Before the middle of November, Watson’s squadron arrived, in furtherance of the Deccan project, together with James, in the Protector, bringing two hundred and fifty-five Bombay soldiers from Madras.  Clive, alone, knew of the Directors’ plan for the Deccan, and urged it on the Council.  Ramajee Punt was in Bombay urging them to complete the destruction of Angria, and inviting them to take possession of Bankote;[2] so they decided to devote themselves to Gheriah, on the grounds that the Deccan expedition would be an infringement of the late agreement with the French.

Seeing that nothing was to be done in the Deccan, Watson tendered the services of his squadron to assist in the reduction of Gheriah, and Clive offered to command the land forces.  James was sent down in the Protector, with the Revenge and Guardian, with Sir William Hewitt, Watson’s flag lieutenant, to reconnoitre and take soundings.  Nothing was known of Gheriah.  It was supposed to be as high, and as strong as Gibraltar.  Like that celebrated fortress, it stood on rocky ground at the end of a promontory, connected with the mainland by a narrow neck of ground, at the month of a small estuary.  James found that it was less formidable than it had been represented, and that large ships could go close in.  To prevent Toolajee’s ships from escaping, the Bridgewater, Kingsfisher, and Revenge were sent to blockade the place till the expedition was ready to start.

On the 11th February, the whole force was assembled off Gheriah, a greater armament than had yet ever left Bombay harbour.  In addition to Watson’s squadron of six vessels, four of them line-of-battle ships, and displaying the flags of two admirals, the Company’s marine made a brave show of eighteen ships, large and small, carrying two hundred and fourteen guns, besides twenty fishing-boats to land troops with, each carrying a swivel-gun in the bows.  Between them they carried eight hundred European and six hundred native troops.  With Watson also went Captain Hough, superintendent of the Company’s marine, as representative of the Council.

Part of the instructions given to Clive and Hough by the Council will bear repeating.

“It is probable that Toolajee Angria may offer to capitulate, and possibly offer a sum of money; but you are to consider that this fellow is not on a footing with any prince in the known world, he being a pirate in whom no confidence can be put, not only taking, burning, and destroying ships of all nations, but even the vessels belonging to the natives, which have his own passes, and for which he has annually collected large sums of money.  Should he offer any sum of money it must be a very great one that will pay us for the many rich ships he has taken (which we can’t enumerate), besides the innumerable other smaller vessels; but we well remember the Charlotte bound from hence to China, belonging to Madras;