SIR,

No. 15.-Sir Frederic Rogers to Mr. Hammond.

Downing Street, September 7, 1861. I AM directed by the Duke of Newcastle to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Russell, the copy of a letter from Colonel Smythe, together with his report on the expediency of accepting, on the part of Her Majesty's Government, an offer which has been made to cede to Her Majesty the sovereignty over the Fiji Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The statements made by Colonel Smythe, in his clear and interesting report, together with other considerations suggested by the native war in which this country is now menaced in New Zealand appears to his Grace to establish conclusively the impolicy of appropriating these islands.

His Grace is of opinion that any civilized Power who may make itself responsible for the government of the Fiji Islands must also be willing to incur a large and immediate expenditure, with the possibility before long of finding itself involved in native wars, and possibly, disputes with other civilized countries. It would also appear very uncertain whether the welfare of the natives would not be better consulted by leaving their civilization to be effected by causes which are already in operation. I have, &c. E. Hammond, Esq.

FREDERIC ROGERS.

SIR,

No. 16.-Mr. Hammond to Sir F. Rogers.

Foreign Office, September 19, 1861. I HAVE laid before Earl Russell your letter of the 7th instant, inclosing Colonel Smythe's report on the Fiji Islands, and I am directed by his Lordship to request that you will inform the Duke of Newcastle that Lord Russell concurs with his Grace in opinion that it will not be expedient to accept the sovereignty of those islands. I am, &c.

Sir F. Rogers, Bart.

E. HAMMOND.

CORRESPONDENCE relating to the Political and Commercial Relations between Great Britain and Madagascar.*—1861, 1862.

No. 1.-Governor Stevenson to the Duke of Newcastle.—(Rec. Nov.11.) MY LORD DUKE, Mauritius, September 23, 1861. I HAVE the honour to transmit a letter to the Queen, which has been addressed to Her Majesty, and sent to my care by King Radama, of Madagascar, long known to the English, and to this island, as the liberal and Christian Prince "Rakota Radama," announcing the death of the late Queen Ranavalo, and his accession to the throne under the title of Radama II.

A similar communication has been made to myself, and I proceed to report to your Grace the course which I have thought it right to adopt for acknowledging in a somewhat unusual, but in the most politic and complimentary manner I could adopt, the courtesy of the King in making this communication, and the satisfaction that has been felt in this island, at the liberal commercial policy which accompanied his first acts of power-a policy which your Grace is well aware is of great importance to this island as well as to the neighbouring colony of Bourbon, and a probable forerunner of a new and hopeful destiny for Madagascar.

When the intelligence of the death of Queen Ranavalo first reached this island, which it did indirectly through the island of Bourbon, there were circulated various rumours with regard to the future affairs and Government of Madagascar. It was said that Prince Radama had written to invite a protectorate of France or of England, or of bcth; that there would be a protectorate, whether he had invited one or not; that private persons had gone to Madagascar, accompanied by priests and Jesuits, upon various enterprises; that large grants of land had been made or offered to private persons; and that companies were to be formed for agricultural, mining, and other purposes; and various rumours of a political character were also received here through the same channel, and freely circulated as well founded reports, or as conjectures founded upon reliable bases. It was also said that the rival of Prince Radama to the throne was a nephew of the late Queen's, Prince Rambousalam, who aspired to the accession of the whole, or at all events of a portion, of the Kingdom. All these reports, although very vague, may probably have had some foundation for their support, and, as there were for some time no direct communications from Madagascar, there was some apprehension here that the events at Madagascar, whatever they might be, would be

*Laid before Parliament 1863.

followed by some inconvenient disturbance of the "cattle trade" between this island and Madagascar, the amicable continuance of which was a matter of very great importance to us as well as to our neighbours at Bourbon, our supplies being wholly derived from that source; and in the meantime the price of beef became very greatly enhanced, and threatened to become still more so. These fears were subsequently allayed by the intelligence of the death of Prince Rambousalam, and of the undisturbed possession of the throne by King Radama; and the news which was brought here, of the liberal manner in which trade and commerce were to be encouraged by King Radama, and of the favourable views which he had declared respecting the spread of education and Christianity among his people, gave cheering prospects of the advantages that would result to the population of this island, and to its trade and commerce generally, if such liberal views were encouraged; and a continuance of our present friendly intercourse with Madagascar were insured, without chance of further interruption, and with the prospect of still more liberal commercial openings to ourselves and to our neighbours for the purposes of fair and legitimate trade.

The letter which I received under the hand of King Radama, and the others which accompanied it, and which I have the honour to transmit, afforded me an opportunity of making an acknowledgment of the courtesy in such terms as would probably be acceptable, and at the same time conveying an assurance to the King, of the high appreciation in this colony of the liberal views he had exhibited. The enclosure (No. 2) announces the death of the Queen, and the accession of the King under the title of Radama II. The enclosure (No 3) announces the orders that had been given for immunity from duty (so far as I understand it) on all imports and exports from Madagascar; and enclosure (No. 4), from the principal Secretary of State, intimates a wish that an envoy should be sent charged with congratulations to the King, and announces that the approach to the capital would be without impediment, "as in the days of the Great Radama."

I considered it insufficient to reply to this letter, and to these friendly overtures, by a mere response in writing, or to disregard the feeling which prompted the invitation to send a complimentary message of acknowledgment and congratulation; and, knowing how important to this colony would be the continuance of its free and open trade with Madagascar, and how essential it would be for that island itself, that the liberal views of the King should be promptly responded to, and openly and publicly acknowledged, I had no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that a letter of courtesy, sent

by the hands of special and well-selected messengers, would not only be most acceptable to the King, but be followed by happy consequences to the future welfare of that country, by the assurance which would be conveyed to the people of that island, that the liberality of their present Monarch (in contrast with the most repugnant policy of the late Queen) had been approved by his neighbours, and was best adapted to the welfare of themselves and their country. Upon communicating these views to one or two of the principal officers of this Government, I found that they met with a ready support; and accordingly I had no hesitation in carrying them out in a manner which has since met with the approval of the Council, and I believe of the community at large.

I thought it right, when sending this message of compliment and congratulation, not only to do so in as open and public a manner as possible, but to select several officers and gentlemen of such position as would impress the compliment with still greater importance; at the same time, I carefully excluded from those whom I selected, all persons who had been in any way concerned in former enterprises or adventures (private, political, or religious), in connection with the island, or whose perfect neutrality with regard to all past differences could be in the slightest degree called in question. I also desired to place among the number some gentlemen who were thoroughly acquainted with the general trade, arts, and pursuits of this country, in order that (if asked) they might afford any reliable information that was required upon any of those subjects.

The officers and gentlemen whom I selected were LieutenantColonel Middleton, C.B.; Lieutenant Marindin, R.E., a member of my own personal staff; Mr. Newton, the Assistant Colonial Secretary; Mr. Mellish, a merchant of Port Louis; Mr. Caldwell, the interpreter of languages, and a gentleman of very general and accurate information; and a medical officer selected by Colonel Middleton, to accompany the party. I had a great many applications from other gentlemen who desire to be joined in this complimentary mission; some of whom I rejected for the reasons already stated, and others because my list was already full.

I have the honour to transmit copies of, (1) my letter to King Radama, (2) my letter of credential or introduction of the gentlemen who composed the mission, (3) my memorandum of instructions to Colonel Middleton, as to the course that should be pursued, and the cautions that should be observed, and (4) a subsequent memorandum expressive of my wish that no person who had proceeded to Madagascar, or who might be about to do so, on their own accounts, or for any other purposes, should be allowed to engraft

themselves on my mission, or become identified with it; this latter document I wrote advisedly, as I had heard of many private adventurers, who had gone, or who were going, to Madagascar, and desired to avoid all suspicion, by the people of Madagascar, or by any of our neighbours, of having any other object than that of compliment and congratulation, which my letter to the King discloses ; at the same time I authorised the Colonial Secretary to reply to the letter of the Secretary of State in the terms of the letter of which the enclosure (9) is a copy.

I have reason to believe that similar communications have been made to our neighbours at the Island of Bourbon; and I have no doubt that the liberal views of the new King will be met by them in the same good spirit, and I sincerely hope that the friendly encouragement of our two countries (England and France) will help to give assurances to King Radama which will tend to the advancement and improvement of his splendid but neglected country.

At the first subsequent meeting of the Council, which took place on the 20th instant, I fully explained to the board the letters I had received, the course I had pursued, and the objects I had in view, announcing at the same time that I had authorized, in anticipation of their vote, an advance for the expenses of the mission, of which the particulars should be placed before them at a future meeting. This was fully approved; and it was proposed, and unanimously approved at the Council, that according to the usage of former days, and the customs and expectations of Madagascar, the mission should not go empty-handed, but should be the bearers of handsome and substantial tokens of the general appreciation, by the people of this colony, of the liberal policy, in trade and commerce, which had marked the commencement of the new King's reign; and I was urged to propose and allow a resolution to pass for the expenditure of such sum as would be necessary for that purpose, the sum proposed being 2,000l.

This was so strongly approved by the Council that I felt no hesitation in acquiescing in the proposal; and a vote was accordingly proposed and unanimously carried, for the expenditure of a sum not exceeding 2,000l., in the purchase of these presents and testimonials. Of this sum I authorized about one-half to be at once laid out, in anticipation of your Grace's sanction, leaving the rest to be purchased in England and sent at a future time, when I hoped that the reply which might be expected from Her Majesty to the letter of King Radama, would furnish opportunity of forwarding the remaining gifts from the colony. Should Her Majesty desire to accompany her royal answer with a token from herself, as, for instance, Her Majesty's picture, I shall be happy to be instrumental in forwarding it.