THE FLAW IN THE MACHINE
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before, an officer who is one of the splendid illustrations of British skill and daring in India, Major Stringer Lawrence, and he commanded in chief at the English fort. Deceiving the French commander by reports, which the latter accepted without due inquiry, he led him to make a careless attack on the strongest part of the fort, received him there with his full force, and compelled him to retreat, beaten, baffled, and humiliated, to Pondichery.
This was his last attempt on Fort St. David. A few weeks later Dupleix was called upon to defend Pondichery against a powerful English fleet under the command of Admiral Boscawen.
