HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
231 
general good and the interests of the Company. You will communicate to M. 
Dupleix the plan which you shall adopt, as I have given him strict orders to support 
you by every exertion in his power. 
“ If two of your ships touch at Make , you will there receive the necessary intelli¬ 
gence from the Coast of Coromandel; but if you should think it more suitable to 
your designs to repair at once to Achem , without suffering any of your squadron 
to appear on the Malabar coast, M. Dupleix may dispatch the Expedition frigate 
to Achem , to convey the necessary communications to you, and to settle the time 
when you should arrive at Pondicherry. 
“ If, during your cruize off the mouth of the Ganges, in the month of January, 
you should make any prizes laden with merchandize suited to the European market, 
you will dispatch them at once to the Isle of France, and give the necessary orders, 
either to send the prizes to France, if they should be capable of making the 
voyage, or to transfer their most valuable part of their cargoes on board the 
vessels which shall be on their return from Pondicherry. 
“ By the next dispatches you shall be informed of the rendezvous, which I shall 
arrange with M. de Maurepas , that the vessels which shall sail from the the Isle of 
France in April, 1746, may return to France under the convoy of the King’s ships, 
which shall be ordered thither for that purpose. 
“ If, on your return from this Expedition, you are of opinion that your presence 
is no longer necessary in the islands, I authorize you to embark on board any vessel^ 
that may be on its voyage to France in the beginning of the year 1747; and you will 
nominate, per interim , as Governor and Commandant in the Isles of France and 
Bourbon, those whom you shall consider as the most capable of rendering service 
to the Company.” 
Signed, “ Orry.” 
1745.—M. de la Bourdonnais now submitted his plan of operations to the con¬ 
sideration of the Council, and when it had received their official confirmation, he 
prepared to carry it into execution. As the dearth, which had for some time 
threatened the island, began to be very sensibly felt, he dispatched his ships to take 
in provisions at Madagascar, with orders to wait for him there; at the same time he 
kept the Bourbon , on board which he resolved to embark on the first of August, 
to join his squadron, in order to proceed to India, if the ships promised him from 
