HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
223 
CHAPTER VIII. 
The Letters of B ami Grant continued ; containing a further Account of the 
Operations of M. de la Bourdonnais. 
LETTER VII. 
Isle of France, 20th of November, 1746. 
If M. de la Bourdonnais had not thought proper to entrust me with the defence of 
this island, I should have accompanied him on his expedition. His squadron was in 
danger of being lost in getting out of port. When it had refitted, it met with the 
English fleet in India: they cannonaded each other; and it is said that the English 
ships could not sustain our fire, and quitted the engagement as ill treated at least 
as we were, although one of our ships blew up, and eighty men perished. 
Our squadron continued its course to Madras, a place of great importance to 
the English, two of whose ships lay at anchor at the entrance of the road. Our 
commander sent several vessels to engage them, when they defended themselves 
with great courage. The cannonade was very violent on both sides; but our ships 
being more shattered than those of the enemy, were obliged to retire. 
Our brave warriors made a descent at six leagues from Madras, and carried the 
place, which was submitted to pillage; though the commander confined it to the coun¬ 
try houses. He afterwards entered the place, where, for his courteous conduct, he 
received very rich presents and large quantities of gold. It is said that the capture 
was worth eleven millions of livres. The Governor of Pondicherry (M. Dupleix) 
opposed this undertaking, and the two commanders became so enraged at each other, 
that our troops were on the point of engaging those of Pondicherry. M. Dupleix 
claimed the superiority, as Governor General of India; and that, as such, he had a 
right to command. In short, this dispute continued so long, as to cause great loss and 
distress to the French fleet.* 
* The future detail of the operations of M. de la Bourdonnais, which will be offered to the 
attention of the reader, will give a very correct description of these expeditions. 
