SIR WILLIAM JAMES, Baronet. n^g 



had a fliort time before attacked a fleet of Duicb fliips, under 

 the protedion of a 50 gun fliip and a frigate : The Dutcb fleet 

 was difperfed, and the 50 gun fliip, and fome of the merchant- 

 men, were brought in great triumph to Gheriah. 



When Sir William returned with his vidlorious fleet to Bom- 

 bay, he found Admiral Wat/on there, with three Hne-of-battlc 

 fliips, and fome frigates, Sec. The government oi Eo772bay con- 

 fulted with the Admiral about means to deftroy the powers of 

 Angria, and the Mahratta ftates joined in the confederacy, for 

 they had fuffered by his depredations. 



Sir William was fent with his little fquadron to reconnoitre 

 Gheriab, a place reprefented to be almoft impregnable from the 

 fea. He judicioufly flood clofe in to the walls, under the cover 

 of night, and with his boat founded and examined the channels 

 leading to the harbour, and oiiter road ; in the day-time he 

 flood in within gun-fliot of the walls ; and having in two days 

 made himfelf perfectly mafter of the enemy's ftrength, he re- 

 turned to Bombay. This piece of fervice he performed with fo 

 much promptnefs and fkill, that he received the thanks of the 

 Governor and Admiral ; and they were fo well perfuaded, from 

 his report, of the pradicability of the enterprize, that no time 

 was loft in equipping the fliips, and embarking the troops. 

 " The fquadron formed oft^ Gheriah the loth February., 1756. 

 Sir William^ in the ProteSior, led the fquadron to the attack in 

 one divifion, whilft another divifion of frigates led the bomb- 

 ketches in another line; a heavy and tremendous fire began on 

 our part from the fliips of the line, whilft the fliells were thrown 

 with great fuccefs from the bombs into the harbour, where all 

 Jngria"^ fliips were havvled for fafety ; thefe were foon let on 



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