“The Address has been carefully perused, and its contents duly noted by Her Majesty, and I am authorised by Her to answer it.
“I have to inform you that, through the blessings of the Divine Being, Her Majesty the Queen, MYSELF and all the members of the Government, are well. The Kingdom enjoys peace; but, more than that, Her Majesty is happy to tell you, that by the power of the Most High and the mercy of Jesus Christ our Saviour, according to the saying, ‘The King’s heart is in the hands of the Lord,’ God has shown mercy to our Sovereign, and has enlightened HER to know Jesus Christ, and has endowed HER with strength, so that from the time when she began to receive the Gospel, SHE has led and encouraged her subjects to serve God and pray to Him through Jesus Christ, and to be diligent in using all opportunities of acquiring useful knowledge. SHE has also done her best to help the missionaries of your Society, so that, during the reign of Her Majesty Ranavalomanjaka, the Kingdom of Christ has made great progress in Madagascar, and the number of believers has increased more than during any period, notwithstanding the way in which the missionaries for many years contended with difficulties, and exerted themselves to the utmost. But still the Queen continues to pray God that His Kingdom may advance until the joyful words shall be fulfilled which say, ‘They shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord,’
“Her Majesty the Queen thanks you, the Directors, and all the constituents of the Society, because she knows your ardent desire to benefit her kingdom by your sending Missionaries and Teachers to preach and teach the Gospel and other useful knowledge, from the reign of His Majesty Radáma I. to the present time. Her Majesty therefore wishes me to assure you that the missionaries and teachers sent by you to labour in Madagascar shall continue to enjoy Her protection, and be allowed full liberty to preach the Gospel, and to impart useful knowledge in accordance with the laws of the kingdom.
“Our friends, the Rev. Dr. Mullens and the Rev. J. Pillans, have been allowed perfect liberty to travel where-ever they have pleased to visit the Churches of Madagascar, they have had full opportunities of making their own observation, and will be able to bring you a reliable report of the state of things here. May God protect them to reach you in safety! What they have done here has been good, and has given us much pleasure. They are worthy men, and well fitted to act as the representatives of you, our friends, across the seas. We are especially pleased with their words saying,—‘We do not trade nor desire to gain anything for ourselves, but only that the people may know Jesus Christ.’ These are indeed very good words, for they show both the excellence of your views, and also what will be sought by your good brethren the missionaries in Madagascar.
“Her Majesty thanks you very much for your kind message, and the good wishes for the prosperity of her kingdom; and SHE prays GOD that they may be fulfilled. She also thanks you for the presents you sent HER, and accepts them as a mark of your friendly feelings towards HER.
“And I, too, thank you very much for the nice presents you sent to me.
“Her Majesty also desires me to thank you for the very kind care you have taken of Rapenoelina, for he was sent by HER Government that he might obtain a good English education. What you have done for him has given Her Majesty great satisfaction, as his progress is already manifest from his letters to me. Her Majesty will be pleased if you convey to Rapenoelina’s teacher the thanks of HERSELF and her Government; for his instruction and kind care have given HER very much pleasure.
“May the Almighty God bless you in your useful labours for the evangelizing of mankind, and may He ever give to the people earnest hearts to help you to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ among all nations.
“That, dear friends, is the wish of Her Majesty the Queen of Madagascar and MYSELF for you all.
“I Am, Gentlemen,