444 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
Article 5th takes notice that Saint Mary’s, near Madagascar, is a small island, and 
has one harbour, capable of containing seven or eight vessels : the French had sent 
thither a chief, an officer, and some soldiers, to get the necessary provisions for the 
sailors and troops. 
Article 7th remarks, that it is probable the English squadron may then be at 
Trinconomale Bay, either as a place of security against the French, or to careen. 
In either case the commander of‘the French squadron is instructed to declare to the 
Dutch, that it is against the rules of a strict neutrality to receive and protect in their 
port the enemies of France; and that he has orders to pursue and take, or burn the 
enemy’s ships wherever he shall meet them, which order he must obey, in spite of 
their opposition. 
Article 8th points out the places where it is probable the English squadron may 
take shelter, and advises the taking or burning it in any port of India, though belong¬ 
ing to neutral powers, as Trinconomale, Merguy, Acheen, or any other port, ex¬ 
cept in China or Bengal; where, they observe, it may not be prudent to commit 
any violence, lest their commerce suffer for infringing the protection the government 
may give to English ships. 
Article 11th proposes, that, in case they arrive too late at the islands, to be on the 
Coromandel coast time enough to undertake any enterprize before the monsoon of 
1 757 ; to project any other operation which may not interfere with, or delay the 
operations on the coast of Coromandel early in 1758. Some ships are particularly 
recommended to be sent to Bencoolen to take that place, and the other settlements 
on Sumatra, from whence all the English and slaves are to be carried off to the 
Island of Bourbon. 
Article 13th observes, that there is still in India a better understanding between 
the Dutch and English, than there is in Europe, to the prejudice of France; and, 
therefore, little regard ought to be paid to their flag, if any British subjects or effects 
are found with them. 
In another Instruction for Count D’Ache , sent by D. L'Aguille , on the 8 th of 
December , 1757, it is said , 
Article 4th, that should the operations on the river Bengal be attended with suc¬ 
cess, the conquered place may either be kept, or the fortifications, civil buildings, 
and warehouses utterly destroyed. Should the latter plan be resolved on, not a 
