440 GODEHEU AND DE LEYRIT. chap, merce to any other advantage."* It was in vain that _ * J Moracin assured him, in reply, that whoever had 1754. persuaded him that the peace and security of one part of the French possessions would be best maintained by the abandonment of another part, could know nothing either of the map of the country, the locality, or the interests of the Company. It was to no purpose that he warned him that such an act would be but the prelude " to our total and proximate expulsion from this part of the Dakhan."f Godeheu's mind was made up. To undo the work of Dupleix, to make peace with the English, the honour and interests of France were but light sacrifices. Negotiations had, meanwhile, been pending with the government of Madras. Mr. Saunders had indeed been recently reinforced by the arrival of Admiral Watson's fleet, having on board Her Majesty's 49th regiment, and several recruits for the Company. This advantage was, however, to a certain extent counterbalanced in the mind of Mr. Saunders by the fact that Colonel Adlercron, who commanded the 49th, superseded the tried and gallant veteran who had so often led the English forces to victory. As the French had just before received reinforcements certainly not inferior in number, it was still a question as to which of the con- tending parties, in the event of a continuation of the war, would have the advantage. But the folly of Godeheu had given Saunders a moral superiority, of which he did not fail to make the fullest use. The wise forethought, likewise, of the English Government, in despatching a fleet to influence the negotiations for peace, produced a wonderful effect. Saunders was not insensible, however, to the advantages to be derived from the feverish impatience of Godeheu, and he readily acceded, on October 26, to a truce for three months, during which commissioners should meet at
- Letter to Moracin, September t Reply of Moracin, dated Octo-
16, 1754, ber 9, 1754,
