made him on his assumption of office, that he should receive yearly shipments of goods, had entered into contracts with the native merchants for the supply of return cargoes. But for the confidence which had been nurtured by Martin, and maintained by his successors, the outlook would have been ruinous indeed. As it was, the native merchants, recognising that the fault did not lie with Lenoir, agreed to wait for better times.
The process of reconstitution through which the Company passed in 1723 gave it renewed life. At the end of that year two ships arrived, and from that time to 1726 three or four ships came every year. From 1726 the progress was more rapid still. The results to the settlement were most beneficial. Some idea of it may be realised from the fact that in September 1729, and in January 1730, Lenoir was able to transmit to France merchandise to the value of 5,500,000 francs, a large amount in those days for a young settlement. With returning prosperity, came the embellishment of the town. Tasteful houses were erected, a college was built, gardens were laid out, a stately edifice for the accommodation of foreign envoys rose in its turn from the ground. At the same time, the convictions of the natives were respected, for whilst other houses were cleared away, the pagodas and temples of the Hindus remained unmolested.
The prosperity continued unbroken during the remaining years of the administration of Lenoir. But,
