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156 movement, possessed himself of Kilakota and Koiládí, whilst Morárí Ráo defeated the Tanjore troops. Bringing his diplomacy to bear at the opportune moment, Dupleix had almost succeeded in detaching the Rájá of Tanjore from the English alliance when he learned that he had been superseded, and that his successor, M. Godeheu, whom he had formerly benefited at Chandarnagar, and who had subsequently become a Director of the French Company, might arrive at any moment. In fact, the ship carrying Godeheu and his fortunes anchored in the Pondichery roadstead the 1st of August (1754).

The fact was that, in France, the Company of the Indies and the Ministers of the King had alike been long weary of this distant war which brought them neither glory nor profit, but which interfered greatly with commerce. They did not enter into, they did not comprehend, the vastness of the plans of Dupleix. His mind had penetrated the future: their minds were intent on the present. That present had for them a gloomy aspect. As year after year brought no practical result, the idea stole upon them that the resources of France were being squandered to promote the vanity and the ambition of one individual. They reckoned not the advantages already acquired—the control of the councils of the Subáhdár of the Deccan, the most powerful ruler in Southern India; the cession to France in absolute gift of the Northern Sirkars, comprising Gánjám, Vizagapatam, Godávarí. and Krishná, with Rajamahendri and Masulipatam;