The immediate gain to the English by the capture of Chandernagore was immense.  Clive wrote to the Select Committee at Madras:—­

“I cannot at present give you an account to what value has been taken;[58] the French Company had no great stock of merchandize remaining, having sold off most of their Imports and even their investment for Europe to pay in part the large debts they had contracted.  With respect to the artillery and ammunition ... they were not indifferently furnished:  there is likewise a very fine marine arsenal well stocked.  In short nothing could have happened more seasonable for the expeditious re-establishment of Calcutta than the reduction of Charnagore” (i.e.  Chandernagore).  “It was certainly a large, rich and thriving colony, and the loss of it is an inexpressible blow to the French Company."[59]

The French gentlemen, after having signed under protest the document presented to them by Clive, betook themselves to Chinsurah, where they repudiated their signatures as having been extorted by force, subsequent to, and contrary to, the capitulation.  They proceeded to communicate with Pondicherry, their up-country Factories, and the native Government; they also gave assistance to French soldiers who had escaped from Chandernagore.  Clive and the Calcutta Council were equally determined to interpret the capitulation in 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, and, in short, requested them to leave Dutch territory.  As it was evident that the British were prepared to use force, Renault and the Council gave in, and were taken to Calcutta, where, for some time, they were kept close prisoners.  It was not till the Nawab had been overthrown at Plassey, that they were absolutely released, and even then it was only that they might prepare for their departure from Bengal.  Renault surmises, quite correctly, that this severity was probably due to the fear that they would assist the Nawab.

The following incident during Renault’s captivity shows how little could be expected from the Nawab towards a friend who was no longer able to be of use to him.  After the capture of Chandernagore the English Council called on the Nawab to surrender the French up-country Factories to them.  Siraj-ud-daula had not even yet learned the folly of his double policy.  On the 4th of April he wrote to Clive:—­