Page:History of the French in India.djvu/549

LALLY INVESTS FORT ST. DAVID. 523 On the evening of the following day trenches were chap. opened at a distance of less than 400 yards from the XU " glacis. From this date to June 2 the siege continued, 1753. under great difficulties on both sides. In the French camp there was a scarcity of money, of provisions, of guns, of ammunition, and of carriage ; the most angry letters passed between Lally and de Leyrit, the one accusing and threatening, the other constantly asserting that his resources were exhausted. In the fort, on the other hand, discipline was relaxed, desertions were frequent, and defence had become hopeless, unless it were from the English fleet. Under these circum- stances the feelings of Lally may be imagined when on May 28th he received intimation that the English fleet had appeared before Pondichery, making apparently for Fort St. David, whilst the French sailors had unani- mously refused to embark on board their ships, on the pretext that faith had not been kept with them regard- ing their pay, and that dMche had thereupon announced his intention to moor his ships in the roadstead of Pon- dichery under the protection of the place. However much Lally felt that his presence before Fort St. David was necessary for the carrying on of the siege, this intelligence of the determination to yield the sea to the English forced him to return at once to Pon- dichery, taking with him 400 Europeans and 200 sipahis. Assembling, on arrival, a council, he ordered 60,000 francs to be paid out of his own funds to the sailors, embarked them and the 600 men he had brought with him on board the ships of the fleet, and persuaded d'Ache to proceed at once to sea. He then returned to his post before Fort St. David. The result corresponded to his anticipations. The French fleet, putting to sea, effectually prevented any communication between the English Admiral and the besieged fort ; the latter, thus left to itself, and hardly pushed by Lally, capitulated on June 2, the garrison surrendering