HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
445 
factory ought to remain, nor an English inhabitant (even those born in the coun¬ 
try) suffered to reside in the province. This resolption, they observe, is the most 
effectual means to establish their reputation on the Ganges. But they seem to recom¬ 
mend only the destruction of the new fort, and the preservation of old Calcutta, on 
condition of a ransom, and the observance of a strict neutrality in Bengal, for the 
future. This the French seem most desirous of, but insist on ready money for the 
ransom, and hostages for the performance of agreements, since the English have 
here publicly declared, they will abide by no treaty of ransom. His most Christian 
Majesty, in a letter of the 25th of January, 1757, to Count D’Ache, instructs him 
not to leave an Englishman in any place that shall be taken, but to send in cartel 
ships to St. Helena, or suffer to pass to England, all free merchants and inhabitants 
not in the Company’s service: but to keep prisoners all civil servants, officers, and 
soldiers, and not set any at liberty, unless exchanged against those of equal rank. 
As to the prisoners, they are all to be sent to the Island of Bourbon, and there kept 
in deposit, till it may be thought proper to send them to France. 
Instructions given by the Directors of the East India Company to the Governor of 
the Isles of Mauritius and Bourbon , 24^ of May, 1761. 
They first recommend the division of lands into small parcels among such as 
choose to become planters, and to let them each follow the bent of their genius, 
whether it be for tilling corn, breeding horses, bullocks, poultry, planting, cotton or 
coffee trees: but for the advantage of refreshments for shipping, and to reduce the 
price of labour, they particularly recommend the breeding carriage and draught 
beasts of all kinds. 
Their next attention is directed to cutting wood, which it seems was formerly 
supplied by contractors, who, on account of the easy conveyance, no doubt, cut 
that nearest the sea-shore. The Company considering this practice as prejudicial 
to the defence of the Island of Mauritius, whose shore is, in many places, guarded 
against descents by the woods, positively forbid the cutting any wood there in future, 
and say, “There are two places which require the most immediate attention; the 
first is the shore between the north-west bay and the Bay of the Tomb, ( Bay du 
Tombeau), where it would be more preferable to abandon the making of lime, 
after the ancient custom, than to continue stripping the shore of wood in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the port, which is defended by it. The second place is the country 
