HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
287 
body of troops into the environs of Madras, before M. de la Eourdonnais had quitted 
it; but while he commanded in the place they did not venture to approach, or 
commit any act of hostility ; but no sooner was he embarked, than they began to 
blockade it. M. Despremesnil, who commanded there, instantly dispatched deputies 
to the Nabob, to demand the reasons which induced him to threaten the French 
with an attack ? His answer was, that M. Dupleix had promised to give up Madras 
to him, and that he was determined to possess himself of it, if that engagement was 
not immediately fulfilled. M. Despremesnil replied, that he must acquaint the Go¬ 
vernor and Council of the demands of the Nabob, and the difficult situation in which 
he found himself. These circumstances he thought proper to relate in his own 
person to M. Dupleix, and was removed from his command. 
M. Barthelemy was appointed to succeed him, and, by some active sallies on the 
Moors, contrived to keep them at a distance, and restore liberty to the place: he 
was, indeed, assisted in his attacks on the enemy by a detachment sent to him from 
Pondicherry, under the command of M. Paradis. The latter possessed the first place 
in the confidence of M. Dupleix. He had been a surveyor in the isles; and M. de 
la Bourdonnais discovering that he had ambition, talent, and courage, was glad to 
employ him as an officer in the military service. At length, having asked some 
advancement, which M. de la Bourdonnais could not grant, without manifest injustice 
to the senior officers of his troops, he took occasion to quarrel with him, and became 
his avowed enemy. He succeeded better with M. Dupleix, who preferred him to all 
his competitors; and he had no sooner received his appointments, than the project 
which M. Dupleix had so long meditated began to disclose itself. The following 
orders now arrived at Madras. 
Extract from the Register of the Deliberations of the Supreme Council , on the 
jtb of November , 1746. 
" The Council, in full assembly, having maturely deliberated on the representa¬ 
tions made yesterday by the principal inhabitants of the colony and commanders of 
ships, declare to the English at Madras, that the treaty of ransom which they had 
made with M. de la Bourdonnais is null and void; and that the French nation 
now finds itself in the same relation towards them, as on the day when the town of 
Madras surrendered to the arms of his Majesty, Sc c. 
Signed, “Dupleix, Despremesnil,” See. See. 
