226 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNAT1K. chap. Thus had Dupleix, by his firmness, his skill, the wonderful activity of his genius, baffled that great 1748. enterprise which was to bring destruction upon French India, to root out the French establishments from the soil of Hindustan. If we take a retrospective glance at all that had been accomplished during this first struggle in the Karnatik, we shall be utterly unable to refrain our tribute of admiration to the man who possessed the brain to conceive, the steadfastness to carry out, that long list of daring achievements. The capture of Madras, its preservation to the French, the determina- tion to bear the brunt of the contest with the Mughal, the momentous political result that followed that determination, together with this crowning defence of Pondichery, were works of his conception ; to him too is mainly due the merit of their execution. Even at the greatest crisis of his fortunes he found means to send efficient aid and support to the other settlements dependent on Pondichery — a wonderful feat, gratefully acknowledged as such by his masters.* the corresponding period amounted for you, that the Company could to 200 Europeans and 50 natives. declare that the capture of Madras On their way to Fort St. David, the was due to the succours which you English wreaked a last vengeance on had furnished to M. de la Bourdon- the fort of Ariakupum, by utterly nais ; that it was your firmness, the destroying what remained of its de- wisdom of your measures, and the fences. — Orme, Dupleix. choice of the brave officers you had
- " All that you have done up to employed, which compelled the Mu-
that time ought, in truth, to have ghals to sue to you for peaee ; that made us tranquil regarding the fate you would even have taken Fort St. of Pondichery, and your la«t letters David from the English but for the of the 28th August, written at the unexpected arrival of Admiral Grif- time that the English had commenced tin; and that finally, despite the their attack upon your advanced difficulty of communications during posts, left us nothing to desire, either the entire war, you had found means with reference to the precautions you to provide for the subsistence and had taken, or to the courageous dis- security of the settlements of Chan- positions which you had inspired dranagar, Karikal, and Mahe ; what in the garrison and in everybody. praises do you not deserve now, when Ought then our demonstrations of by the glerious use of the succours joy to be less, when, on the 20th sent you by M. David " (alluding to of last month, a courier de spatched M. Bouvet's fleet) "you have repulsed by Monsieur Durand, our agent in the most powerful efforts of your London, announced to the Court enemies, and have preserved to the this new triumph of the national Company all their establishments. — arms ? Lettre de la Compagnie des Indes, 11 " If it has been already satisfactory Avril, 1749.
