Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c51.s8: § 9. De Boigne's character

Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c51.s8

Language: English

§ 9. De Boigne's character

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De Boigne's success was due to his character and education, which placed him far above every other European military adventurer in India. His admiring follower, L. F. Smith thus describes him: —

"De Boigne was active and persevering to a degree which can only be believed by those who were spectators of his indefatigable labours. I have seen him daily and monthly rise with the sun, survey his arsenal, view his troops, enlist recruits, direct the vast movements of three brigades,—encourage manufactures for their arms, ammunition and stores ; harangue in his darbar, give audience to ambassadors, administer justice, regulate the civil and revenue affairs of a jāidād of twenty lakhs of rupees, listen to a multitude of letters . . . dictate replies, . . . superintend a private trade of lakhs of rupees, keep his accounts, his private and public correspondence, and direct a most complex political machine." He added to a complete mastery of Oriental intrigue the political subtlety of the Italian school. . . . All these multifarious occupations, military, political, administrative, and commercial, were conducted without assistance from others. . . . He never deputed authority, preferring to labour eighteen hours a day.

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"Above all stands De Boigne's staunch and unswerving loyalty (to Sindhia). . . . His manners were polite and elegant, his disposition affable and vivacious, and . . . he

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was modest and good-natured in his behaviour towards his subordinates. His sense of justice was singularly well balanced between severity and mildness. . . . As a general he he may take his stand amongst the greatest India has ever produced. In times of crisis and sudden danger his presence of mind was incomparable.” (H. Compton, 102-105.)

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“There was something in his face and bearing that depicted the hero, and compelled implicit obedience. He walked with the majestic tread of conscious greatness. The strong cast of his countenance and the piercing expression of his eyes, indicated the force and power of his mind. He was at once dreaded and idolised, feared and admired, respected and beloved.” (L. F. Smith.)

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Perron, in contrast with De Boigne, was a vulgar upstart, possessed no doubt of great military talent, tenacious industry and cunning, but without any noble trait or cultivated manners, or even tact in dealing with others. His one aim in India was to build up a fortune which would enable him to live the life of a Nabab on return home, and he monopolised power solely as a means to that end. A Persian memoir written by a clerk in Delhi about 1830, gives an almost incredible picture of his licentiousness. (Mafātih-ur-riyāsat, by Sy. Md. Riza, Br. Mus. ms. Or. 1752, vi.) He died with the infamy of being regarded as a traitor to his Indian master and to his French homeland. (H. Compton, 221-335. Martineau, Le Général Perron, Paris, 1931.)