HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
*74 
should be made to them. It was on the credit of these expectations, that M. Dupleix 
had ordered M. de Bury to put M. de la Bourdonnais under arrest. But though 
the success had not answered their hopes, that officer could not, as he thought, dis¬ 
pense with putting the orders of M. Dupleix in execution; and on the same day, 
the 4th of October, he presented himself to M. de la Bourdonnais, with two Captains, 
and put him under arrest, by a writing in the following terms: 
A. Monsieur de la Bourdonnais , Commander of the French Squadron. 
<( In consequence of the orders of M. Dupleix, Commander in Chief and Go¬ 
vernor of Pondicherry, inserted in the letter of the 27th of September, 1746, which 
the members of the Council have just communicated to me, you will be pleased 
not to quit Madras, by land or by sea, with the French troops, under any pretext 
whatever, without a written permission from the said M. Dupleix. Dated Madras, 
4th of October, 1746. 
Signed, “ De Bury.” 
The effect that such a wretched attempt had on the mind of M. de la Bourdonnais, 
was less calculated to excite his indignation than his contempt; and it was rather to 
prevent any new scene of altercation, than from a spirit of resentment, that he ordered 
them under arrest. “ I take upon me, gentlemen,” said he, “ to arrest you ; leave 
your swords here, and demean yourselves in a peaceable manner towards the govern¬ 
ment, or I will make you.” Nor did they hesitate to manifest a prompt obedience. The 
deputies having been informed of what had passed, detached the turbulent Paradis, 
to demand of M. de la Bourdonnais satisfaction for his conduct; but he had scarce 
opened his mouth, when the latter interrupted his speech, by putting him also under 
arrest. In the evening he dismissed them all, with an absolute prohibition to quit 
Madras without his permission. 
The deputies finding all their measures rendered ineffectual, formed another 
project; which was to carry off M. de la Bourdonnais, and to conduct him as a 
prisoner to Pondicherry; but as it was necessary to employ the cavalry for this 
purpose, which was commanded by M. D’Auteuil, the brother-in-law of M. de 
la Bourdonnais, M. Dupleix ordered the former to repair immediately to Pon¬ 
dicherry. 
It must be allowed that, in consequence of this strange conduct of the deputies, 
