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366 the subject; however intricate and little understood. This minister finding that the French endeavoured as usual, to gain time under the pretence of negotiating, pervailed on the king to order a squadron of men of war to be equipped, on board of which a regiment was to be embarked for the East Indies. This vigorous resolution convinced the French administration, that a perseverance in their schemes of making conquests, and obtaining dominions in Indostan, would soon involve the two nations in a general war; for which France was in no wise prepared: and they consented that the disputes of the two companies should be adjusted by commissaries in India, on a footing of equality; without any regard to the advantages which either the one or the other might be in possession of, at the time when the treaty should be concluded. It now remained only to choose such commissaries, as would implicitly fulfil these intentions, and the French themselves, were so fully convinced that Mr. Dupleix, was not a man fit to be trusted with a commission, which contradicted so strongly every part of his conduct since the beginning of the war of Coromandel, that they foresaw the English ministry would suspect the good faith of every pacific profession they had lately made, if they should offer to nominate Mr. Dupleix a commissary to adjust the terms of peace. Having therefore no alternative, they of their own accord, and without any application from the English ministry, took the resolution of removing him from the government of Pondicherry; and appointed Mr. Godeheu, a director of the French company, their commissary to negotiate the peace, and at the same time commander general, with absolute authority over all their settlements in the East Indies. The English company empowered Mr. Saunders, and some other members of the council of Madrass, to treat with Mr. Godeheu.

On the 1st of August, Mr. Dupleix received advice of these resolutions, and the next day, a ship anchored at Pondicherry with Mr. Godeheu on board. He landed immediately, proclaimed his commission, and took upon him the administration of the government; which Mr. Dupleix resigned to him with the same affectation of composure and serenity, that he had always shewn on every other disappointment or reverse of fortune. By this reasonable conduct, he preserved himself from an ignominy which was ready to be exercised