to accept it as decisive. As he could not overcome the English in direct conflict in the light of day he determined to see what could be accomplished at night by strategy. About a fortnight afterwards when darkness had fallen he sent down the river with the tide a number of frigates with two fireships. The latter fouled the Merchants' Hope's hawser and would probably have set her on fire if those on the ship had not seen the danger and taken measures to remove the dangerous craft to a safe distance. The next night another attempt of the same character was made and was attended with a like result. Convinced at length that the English fleet was not to be overcome Don Jeronimo on the following morning set sail for the South, leaving Downton to enjoy the fruits of his well-earned victory. The most immediate of these was the bestowal of the favour of the native authorities in a very practical form. The governor sent on board the English ships bountiful supplies, accompanied by flattering expressions of gratitude, and lavish promises of future benefits. He gave even more emphatic evidence of the impression that the recent events had made on him by resolutely rejecting overtures for peace which were tendered by the Portuguese. For the time being fortune decidedly smiled on the English At Surat. Downton all this time was not without his pre-occupations. There had come down from Agra, whither he had been sent by the Company to act as chaplain— the first who filled that position in India— the Rev. Peter Rogers, a turbulent cleric who was at cross purposes with most of the staff at the Agra factory and who on arrival at Surat promptly fell out with Downton. It is difficult to gather what was the precise origin of the quarrel. From the
