HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
251 
to leave three thousand men, capable of doing so much, in a state of inglorious 
inactivity. 
“ To employ the time in cruizes would be absolutely fruitless, because all the 
merchants’ ships will remain in port; it would be also necessary to cruise with the 
whole squadron, lest we should be beat in detail: my object is to destroy, or dis¬ 
perse, if it be possible, the English squadron; and the capture of Madras would be 
the certain and immediate consequence of such an event. You have already in¬ 
formed me that it could be done, and without any reason to apprehend danger from 
the Moors. 
“To succeed in this last point, it is necessary to conceal our design in such a 
manner, that none of the preparations may appear. 
“ In the first place, we must depend upon our weight of metal, as we cannot 
justify the hope of being able to board them : their ships are generally better sailers 
than ours, and those who conduct them are more skilful in manceuvering than we 
are. I therefore demand a supply of cannon, which will, at least, enable us to 
attack the enemy with equal force; and as it is absolutely necessary, to attain this 
very principal object of my duty, I demand it in the name of the King and the 
Company. 
“ My ships being thus armed, and furnished with proportionable stores and ammu¬ 
nition, all the forces which you can spare me, for the Madras expedition, must be 
embarked; but without discovering the objects of it. Thus provided, we will set 
sail in search of the English squadron : if we are so fortunate as to find and to beat 
it, we cannot hesitate as to what is to follow. I shall send you a vessel with all the 
wounded, and a requisition to assist me in a pretended descent to the south. You 
will then order the sepoys to be embarked, and every thing which you may think 
necessary for the expedition ; and within two days after they shall be stationed in 
the road, I will pass before Pondicherry, and take them to about five leagues to 
the windward of Madras, from whence I will land my troops in the course of the 
night, who, by the break of day shall have invested the place; and, at the same time 
two armed ships shall seize on all the vessels at anchor off it: they will also can¬ 
nonade and alarm the English, while I disembark the remainder of the troops des¬ 
tined to this expedition; and in three or four days the object will be attained. 
“ If I do not find the enemy’s squadron in a place where I can bring it to an enage- 
ment, as it may have retired into some Dutch port, I will dispatch the ship as I have 
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