the proceedings of the mission despatched by your Excellency, for the purpose of congratulating His Majesty King Radama II, on his accession to the throne of Madagascar.

The mission sailed from Mauritius on the morning of the 22nd September, in the Jessie Byrne, and arrived at Tamatave on the afternoon of the 26th, after a favourable passage. The members of the mission feel bound to acknowledge the great kindness displayed towards them by Captain Charié, of the Jessie Byrne, who did all in his power to render the passage agreeable.

On arriving at Tamatave we found that the flag of King Radama II had that day been hoisted for the first time, and the community were celebrating the occasion.

The flag is somewhat in form of the broad pennant of our navy, with a narrow red border. At the broad end of the flag there is a red star of 8 or 10 points, with an inscription, "Radama II, Pmanjaka ny Madagascar, 1862," and "R. R. II" in the centre.

Immediately on arrival, Lieutenant Marindin was despatched with the Colonial Secretary's letter to the Governor of Tamatave, together with a letter from Colonel Middleton, announcing the arrival and objects of the embassy, and requesting an hour to be named for landing. He found the Governor of Tamatave in "cobar" or council with Raharolahy and Razafiakiarefo, two officers of high rank, respectively 13th and 14th Honours, who had been sent from the capital on a special commission, with instructions to proclaim King Radama II, and hoist his flag.

On the morning of the 27th, according to the purport of a communication received from the Governor of Tamatave, 4 officers came on board, the principal among whom was Razafinkiarefo, Aide-deCamp to the Commander-in-chief. The mission accompanied them on shore, and shortly afterwards had an interview with Raharolahy and Rainiferiugia, the Governor. A number of soldiers formed an escort, and a band occasionally performed, "God save the Queen" being frequently played. It has been adopted as the Malagasy National Anthem.

On the 28th we were present at a dinner given in honour of the