Page:History of the French in India.djvu/233

 THE ENGLISH THREATEN PONDICHERY. 211 on the appearance of Admiral Griffin's fleet before Pon- chap. dichery, he was recalled within the town. t r. It was now the tnrn of Dupleix to be cut off from 1747. the sea, to be left entirely to his own resources. Not only was a powerful English fleet in the Pondichery roadstead, but ships from England, from Bombay, Telli- cheri, and other places, continued to bring reinforce- ments to the garrison of Fort St. David. The three hundred Europeans and natives of which it was com- posed in January, had increased in July to 2,000, in- cluding upwards of 600 sailors borrowed from the fleet. The friendship of the Nawwab, he knew, would always go with the stronger power. Madras had but a small garrison, and any movement of the Nawwab's troops would cut off the only possible communication, — that by land, — with Pondichery, whilst that city itself lay exposed to the bombardment, as well as to the blockade, of a powerful squadron. Yet Dupleix was born to shine in adversity. Never did his great quali- ties appear so great as when he was surrounded by dangers. Though cut off from all communication with the sea, he yet managed to send instructions to Dor- delin to proceed, as soon as the monsoon should be over, to the islands, to join his squadron to any French ships that should be there, and to represent to the governor the necessity under which he was of speedy and efficient aid. He held himself, meanwhile, ready not only to defend Pondichery against all attacks, but even, should occasion offer, to retaliate on the enemy. The possession of the Isles of France and Bourbon, midway between the mother country and India, gave the French a very great advantage over their English rivals in this early stage of the battle for empire. These islands formed, in fact, the base of the operations, naval and military, which the French undertook in India. They were believed to be secure against hostile attacks, and a French squadron could wait its opportunitv in p 2