132 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. cnAP. v. mistress, prepared under her direction coffee for the com pany, which was served soon after dinner. After coffee, the company adjourned to a large adjoining room, the walls of which were covered with French paper, representing scenes in the different campaigns of Napoleon. Here I had the opportunity of conversing with several of the officers who spoke English or French, and whom I had pre viously seen at my house. Music, consisting of a clarionet and drum, with other amusements, were now introduced, and dancing followed. At an early hour, the marshal made another speech in the name of the Queen, after which her Majesty’s health was drimk in a small glass of liquor; when the marshal rose to retire, and was followed by the rest of the company. In the front court he gave me a cordial farewell salutation, and, entering his palanquin, was borne away, followed by the other officers. I reached home about nine o’clock, and, after a cup of tea, retired to rest, much inter ested in the novel scene I had witnessed. On the succeeding day I received a packet of newspapers and letters from Mauritius, conveying the mournful in telligence of the continued ravages of the cholera there. In these accounts it was estimated that upwards of 3000 persons had been carried off in Port Louis alone, while the disease was still extending with fearful severity in some of the pro vinces. My grief was extreme on learning that Mrs. Kelsey, to whom I had written a letter of condolence by the last ship, had followed her honoured husband to the grave within a few days of his interment, and that of her two beloved children. Their family from the time of my arrival had appeared one of the healthiest and happiest in the place. They had been amongst my most attached friends there. To Mr. Kelsey I had confided the transmission of my letters to and from England, with all the little matters connected with my own comfort and safety; and I felt deeply bound to him