While Schwartz and his fellow missionaries were quietly conducting their work at Tranquebar their brethren in the Madras mission were passing through trying experiences. The French were determined at all costs to gain the paramount position as rulers of India, and on the night of 28th April, 1758, they landed troops near Fort St. David and ravaged the country in a lawless and cruel way, which would not be likely to increase any respect for Christianity in the minds of the natives. It was a reign of terror, and large numbers of Roman Catholic natives sought refuge in the walls of their own church close to the Governor’s house, but a false report was circulated that these fugitives were Protestant missionaries with their converts and on that assumption they were massacred in the sacred building, which was afterwards entirely demolished. On the approach of these soldiers, excited by their success, to Cuddalore, the frightened inhabitants brought their treasures into the mission house, and when the capitulation was arranged, the French General, Count Lally, assured the missionaries that they had nothing to fear, and it is a curious fact that a German officer who had heard Mr. Kohlhoff preach at Seringapatam was with the troops and gave orders to his men to take care of the mission premises, while another regiment under the French flag was almost entirely Irish and were on their part most friendly. This providential incident saved the mission, and the brethren were not slow in showing their gratitude by giving refreshment to the officers and soldiers and making them welcome to their doors. Afterwards the French General visited the mission and had long conversations with the missionaries in English, making many inquiries about their doctrines, and how they made their converts. He gave them a free passport to leave, which they did in two country boats, collecting their little flock and bidding them farewell. It was absolutely necessary for them to take this step, because under present circumstances they would be compelled to take an oath of allegiance to the French Government. In due time they arrived at Tranquebar and were welcomed by Schwartz and the brethren of the mission. Through the instrumentality of Hüttemann, the colleague of Schwartz who had come out with him, a Pandaram of the highest caste was converted to Christianity. On the 21st November, 1760, great interest was awakened at Tranquebar by the funeral of an aged Christian woman, one of the first five converts admitted by baptism in the days of Ziegenbalg and Plütschau in 1707. Her life had been blameless and her testimony as a former Mohammedan was always very profitable to her friends.