Page:History of the French in India.djvu/161

WOUNDED VANITY OF LA BOURDONiN AlS. 139 Superior Council was the only obstacle to action on his c ^ p - part. This proceeding thoroughly roused Dupleix. s^-J— He re-summoned the Council on the 27th, and put 1746. before it, for consideration, the course adopted by the Admiral. The deliberations of the Council at this crisis were short, prompt, and to the point. They resolved to serve on La Bourdonnais a summons, calling upon him, " on the part of the King and the Company, to make choice of one of the two plans which had been presented to him on the 26th — the only plans we consider practic- able, suitable to present circumstances, to the glory of the King, the honour of the nation, the interests of the Company, the force of his squadron, and the weakness of our enemies by sea and land ; in default of doing this — of the choice of which he is left master— he is to be held responsible in his own name for all that may happen in consequence, as well as for all the expenses which his project on Madras, so long meditated and conducted to the point of execution, has occasioned the Company. If hindered by sickness from acting himself, as there is no time to lose and moments are precious, the Council consider M. de la Portebarre, of whom the capacity and prudence are known, to be very capable of executing whichever of the two plans he may select." The reply of La Bourdonnais was short : " I have received," he wrote, " the citation and its contents. I consulted the Council of Pondichery only regarding the affair of Madras. It rested with it to give its opinion for or against that. As to the destination of my squadron, it has no right to interfere with it. I know what I ought to do, and my orders have been given for it to leave Pondichery this evening."* The fleet accordingly sailed under M. de la Porte- • & Messieurs du Couseil Superieur de Pondichery, 27 Aout, 174G.