A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.84

v2.c51.84

a Frenchman, whose real name was Louis Bernard. He came to India first in Admiral Suffrein’s fleet, and made his way from Pondicherry to Calcutta, where he enlisted in a mercenary regiment of foreigners in the Company’s service, known as ‘Doxat’s Chasseurs.’ On the reduction of that force he became in turn a cook and manufacturer of fireworks in Calcutta. He next entered Bēgam Samrū’s service and about 1794 joined De Boigne as a lieutenant on Rs. 200 a month. In 1800 he joined the Rājā of Jaipur, with one of Perron’s battalions, for the operations against Lakva Dādā; in May 1801 he secured the surrender of Ajmere by bribery; and was shortly after entrusted with the conduct of the war against George Thomas, whom, after much difficulty, he finally defeated at Hansi. He was next detached with his brigade to collect tribute in the Sutlej States, remaining in the Sikh country till 1803. After his surrender to Lake, he was deported to Calcutta, and thence reached France via Hamburg, taking with him an immense fortune. He was described by one who knew him as ‘not only a coward but a fool.’ (Compton, Military Adventurers, &c., pp 341–2.)]