Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/659

Book XII. The successes of the English army, had not a little conduced to encrease the dissentions which had long rent the government of Pondicherry, where calamity, instead of reconciling, only exasperated the animosities of those who were sharing the same distresses. The loss of Permacoil was imputed to the retreat of the army, which was on march to relieve it; but they were only faulty in not having advanced with more expedition; and in either case Mr. Lally, not being present, was exempt from blame: which nevertheless was urged, because the officer who commanded in his absence was of his own regiment, and supposed to be much in his favour. The fall of Alamparvah was ascribed to the loss of Permacoil, and Valdore to malignant treachery, that Pondicherry might be deprived of the last post which remained to protect any convoys which might attempt to get into the town. Mr. Lally was informed of what every one thought and said concerning himself; and retaliated with sarcasms on their soreness for the loss of their own peculations out of the districts which he had been obliged to abandon. In this state of virulence were minds, when the squadron with Mr. Cornish was working up the coast to Karical. There were in the town of Pondicherry, 600 Europeans, invalids, fit only for garrison duty: and the inhabitants were 500 more Europeans. These, added to the regular troops, would contribute to make a formidable display, which Mr. Lally intended to exhibit on the strand to the view of the squadron, as they were passing through the road: orders were given in consequence. The covenanted servants of the French company were to be a part of the parade; but a little before, at the hour appointed, they came into the court of the government-house, and sent up word to Mr. Lally, that they would not march unless led by the Governor and Council, whom Mr. Lally had exempted from this duty. Mr. Deleyrit, the governor, immediately offered to put himself at their head; but the counsellors coming in, said, that none of the Company's servants were obliged to bear arms out of the walls of the town. On this declaration, Mr. Lally arrested the two spokesmen of the Council, and two of the forwardest of the repugnants, disarmed and dismissed the rest, and went on with the review