een died, and her son succeeded as Radama II, after a
short contest with his cousin. Having been on the island at the time,
and leaving it in the vessel which carried the new king's letters to the
colonial governments, the writer can testify to the intense interest
evinced by the French and English. It was confidently asserted at
Bourbon that Radama had placed the island under the protection of
France, and that French influence was to predominate. This proved
unfounded, but the court was the centre for incessant intrigues.

The new king commenced his reign under the happiest auspices. He was
very popular, and his reputation for kindness had soon caused many of
the surrounding tribes to acknowledge his supremacy. The Hovas had
spread from the centre toward the coast in all directions--to the
eastward they had subdued the Betsimarakas; to the westward, the
Saccalaves. Yet numerous tribes had remained independent, and held large
portions of the coast and the interior. The cruelty of the queen had
kept alive their animosity, but now they voluntarily came forward to
acknowledge her son and to be received into the Hova nation.

The people already had acquired a taste for European luxuries, and were
desirous of an extended commerce. As they were rich in herds and flocks,
in grain and fruits, as their forests of ebony, rosewood, and other
valuable woods were immense, as their mines yielded coal and iron,
perhaps even gold, they were ready and anxious to open their ports to
the commerce of the world. England and France both recognized the king,
sent envoys with congratulatory letters and presents, and appointed
resident consuls. The United States alone, unfortunately plunged in
civil war, neglected the opportunity.

The king proclaimed freedom of religion, permitted the establishment of
schools, established freedom of imports and exports, and granted lands
to all _bona fide_ settlers.

It was with the greatest surprise, therefore, that we have learned, some
two months since, that a revolution has taken place, and that these fair
prospects have been darkened by the murder of the king. It seems that he
had made such lavish grants of land to his favorite, Lambert, that his
nobles rebelled. Lambert had been sent to France to obtain the regalia
for the coronation, and had organized a great company to hold these
concessions. Whether the feuds of the missionaries, Protestant English
and Catholic French, aided this, is not yet known.