212 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE EARN ATI K. chap, the commodious harbour of Port Louis ; could re-fit , and re-victual there ; and could reckon, almost to a cer- 1747. tainty, the chances of meeting or avoiding a hostile fleet. There single ships could be detained, as they had been in the time of La Bourdon nais, until a sufficient number should be collected ; and even should that number prove insufficient for the purpose required, that man, full of energy and resources, had proved the possibility of pro- viding ships from materials which were to be found in the islands. The English possessed no such position. It was only when allied, as they were on the occasion of which we are writing, with the republic of Holland, that they were able to make use of the Cape of Good Hope, and even to augment their armament from its resources. This uncertain and temporary advantage, however, liable at times to be rendered nugatory, was not to be compared with the permanent benefit result- ing to the inhabitants of Pondichery from the posses- sion of a solid point d'appui in the Indian Ocean. It was to derive from these islands the advantages they were so well capable of affording that Dupleix despatched Dordelin on his mission. His arrival at the islands in December, 1747, was opportune. He found the Governor of Bourbon, M. Bouvet, well inclined to respond to the call, and possessing or expecting the means which would enable him to do so with effect. In fact one ship of fifty guns, and another of forty, had arrived some short time since from France, conveying reinforcements and treasure for Pondichery. They had subsequently proceeded on a cruise in search of prizes, but their return was shortly expected. Two smaller vessels were in Port Louis ready to sail. Accidental causes deferred the departure of this squadron, consisting, by the return of the cruising ves- sels, of seven large ships* and two small ones, from
- There was one of 74 guns, one of 56, two of 50, two of 40, and one
of 2(3 guns.
