* 5 6 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
without the desired effect. When, therefore, M. de la Bourdonnais perceived that 
M. Dupleix was intirely influenced by passion, he sent back the troops, with a 
letter, which concluded in the following manner: 
“ I cannot give a more decided proof of my resolution to submit to controuling 
circumstances, than by resisting fifteen hours fever, giving orders to a squadron, 
and answering three such letters as yours, in one day: nor shall I forget to add, the 
lively emotions which the treatment I have received must necessarily excite.” 
The same day the squadron set sail, and left M. de la Bourdonnais in a condition 
which made it doubtful, whether he would live to see it again. His health, however, 
was soon re-established; and on the 5th of September his squadron returned with 
two small prizes, estimated at two hundred thousand livres. This trifling success 
evidently proved, how little was to be expected from any enterprize which was not 
conducted by M. de la Bourdonnais. 
As he now had every reason to believe that his motions were not watched by the 
English squadron, he directed his whole attention to the preparations necessary for 
the siege of Madras: but at this moment, the Council of Pondicherry gave addi¬ 
tional proofs of that counteracting spirit which animated them against him. In fact, 
they had spread reports of his maintaining an intelligence with the English, and that 
he had received a bribe of twenty thousand pagodas to forego the intended attack 
upon Madras. Nay, the various clauses of this imaginary treaty were circumstan¬ 
tially detailed, by his enemies. These malignant rumours, however, immediately 
subsided, when the necessary stores, 8 c c. for the siege, were embarked on board the 
squadron. 
As he was too well acquainted with the characters of those with whom he was 
necessarily connected, he employed every possible precaution to check unfavourable 
suggestions concerning his conduct; and though he had appointed a Commissary for 
the squadron, he requested M. Dupleix also to name one from Pondicherry, that they 
might conjointly attend to the interests of the Company. M. Dupleix accordingly 
appointed M. Despremesnil, his son-in-law, to be second Commissary. M. de la Bour¬ 
donnais also requested M. Dupleix to inform him, what conditions he should impose 
on the English, if they should express a desire to pay a sum of money to save Madras 
from bombardment. To this requisition he received the following answer : 
“If the English should propose to buy off the bombardment of their town, and 
the attack of it by land, you should reclaim the ship Iman Saheb , taken under its 
