HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
his honour to restore it, with the reservation of a ransom. If, added he, you will 
trust to my word, in every thing that regards the personal interest of individuals, 
you will find my demands perfectly reasonable. He was then desired to explain his 
notions of what might be esteemed reasonable, under the immediate circumstances; 
when he took one of their hats, and observed, that, if it was worth six rupees, he 
must give three or four of it, and so for the rest. The deputies, however, were not 
sufficiently versed in the French language to comprehend this comparison, which 
appeared to decide the fate of the town : M. de Schonanville, therefore, another son- 
in-law of M. Dupleix, was desired to serve as interpreter on the occasion. 
The deputies then proposed, that all the articles of commerce should have a price 
fixed on them, before the gates of the town were opened. This proposition, how¬ 
ever, was considered as inadmissible; because such an arrangement would occasion 
considerable delay, and the enemy’s squadron might arrive in the mean time, and 
change the face of affairs : besides, a report prevailed, that the beseiged had solicited 
the Nabob of Arcot to come to their assistance; and that prince, with fifteen or 
twenty thousand men, though but indifferent troops, might harass the handful of 
French forces which were before Madras, reduce'them to act on the defensive, and 
compel them to regain their ships, that they might not be attacked on all sides. 
M. de la Bourdonnais, therefore, on these considerations, demanded their imme¬ 
diate surrender of the town, or to take the consequences, which would prove its 
destruction. They answered, that if they did not receive an assurance from him, 
of being well treated, that they would defend themselves to the last drop of their 
blood. He replied, that it rested on them to choose between the alternatives which 
were proposed, and that they might depend on his maintaining his word in either 
of them. 
The deputies, perceiving that he was immoveable, returned to Madras, to confer 
with the Governor on the propositions which had been made to them. 
M. de la Bourdonnais took this opportunity to write a letter to the Governor, in 
which he drew a lively picture of the horrors that threatened Madras, and exhorted 
him, in very strong terms, not to render himself responsible, by a rash conduct 
which would not be successful, and every reflecting person must disapprove. 
At the same time he forwarded a dispatch to M. Dupleix, to inform him of his 
proceedings. 
The bombardment was now recommenced and continued till three o'clock, when 
