The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-09 00:00:00

MADAGASCAR.

We have received the following statement and
letter from the London Missionary Society :
REVOLUTION IN THE LED DEATH OP
RADARS. IL
The announcement of these unexpected events, by tele-
graph on the 2nd indent, could not fad to awaken the
moat painful surprise and bitter disappoiutment in the
minds of all friend' of civilisation and social improvement,
especially among the supporters of Christian Missions, who
had cherished sanguine hopes, and put forth corresponding
exertions, for the diffusion of Christianity on behalf of
the numerous and benighted population of Madagascar.
The letters received by the Indian mad yesterday, con-
firm the two important and plateful facts previoeidy an.
Pounced, and the direutom of the London Missionary Sudety
embrace the earliest opportunity of communicating to their
constituents, and to the Christian public in general, the
intelligence which they have received from the Rev. Wil-
liam Ella, who was a witness of the affecting evens' which
he deserigsa.
In consequence of the noe.interconn• between Mada-
gascar and Mauritius during the unhealthy sod dangerous
mama of spring, no intelligence has been received from the
island for the last five months, and during this period the
extraordinary events narrated by Mr. Ellie have occurred.
The letter of our esteemed tread will excite equal sur-
prise and pain, u it applies to the the:eater and conduct of
the late King, representing bun as the subject of a strange
delusion, and the victim of interested, fanatical, and aban-
doned men. That Radiuma was the sincere friend of the
oppressed Christians for several yam during the tyrannical
reign of the late Queen, we have the strongest evidence.
His utmost influence was exerted to protect them from
persecution and to deliver them from borate', and hi owe
fs often risked for their preservation. Sines his ao-
oessioa to the throne the esme disposition has characterised
all his public proceedings; and while he Me proclaimed
just end equal liberty to all classes of his subjects, he has
'Horded special countenance and encouragement to the na-
tive Christians in the profession and diffusion of the Gospel.
But although Radama was distinguished by many
amiable qualities—by an instiuctive hatred of cruelty—by
great respect to Mr. Ellis and his associates, end by an
evident interest io their instructions—yet be never avowed
himself a Christian, nor intimated his intention of becoming
one. Indeed, it was an occasion of habitual regret to his
best friends that his excellent qualities were not only found
in °mumuu with great infirmitiee, but with positive evils.
His impulsive end excitable temperament exposed him to
the snare* which unprincipled foreigners threw around him,
and, more recently, his midnight dissipation appeared in
strange contrast with his professions of interest in Christ-
ianity and respect for its teacher'.
Mr. Ellis, writing to a friend by the last mail, gives the
following statement in reference to this painful subject
"One of the items in the document ecutaining the prin-
ciples of government adopted by the present Queen is
th
that which requirese sovereign of Madagascar to abstain
from all spirituous liquors. They ascribe mach that is to be
deplored in Radama'a character to his having been so email,
intoxicated, and are determined, if it Le possible, to prevent
this evil for the future. This was the weak point which
laid Rada= open to tad advisers ; hence the cruelty and
treachery of foreign intriguers, who took advantage
of his weakoms and excitement, which they them.
selves brought on, to accomplish purposes which be
would not have entertained in his mace mom:eta. It
was under the influence of their wine that be signed the
fatal treaty with a well known foreigner, and other docu-
ments which he did not understand, and it was this evil
which finally acoeleratial the loss of his reason and his life."
Mr. E. adds :—" The King was also addicted to many
superstitious notions about dreams end spiritual agencies,
habitually enforcing any argument with the expression
that he believed it, for it was right because ' God told him
so.' Any aooouot of supernaturel appearances or phenomena
had a peculiar charm for him, much more so than any duect
reasoning upon cause and effect. I cannot believe us was
a party to the murderous project against my life, but I
rather believe that from many combining causes he had be-
come completely bewildered and alarmed, and that he
finally lost his mason."
At a similar conclusion devout and intelligent readers
will probably arrive, from the contests of the following
letter, and it may awaken feeliigs of coomeasion for the
misguided King who so unaocountably became the instru-
ment of designing men in their deadly hatred to the cause
of Christ, and who appeared to sanction end encourage deeds
of cruelty and blood, so utterly repugnant to his former
disposition and habits.
What permanent results may follow the establishment of
the new goveroweut in Madagascar none can foretell. In
the change from absolute despotism to an approach to
constitntioual government Englishmen must heartily re-
*ca. But whether the intluentisl classes in 31sdaignscar
sincerely value or know how to improve these good pm-
ciple• time only can determine. It will be seen that Mr.
Ellis end his associate* regard the change more than hole-
fully, Lod determine, by Cod's help, to work with zeal sod
vigour in du service while the opportunity is given. To
afford them our best support and kindest encouragement in
the prosecution of their labours is our obvious duty ; and,
while recognising the overruling wisdom, power, and grace
of God in all that effects the interests of His church,
we should thankfully acknowledge the protection vouch-
safed to His servants in the tour of their peril, humbly de-
peed upon His watchful providence for their future safety,
and implore the blessings of His grace for the success of
their labours.
Signed on behalf of the Directors of the London
Missionary Society,
A RTif TICSIAN,
PRoIA, j
Mission-house, Blomfield-street, Finsbury,
London, July 7, 1863.

LETTER FROM THE REV. WM. ELLIS TO THE REV. DR. TIONAN,
FOREIGN SECRETARY OF THE LONDON 311/3sIONAKT SOCIETY.
Autatmoarivo, May 16, 1863.

My dear Friend,—Seldom has the instability of human
affairs been more strikingly, and, in some impacts, tragi-
cally manifested, than in the events of the last few days in I
this city. Within that period the reign of Radama 11. has
closed with big life ; a successor has been chosen by the
nobles and accepted by the people ; a new form of govern-
ment has been inaugurated, and it is arranged that the
legislative and administrative functions of the sovereignty
shall hereafter bs discharged by the sovereign,
the soils', and the beads of the people jointly.
A series of resolutions embodying what may tio
the germs of constitutional gover,Diepi has been prepared
and presented by the wiles and heads of the people to the
Queen, omitainirg the conditions on whirls they offered tier
the crown. The acceptance of these conditions by Rebutter,
and their due observance by the nobles and beads of the
people, were attested by the signateres of the Queen and
the chief of the nobles, before the former was announced
to the people as their future sovereign, and proclaimed
under the title of Baroaherena, Queen of Medallion:. The
death of Radama, the offer sod acceptance of the crown,
and the proclamation of the present ruler as Queen, all
occurred on Tuesday, the 12th inst.
Amiable and enlightened as in several respects Madam
certainly was, his views of the duties of • ruler were ex-
ceedingly defective, sod almost all government for the good
of the country may be said to have been in abeyance ever

[TWOPENCE

since his acoessioe. The destroction of a large part of the
revenue of government by the abolition of all duties ; the
exclusion from his commis of many of the nobles and most
experienced men in the nation, while he remanded himself
with a number of young, inexperienced, and many of them
meet objectionable men as his coufidential advisers ; the re-
taxation or diecontiounoce of all efforts to repress crime, or
punish it when committed ; and the neglect of all mounts,
for placing the prosperity of the country on any solid beais,
have, notwithstanding the affection many of the people bore
him, produced growing dissatisfaction. Still, confiding in
his good nature, all were willing to wait in hops of • change
for the better ; while the Christians, grateful for the liberty
they enjoyed to worship, teach, and extend the knowledge
of Christianity, directed their chief attention to the en-
lightenment of the mares of their heathen countrymen.
Within the last two or three months extraordinary
efforts have been made to bring the King's mied =du the
influence of the old superstitions of the country, and these
have succeeded to an extent which hr resulted in his ruin.
Within this period • sort of mental epidemic has appeared •
in the adjacent provinces sod in the cspitaL The subjects.
of this disease pretended to be unconscious of their actions,
and to be unable to refrain from leaping, running, darieleg,
kc. These persons also saw Tasks, sod beard voices from
the invisible world. One of these visions, sees by many,
was the ancestors of the King, and the voices they baud
announced the coming of these anceston to tell the King
what be was to do for the good of the country. gubee-
queetly a message wee brought to him as from hie ancestors,
to the effect that, if he did not stop " the praying," some
great calamity would soon befall him. To the surprise of
his beat friends, the King was exceedingly interested in
this strangzinaikovement, eeemed believe the pretended
the gee% of widtoth house.emcee=
=Tamers who dilly thronged his and
that the dimes, would oontinue to increase till " the pray-
ing" was stopped. It is generally reported that them
movements were prompted by the guardians of the idols,
and promoted by his own MOOMILIO,• who bribed parties
to come as sick persons in large numbers from the country
In order to continue the delusion,
It mu then proposed to ausisinate a number of the
Christians as • means of stopping the progress of Chris-
tianity, and also to kill the chief nobles who opposed the
King's proceedings. With a view of increasing the influ-
ence of this fanatical party, the King horned an
order that all persons meeting any of the so-called
sick should take off their hats, and thus show them
the mime mark of reaped se was formerly given to the
national idols when they were carried throw the city.
With the view also of shielding the perpetrators of the in-
tended murders, the King announced his intention to issue
an order or law that any peewee or persons wishing to fight
with firearms, swords, or spears, should not be prevented,
and that if anyone were killed the murderer should sot be
unished. Thu alarmed the whole community. On the
7th instant Radama repeated Micro his ministers and others
in the palace his determination to issue that order ; and
among all the Menernaso present only three opposed the
issuing of the order; many were silent, the rest immerged
their approvals The nobler and heeds of the people spent
the day in deliberating on the course they should plum.
end the next morning the prime minister, with about one
hundred of the nobles and heeds of the people, including
the commander-in-chief, the King's treasurer, and the
first officer of the palace, went to the King, and remoa-
strafed against hie legalising murder, and besought
him most earnestly Dot to issue each order. It is said the
prime minister went on his kneel before him, and begged
him not to issue this obnoxious law • but he remained un-
moved. The minister then rose and said to the King, "Do
you say before all these witnesses that if any man is going to
fight soother with fire-arms, sword, or epee; that you will
not prevent him, and that if he kills anyone he shall Dot be
punished ?" The King replied. " I agree to that." Then
meg the minister. "It is eenough ; we must arm ;" and,
teeing to his followers, ." Let us return." I saw the
king procession as they passed my house, grave and silent,
on their way to the minister's dwelling. The day was
spent inTodewharblriti
the
o evening nthleywasdetuostined
proTitlenotipary, the
served from earassisation at the King's house ; five of hie
osifidentiel advieen—i. e., the Menamaio—haTingois I have
since been well informed, combined to take my life, as one of
the maims of arresting the progress of Christianity. Coder
God, I owe my preservation to the warning of my friends,
and the provision mad* by the prime minister for my safety.
I went to the King an hour earlier than usual, and returned
immediately, to prepare for removal to a place of greater
safety nest my own house. Ileseengers from the minister
were waiting my return, and before dusk I removed to the
hones of Dr. Davidson, which stands on the edge of An-
dohs.* the large space whore public assemblies are cites
held. The city was in great commotion • all night women,
and children, and slaves, with portable valuables, were
hurrying from the city, while crowds of armed men from
the suburbs were crowding into it. At daybreak on the 9th
some two thousand or more troops occupied Aodohalo. The
ground around the prime minister's house, on the summit
of the northern crest of the mountain close by, was
filled with soldiers, while every avenue to the
city was securely kept by the minister's troops.
The first object of the noble' was to secure
upwards of thirty of the more oboe:ions of the Mesa-
maw, whom they accused of being the advisers and abettors
of the Kiog in ban unjust and injurious measures. A num-
ber of these were taken said killed, a number fled, but
twelve or thirteen remained with the King. These the
nobles required should be surrendered to them. The Kiog
reload, but they threatened to take them by form from
the palace, to which the King had removed. Troops con-
tinued to pour in from adjacent and distant pests ; and an
the few soldiers with the Kiog refused to fire on those sur-
rounding the palace, the people, though pitying the King,
did not take up arum in his defence. He consented at
length to surrender the Mammas*, on condition that their
lives should be spared, and that they should be confined for
life in fetters. Oa Moody, the Ilth, they were marched
by Andohalo, on their way to the spot where the irons were
to be fixed on their limbs.
To the course of the discussion with the nobles the King
bad said be alone was sovereign, his word alone was law,
his person was sacred, he was supernaturally protected, and
would mini* severely the opposite of his will. This led
the nobles to determine that it was not safe for him to live,
and he died by their hands the met morning within the
palace. The Queen, who alone was with him, used every
effort, to the last moment of his life, to save him—but in
vain. His advisers, the Menaineso, were afterwsrds put to
death.

In the coarse of the forenoon, four of the chief nobles
went to the Queen with a paper, which they handed to her
as expreesing the terms or conditions on which, for the
future, the country should be governed. They requested
bar to read it, stating that it she consented to govern
according (to these conditions, they were twilling
that she should he the sovereign of the country,
but that if she objected or declined, they must seek
another ruler. The Queen, after reading the document,
and listening to it and receiving explanations on one or
two points, expressed her full and entire consent to
govern according to the plan therein set forth. The
nobles then said, "We also bind ourselves by this agree-
ment. If we break it, we shell be guilty of treason. and. it
you break it, we shall do as we have done now." The prime
minister then signal the document on behalf of the nobles
and heads of the people, and the Queen signed it also. The
chiefs of the nobles remaioed in the palace, and between
one and two o'clock the firing of cannon announced the com-
mencement of a new reign.
Between three and four o'clock a party of °Moms came
with a copy of Oda document, which they read to us. I can
only state two or three of da chief items. The word of the
sovereign alone is not to be law, but the nobles and beads
of the people, with the sovereign, are to make the laws.
Perfect liberty anal protection is guarantied to all foreigners
who are obedient to the laws of the country. Friendly re-
lations are to be maiutained will. all other nations. Duties
are tube levied, but commerce and civilisation are to be en-
couraged. Protection and liberty to worship, teach, and
promote the extension of Chrieturoity, are secured to the
native Christians, and the same protection and liberty are
guaranteed to those who are not Christians. Domestic
slavery is not abolished ; but masters are at liberty to give
freedom to their slaves, or to, sell them to others. No
person is to be put to death for any °Reece by the word of
the sovereign alone ; arid noone is to be sentenced to death
till twelve men have declared such person to be guilty of the
crime to which the law awards the punishment of death.
An hour afterwards we were sent for to the palace, that we
might tender our salutations to the new sovereign, who
assured us of her friendship for the English, her good will
to ourselves, and her desire to encourage our work. I can-
not add more now. We are all well.—Yours truly,
Rev. Dr. Tidman. W. Ewa.
P.B.—June 17th.— Everything is going on well. The
new Queen has written to Queen Victoria and to the Empe-
ror of the French, announcing her accession to the throne.
. her wish to maintain unimpaired the relations of amity and
frieedship established between the two nations and Mods-
, wear, and assuring both sovereigns that she will pro-
tect the persons and property of their subjects
who may come to this country. The officer who gave me
this statement informed me also, with evident ',leisure, that
all the members of the government had carefully examined
the treaty with Reeked, and agreed to accept it, and fulfil its
oodigura. 1r m weil
,and Pa WOng for work as I ever felt
Isince my arrival in Madagascar. Our missionary poepecti
seem to rest on a better foundation then ever.

• Menamuo, literally, red eye•. The6B are not the ac-
knowledged ministers of the King. but a sort of inquisitors,
supposed to teve•tipte anal search out everything tendiog
to the iojor► of the government, and to give private •
confidential intimation to the King of all occurreaces, so well
as advice on all affairs ; sod their eves are supposed to be
red with the strain or continuums of difficult investigations.

Fall benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing 80.1311115e1l Pure Tea (formerly 4a
at 3a. ad sod 4s.
" High Standard" at Y. 4d. (formerly 4a nd). is the strongsat
sad meat dullsinus Imparted. Agents ui every town supply &Via
packata—iddrartiatuarne.l

.‘• 81'.1 PER
• 1 • t„
-.• • V!'
X

Else entrelHS.

TO COEILESPOWDENTI.

,dverUkereents inten-desd-Tor 4.-Tie-ixTeWs" Landow Evening
Paper, must be et the omen, 10, BoumWaimea, by Two
o'clock on the day of pubikaiket.