272 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
in a very violent tone, “ No, Sir, our communications must be public.” The first 
emotion of M. de la Bourdonnais, at this rash reply, was to order them all to 
be put under arrest; but apprehensive that there might be found factious people 
to join them, in some act of sedition, he thought it would be more prudent to 
dissemble. 
The Register immediately began to read the requisition presented by the inhabi¬ 
tants of Pondicherrry, which was succeeded by, 
1st. The protest of the Council of Pondicherry, which signified to M. de la 
Bourdonnais and the English Council, that the treaty respecting the ransom was 
null and void. 
2d. The commission, appointing M. Dupleix Governor of the French settlements 
in India. 
3d. The letters patent for establishing a Provincial Council at Madras, by the 
Supreme Council of Pondicherry. 
4th. The commission, which the Supreme Council had issued, appointing M. 
Despresmenil Commandant and Director of Madras. 
5th. The commission, naming M. de Bury Major-General of the French troops 
in India. 
6th. The particular orders of M. de Bury. 
The reading of these various instruments having excited an universal murmur 
in the hall of the State-house, which was now filled with people from every part of 
the town, M. de la Bourdonnais could with difficulty make himself heard. At 
length he requested the deputies to inform him what they proposed to do at Madras ? 
—“ To introduce good order in it,” answered M. Barthelemy.—" That can be 
done,” replied M. de la Bourdonnais, “ without your assistance.” In short, after 
much unpleasant altercation, during which the military officers repeatedly requested 
permission of M. de la Bourdonnais to put the deputies under arrest; and after 
M. Paradis had treated the orders of the King and the Minister to M. de la 
Bourdonnais as so much waste paper, the English Council interposed, and appealed 
to the law of nations, which the Governor and Supreme Council of Pondicherry 
were attempting to violate in their persons. M. de la Bourdonnais therefore imme¬ 
diately ordered a council of war, to determine if the capitulation made with the 
English should be maintained and observed ?—The result was as follows: 
