That this trifling gift saved the French further troubles is underlined by L’Abbe Guyon, noting how great events can be influenced without a military response, “A rather insignificant gift made by M Dumas to him (Raghuji) was more effective than the defence works and the artillery pack of Pondicherry in putting an end to a cruel conflict – an instance in point that great events may ultimately arise from trifling incidents.”
Although another Frenchman in Pondicherry at the time called Guyon’s account grotesque and fantastic, saying religious reasons would have precluded Raghuji from accepting such an offer, the final word is in a letter by the Maratha king himself. When the matter of the wine bottles eventually reached Chhatrapati Shahu’s ears, he remarked, “You people drowned the state by drinking liquor.”
As for Dumas, he was toasted by the French as well as the ruler of Mysore and the Nizam. Badshah Mohammedshah made him a Nawab and awarded him the Mansab of 4500 horse. Dumas was thus the first Frenchman to receive the title of ‘Nawab’. The King of France followed suit by awarding him a knighthood.
The large Maratha army withdrew from the Carnatic in June 1741, leaving Murarrao Ghorpade in Tiruchirappalli with Nawab Safdar Ali as a vassal.
The Jesuit priest Pere Saignes wrote on 18 January 1741, “The Marathas do not make war to keep the villages and towns which they conquer but solely to pillage. They abandoned Arcot five days after sacking it. Never have the Marathas penetrated so far into this country since the time when the Badshah Aurangzeb drove them out. The Moorish governors either through cleverness or bravery have always prevented their crossing the mountains which separate us from them. Division reigns among the governors of Arcot, Vellore, Polur, and Tiruchirappalli although they are all interrelated. Blood and their common interests should have united them against their mutual enemy, but jealousy has divided them and because they refuse aid to each other they were defeated one by one. Unfortunately, we feel the effects of their private quarrels. The Empire is also suffering because the taxes cannot be collected and sent to Delhi as usual… We hope that orders have been given for an attack on the Maratha country… but when they leave, what a sad plight we shall be in! We must rebuild some churches, repair others, and provide what is absolutely necessary for the people, especially the poor Christians whom the war has scattered. Famine inevitably follows on the heels of war. The country is deserted, and everything has been destroyed. When the people return to their houses, they will find the land fallow and there will be no rice or grain. God have pity on us!”
Seemingly, the priest’s prayers were answered in Europe. The authorities in Paris foresaw an outbreak of war between England and France in Europe. Bernard La Bourdonnais, a French Admiral, convinced his ministry that hostilities must not be restricted to Europe but must spread to the colonies. Since a French fleet was on its way to the East, he argued that this would be an excellent opportunity to ruin British commerce in India. Just after the main Maratha army left the Carnatic, Bourdonnais was given the charge of a squadron. The fleet reached India and fought a few battles at Mahe on the west coast, but the French authorities soon recalled it. However, this led to a British fleet sailing out to India and this fleet reached Indian shores just as Anglo-French hostilities broke out in Europe.
The outbreak of the Anglo-French war in Europe also coincided with the appointment of Joseph François Dupleix as the Governor of Pondicherry from his former post at Chandernagore in Bengal. Dupleix, with his wife, landed at Pondicherry on 13 January 1742. After the initial welcome when “with all ceremony and amidst music and dancing, he assumed the reins of Government,” he was appalled at the state of the country, the trade as well as the poor defences of Pondicherry.
Most of all, he was worried about the Marathas, “Fear of the Marathas’ return grows daily, and rumours run wild. Those living in the country, being uncertain where they will strike next, are ready to flee at the first sign of their approach. The merchants have already scattered, and the weavers have gone not to return. The lack of rain has ruined the little seed that was scattered on the ground. We ourselves foresee shortly a great rise in prices. These are too many scourges coming at the same time on a country which has in itself so few resources.”
To be continued…
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