It is impossible not to sympathize with Boone’s disappointment at the failure of this long-planned expedition, which he had looked forward to as the crowning achievement of his presidentship.  The time had come for him to return to England.  His successor, Mr. William.  Phipps, had arrived from Mocha, in August, and had taken the second seat in Council, while awaiting Boone’s departure.  Boone’s last year in Bombay was embittered by a dangerous intrigue against him, headed by Parker and Braddyll, two of the Council.  Investigation showed that they had plotted to seize his person, and had even uttered threats against his life.  Being arrested and ordered to leave Bombay, they fled to Goa.  After a time, Braddyll made his way in a small boat to Bombay, and sought protection on board the Lyon, which was readily extended to him by Matthews.  As Braddyll’s name appears among those present in Council in Bombay, in 1723, he must have succeeded in making his peace with the Company.  Under the Company’s rule, in those days, all but the worst offences were condoned, so long as they were not directly aimed at the Company’s trade.  A plot against the Governor’s freedom might be pardoned, but, for assistance given to the Ostenders there was no locus poenitentiae.

On the 9th January, Boone embarked on board the London, after making over the governorship to Mr. Phipps, followed by the good wishes of the community.  During his six years of office he had proved himself a faithful and zealous servant of the Company:  ’a gentleman of as much honour and good sense as any that ever sat in that chair,’ according to Hamilton.  He had found Bombay with a languishing trade and open to attack.  Under his fostering care, trade had improved, so that merchants from Bengal and Madras had found it profitable to settle there.  A good wall had been built to guard the town against sudden raids, and a respectable naval force had been created to keep piracy in check.  He deserves remembrance as the first Bombay Governor who tried to put down the coast pirates by active measures.  Though his expeditions against them had been uniformly unsuccessful, he had taught Angria that the Company’s trade could not be attacked with impunity, and his ill-success was entirely due to the worthlessness of his instruments.  At his departure, salutes were fired from every gun ashore and afloat, except from Matthews’ squadron, which did not fire a gun.  As he sailed down the coast, accompanied by the Victoria and Revenge, loaded with stores for Carwar and Anjengo, he was attacked by Angria’s squadron, but beat them off.  Off Anjediva he came on the Kempsant’s grabs plundering a ship, which he rescued.  One of the grabs was taken and another driven ashore; and so he was gratified with a small success over his inveterate enemies, as he bid farewell to the Indian coast.