314 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
was the reason we did not leave the Negrais, and 
come all to Persaim, and settle there ? I told him 
that the Negrais was a key to that river: if we 
lost it entirely, that the French, whom I believe 
we were now at war with, would likely come 
there; but that we should come with a firm reso¬ 
lution to settle at Persaim, if his Majesty would 
indulge us in settling the treaty, and leave a small 
force at the Negrais. The King then said, if all 
the powers in the world were to come, he would 
drive them out of his country. He then asked 
me, if we were afraid of the French; I told him 
that the English and French had no great liking 
for each other, but there never was that English¬ 
man born that was afraid of a Frenchman.” 
Mr. Lester had a second audience of the King, 
in which his Majesty again appears as a great 
boaster. “ The short time I was with the King, 
he asked me several questions of the same kind 
as the last time I was with him. He likewise told 
me that he would go to Madras, and carry a large 
chest of rich stones, with all sorts of other com¬ 
modities which his country afforded: he likewise 
told me, if a nine-pound shot was to be fired out 
of a gun, and come against his body, it could not 
enter; with some other things of the same kind. 
As his barge was just going to put off, I asked 
the King if he had any commands to the Chief 
of Negrais; he told me he had given Antonio a 
