\ 
COCHINCHINA. 267 
pany with China ; but it is sufficiently evident tliat it had for 
its object the destruction of both. 
The untoward circumstances that had put an end to the 
expedition did not, however, deter the Bishop from the pro- 
secution of his original plan of re-establishing the lawful 
Sovereign of Cochinchina, if still living, or the young Prince, 
if his father should be dead, on the throne of their ancestors. 
He had carried with him from France several officers, who 
were to have held appointments in the new settlements. 
With some of these, as volunteers, the Bishop and the young 
Prince embarked in a merchant ship for Cape St. Jacques, 
at the mouth of the river leading to Sai-goitg^ where they 
hoped to receive intelligence of the King. Here they learned 
that, after their departure for Pondicherry, the unfortunate 
monarch had remained on the island of Pulo JVai for nearly 
tAVO years, feeding on roots with the rest of his people, 
when the two usurpers were so much exhausted by perpetual 
broils and skirmishes, and his faithful subjects so very de- 
sirous of his presence in Don-nai, that he was induced once 
more to venture a landing in his own dominions ; that all 
ranks flocked with ardour to his standard ; that he marched 
without interruption to Sai-go?ig, whose works of defence 
were immediately strengthened and put into good order; 
that the moment of his landing had been particularly favour- 
able, as the two rebel brothers were then shut up in their 
respective capitals, each expecting to be attacked by the 
other. This favourable intelligence gave a spur to the exer- 
tions of the Bishop and his son, who joined the King at Sai~ 
gong, in the year 1790; and they were followed by a 
small vessel which had been taken up to convey arms and 
M M 21 
