sake of concealment, to be ostensibly received into the service of Tippoo. His vessel was to be purchased on the part of that prince, to be laden with merchandise for the Mauritius; and confidential agents of the Sultan were to proceed in her for the purpose of concerting all that related to the proposed armament. The purchase was accordingly made; but as the master was to remain in Mysore, the money was intrusted to one of his countrymen, to make the required payment on its arrival at the Mauritius. This gentleman, however, absconded with the purchase-money, and has never since been heard of.
His unexpected flight disconcerted, in some degree, the Sultan's plans, and even shook his confidence in the pretended French envoy; but so eager was he to grasp at any shadow of success that he restored the vessel to Ripaud, on his giving bond for the amount intrusted to his countryman, and the quondam pirate was despatched with two ambassadors to the Isle of France, to adjust the terms of a treaty offensive and defensive.
This mission arrived at the Mauritius, where, of course, they were altogether unexpected; but when Malartie, the Governor, learned their purpose, he determined to give them a cordial reception. They landed under a salute of artillery, were conducted to the Government House, and received there in state. Malartie expressed the utmost readiness to accede to the proposals of their master, which were simply that he should send an army of twenty-five or thirty thousand men to assist in conquering the English, the Nizam, and the Mahrattas, and to divide all India between them. The justice, propriety, and advantage of this arrangement were fully acknowledged by Malartie; and there was only one small obstacle to its completion, which was, that he had not a single soldier at his command.
As, however, no Frenchman is ever at a loss for an expedient, Malartie made up for his own deficiency by issuing a proclamation, announcing the arrival of the
