1761 England in 1761. f > 205

I «•

With the surrender of Pondichery French c&Sjnion
in India ended. The city was indeed restbr
peace of 1763, but it was restored with its fortifica
razed, its commerce ruined, and its prestige England
gone. Henceforth no European rival disputed rival in
with England the supremacy in the Peninsula, Indla-
and the native powers, helpless in their isolation, fell one
after another under her sway. In their struggles against
the inevitable doom, Frenchmen were often found fighting
by their side and striving to check the growth of the all-
absorbing Power, but it was only as auxiliaries that they
acted, and after the fall of Pondichery, France herself
never more appeared as a competitor for the splendid
empire that once was almost hers.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FALL OF PITT.

WITH the capture of Pondichery the last of the three
main objects of the war was attained by England. Since
the battles of Lagos and Quiberon, the French

, . i T i i -i t Position of

navy had ceased to be able to keep the sea; England in
the subjection of Canada was completed by I7&1'
the capitulation of Montreal, and the surrender of the
famous city in the Carnatic left England without a rival
in the East. The nation was intoxicated with success,
and idolised the minister to whom it was due. In the
House of Commons Pitt's ascendency was undisputed.
Whigs and Tories vied with one another in supporting
him, and for several years there was not a single division
on a party question. The expenditure grew yearly, but
the supplies were cheerfully voted, though the lavish ex-