The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
HOW FRANCE LOST AN EMPIRE.
THE PLANS OF JOSEPH DUPLEX ANH
THEIR FRUsrRATION.


lish Geld ana NINE. PeR,padour.
New York SUM-
A hundred and fifteen years have run
since the death, in sorrow and chs.grin,
OF Joseph Duplex, and now, at last, a
statue OF the great soldier and states
man Is to be set up at Pondicherry, the
capital OF the French possessions in
India, situated on the Ooromandel coast,
eighty-three miles southwest of Madras.
To most Americans Duplex is only
an empty name; and no wonder, since
even In France rosthumous reparation
and recognition have come to him 50
slowly. But had not Duplex been
thwarted by his own government,
France, instead Of England, might to-
day, as ruler Of India. be contending
with Russia for Asiatic supremacy.
Born toward the close Of the seven
teenth century. Duplex, at the age of
twenty, went into the services of the
French East India Company, of which
his father was director. During up.
ward OF twenty years he displayed 90
much energy and executive skill as to
reach. in l742, the post of Governor of
Pondicherry, having also under his
charge the three remaining French SET
Elements, those at Carical, Maize on the
Malabar coast, and 'Ohandernagore in
Bengal. Two years later, in 1744, war
broke out between France and England.
In that short interim Duplex had by
zeal and ability extended French power
and prestige in Hindostan beyond ali
precedent. In conjunction with La
bourdonnaie, the Governor OF the
Islands OF Mauritius and Bourbon. he
determined to take part in the war. In
Lag, Labourdonnaie. with a French
heet. attacked and, after five days'
bombardment, captured Madras. then
city OF q quarter of G million people.
and the richest and most important OF
English possessions in India. He
agreed, however, to ransom and quit
the city Tor moderate sum but when
Duplex heard Of this. intervening, he
prevented LabourdonEaie from ful-
nlling his agreement. and caused
him to be recalled to France.
With far-reaching sagaoity and un-
~ 70 OIL uisAoH. DGpleIA laQ seen
that this was the moment for establish
ing French empire in India, and he
regarded the restoration of Madras as a |
blunder that might be fatal to his plar.
Holding Madras In violation OF Labour-
dominates treaty. Duplex next forced |
the British to raise the siege Of Pondi- |
cherry, which they had begun in strong
force, as counter stroke to the loss OF |
Madras, The treaty OF Aix- Ia Chapelle |
soon followed, under which Madras and |
the rest OF India were restored to their |
old footing. But the ambition OF Du-
pick, thus thwarted, quickly turned It.
self toward other appliances to gain its
end. In LAO Chunda Sahib set up q 1
claim against Anwar-u- Deem, as nabob
OF the Carnatic, and at the same time
Mtrzapha. Jung set up his title against
Nazir Jung Is ruler OF the Decean. Du-
pick supported both aspirants against
the incumbents In return for promises
OF territory and spoils. A joint army
Oh $500 French troops and AZ, 900 natives
marched against the nabob, who was
defeated and slain, and soon Aroot. the
capital Of the Carnatic, fell into the
hands OF Duplex. The next year he
attacked the camp Of Nazir Jung. while
DC the same time plotting both with
thatruler and with his disaffected Off
GERS; and In the attack Nazir Jung was
Killed by traitorOus underling. where
lpcn Mlrzapha Jung was proclaimed
ruler. Inc result OF these operations
Ras 70 carry to the zenith French pres-
1ee 10 az southern Hindostan, while I
.ne Engnsn were moderated alike by
1irzapha Jung, out Of gratitude. made
DUPLEX Governor OF all the Mogul's !
err1torry on the east coast from the
alver kistnah to Cape Com orin. Chun- g
"a 0aniD actlng as his lieutenant in the !
Jarnatic; and afterward. when Mir.
.apna Jung was assassinated. his son {
'alaDat, who had the aid of Duplex to 1
ucceed him. In gratitude extended e
french sway north OF the Kistnah al 8
ar as Juggernaut. v
But the great plan Of Duplex was Y
destined to be thwarted again and the v
line fatally. The Versailles govern K
nent. unable to comprehend the value
i India, grew alarmed when DUPLEX g
lnfolded plan for further conouests b
q order to expel the English from A
ndia. It hastily ordered him to sus. Q
END operations, and refused the re-
movements OF troops and ships which g
10 had asked because England was d
epouslng the GAUGE Of those whom Du- b
'ielx had overthrown. So wrapped up 8
1as Duplex In his great plans, that,
uut0u Wy tuIS TeIuSal, lie at once
'oured out, in continuance Of his pro-
ect, the enormous private fortune that e
q nad acquired-vast even while he +
'as simply in charge OF Chanderna- !,
pre-. Seeing this, the Commissioners !.
/ the two East India Companies, who b
resumed that their policy was simply Il
make what money they could, In a
eace with each other, sent commits X
loners to mutual conference in Lon 9
On, whose result was that, in 1854, Mr..
leix. 9
u is alleged, with a show OF proba- H
nglish company wrote to their brother "
lrectors in London: Throw millions g
lIo the lap Of La Pompadour to get
recalled, or our business is.
SyAs.Severywhere in Hindostan," and
lat this was done-accomplishin by st