134 LA BOUKDONNAIS AND DUPLEIX. chap, twelve of twelve, and twenty-two of eight, and offered ^ , to change those which were only slightly damaged. He 1746. accompanied this offer with an explanation so frank and courteous, that it seems surprising that his conduct in this respect should ever have been made the subject of animadversion.* Yet notwithstanding the supply of guns, ammunition, provisions, and men,f La Bourdonnais could not make up his mind to set sail. The idea that the English fleet might keep out of sight until it were reinforced from Europe, and that, thus reinforced, it might take him at a disadvantage when before Madras, seemed at first greatly to weigh upon him. To obviate this risk, and to draw the English within fighting distance, he proposed, on August 10, that a force should proceed to Gudalur, twelve miles south of Pondichery, to attack Fort St. David, built by the English in its vicinity. If the Eng- lish fleet were to bear up to assist that fort, he would then attack it ; but if it should not, it would be a proof that it had been very severely handled in the former
- After enumerating: the necessity
that Pondichery should be a strong; place, under whose walls French ves- sels might always find a secure refuge, and alluding to the probable increase to their naval enemies by the chances of a war with Holland, Dupleix adds : " This augmentation of enemies, the only thing we have to apprehend ought to render me more circumspect with regard to a place so consider- able ; the safety of which depends entirely on others : " (the victorious course of the French fleet). " A thou- sand mishaps, to which sea forces are subject, might disappoint this place for a long time of the guns which you wish to take from it. The Mi- nister has given me orders to assist you, and I obey willingly orders so deserving of respect. But I cannot persuade myself that his intentions are that I should risk the safety of Pondichery. I believe, on the con- trary, and' I flatter myself that he will be better pleased, that I should not place it in jeopardy. Never- theless, to act up to his orders and your demands, I am ready to make over to you twenty-eight eighteen- pounders, twelve of twelve, and twenty-two of eight, and to change those which are but slightly da- maged, aud which, after being re- paired, can be made serviceable These guns wall make a great gap, but the word of honour you give me to return them, and the moral cer- tainty I feel of your victory over the enemy, permit me to take the step of dismantling the walls with less dis- quietude."— 3JT. Dupleix d M. de la Bourdonnais, July, 20, 1746. t The reinforcements furnished by Pondichery consisted of 200 Eu- ropeans, 100 topasses or Indio-Por- tuguese, 300 sipahis, besides officers, in addition to Jascars, as well as 170 sailors and 50 European soldiers be- longing to the garrison already serv- ing on the fleet.
