but the prayers of his children’s children, he hoped, would frequently be presented to heaven.  He could add no more; the tears, which ran plentifully down his cheeks, bespoke the feelings of his heart:  and, indeed, implied much more than even Cicero with all his powers of oratory could possibly have expressed.”

This, however, was but a solitary instance; the state of the French was, as a rule, wretched in the extreme, and Renault wrote:—­

“The whole colony is dispersed, and the inhabitants are seeking an asylum, some—­the greatest part—­have gone to Chinsurah, others to the Danes and to Calcutta.  This dispersion being caused by the misery to which our countrymen are reduced, their poverty, which I cannot relieve, draws tears from my eyes, the more bitter that I have seen them risk their lives so generously for the interests of the Company, and of our nation.”

In such circumstances there was but one consolation possible to brave men—­the knowledge that, in the eyes of friend and foe, they had done their duty.  The officers of the British army and navy all spoke warmly of the gallant behaviour of the French, and the historian Broome, himself a soldier and the chronicler of many a brave deed, expresses himself as follows:—­

“The conduct of the French on this occasion was most creditable and well worthy the acknowledged gallantry of that nation.  Monsieur Renault, the Governor, displayed great courage and determination:  but the chief merit of the defence was due to Monsieur Devignes” (Captain de la Vigne Buisson), “commander of the French Company’s ship, Saint Contest.  He took charge of the bastions, and directed their fire with great skill and judgment, and by his own example inspired energy and courage into all those around him.”

Renault himself found some consolation in the gallant behaviour of his sons.

“In my misfortune I have had the satisfaction to see my two sons distinguish themselves in the siege with all the courage and intrepidity which I could desire.  The elder brother was in the Company’s service, and served as a volunteer; the younger, an officer in the army, was, as has been said above, commandant of the volunteers.”

Others who are mentioned by Renault and his companions as having distinguished themselves on the French side, were the Councillors MM.  Caillot, Nicolas, and Picques, Captain de la Vigne Buisson and his son and officers, M. Sinfray (secretary to the Council), the officers De Kalli[57] and Launay, the Company’s servants Matel, Le Conte Dompierre, Boissemont 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 suffering from his wound.  Sinfray we shall come across again.  He joined Law at Cossimbazar and accompanied him on his first retreat to Patna.  Sent back by Law, he joined Siraj-ud-daula, and commanded the small French contingent at Plassey.  When the battle was lost he took refuge in Birbhum, was arrested by the Raja, and handed over to the English.