The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai A Record of Matters Political Historical Social and Personal from 1736 to 1761 (Apr. 1748 - Oct. 1748)

When French troops invaded the Netherlands in 1747 the Dutch joined the English and the Imperialists ; and orders were despatched to the officials of the Dutch East India Company to assist the English against the French. [...] Besides the English had to endure the humiliation of having lost their principal settlement of having failed to take Pondichery and of having recovered Madras only in exchange for conquests made upon the other side of the globe ; and the French especially Dupleix nursed the painful memory of heavy financial loss inflicted by the naval opertions of the English squadrons under Barnett and Gr [...] They did not include the predominant share in the power of the Government which fell to the French in the Carnatic and to the English in Bengal not in consequence of any deep-laid plans but simply because the Nawabs were unable of their own power to maintain themselves in their respective provinces. [...] The image was carried round and only the necessary ceremonies observed.' The Governor then told me the following news contained in the Gazette received from Europe :— As the Dutch have always inclined to the side of the English the King of trance has taken three or four towns in Holland ' and has written to the StateGeneral that if they think well and act suitably with their wisdom their di [...] The rank of minister implied membership of the King's Council a rank not necessarily held by the head of every department of Government.24 THE DIARY OF [Ann 15 contents the King was overjoyed and appointed the Compte de Maurepas the Chancellor M. de Machault Comptroller-General of Finance ' and M. Bonin() 2 Commissary for the Company's affairs and Maitre des Regales to settle the affairs