186 
or his friends, or whether the extent of his knowledge, 
and his firm and enterprising character, had pointed 
him out to the minister as a fit person to superintend 
the undertaking, does not appear. Certain it is, that 
Monsieur de Boynes expressed the greatest confidence 
in him, in his letter of instructions to the governor 
and commissary at the Isle of France. “No person,” 
says he, “ has appeared more capable of carrying his 
Majesty’s intentions into effect, than Monsieur Baron 
de Benyowsky. In the course of his travels by sea, 
he has learned the manner of treating with savage 
people; and, to a great share of firmness, he has 
united that mildness of character which suits a design 
of this nature.” 
In confirmation of this opinion, the minister, not 
approving the plan w 7 hich had been drawn up by one 
of the government agents, ordered Benyowsky to draw 
up his own plan, which he did, and it was approved 
both by the king and his ministers. 
The first step which was taken after this, may be 
considered as the cause of failure in the undertaking. 
The minister, instead of raising the necessary supplies 
in France, left it to the government of the Isle of 
France to furnish them ; by which he, in effect, threw 
the count into the power of his enemies, who were 
absolutely interested in the counteraction of his plans. 
He remonstrated against this, but the minister could 
not be prevailed on to make such an alteration as 
would secure him against the bad effects of the ar¬ 
rangement. 
