1 JUNE 1918, Page 16

The Diary of Ananda Ranqa Pillai. Edited by H. Dodwell.

Vol. V. (Madras Government Press. 4s. Cod.)—The new volume of Mr. Dodwell's excellent edition of Range Fillet's diary covers the period from April to October, 1748. Range. Filial was the factotum of Dupleix, the French Governor of Pondicherry, and his voluminous diary, now being translated from the Tamil at the instance of the

Madras Government, presents a very lively picture of the Governor, his wife—whom the diarist detested—and his administration. The account of the abortive siege of the town by Boscawen in the autumn of 1748 is of curious interest. Range Falai unkindly attri- butes his chief's success to luck, but though the besiegers were very unskilful in their methods of attack, and lost heavily by sickness, Dupleix deserves credit for having kept his head through a some- what trying experience.