Page:History of the French in India.djvu/59

 HIS WISE POLICY. 37 of conspicuous ability and of rare integrity. Whilst chap, the town of Pondichery was increasing, and its native , inhabitants continued enormously to augment, merely 1701. by reason of the good government that they found there, the connexion with the parent Company was becoming every day more precarious and uncertain, and the Superior Council could not but fear that the time would shortly arrive when Pondichery, like Madagascar and Surat, would be abandoned. Whilst affairs were in this uncertain position, Martin 1706, died — December 30, 1706. Upon the plot of ground which he had occupied just thirty-two years before with sixty men, there had risen up under his auspices a large and flourishing town. He himself, its founder, had not only amassed no riches, but he died poor — poor but honoured. He had devoted all his energies, private as well as public, to his country. Pondichery, at his death, although still in its infancy as a city, had an air of prosperity which it was impossible to mistake. There was a fine palace for the Governor, built of brick, and other houses and shops of the same material. Keeping in view the rising importance of the city he had founded, Martin had been careful to lay out the streets in such a manner that those who built houses could not but contribute to its regularity and beauty. The fruit of his excellent rules was fully realised in the time of his successors, and is to be seen at the present day. Nearly ten years had elapsed since the Dutch had restored Pondichery, and they had been years of peace and growing prosperity. The French enjoyed in those days a great reputation at the courts of the various native princes for qualities the very opposite of those they were wont to display in Europe.* The power and resources of France, the sacredness of the persons of her sons, were subjects which the French in India
 * Historie des hides Orientates.