228 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
and that, after leaving sufficient for their subsistence, they should be obliged to 
furnish the rest, at a fixed price, for the public service. It will be readily believed 
such propositions excited an universal discontent: they were, however, unani¬ 
mously approved, and confirmed by the Council on the 8th of January, 1745. 
1745.—In order to procure men, he required every twentieth Negro in the Isle 
of Bourbon, on condition of paying his master thirteen livres per month for his 
service, and to return two hundred piastres for every one that might die in the 
expedition. He also urged the necessity of employing the authority of government 
against those who should refuse to accede to it. This measure was also approved 
by the Council, and increased the number of his enemies. He was, however, very 
fortunately relieved from the necessity of carrying it into execution, by the arrival 
of a vessel, freighted with Negroes, from the coast of Senegal, by certain merchants 
of France. As M. de la Bourdonnais had been permitted by the India Company 
to have a share in this adventure, and had full power to act for his commercial 
associates, he proposed to the Council to purchase two or three hundred of these 
Negroes for the service of the Company. This proposition was also accepted by 
the Council. 
At length, by his activity and persevering resolution, he had the extreme satis¬ 
faction to see his armament complete, and in May, 1745, it was in a state to receive 
his orders. It was, nevertheless, a point of some difficulty to settle the manner in 
which it should be employed: and it was matter of serious consideration, whether 
he should set sail immediately with a view to make prizes, which appeared to be 
very practicable, as the English squadron remained in the Straits; or whether he 
should wait for the arrival of the Company’s ships from France, in order to conduct 
them to India. After much deliberation he determined to adopt the latter; as it 
would be the wisest measure to secure the commerce of the Company, before he 
employed any active means to annoy its enemies. 
He had no sooner formed this plan, than a frigate arrived from France, which 
brought him the following orders, from the Minister of Marine, dated the 29th of 
January, 1745. 
“ The Company has dispatched you a frigate, named the Expedition, which will 
be followed by the ships hereafter mentioned. 
“ The Achilles, of seventy guns, and four hundred and fifty men. 
The St. Louis, of fifty guns, and two hundred and fifty men. 
