The Diary of Ananda Ranges Pillai. Edited by H. Dodwell.
Vol. VII. (Madras : Government Press. 4s. 6d.)—The learned Curator of the Madras Record Office has published a seventh instalment of his translation from the Tamil of the curious diary kept by the confidential native secretary of Dupleix at Pondichery. This volume covers the year from April, 1750, to April, 1751, when Dupleix, by intrigue and force combined, made himself predominant in the Deccan, while the British at Madras seemed helpless to check him. Range Pillai must have had abundant leisure, for his diary gives an astonishingly detailed narrative of affairs and long reports of conversations with his chief and other persons. As first-hand evidence for a critical period of Indian history, the diary is of the highest importance, though, of course, Ranga Pillai probably economized the truth in regard to people whom he did not like, such as Madame Dupleix.
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