264 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
As the monsoon obliged him to quit the coast about the middle of October, 
and as he could not, therefore, remain longer than twenty-five days at Madras, 
it was physically impossible to take away all the merchandize and effects which 
that town contained. He thought, indeed, that it would be sufficient for him to 
carry off what belonged to the English Company, with which he hoped to load 
three vessels; and he proposed to comprise the rest in the ransom. This was 
his first project: he determined therefore to send to the islands, the N-eptune and 
the 'Princess Mary , laden with the effects of Madras; the Saint Louis and the 
Lys, laden at Pondicherry, with merchandize for Europe, with the Renommee and 
Sumatra , appointed to carry provisions. These six vessels would announce the 
arrival of M. de la Bourdonnais, and their crews would serve to defend the isles in 
case they should be attacked. During this time, M. de la Bourdonnais proposed 
to remain in India with seven large vessels, the Achilles , the Phoenix , the Duke , 
and the Bourbon , together with the Centaur , the Mars , and the Brillant, which 
had been armed as ships of war at the isles, according to his orders, and actually 
arrived the 8th of October at Pondicherry, as will appear hereafter.. 
Letter of M. Dupleix to M. de la Bourdonnais. 
et Sir, Pondicherry, 18th Sept. 1746. 
* £ I have received my letters from Mahe, which announce to me the arrival of 
the Centaur , of seventy-two guns, and six hundred and forty men ; as well as of the 
Brillant and the Mars , of three hundred and sixty men each. The Captains were 
not come on shore. The Pat mars were ordered to examine these ships; but it does 
not appear that they are to be followed by any others. I have not received any news 
from Europe; but M. de Leyrit informs me, that all the vessels which you expedited 
thither, have been taken at Louisbourg. A report to that effect had already pre¬ 
vailed in India, and it is now confirmed : these are heavy losses for our Company; 
and the success of your enterprise can alone indemnify them. The expectation of 
speedy succour will animate you to employ all your efforts to terminate it, &c. &c. 
Signed, '“Dupleix.” 
M. de la Bourdonnais had also taken a vessel which could serve him on the 
look-out, so that he commanded a formidable squadron; and he proposed to 
quit the coast, about the middle of October, in search of the English: it was 
