Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/554

530 their cannon, which were ranged in front of the camp, facing the north, from whence alone the appearance of the English army could be expected. The night passed without riot or confusion. In the mean time, expresses were sent to Pondicherry, where the whole council immediately assembled at Mr. Lally's, who accused them all, as the instigators of the revolt; but produced 10,000 pagodas out of his chest, and sent them by the Viscount Fumel, with the promise of a general pardon to the troops. The council likewise gave assurances that the whole arrears should be discharged in a month, and sent their plate to the mint, as an earnest, which example was followed by many of the inhabitants. Fumel arrived early in the morning of the 20th at the camp of the troops, who had moved six miles farther on to the westward, towards Arni: He was permitted to confer with their chiefs, whom he harangued on the obvious topics of desertion, dishonour, and the destruction of all the French interests in India, and thought them sufficiently relented to appeal to the whole; who, according to his request, assembled round him on the plain, to the number of 2000 men. He gave hints of the money and pardon; and his representations had wellnigh converted them, when 70 or 80, who were the desperate mutineers, and had kept away from the assembly, rushed in with their bayonets fixed, and said, that nothing could be determined without their consent, which should never be given to a reconciliation before they had received every farthing of their arrears. Fumel, thinking neither their number or violence sufficient to revoke the impression he had made, broke up the assembly, signifying, that he should return to Vandiwash, and wait there three hours for their determination, before he returned to Pondicherry. Within the time the answer came; the serjeant La Joye was a sensible man, and disapproving, although he commanded the revolt, prevailed on them to be content with receiving six months pay immediately, the rest in a month, and a general amnesty, signed by Mr. Lally, and all the members of the council of Pondicherry. Accounts were immediately begun; and, whilst waiting for them and the return of messengers