Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/85

Book I. The officer who commanded the detachment, which routed the Moors at St. Thomé, was a Swiss, named Paradis. He had gained the favour of Mr. Dupleix, by manifesting a violent enmity against Mr. De la Bourdonnais: and Mr. Dupleix regarding him as the most proper person to carry into execution any opposition to Mr. De la Bourdonnais's measures, appointed Paradis governor of Madrass. At the same time, the French inhabitants of Pondicherry, instructed by Mr. Dupleix's emissaries, assembled and drew up a representation, addressed to Mr. Dupleix and the council, in which they set forth the necessity, as they pretended, of annulling the treaty of ransom. Mr. Dupleix, and the council of Pondicherry affecting to respect the general voice of the inhabitants, which they had suborned, instructed Paradis to execute this resolution. On the 30th of October, the inhabitants of Madrass were called together; the French garrison was drawn up under arms, and a manifesto, addressed to the English, was publicly read. This paper contained the following declaration and injunctions:

The treaty of ransom made with Mr. De la Bourdonnais was declared null. The English were enjoined to deliver up tho keys of all magazines without exception: all merchandizes, plate, provisions, warlike stores, and horses, were declared the property of the French company; but the English were permitted to dispose of their moveables, cloaths, and the jewels of the women: they were required to give their parole not to act against the French nation until they should be exchanged; and it was declared, that those who refused to obey this injunction, should be arrested and sent to Pondicherry. All, excepting such as were willing to take the oath of allegiance to the French King, were ordered to quit the town in four days, and were prohibited from taking up their residence within the bounds of Madrass, or in any of the country houses belonging to the English without those bounds.

Such injurious and distressful terms aggravated the iniquity of that breach of public faith which produced them. The French put their manifesto into execution with the utmost rigour, and took possession of the effects of the English with an avaricious exactitude rarely practised by those who suddenly acquire valuable