and obtained sanction, that these honours might be regarded as transferable to his successor.
Before the crisis, the result of which I have just related; had occurred, Dumas had transmitted to France his request that he might be relieved at the first convenient opportunity. Towards its conclusion he received an intimation that the Court of Directors had accepted his resignation, and had nominated as his successor, M. Joseph Francis Dupleix, then Intendant of Chandarnagar. The new Governor arrived at Pondichery in October, 1741, took the oaths of Director-General of the French possessions in India, and declared himself to be the Nuwáb of the Mughal, and a Commander of 4,500 Horse.
The records of the six years' administration of M. Dumas prove that he was no unworthy successor to Francis Martin. He had displayed to a very high degree boldness, tact, prudence, and skill. He had greatly increased the prestige of the French, and had added considerably to their possessions. On the other hand, it has to be recollected that he accomplished these results by departing from the line of strict neutrality which Martin had laid down. He had the choice either to do that or to succumb. Probably, under the circumstances, Martin would have acted similarly. His prudent boldness had given the settlement a position which, in the crash of a decaying empire, might be improved to a degree till then undreamt of. Everything depended on the character of his successor. Dumas had clearly indicated the direction. He had
