Page:History of the French in India.djvu/154

132 LA BOURDONNAIS AND DUPLEIX. chap. This is certain, that La Bourdonnais had not been long IV ' , on shore before he began to adopt a line of conduct 1746. entirely inconsistent with his well-known character for enterprise, to show doubt, hesitation, and uncertainty, to refuse to move on an expedition without positive orders from the Council, of which, in virtue of his com- mission as admiral, he was a member, to decline even to make an election of the two alternatives which were presented to him — to go in search of the English fleet, or to sail at once for Madras. The taking of Madras had been ail along regarded by the two French leaders as the first fruits of a de- cisive victory at sea. A very few days after his arrival at Pondichery, La Bourdonnais addressed a lengthy letter to Dupleix on the subject of his plans, and he thus alluded to the project regarding Madras : 4 4 At the time of our former squadron of 1741, you know what designs I had formed upon Madras. Encouraged by M. Dumas, to whom I had communicated my project, I begged him to communicate it to you, at the time of your installation. You approved of it, and made pre- parations which the continued peace rendered useless. Since the outbreak of war, persisting in my first design, I have imparted it to you, begging you at the same time to add to your former preparations, others to facilitate our success My plan is to destroy or dis- perse the English squadron, if it be possible ; the cap- ture of Madras must result."* The reply of Dupleix was couched in the same spirit. " Your idea regarding Madras," he wrote,f " is the only one which can indemnify the Company for all its losses and expenses, restore the honour of the nation, and procure for this colony a more solid footing than hither- to. This enterprise is very easy, and your forces are more than sufficient to carry it out, but it cannot be ♦Dated July 17, 1746. f Dated July 20, 1746.