Three Frenchmen in Bengal / The Commercial Ruin of the French Settlements in 1757

that mouth of it now known as the River Hugli, was founded in 1676; and in 1688 the town and territory were ceded to France

a number of pieces of land which, though within the French bounds, belonged to the Dutch before the grant of the imperial charter, and which the Dutch had always refused to sell. The Factory buildings were in the Fort itself. To the west lay the Company's Tank, the hospitals, and the cemetery. European houses, interspersed with native dwellings, lay all around. M. d'Albert says that these houses were large and convenient, but chiefly of one story only, built along avenues of fine trees, or along the handsome quay. D'Albert also mentions a chapel in the Fort,[13] the churches of the Jesuits and the Capucins, and some miserable pagodas belonging to the Hindus, who, owing to the necessity of employing them as clerks and servants, were allowed the exercise of their religion. In his time the Europeans numbered about 500. There were besides s

ah and Serampore a few days before, and the native population disappeared as soon as the British army approached. The Returns therefore show only 538 Europeans and 66 Topasses. The Governor or Director, as already mentioned, was Pierre Renault: his Council consisted of MM. Fournier, Caillot, Laporterie, Nicolas, and Picques. There were 36 Frenchmen of lesser rank in the Company's service, as well as 6 surgeon

from the outside. His straightforward narrative helps us now and then to correct a mis-statement made by the besieged in the bitterness of defeat. On the English side, besides the Bengal records, there are Clive's and Eyre Coote's military journals, the Logs of the British ships of war, and the journal of Surgeon Edward Ives of His Majesty's ship Kent. Thus this passage of arms, almost the o

so overbearing that Renault found it necessary to ask the Superior Council of Pondicherry for reinforcements, but all that he received wa

quietudes, gentle

rassment, knowin

testation of the ty

es which he was c

long for the arriva

vengeance for the

uences of war being

[19] impressed upon

gore as best I could

ecurity against a su

dernagore to see how

itute as we were of

n on all sides, and

m the surroundi

o describe F

dle of the settlem

nd it, a square of

nked with four bast

arts or glacis. Th

, not raised to it

a battery of 3 guns

, but the rest of t

nd brick, about a fo

high; there were

rtain which faced t

of construction; th

at round the other s

a mere ravine. The

e 15 feet high, and

scarp, which comman

0 fe

live protected his great barracks at Berhampur with a line of large tanks along the landward side. However, this tank protected one side only, and the task of holding such a fort with an inadequate garrison was not a hopeful one even for a Frenchman. It was only his weakness which had made Renault s

ks that the Compan

ifle? Yes, my dear

pay still more, to

s, beyond contradicti

d of soldiers and m

ossible for us t

h was p

to provide him with money under the pretence that he was simply restoring the sum forcibly extorted from him the previous year.[24] Trade was at a standstill, and Renault was determined that if the enemies of his nation were destined to take the Company's property, they should have the utmost difficulty possible in doing so. He expended the money on provisions a

revalent in the motley force which formed his garrison.[25] The most fatal defect of all was the want of a military engineer. The person who held that position had been sent from France. He was a master mason, and h

pull down the ch

s, situated on the e

rivate persons whic

e wood taken from

t a barrier extend

rting this same n

fall to pieces

outside the wall, the intervenin

orte Royale" (i.e.

akest side of the Fo

ked hard at cleari

e was no time to ma

e on which I put ba

from breaking in th

t as a c

erefore think of attacking on that side, that the only precaution they took at first was the erection of two batteries outside the Fort. It is a well-known maxim in war that one sho

illery Renault

he Prince" (Siraj-

g given me reason

ry, I found that not

ramparts was in a s

mounted, not a pla

l my attention to

ad time to pu

Company's ship, Saint Contest, whose commander, M

uncertain, and where promises were made not to be kept, were provocations which the best soldiers might have found it difficult to resist. We read of whole regiments in the English and French services refusing to obey orders, and of mutinies of officers as well as of men. The one reward of service was the chance of plunder, and naturally, then, as soon as the fighting with the Nawab had stopped for a time, the desertions from the British forces were numerous. Colone

deserter from the

y that he would thr

, but whilst he was

pose, he was disable

ops. He was after

to Engl

ance of seeing a good fight. Some of them had been much disappointed that t

ith the adventur

et, having always

t leaning towards

ozen Moors myself in

ermined not to stan

only runs the ris

of the pleasure o

age of this feeling, and from the young men of the colony, such as Company's servants, ships' officers, supercargoes, and European inha

olunteer off

to be appointed

I saw the spirit

eart. I cannot suf

e with which every

h all made in so

arms. I lay stress

ntirely novel to th

ays appears very har

and found amusemen

ar merely

] Renault eagerly complied, for had his mediation been accepted, he would have inserted in the treaty a clause enforcing peace amongst the Europeans in Bengal; but the English refused to treat through the French. This could have only one meaning. Renault felt that his course was now clear, and was on the point of offering the alliance which the Nawab had so long sought for, when he received orders from M. de Leyrit forbidding

war were what w

d on the river bank

d the approach to th

ank twenty-two fee

so as to protect th

e ships, but it was

he inhabited portio

re, but we determin

ditches were dug ac

establi

ke of committing. Had he limited his efforts to strengthening the walls of the Fort and cleared away the surrounding houses, he

that he now treated Renault with the greatest respect, and it was now that he gave him the sum of mone

y further gave me

, enraged with the E

his enemies. In sp

treaty just made"

ts victims, and know

omise to assist m

did not quiet my m

en by pressing on o

inds of provisio

enault mentions no actual treaty between the Nawab and the French, but the French doctor referred

ge of the English pa

gaging to defend

of the English ...

e on this coast a

y enterprise by wa

t to the Nawab thr

he English. The C

s, the one to coin

gore, the other li

en on the same foo

on account of the 3

the previ

for a neutrality. These negotiations seemed to be endless. The most striking feature was Admiral Watson's apparent vacillation. When the Council proposed war he wanted peace, when they urged neutrality he wanted war. Clive went so far as to present a memorial to the Council, saying it was unfair to continue the negotiations if the Admiral was determined not to agree to a treaty. It seems as if the Council wanted war, but wished to throw the responsibility upon the Admiral. On the other hand the Admiral was only too eager to fight, but hesitated to involve the Company in a war with the French and the Nawab combined, at a moment when the British land forces were so weakened by disease that success might be consi

March Clive's army left Calcutta en route for Murshidabad. The Admiral now pointed out to the Nawab that the British could not safely leave Chandernagore behind them in the hands of an enemy, and Cl

anding and genero

rt claims your prot

ou must be well sati

f not, whatever you

be genuine, and the words quoted could have but one meaning. Admiral Watson read them as a permission to attack the French without fear of the Nawab's interference. He prepared to suppor

y or the next from Calcutta. On the 13th he sent the following summons

S

eat Britain hav

ummons you in his n

re. In case of refu

nd expect to be tre

war in su

e honour t

edient and hu

RT CL

d later, to notice that Clive addresses Renau

lify their own nation. France has produced simil

g changed their mi

from Bombay, our gent

om themselves, a

er price the rans

had remained to

possibly suit the

and the Council o

cept to surrender on

rom the generosity

mly resolved upon

g themselves. The m

ischarge, which they

t was only the mari

ad no vote in the

the Fort must be d

e Director's son, wh

n to the English ca

fired a musket.

to their summons.

heir artillery, and

ten whole day

b to send down as soon as the English left Calcutta. Other accounts say that Renault hired them to assist him. The Nawab had a strong force at Murshidabad ready to march under one of his commanders, Rai Durlabh Ram; but the latter had experienced what even a small English force could do in the night attack on the Nawab's camp, and was by no means inclined to match himself a second time against Clive; accordingly, he never got further than five leagues from Murshidabad. Urgent messages were sent from Chandernagore as soon as the attack began. M. Law begged of the Nawab to send reinforcements. Mr. Watts, the Engli

ul wicked measure

eavour to deprive

nk God they have p

iendship towards me

ook on them as ene

ger stifle my rese

d to oppose the fr

es by seizing a b

r English colours tha

e come to a resolut

e of the Governmen

omise of great rew

t us; I should be s

Excellency's favour

ury to his servants

d these forces an o

y come to their

ly, some of his servants might receive secret orders to do so, and on

arrived within 2

s a friend or an e

o at once, and I wil

iately.... Now you

that the Nawab was frightened out of his wits, and absolutely unable to decide what course he

withdrawn as quickly as possible, but, probably because they thought it a point of honour to make a stout defence wherever they were first attacked, the defenders stood to it gallantly. Renault sent repeated reinforcements, first the company of grenadiers, then at 9 o'clock the company of artillery, and at 10 o'clock, when the surrounding houses were in flames, and man

ered the picquets,

into the French bound

,[39] the entranc

n the top but no

n our people's adv

mmanded the party, h

Colonel, who order

mpany of grenadier

m word after we h

al there we found a

road leading to a r

er their fort, wher

our advancing down

e detached some par

the road into thei

then sent for the C

sent to the camp

each other in an i

time the Colonel or

company and abou

that he would go w

nce, which was abou

brought me that the

r, I perceived the

ch I sent to the Col

ming out. I was th

consisted of about

gainst my inclinatio

sepoys had quitt

r of an hour from t

the French retreat

asion I had a gentle

er, killed, and 2

r 6 Europeans and

ery, and was tolerab

I continued firing t

s relieved, and ma

ounted to a very large portion of the garrison, it was almost impossible to reinforce them without leaving the Fort itself in great danger, if Clive managed to approach it from any other quarter. Renault called a council of war, and, after taking the opinion of his officers in writing to the effec

ish), 120 sailors, 70 half-castes and private Europeans, 100 persons employed by the Company, 167 Sepoys and 100 Topasses. An

ationed on the roofs of the houses. This gave them to some extent the command of the interior of th

were drunk with th

ortunately we did

moment to make a s

been favourable to

le of d

r fled or were sent away. They betook themselves to Nand Kumar, the Faujdar of Hugli, announcing the capture of the town. Nand Kumar, who is said to have had an understanding with the British, sent on the mes

w passage formed by a sandbank in the river,

nd a hulk,... and h

prevent our going u

s 2nd lieutenant, Mr

brought off a sloop

us, hurried away without staying to sink two other ships which were half laden, and which, if sunk, would have completely blocked

la Vigne Buisson), four large ships, and several small ones. The French needed all the sailors for the Fort, so they san

ting, and partly to creep round to the river face, so as to be in a position to take the batteries which commanded the narrow river passage, as soon as Admiral Watson was ready to attack the Fort. Later on, the naval of

chery amongst the deserters in their pay, and on the 17th of March a numbe

rs who will rejoin

cers who will c

a story of De Terraneau which seems improbable. It is to the effect that he betrayed the secret of the river passage to Admiral Watson, and that a few years later he sent home part of the reward of his treachery to his father in France. The old man returned the money with indignant comments on his son's conduct, and De Terraneau committed suicide in despair. As a matter of fact, De Terraneau was a land officer,[45] and therefore not likely to be able to advise the Admiral, who, as we sh

by the improved

I had no doubt but

serv

ent (Captain Speke), the Tyger (Captain Latham), and the Salisbury (Captain Martin), appeared below the town. The Bridgewater and Kingfisher had come up before. Admiral Watson was on board the Kent, and A

f so many deserters in the garrison rendered it probable that he had secret sources of information. As a matter of fact, it was only when Lieutenant Hey, the officer who had brought the summons, and, in doing so, had rowed between the masts of the sunken vessels, returned to the Kent, that Admiral Watson knew the passage was clea

l's sending them

e very stout; they

ies in the Factory,

ns. The former, wh

, or councillors, w

s vowed they would

y expressions the A

at in a very few day

a very good oppor

e Company and the

de, and was refused by the

rendering and the tr

g, however, that ever

e was not a man am

k of whatever might h

thout the Fort havi

d every one was wil

to defend those o

e to do

likely with a man like Captain de la Vigne in the Fort, he sent up boats the same night, and sank the vessels which it was supposed the French inte

was "to keep the enemy constantly awake."[47] Sometimes this work was dangerous, as, for instance, on the 21st, when a ball from the Fort knocked down a verandah clos

ast and south-east of the Fort so as to assist the Admiral, and on the river the Admiral ha

same evening or

of the vessels tha

Fort, that we mig

tle before dayligh

ed by th

orious morning of

n gallantly stormed

"and upon the ships g

which had been fi

he fire of the Fort

way, and had almos

-east bastion befor

Fort. "The Tyger, w

e lead, and about 6

er station against t

al Watson's flag fly

ould reach her proper

ade down the river,

hat before she broug

east bastion, the pla

nd from her mainmas

the south-west bast

r not holding fast,

station, threw this l

cation of the captai

in her power to fir

she could sheer on

ime of the Kent an

ept up a terrible c

ance on their part

to an anchor they

heir adversaries. Co

t into those houses

thence greatly an

ships lay so near

from their tops, by

f the Governor's p

e Fort, were beaten a

ame general on b

ordinary spirit. T

n galled the Kent

amps being all woun

utenant William Bre

ttery, and ordere

ainst those guns, and

silenced. At 8

my's shot struck t

ear the foremast, a

tridges of gunpowd

eady to charge the gu

other loose thing

e ship was so fille

sion, cried out she

m, imagining from

that a shell had act

panic into the grea

d out of the port-

e the ship. The Fr

ard the Kent, and, r

s hot a fire as poss

eutenant Brereton,

other brave men, so

ng to the ports, he

iding them for deser

ad no effect upon

of succeeding woul

me, and therefore l

Englishmen, and f

This reproach had

iately returned int

nd renewed a spirite

hours from the c

s of the north and

; the guns were mo

e from the main-top

pet and merlons had

ch otherwise might

asily discern, too,

among the enemy, w

ther increased, hung

ion of hostilities

enant Brereton (th

e Kent that was not

the King's regiment

on returned, accomp

h articles of capit

l and Colonel, we soo

he p

s' side; Renault's descriptio

vessels, aided by

s, which, moreover,

passage, passed ove

ay them for a mom

Fort, and opened fi

ery on the bank of

ne discharge, sudde

the fire from the

d much difficulty in

e company of grenadie

company as rein

n and the Bastion du

nges; but those troo

that of the land ba

more than 3000 men

looked the Fort, alm

officers behind, on

ged to send immedia

itants from t

aintained with vi

e batteries were c

dismounted, and th

ing strengthened wit

elf on the bastions

0 guns; the troops w

loss of all the g

ons were undermine

ake a breach, whic

smallness of the n

for us to hope to d

put his hand to a

stood to their dut

or disabled. A bod

und behind the screen

ank of the Ganges

ing the impossibility

e state in which the

it to an assault. C

ordered the drums

o resist a little longer, the ships would have found their lower tiers of guns useless, and might have been easily destroyed by the French. Suppositions of this kind always suppose a stupidity on the part of the enemy which Renault

ajority of the garrison, expecting no mercy from the Admiral and Clive, determined to escape. Rushing tumultuously to the Porte Royale, their arms in their hands, they forced it to be opened to them, and, finding the northern road to Chinsurah unguarded, made the best of their way in that direction. They were accompanied by a number of the military and marine, as well as by some of the Company's servants and private persons who were determined not to surrender. As all this took place after the hoisting of the white flag and pending the co

ed, they had to m

others, wearied out

mselves. However, w

o see the officers an

ds of 5 and 6, all n

rdly hold themselv

lost th

his person, but the condition of the fugitives must have been an object lesson to the Nawab a

that have lately

ave great reason t

at all at Cossimba

oes not alarm him

he northward, I do

ned that he had rath

accept our assistance

ut three weeks ag

ssurance of our frie

ght us so far on the

dernago

he English or the French were victorious, whilst the local authorities were so paralyzed by the Nawab's hesitation that they did not know which side to assist. Later on we shall find that small

andernagore. The capitulation proposed by Renault and

to be spared. Answer. The dese

isoners on parole, and allowed to ke

of war. Answer. Agreed to, on condition th

rison to be set free

to be sent to Pondicherry. Answer. These persons t

tain their property. Answer. No European to be allowed to remain at C

property. Answer. This to be left

in the hands of their present chiefs. Answer.

go where they please, with their c

that article 9 merely permitted them to reside where they pleased on parole. On the other hand, Renault and the French Council declared that, being civilians, nothing could make them part of the garrison, and therefore under article 9 they might do what they pleas

oth soldiers and sailors were wild for loot. They considered that the Admiral was acting unjustly to them in restoring their property to civilians who had been offer

been very great,

ory at so dear a ra

es where two ships

nt and Tyger in th

hat before the Fort surrendered the besiegers had lost quite as many men as the besieged, and it was b

mselves deserve bu

haviour in setting f

ilk in the Fort bu

and it grieves us

d good vessels sun

he Fort, which is a

hose indeed below, t

e others were mere

g this they scarce

l but it i

h plundering went on when the soldiers could manage to escape notice. On one day three black soldiers were executed, and on another Sergeant Nover[55] and a private soldier of the

d. Of one of these Surgeon Ives narr

rtunately ... tha

le character, and t

so provident as the r

ects within the For

ently, upon Colonel

lace, they had all

nd the poor gentle

ance ruined. The g

aving heard of the h

o represent it to th

mstances, who immed

each. Their examp

of the squadron, w

Doidge added 800

another person who wa

te gentleman; so

0 sterling was in a

f of this valuabl

. One of the comp

is money, who had

at a few of his Eng

t, as a small testi

or his moral char

with him in his m

nsported by such an

out in a sort of

deed!' He accepted

, and desired that

ght be made to his

ness and the ha

his, but the prayer

would frequently be

e; the tears, which

the feelings of hi

han even Cicero wit

possibly hav

; the state of the French was, as a rule,

is dispersed, and

some-the greatest

to the Danes and

sed by the misery to

r poverty, which

eyes, the more bit

s so generously for

and of ou

oe, they had done their duty. The officers of the British army and navy all spoke warmly of the gallant behaviour of the

he French on this

l worthy the ackno

eur Renault, the G

etermination: but t

o Monsieur Devign

ommander of the Fr

ook charge of the b

eat skill and judg

ergy and courage in

i

e consolation in the gall

I have had the sat

h themselves in the

idity which I coul

e Company's servi

ger, an officer in

, commandant of

ssemont and Renault de St. Germain, the private inhabitant Renault de la Fuye, and the two supercargoes of Indiamen Delabar and Chambon. Caillot (or Caillaud) was wounded. The official report of the loss of Chandernagore was drawn up on the 29th of March, 1757. The original is in the French Archives, and Caillaud's signature shows that he was still

apture of Chandernagore was immense. Clive

nt give you an acc

the French Company

aining, having sol

eir investment for

ey had contracted.

nition ... they we

likewise a very fine

t nothing could

expeditious re-esta

of Charnagore" (i.e

e, rich and thriving

ssible blow to the

their own way, and sent Renault an order, through M. Bisdom, the Dutch Director, to repair to the British camp. Renault refused, and when Clive sent a party of sepoys for him and the other councillors, they appealed to M. Bisdom for the protection of the Dutch flag. M. Bisdom informed them somewhat curtly that they had come to him without his invitation, that he had no intention of taking any part in their quarrels, that he would not give them the protection of his flag to enable them to intrigue against the English, a

r able to be of use to him. After the capture of Chandernagore the English Council called on the Nawab to surrender the French up-cou

etter and observe

h factories and oth

e a man of wisdom

th the customs and

that the French by

King[61] have built t

eir trade in this

hurting my chara

ereafter, deliver u

a written order fro

that from your fr

ad at anything wh

rt am ever desirous o

rench. Governor bei

m him a paper und

; 'That of his own w

the English Compa

receive all the fa

the French Company

people;' and wo

ured by that from a

ut it is absolutel

bout the King's dut

shall then be abl

order to make good

ade I had delivere

ds of the En

ed on the 8

granted terms t

protection, it is co

iolence; and without

pleasure, write to d

perty. Weigh the ju

standing we have

ry to your own int

us, that my enemi

and encourage th

your character to

your Excellency nee

nd I will march up

aracter, and we almost feel a kind of pity for the weak creatures who found themselves opposed to him, until we

ng British force, but after so poor a defence that he was brought before a Court Martial and cashiered. It speaks highly for the respect in which he had been held by both nations that none of the various reports and accounts of

t went on in Siraj-ud-da

te

nal of M.

t. Louis. Eyre Coote tells us the Fre

ors; the Hindus, Gentoos or Gentiles. The Topasses were Portuguese h

ies in the Fort. The French accounts say they all reti

afterwards Sir

nt is one by Renault,

g the battle of Biderra, be

cherry and President o

al," mentions an old ditch, wh

e says 330 yards, the difference probably due to th

engal are often of great size. I have

rcin, Chandernagore, Augus

xtorted three lakhs from the Fre

useum. Additio

ed in making bags and o

eon Ives'

er to De

nhabitant" to signify any resident who was no

hy merchant of Hugli, who advised the Nawab on European a

others, as they could be immediately cut off from the Fort, from which they were too distant to be easily reinforced. The doctor does not sign his name, but he was probably

Dutch Director at Chinsurah that he could obtain a copy of th

page 79 (

e note,

Gover

f certain goods, and their exemption from cust

India XI., p.

India XI., p.

elieve, in parts. The g

n the defence of Calcutta in 1756, when he was wounded, and, being tak

accounts agree with th

Museum. Addl.

d His Majesty's ship

andfather was a cous

rraneau was employed in the blocking up of the p

had been going on for several days, but it simply show

h 16th. Fort St. George, Sel.

Coote's

n the authority of a MS. in the Orme

1st, but if so the French would have been more on their guard, and wo

ster made ext

i, who was supposed to b

MSS. O.V.

MSS. O.V.

ation of previous good conduct. Letter from

y and his son mortally wounded

name in the Capitulation Ret

s the booty taken was

X., p. 2390. Letter

, or Imperi

g of Delhi, to whom the Bengal

India XI. pp. 2

, p. 2768,

of Lally. L