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THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNáTIK.

CHAP. V.
1748.

Thus had Dupleix, by his firmness, his skill, the wonderful activity of his genius, baffled that great 1748. enterprise which was to bring destruction upon French India, to root out the French establishments from the soil of Hindustan. If we take a retrospective glance at all that had been accomplished during this first struggle in the Karnatik, we shall be utterly unable to refrain our tribute of admiration to the man who possessed the brain to conceive, the steadfastness to carry out, that long list of daring achievements. The capture of Madras, its preservation to the French, the determination to bear the brunt of the contest with the Mughal, the momentous political result that followed that determination, together with this crowning defence of Pondichery, were works of his conception; to him too is mainly due the merit of their execution. Even at the greatest crisis of his fortunes he found means to send efficient aid and support to the other settlements dependent on Pondichery—a wonderful feat, gratefully acknowledged as such by his masters.^[1]

the corresponding period amounted to 200 Europeans and 50 natives. On their way to Fort St. David, the English wreaked a last vengeance on the fort of Ariakupum, by utterly destroying what remained of its defences.—Orme, Dupleix.

↑ "All that you have done up to that time ought, in truth, to have made us tranquil regarding the fate of Pondichery, and your last letters of the 28th August, written at the time that the English had commenced their attack upon your advanced posts, left us nothing to desire, either with reference to the precautions you had taken, or to the courageous dis- positions which you had inspiredin the garrison and in everybody. Ought then our demonstrations of succours joy to be less, when, on the 20th of last month, a courier despatched by Monsieur Durand, our agent in London, announced to the Court this new triumph of the national arms? "If it has been already satisfactory for you, that the Company could declare that the capture of Madras was due to the succours which you had furnished to M. de la Bourdonnais; that it was your firmness, the wisdom of your measures, and the choice of the brave officers you had employed, which compelled the Mughals to sue to you for peace; that you would even have taken Fort St. David from the English but for the unexpected arrival of Admiral Griffin; and that finally, despite the difficulty of communications during the entire war, you had found means to provide for the subsistence and security of the settlements of Chandranagar, Karikal, and Mahe; what praises do you not deserve now, when by the glorious use of the sent you by M. David " (alluding to M. Bouvet's fleet) "you have repulsed the most powerful efforts of your enemies, and have preserved to the Company all their establishments."—Lettre de la Compagnie des Indes, 11 Avril, 1749.

[2] "All that you have done up to that time ought, in truth, to have made us tranquil regarding the fate of Pondichery, and your last letters of the 28th August, written at the time that the English had commenced their attack upon your advanced posts, left us nothing to desire, either with reference to the precautions you had taken, or to the courageous dis- positions which you had inspiredin the garrison and in everybody. Ought then our demonstrations of succours joy to be less, when, on the 20th of last month, a courier despatched by Monsieur Durand, our agent in London, announced to the Court this new triumph of the national arms? "If it has been already satisfactory for you, that the Company could declare that the capture of Madras was due to the succours which you had furnished to M. de la Bourdonnais; that it was your firmness, the wisdom of your measures, and the choice of the brave officers you had employed, which compelled the Mughals to sue to you for peace; that you would even have taken Fort St. David from the English but for the unexpected arrival of Admiral Griffin; and that finally, despite the difficulty of communications during the entire war, you had found means to provide for the subsistence and security of the settlements of Chandranagar, Karikal, and Mahe; what praises do you not deserve now, when by the glorious use of the sent you by M. David " (alluding to M. Bouvet's fleet) "you have repulsed the most powerful efforts of your enemies, and have preserved to the Company all their establishments."—Lettre de la Compagnie des Indes, 11 Avril, 1749.

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