Page:History of the French in India.djvu/173

 DUPLEIX CAJOLES THE NAWWAB. 151 were not gained to the French. In accordance with chap this idea, he sent instant instructions to his agent at ^_ v — Arkat, to inform the Nawwab that he was conquering 1746. Madras for him, and that it was his intention to make it over to him on its surrender. Well acquainted with the vague ideas regarding the ransom of Madras, to which La Bourdonnais had given utterance in previous correspondence, it became im- peratively necessary for Dupleix to make known to the admiral the engagement into which he had just entered. At 8 p.m., on the evening of the 21st, there- fore, he despatched to him a special messenger con- veying a letter, in which La Bourdonnais was informed of the negotiations with the Nawwab, and was specially warned to entertain no proposals for the ransom of Madras after its capture, "as to do so would be to deceive the Nawwab, and make him join our enemies."* This letter reached Madras on the night of the 23rd. Before its arrival La Bourdonnais had, as we have seen, sent to Dupleix a copy of the capitulation, together with a long letter, in which he entered fully into the subject of the reasons by which he had been actuated. Three courses he stated were before him. He might either make Madras a French colony ; he might raze it to the ground, or he might treat regarding its ransom. f leave no doubt on the reader's mind to ransom it. So long, too, as Madras of the sincerity of Dupleix's nego- remains as it is, it will always be an tiations with Anwaru-dm. He writes: obstacle to the increase of this place. — " 1 have informed the Nawwab I beg you to weigh well these con- through my agent at Arkat, that as siderations." — Dupleix to La Bour- soon as we are masters of the town donnais, dated Pondichery, Septem- of Madras, we will make it over 10 her 21, 1746, 8 p.m. him, it being well understood, in the f The fact that, in this letter, state in which we may think fit," which accompanied the capitulation, meaning, he would first raze the for- La Bourdonnais expressly considers tificalions. He adds : — " This infor- himself at liberty to decide upon one mation ought to determine you to of the three courses indicated, two of press the siege vigorously, and not to which would have rendered the ran- listen to any propositions which may som of the place impossible, proves be made you for the ransom of the conclusively that up to the 3rd he place after its capture, as that would had entered into no binding engage- be to deceive the Nawivdb and make ments to ransom Madras, and that him join our enemies ; besides, once the story related in his memoirs was masters of the place, I do not see manufactured afterwards.
 * The perusal of this letter will with what the English will be able