Page:History of the French in India.djvu/599

 THE GREAT STORM OFF PONDiCHER?. 573 caution in fact was neglected to prolong the defence of chap. the town till the arrival of d'Ache, whose squadron was XIL even then daily expected. 1 7 6 q < But, on December 24, there remained in the maga- zines but eight days' full rations for the soldiers. It had become necessary to reconsider the position. Under these circumstances, Lally, who for the three weeks preceding had been confined to his bed by sickness, directed the assembly of a mixed council to take into consideration the terms which should be offered to the English. The members of the party opposed to Lally, unwilling to take upon themselves any share in the re- sponsibility of a capitulation, evaded this order. But an event occurred which rendered their evasion of the less consequence. On the 31st the roadstead of Pondi- chery was visited by one of those storms not uncommon at that season on the Koromandel coast. The effect of this on the English fleet was most disastrous. Three large ships were driven on shore two miles below Pondi- chery ; three others, having on board 1,100 Europeans, foundered ; all the remainder were severely injured. Nor did the siege works escape. All the batteries and redoubts raised by the besiegers were destroyed. Soldiers, unable to carry their muskets, had thrown them away in despair; all the ammunition, except that in store, was rendered useless ; every tent had been blown down ; so great was the confusion that had a sortie been made by the garrison, not a hundred men could have been collected to resist it. The question of a sortie was indeed mooted in Pondichery, and though such a move- ment would, owing to the still raging wind and the in- undation caused by the storm, have been attended with great difficulties, it ought certainly, even as a last despairing blow, to have been attempted. But who was there to organise such a movement Lally lay helpless in his bed ; his orders canvassed and cavilled at rather than obeyed. With the enemy at their gates,