Page:History of the French in India.djvu/504

478 CHANDRANAGAR AND THE DAK HAN. chap. Little likely were they to consent to remain subordinate XI ;^ , for long to the representatives of such a policy ! When 1754. we recollect too that with these accounts came also de- tails of the triumphs of the English both on the field and in negotiation, we shall be able to understand how it was that a feeling of doubt and distrust began to undermine the confidence and regard which Bussy till then had known how to evoke towards himself and his nation. 1755. Nor was this feeling lessened by the communication made by Bussy to the Subadar, almost immediately after his return to Haidarabad in January, 1755, of the details of the treaty concluded between Godeheu and Saunders at the end of that month. In the course of an interview granted for the purpose of hearing this communication, the Subadar, instructed beforehand by his advisers, inveighed bitterly against the new policy that had been inaugurated at Pondichery. " Your sove- reign," said he, "promised to support me against my enemies, to establish my authority, and to make it re- spected. Of this you yourself have given me assurances on which I have always depended. Yet I now hear everywhere that it is the King of England who specially concerns himself with the affairs of India, even with those which affect me." Bussy endeavoured to put the best possible gloss upon the proceedings of Godeheu. The Subadar and his ministers heard him but without being convinced. They were indignant that the fate of the Karnatik should have been settled without reference to the Subadar, its liege lord. " You have put me," said Salabat Jang, " in the balance against Muhammad Ali ; you have allowed to be placed at the head of one of my tributary provinces a man whom I have never employed, who has always rebelled against my authority. Nay more, if I were to proceed to the Karnatik to drive him out of it, the English would support him, and you, on account of this truce, would hold back ; you, who are