Page:History of the French in India.djvu/559

 RESOLVES TO ATTACK MADRAS. 533 into Arkat (October 4th), was guarded only by two c ^ p ' companies of sipahis, and the capture of which would have ensured him at least supplies. It would appear that 1758. it was not until the English had strengthened the place considerably, and supplied it with an adequate garrison, that he became sensible of its importance. But it was just at that moment that, in the view of the chance of a protracted siege, the absolute necessity for a further supply of money came home to him. Unable to procure that supply by means of a letter to the Council, he left his army in cantonments, and proceeded with Bussy and other of his officers to Pondichery, in the hope to be able to come to some definite arrangement by means of which the expedition, not only against Chengalpat, but against Madras itself, might be made feasible. The deliberations at Pondichery succeeded better than Lally had dared to hope. At a meeting of a mixed council the expedition against Madras was resolved upon, the military and some of the civil members expressing their opinion that it was better to encounter the risk of dying from a musket-ball on the glacis of Madras than of hunger in Pondichery. De Leyrit alone dissented, alleging that he had no money whatever. But this article was not altogether wanting. Moracin had brought with him not only 250 European troops and 500 sipahis, but 100,000 rupees ; the superior officers and members of Council, instigated by the example of Lally himself,* added contributions from their private purses. Still notwithstanding the con- siderable sum thus raised, it was very much reduced by the necessary preparations, and when, on November 2nd, Lally started to join his army, his treasure-chest contained but 94,000 rupees, whilst the monthly ex- penses of the army alone were not less than 40,000. The meeting between Lally and Bussy had been ap- Count d'Estaing and others 80,000 Bussy gave nothing".
 * Lally subscribed 144,000 livres, livres in plate. According to Lally,