Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/345

Book V to be paralleled, had carried them through the two wars of Chundasaheb, and the Mysoreans. It was equally fortunate for the nation, that chance should have placed during these arduous times, a man of much sagacity, indefatigable application, and a perseverance equal to Dupleix's, at the head of the presidency; such was Mr. Saunders, who came to the government a little before the death of Nazir-jing; and, convinced by that event of the ambitious schemes of Mr. Dupleix, determined to oppose them to the utmost of his strength, notwithstanding he had no instructions from the company to engage in hostilities; and notwithstanding the two nations were at peace in Europe, he had with the same spirit continued the war, never discouraged by adverse turns, nor dreading the event of desperate attempts when necessary to retrieve them. The two governors had during the whole course of hostilities carried on a sharp and acute controversy by letters; and Mr. Dupleix, who had even before the event happened, persuaded himself that Mr. Bussy would obtain the northern provinces, had, towards the end of the year 1753, affected to shew an inclination to terminate the war in the Carnatic; and in the beginning of the year 1754, consented to treat in form. When it was agreed that a conference should be held in the town of Sadrass, belonging to the Dutch, on the road between Madrass and Pondicherry.

The deputies, on the side of the English, were Mr. Balk and Mr. Vansittart: on the French, the father Lavaur, superior of the French Jesuits in India; Mr. Kirjean, nephew to Mr. Dupleix; and Mr. Bausset, a member of the council of Pondicherry. They met on the 3d of January; the two governors superintending and directing their proceedings by letters, which were no more than twelve hours in coming from Pondicherry, and only six from Madrass. The English deputies opened the conference by proposing as the basis of the negotiation, that Mahomed-ally should be acknowledged Nabob of the Carnatic, with the same authority as had ever been possessed by any former Nabob; and that the king of Tanjore should be guaranteed in the peaceable possession of his kingdom. The French then produced their ideas of a basis, and the whole of their terms together: their basis implied the acknowledgment of Salabad-jing as Soubah of