HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
461 
blacks, belonging to M. de Bussy, and bearing his name, he encamped opposite the 
English, from whom he was separated only by the sandy bed of the Poliar, which 
was then entirely dry. Having got possession of some magazines which were in 
rear of the English, the latter were prevented from keeping the field for some days. 
The French, therefore, fell suddenly on Wandewash ; but, on the appearance of 
the English to relieve it, M. de Lally found himself obliged to retreat to Pondi¬ 
cherry, or to hazard a battle, and he determined on the latter: he accordingly 
attacked them, but was repulsed and beaten, on the 22d of January, 1760. The loss 
was nearly equal on both sides, and the only officer of rank who was taken pri¬ 
soner was M. de Bussy. M. de Lally, who was now reduced to the necessity of 
defending, as long as possible, the passage to Pondicherry, encamped with his army 
about four leagues from that place, on the road which the English must take in their 
approaches to attack it. 
Admiral Cornish appeared on the coast with four ships of the line from Europe, in 
about a month after this battle: on the 28th of February he came to an anchor in the 
road of Madras; and, on the 17th of March he appeared with his squadron before 
Pondicherry. In the mean time the English army gradually approached nearer 
to that place, while M. de Lally, in order, at the same time, to protect it from the 
attack of the fleet, and obstruct the march of the army, necessarily retired from one 
position to another, till at length he occupied an advantageous post on the march 
of the English, and about the distance of two leagues from the town. 
While the English army was occupied in possessing itself of the small French 
posts to the north of Pondicherry, the squadron of Admiral Cornish attacked 
Karical on the south, which was defended by the same officer, in the Company’s 
service, who had given up Chandernagore, after a very short bombardment. He soon 
surrendered the place, which wanted nothing, and was the only European fortification 
which the French Company possessed in India. In a short time after this operation the 
English took Valdore. At the same time M. de Lally maintained his post during three 
months, and thereby gained time sufficient to victual Pondicherry for half a year. 
While M. de Lally held the English in check, he concluded a treaty with the 
chief of Mysore. The object of this treaty was to supply Pondicherry with provi¬ 
sions; but he did not fulfil the conditions of it, and accordingly gave up the fort of 
Thiagar, which was the stipulated price. In a few days after the departure of the 
Mysore people, M, de Lally determined to strike a great stroke, by attacking the 
