HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



211 



fortunate measure presented, ^as 

 that of its totally rejecting the men- 

 tion or recognlLion of any existing 

 treaties between Great Britain and 

 the other contracting parties. The 

 fatal consequences of such a renun- 

 ciitiun, we at the time adverted to 

 and predicted. Under the provr^ 

 sions of a treaty so constituted, not 

 only Pondicherry but every settle- 

 ment belonging to France and Hol- 

 land, on the continent of India, 

 ■H ere unconditionally restored, with- 

 out the slightest reference to the 

 former treaties between Fiance and 

 England, which strictly confined 

 the troops to be sent by the former 

 power to her Indian possessions, to 

 a limited number. All preceding 

 compa6tswere now, however, iloiie 

 away, and Bonaparte was too quick- 

 sighted not to take immediate ad- 

 vantage of the greatest error exhi- 

 bited in the whole diplomatic history 

 of the world, from the earliest pe- 

 riods. An armament was therefore 

 fitted out, consisting of six ships of 

 "war, and 1400 of the best troops 

 of France, destined to Pondicherry, 

 lor the ostensible purpose of garri- 

 soning that fortress. But, in ad- 

 dition to this force, there was like- 

 wise embarked two hundred young 

 gentlemen, regularly formed up;)n 

 the principles of military science, 

 and a numerous staff establishment. 

 This latter body were destined to 

 join M. Perron's army, in the man- 

 ner we have already describca. This 

 armament, under the command of 

 admiral Linois, arrived at Pondi- 

 cherry during tha critical period of 



the negociations between the con- 

 federate Mahratta chieftains and the 

 British government. 



It was at this period, also, that 

 M. Perron had aftually determined 

 on obtaining an assignment to 

 France of the distrids within the 

 boundaries of' his command, from 

 Scindiah, but confirmed and ratified 

 by the Mogul emperor, then a pri- 

 soner, and held in the most abjedl 

 state of degradation by thatoilicer*. 



But of these combined projects, 

 the profound sagacity of the gover- 

 nor general had taught him to be 

 aware, and his unwearied vigilance 

 had satisfied him of the existence. 

 On admiral Linois arriving, there- 

 fore, before Pondicherry, he found 

 that place so well watched both by 

 sea and land, that he found it im- 

 prafticable to forward the recruits 

 he had carried out to general Per- 

 ron ; and, before any effectual step 

 could be taken to cfteft this purpose, 

 inteJligeuce arrived of the renewal 

 of the war between France and 

 England, and the whole of the 

 troops landed by him, were conse- 

 quently made prisoners of war. 

 How the French admiral and fiis 

 squadron escaped, and the mischiefs 

 which they elfefted to the British 

 commerce and settlements, we have 

 adverted to and detailed elsewhere. 



Thoroughly acquainted with the 

 fafts here stated, which left no 

 doubt as to the views of France; 

 and combining these views with the 

 state of Perron's army ; with the 

 warlike confederacy between Scin- 

 diah and the rajah of Berar ; with 

 P 2 ■ the 



* On the conquest of Delhi, Scindiah, flic father, compelled the unfortunate 

 Sliul) Aulum to constitute tlic jjci;;h\va his Vfujucl. rihiuituluk, or regent, in the eiu-. 

 pire of Hindostau ; and his influence at the court of Poonah procui-ed liiin tlic of- 

 fice of deputy to the peishwa in that high office. In this he was succeeded \>y the 

 present Scindiah, wli'», in tliut capacity, adn'.inistcred the whole ailVus of the ^.Lij^id 

 eiu>>ire. 



