Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/94

86 Moors, and that they should immediately send boats to bring on shore the treasure and the soldiers. The captain, deceived by this letter, as well as by the flag which was flying in the town, entertained no suspicion, and permitted the boats to come to the ship without examination. A number of soldiers were concealed in them, who in the same instant boarded the ship from different quarters. The greatest part of the ship's company were enfeebled by the scurvy, and those who were capable of making resistance were so much surprised, that they were easily overpowered. This was a rich prize, having on board besides merchandizes 60,000 pounds sterling in bullion. In the interval another of the companiy's ships anchored in the road of Fort St. David, where the governor immediately sent off a letter to the captain, acquainting him with the loss of Madrass, of the great superiority of the French force on the coast of Coromandel, and of the distresses to which the fort was reduced by the want both of men and money. The ship was, as usual, consigned to the governor and council of Madrass; and the distresses of Fort St. David, instead of inducing the captain to assist them, only suggested to him the risk to which bis own fortune might be exposed, by landing the company's treasure, contrary to the letter of his instructions, in a settlement threatened with such imminent danger: he therefore refused to comply with the request of the governor, and set sail for Bengal without landing the soldiers, or any part of the cargo. These sinister accidents served to confirm Mr. Dupleix's assertions, even in the opinion of the English themselves, that their situation was growing desperate, when at last, on the 19th of February, the ship which had escaped out of the road of Madrass in November came from Ceylon, and landed 60,000. in silver, together with 20 recruits for the garrison: the money was a very important supply; for the treasury of Fort St. David was almost exhausted when the ship arrived. The French army appeared in sight of Fort St. David in the morning of the 2nd of March: it consisted of the same troops which had been routed by the Moors at the garden: but Mr. Dupleix had now prevailed on the officers to receive Mr. Paradis for their commander. The English garrison marched out, with three field pieces, and a troop of horse composed chiefly of volunteers, to prevent the French from