“The Messieurs themselves deserve but little mercy from us for their mean behaviour in setting fire to so many bales of cloth and raw silk in the Fort but a very few minutes before we entered, and it grieves us much, to see such a number of stout and good vessels sunk with their whole cargoes far above the Fort, which is a great loss to us and no profit to them.  Those indeed below, to hinder our passage were necessary, the others were merely through mischief.  But notwithstanding this they scarcely ask a favour from the Admiral but it is granted.”

The result was that the soldiers on guard began to beat the coolies who were helping the French to secure their goods, until they were induced by gifts to leave them alone, and much 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 39th Regiment were condemned to death, for breaking open the Treasury and stealing 3000 rupees.  Another theft, which was not traced, was the holy vessels and treasure of the Church.

Many individual Frenchmen were ruined.  Of one of these Surgeon Ives narrates the following pleasing incident:—­

“It happened unfortunately ... that Monsieur Nicolas, a man of most amiable character, and the father of a large family, had not been so provident as the rest of his countrymen in securing his effects within the Fort, but had left them in the town; consequently, upon Colonel Clive’s first taking possession of the place, they had all been plundered by our common soldiers; and the poor gentleman and his family were to all appearance ruined.  The generous and humane Captain Speke,[56] having heard of the hard fate of Monsieur Nicolas, took care to represent it to the two admirals in all its affecting circumstances, who immediately advanced the sum of 1500 rupees each.  Their example was followed by the five captains of the squadron, who subscribed 5000 between them.  Mr. Doidge added 800 more, and the same sum was thrown in by another person who was a sincere well-wisher to this unfortunate gentleman; so that a present of 9600 rupees, or L1200 sterling was in a few minutes collected towards the relief of this valuable Frenchman and his distressed family.  One of the company was presently despatched with this money, who had orders to acquaint Monsieur Nicolas that a few of his English friends desired his acceptance of it, as a small testimony of the very high esteem they had for his moral character, and of their unfeigned sympathy with him in his misfortunes.  The poor gentleman, quite transported by such an instance of generosity in an enemy, cried out in a sort of ecstasy, ’Good God, they axe friends indeed!’ He accepted of the present with great thankfulness, and desired that his most grateful acknowledgements might be made to his unknown benefactors, for whose happiness and the happiness of their families, not only his,