Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/744

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720
The War of Coromandel.
Book XIII.

Colonel Durre delivered a memorial signed by Mr. Lally of the following purport: "That the English had taken Chandernagore against the faith of the treaties of neutrality which had always subsisted between the European nations in Bengal, and especially between the English and French; and this at a time, when that settlement had just rendered the English the most signal services, as well by refusing to join the Nabob Surajah Dowlah in the attack of Calcutta, as by receiving and succouring the inhabitants of this colony, after their defeat and dispersion; by which protection they were enabled to remain in the province, and by this continuance to recover their settlements; as Mr. Pigot had acknowledged in a letter to the government of Pondicherry. — " That "the government of Madrass had refused to fulfil the conditions of a cartel concluded between the two crowns, although Mr. Pigot had at first accepted the cartel, and commissioners had been appointed on both sides to meet at Sadrass, in order to settle amicably whatsoever difficulties might occur in the execution." — "This conduct of the English (Mr. Lally goes on) puts it out of his power, as responsible to the court of France, to propose any capitulation for the city of Pondicherry." — " The troops of the king and company surrender themselves, for want of provisions, prisoners of war to his Britannic Majesty, conformably to the terms of the cartel, which Mr. Lally claims for the civil inhabitants and citizens, and for the exercise of the Roman religion, the religious houses, hospitals, chaplains, surgeons, domesticks, &c. referring to the two courts to decide a proportional reparation for the violations of treaties so solemnly established." — " In consequence, Mr. Coote may to-morrow morning at eight o'clock take possession of the Villenore gate, and on the same hour the next day, of the gates of the. citadel (Fort Louis); and as he has the force in his own hands, he may dictate such farther dispositions as he may think proper." — " From a principle of justice and humanity alone I demand (these are Mr. Lally's words) that the mother and sisters of Rajahsaheb be permitted to seek an asylum wheresoever they shall think proper, or that they remain