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37-1 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CI1AP. XIV. CHAP. XIV. Audience of the Queen at the Palace. — Salutation to the Queen. — Allusion to Presentation to Queen Victoria. — Offering of the Hasina. — Declaration of the Friendship of the English towards the Malagasy. — The Queen’s Reply relative to the Constancy of the English. — Assurance of Friendship and Goodwill from the English Government..— Desire of the Queen for Amity with all Nations.—Description of the Palace.—’The Queen’s Ap pearance, Dress, and Regal State. — The Members of her Court. — Satisfac tion of the Queen with my Visit. — Breakfast with M. Laborde. — Conver sations with the Prince. — Wealth of Malagasy Nobles.—Dinner given by the Queen. — Number of Dishes. — Native Plate.— Music. — Speeches after Dinner. — Sovereign Rights of Nations. — Visits of the Sick. — Intercourse with Natives who had visited Bourbon. —■ Photographic Difficulties. — Pre sents for the Queen. — Portraits of the Queen and Prince Consort peculiarly gratifying. — Invitation to the Palace. — Music. — Sakalave Dance. — Native and European Dances. — Gorgeous and splendid Costume of the Court. Early on the morning of the 5th of September, a present of poultry came from the queen, and a note from a friend in the palace to say that the queen would see me during the day. I venture to insert the note conveying this intelligence as evidence of the absence of all circumlocution in the official and semi-official communications from the Malagasy seat of government. The note was as follows: — “ Friday Morning. “My dear Friend, — I inform you as a friend that the queen will give you an audience to-day in the palace; con sequently when you are ordered to come up, put on your best dress, &c. &c., and take a gold sovereign and a dollar. How are you this morning ? “ Yours truly, “R .”