Page:History of the French in India.djvu/245

SIEGE OF POND1CHERY. 223 dis, which occurred within a few days of his wound, was chap. the greatest misfortune that could have occurred to ' Dupleix at this conjuncture. He was his most capable 1748. officer — the only man upon whose combined prudence, knowledge and daring he could absolutely rely. In his memoirs he describes him as " a man of intelligence, well acquainted with his profession, thoroughly familiar with the locality, and with all the defects of the place. He had prepared all manner of devices to offer opposi- tion to the enemy, especially in the weak points of the defences." The loss of such a man was the greater, as there was no one within the walls to supply his place. That is, rather, there would have been no one, had not Dupleix himself showed that great genius is capable of universal application, and that the arts of the warrior are not beyond its attainment. Another, though a lesser, misfortune befell him at the same time. True to the instructions he had received in England, Admiral Boscawen had not delayed to urge the Nawwab of the Karnatik to pronounce decidedly against those French, whose destruction he announced to be cer- tain. The admiral supported his requisition by presents of considerable value. Dupleix had little to offer on his part. Yet so great was the respect in which the French name was held, so high the opinion entertained of the great qualities of Dupleix, that, notwithstanding his apparently forlorn and helpless condition, the Nawwab hesitated long before he gave way to the entreaties of Boscawen. It was only after the fall of Ariakupum, and when the French were shut up within the walls of Pondichery, that he agreed to the alliance pressed upon him, and promised to assist the English with 2,000 horse. He actually sent, however, only 300 men, and those towards the conclusion of the siege. One consequence of the death of Paridis was that the management of all the details of the defence devolved upon Dupleix. To use his own modest expression,