130 CHAPTER IV. LA BOURDONNAIS AND DUPLEIX. chap. Xhe eight ships which formed, after the repulse of the English fleet, the squadron commanded by La Bourdon- 1746. nais, anchored off Pondichery on the evening of July 8, 1746. The meeting between the governor and the vic- torious admiral was cordial.* There was no reason why it should not be so, for they were striving alike after the same object — an object which could be at- tained only by their mutual co-operation. La Bourdon- nais held an independent command, but on the con- tinent of India he was subordinate to the Council of Pondichery. f In the contemplated expedition, how- ever, against the English, Dupleix was very willing to give up the entire control of the operations to La Bourdonnais. He was mainly anxious to see that the operations themselves were well-matured, but he was naturally resolved to hold in his own hands the supreme political power. The correspondence between the two had been conducted, as we have seen, in the most cordial manner. Dupleix had declared that the honour of success would belong to La Bourdonnais ; that he would use every effort in his power to contribute to that success. He had added : " I shall esteem myself
- La Bourdonnais asserts in his t The order sent from Paris to La
memoirs that he was received in an Bourdonnais in 1741 provided, that unbecoming (pen decente) manner; whilst under all circumstances he but even if it were the case, which was to command on the seas, his we doubt, it does not appear, if we control over the land forces, m any may judge from the correspondence, French settlement beyond the limits to have affected the friendly terms of the Isles, was dependent on the upon which he consorted with Da- authority with which the local Coun- pleix for the first few days after his cils might invest him. — Extrait des arrival. Ordresdu 3fim'stre, 16 Janvier, 1741.
