The escape of the French from Chandernagore is of interest, as it shows the extraordinary condition of the country. It is probable that the peasantry and gentry were indifferent as to whether the English or the French were victorious, whilst the local authorities were so paralyzed by the Nawab's hesitation that they did not know which side to assist. Later on we shall find that small parties, and even solitary Frenchmen, wandered through the country with little or no interference, though the English had been recognized as the friends and allies of the new Nawab, Mir Jafar. To return, however, to Renault and the garrison of Chandernagore. The capitulation proposed by Renault and the Admiral's answers were to the following effect:-- 1. The lives of the deserters to be spared. _Answer_. The deserters to surrender absolutely. 2. Officers of the garrison to be prisoners on parole, and allowed to keep their effects. _Answer_. Agreed to. 3. Soldiers of the garrison to be prisoners of war. _Answer_. Agreed to, on condition that foreigners may enter the English service. 4. Sepoys of the garrison to be set free. _Answer_. Agreed to. 5. Officers and crew of the French Company's ship to be sent to Pondicherry. _Answer_. These persons to be prisoners of war according to articles 2 and 3. 6. The Jesuit fathers to be allowed to practise their religion and retain their property. _Answer_. No European to be allowed to remain at Chandernagore, but the fathers to be allowed to retain their property. 7. All inhabitants to retain their property. _Answer_. This to be left to the Admiral's sense of equity. 8. The French Factories up-country to be left in the hands of their present chiefs. _Answer_. This to be settled by the Nawab and the Admiral. 9. The French Company's servants to go where they please, with their clothes and linen. _Answer_. Agreed to. It is evident that the capitulation was badly drawn up. Civilians who had taken part in the defence, as had all the Company's servants, might be justly included in the garrison, and accordingly Admiral Watson and Clive declared they were all prisoners of war, and that article 9 merely permitted them to reside where they pleased on _parole_. On the other hand, Renault and the French Council declared that, being civilians, nothing could make them part of the garrison, and therefore under article 9 they might do what they pleased. Accordingly, they expressed much surprise when they were stopped at the Fort gates by one of Clive's officers, and forced to sign, before they were allowed to pass, a paper promising not to act against Britain directly or indirectly during the course of the war.