512 IIJSTORV OF INDIA. [Book 111.
AD. 1755. Admiral Watson's squadron nor the troops from England had arrived. 1'he land forces were accordingly furnished entirely by the Mahratta«, who of course snccesHfui retained the command of them ; Init the ships, consisting of the Company's under marine force, the Protector, of forty-four giins, with a ketch of sixteen gurw, and James. two bomb-vesscLs, and a Mahratta fleet of seven grabs and sixty gallivats, were placed under the sole command of the Company's chief naval officer. Commodore James. This great armament mitst have made it almost impossible to doubt of its sufficiency, and yet such was the exaggerated idea entertained of the strength of Angria's forts, that the presidency instructed the commodore to con- tent himself with blockade, instead of risking the safety of his vessels by attack- ing them. If such were the fears of the presidency, we can hardly blame the Mahrattas for being still more timorous. On anchoring fifteen miles north of Severndroog, and disembarking the troops, in number 10,000, to proceed the rest of the way by land, Commodore James learned that the enemy's fleet was lying securely at anchor within the harbour of Severndroog, and might, by stealing upon it during the night, be so effectually blockaded, as to make escape impos- sible. He made his arrangements accordingly ; but the Mahratta admiral, after promising liberally to second him, soon found that he had promised more than he was able to perform. His officers refused to stir before morning ; and thus, as much perhaps from treachery as from cowardice, appeared in sight only in time to alarm the enemy, and enable them to put to sea with all their ships. Capture of Commodore James, after a chase, continued till the approach of night made
L^ 6 V G nidxo o ff
and Ban- it fruitlcss, retumcd to Severndroog. Beside the fort of this name on the island, there were three other forts on the mainland, within point blank distance of it. These, though originally built for the purpose of keeping it in check, had after- wards fallen into Angria's hands, and now formed part of its defences. On returning dispirited from the chase, the commodore foimd the Mahratta army engaged in laying siege to the land forts. Such at least was the name which they gave to their operations ; but there could not be a more ludicrous misnomer, for they were firing only from a single gun, a four-pounder, at the distance of two miles. To keep up a blockade for the purpose of assisting such besiegers would have been worse than futile; and it was therefore evident that, if the instructions which the excessive caution of the Bombay presidency had dictated were literally observed, this expedition against the Angria pirates would necessarily prove, like the others which had preceded it, a complete failure. Rather than expose himself and his employers to such disgrace. Commodore James determined to act on his own responsibility, and try the effect of a bombardment. The resiJt soon justified Ms decision. In the course of a single day Severndroog, which imaginary fears had magnified into an impregnable fortress, hung out a flag of truce, and the land forts almost immediately followed the example. After this brilliant exploit the fleet and army proceeded north six miles, and attacked the fortified island of Bancoote, which yielded almost without a show of resistance.
ooote.
