Page:History of the French in India.djvu/495

 HE ACCEDES TO RENAULT^ PROPOSAL. 400 from the fears of the English, who had then a great chap. respect for the power of the Subadar, and greatly XI * dreaded his junction with the French, the neutrality 1757 which should place Chandranagar beyond the reach of danger'? After much deliberation, feeling keenly the loss of the opportunity which the indolence and want of enterprise on the part of de Leyrit* compelled him to forego, Renault sent a proposition for neutrality during the European war to the Council in Calcutta. To Clive and Watson, believing as they did that the European troops at Chandranagar amounted to 300 men, and that Law had nearly 100 at Kasim-bazar, this proposition was like a message from heaven. From their previous experience in forcing their way up the river Hugli, they had been inclined to rate the soldiers of the Subadar as infinitely superior, in fighting capa- bilities, to the levies of Muhammad Ali and Chanda Sahib. They knew that the Subadar, full of anger, was marching against them, and they looked upon the result of a battle with him alone as by no means certain. Were he to be reinforced by the 300 French soldiers whom they believed to be at Chandranagar they would have but little hope of success. Great, therefore, was their relief when they received this message from Renault, proposing neutrality during the war with Europe. Instantly they acceded to it ; the French Chief was even requested to send deputies to Calcutta to arrange regarding the conditions. This was at once complied with. The French deputies came to Calcutta; the conditions were discussed and agreed upon ; the treaty itself was written out fair and was ready for signature, when, instead of signing it, Clive and Watson inti- vaguely by asserting the difficulty leave the Sirkars till November or of sending reinforoements into Bengal December, arrived there in safety; at a time when he expeoted the arri- why then could not 300 ? val of an English fleet; yet Law
 * De Leyrit exoused himself with his 61 Europeans, who did not