HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
270 
But the Deputies did not confine themselves to simple declarations; on the con¬ 
trary, they employed every secret art to draw over to their party, the principal 
officers of the troops commanded by M. de la Bourdonnais, many of whom commu¬ 
nicated these circumstances to him. He accordingly addressed his complaints to 
the Supreme Council of Pondicherry, by a letter, dated the 27th September, in 
which he stated the injustice, impolicy, and baseness of such a conduct, and which 
was justified, as proceeding from the orders of M. Dupleix. 
From the 27th to the 30th, the time passed in disputes and protestations, as well 
on the part of the Supreme Council of Pondicherry, as of their Deputies; who 
insisted that they had a right to command in Madras, and to decide with sovereign 
power on the fate of that place. In the same interval, the greater part of the ar¬ 
rangements formed by M. de la Bourdonnais ceased to be carried into execution. 
M. Despremesnil, without any notice whatever, resigned the office of Commissary; 
and M. Bonneau quitted his functions in such an offensive manner, as to oblige 
M. de la Bourdonnais to put him under arrest: he contrived however to escape, 
and retired to Pondicherry, where his conduct received the most flattering appro¬ 
bation ; while M. Dupleix, as a recompence for the zeal he had shewn for his 
interests, advanced him to a place in the Supreme Council. 
M. de la Bourdonnais continued to remonstrate, in the strongest manner, against 
the conduct of M. Dupleix ; but the latter was so anxious to command in Madras, 
and to dispose of the riches contained in that place, that he would listen to no 
suggestions, but such as proceeded from his own avarice and ambition ; and those 
passions dictated the violent means which he employed to establish his authority in 
the conquered settlement. 
He prepared a new protest against the treaty, with letters patent for the establish¬ 
ment of a Provincial Council at Madras, and the commission of Commandant and 
Director of the town for M. Despremesnil. At the same time he transmitted to 
M. de Bury, Major-General, and to those who accompanied him, precise orders 
to exercise the most exemplary rigour against all those who should dare to support 
M. de la Bourdonnais; and to engage the troops which were at Madras to support, 
with all their power, the execution of these orders. He also wrote a circular letter 
to the principal officers, in which he excited them to revolt, in the following terms: 
“ Entreated and solicited by the whole colony, I cannot dispense with putting 
“ an immediate conclusion to all the evil and dishonour, which must result from a 
