Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/549

Book XI of every thing on shore. In consequence of this deliberation, a protest was immediately drawn, declaring Mr. D'Aché responsible for the loss of the colony, such were the words, and resolving to complain to the king and ministry, and demand public justice of his conduct. The ship Due d'Orleans was by some accident detained in the road, after the others were under sail, and the commander was charged to deliver the protest to Mr. D'Aché, and a copy to every commander in the squadron, which were twelve leagues out at sea when the Due d'Orleons joined them. Mr. D'Aché immediately held a general council of his captains, and on the 22d anchored again in the road of Pondicherry; and came ashore to consult, with Mr. Lally and the government. On the 25th, in the morning, the English squadron, coming from Negapatam, appeared standing in the line of battle into the road, but driving by the current to the northward. All the French ships weighed, but hawled the wind close, which being at w. s. w. kept them at their first distance from the English, which they had it in their power to bear down upon, and engage. Mr. Pococke, unable to get up to them, kept his line of battle until the evening, when he continued his course, and anchored on the 27th at Madrass. Mr. D'Aché 7 still insisted on returning as soon as possible to the islands; and the government of Pondicherry unwillingly compromised for his departure, on condition that he should leave all the Coffrees serving in the squadron, which were 400, and 500 Europeans, either sailors or marines; who were accordingly landed, and he sailed away on the 30th of September. Mr. Lally, with his usual spleen, called the Europeans the scum of the sea; and, indeed, most of them for a while could be fit for little more than to do duty in the town, whilst the regular troops kept the field.

The animosity of Mr. Lally to Mr. Bussy had continued, without remission: he even employed his emissaries to persuade Mr. Bussy to make him a present of money, as a certain means of reconciliation; intending to use the proffer as a confession of Mr. Bussy's delinquency, of which he was every where seeking proofs. Meanness