136 LA BOURDONNAIS AND DUPLE1X chap, resolved to return at once to Pondichery, and, arriving there on the 19th, to embark the soldiers, sipahis, and 1746. troops awaiting him, and to proceed immediately with the grand design against Madras. He added in his letter, however, that his health was greatly enfeebled, and that not for all India would he stay on the coast after October 15, when the monsoon would set in. Instead, however, of acting upon this plan, which he had communicated to Dupleix through M. Paradis, the commandant of the Karikal garrison, La Bourdonnais suddenly changed his mind and went in search of the English. He found them off Nagapatan, and endeavoured to bring them to action. But though he hoisted Dutch colours to deceive them, they fled before him, he reported, in a manner that soon took them out of sight.* Think- ing that they might return to Nagapatan, he waited there two days ; but not meeting them, he again put out, and on the evening of the 25th anchored off Pondichery. This escape of the English, and the uncertainty whither they had proceeded, completely changed the views of La Bourdonnais. He who, on the 14th, when he knew the English fleet to be below Nagapatan wait- ing for reinforcements, had declared his readiness to proceed with the utmost haste to Madras, had become on the 26th, after that fleet had sailed he knew not whither, hesitating and doubtful. He dwelt on the difference between commanding King's ships and ves- sels belonging to the Company. " In the former," he said, " one hazards everything for glory, in the latter one must look to profit;" and he stated his opinion that his squadron was insufficient for the double task of
- Mr. Orme states that 11 the Eng-
lish, perceiving the addition of cannon with which the enemy had been sup- plied at Pondichery, avoided an en- gagement." Mr. Mill simply remarks that the English fled. The reason given by Mr. [Orme would not, we think, be considered sufficient by any English admiral of the present day. The English ships were mostly armed with 24-pou nders, whereas th e French had only taken on board twenty-eight 18-pouuders, and others of smaller calibre.
