186 LA BOURDONNAIS AND DUPLETX. c ^ p - lie has now, at the epoch of which we are writing,
- gazed for the last time on the scene of his triumphs.
1746. No more was he to be called upon to strike a blow for French India. Arriving in the Isle of France in the beginning of December, he found a successor, M. David, installed there, with orders to leave to La Bourdonnais the command of the fleet, only in case he found the accounts of his government in proper order. M. David having pronounced iavourably in this re- spect, La Bourdonnais was placed in command of the squadron, and directed to proceed to France, taking Martinique on the way. A storm shattered his ships off the Cape of Good Hope, but he succeeded, with four of them, in gaining Martinique. Here he learned that the homeward route was barred by English cruisers, whom it would be impossible to avoid, and who were too numerous to contend against. Impatient, however, to arrive in France to justify himself, he proceeded under a feigned name to St. Eustache, converted all his property into jewels,* and took a passage to France in a Dutch ship. War, however, had been declared between England and Holland, and the Dutch vessel was taken and carried into an English port. Here La Bourdonnais was recognised, and was at once constituted prisoner of war. We diverge for a few moments from the strict record of our history to bring his career to a conclusion. Re- garded by the English, in consequence of his conduct at Madras, as the champion of their interests in India— a poor compliment to a French admiral — testimonies of esteem and regard were showered upon him from all sides. By the Royal Family, by the Court of Directors, and by the public, he was treated with the greatest dis- tinction. The Ministry even permitted him, at his own urgent request, to return to France on his parole, his
- Madame de la Bourdonnais em- safely in Lisbon ; thence she pro-
barked in a Portuguese ship with eeeded to Paris, most of these jewels, and arrived
