Page:History of the French in India.djvu/558

 532 THE LAST STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE. chap, his sailors to augment the land forces of the settlement. , He then — on September 2nd — sailed for the Isle of 1768. France. The English squadron, now without an oppon- ent, remained for three weeks longer before Pondichery, and then sailed for Bombay. The capture of the Dutch vessel, however indefensible in itself, had at least supplied Lally with money. He employed the time, therefore, after his return to Pon- dichery in making preparations for his darling design upon Madras. As a preliminary to this expedition he despatched Saubinet to retake Trinomali — which had been recaptured by the adherents of the English — ; de Soupire against Karanguli ; de Crillon against Trivatur ; appointing all these detachments to meet him at Wandi- wash. Here, too, Bussy, to whom, as we have seen, he had written on June 13th,* joined him, having preceded his troops left under the orders of Moracin. The three expeditions having been successful, and the troops having reunited, Lally marched towards Arkat, which the native commandant, who had been gained over, surrendered to him at once. There now remained between the French and Madras, in occupation of the English, the posts of Chengalpat and Kanchipuram, neither of them adequately garrisoned, and both almost inviting attack. Upon these, more especially upon Chengalpat, the position of which on the Palar made it of great importance to the English, it was his obvious duty to march without delay. He himself declares that he could not move because his money was exhausted, and the sipahis refused to march unless they were paid. But it is difficult to believe that he could not have detached the divisions of Saubinet or d'Estaing to besiege a place which, at the time of his entry his whole heart to Bussy. After confine myself now to indicate to you stating" his designs upon Madras he mypolicyin these five words; nomore had added — " I will not conceal from English in India" (plus cP Anglais you, that, Madras once taken, I am dans le Peninsule). determined to proceed to the Granges,
 * In that letter Lally had opened either by land or by sea. ... I