Page 157 - INDIANNAVYV1

CHAPTER IV.

1754—59.
Early Career of Commodore James—His Defeat of Angria'3 Fleet—Expedition
against Severudroog—Capture of the Castle— Surrender of Bancoot—Opera-
tions against Glicria, and Destruction of the Power of Angria—Subsequent
Services of Commodore James ; his Retirement and Deatli— Operations during
the War with France— Actions with the French Fleet—Affairs at Surat—Cap-
ture of the Town and Castle of Surat—Assumption by the Marine of the
Tunkha and Duties as Mogul's Admiral.
rrHE histoi\y of the operations which resulted in the destruction
-L of the power of Angria, " whose forts," says Orme, " were
deemed impregnable, as his fleet was, with reason, deemed
formidable," is so intimately associated with the name of Com-
modore (afterwards Sir William) James, that it is necessary we
should preface our narrative by a brief sketch of the career of
this distinguished officer, who, by his achievements, enhanced,
at the same time, his own reputation and that of the Service
of which he has ever been regarded as one of the shining lights.
Commodore James was born in the year 1721, near the town
of ]\Iilford Haven, in Wales. During his earlier years he
followed the humble occupation of a ploughboy, which he soon
discarded, but we know not whether, in taking this step, he was
inspired by a noble ambition to enter some profession in which
he might win renown, or that the sight of the sea filled him
with a craving for its dangers and excitements, as Dibdin
says—
"To leave his poor plough to go ploughing the deep."
Certain it is that young James soon sickened of his work on
shore, and, at the age of twelve, took to the sea. lie entered
himself in the merchant service, but little is known of the early
years of his apprenticeship.
In the year 17o8 he served under Admiral Lord Hawke in
the capacity of ship's boy or servant. A few years after this,
Mr. James obtained the"^ command of a ship in the Virginia
trade, and set sail from England. At the time we were at war
with the Spaniards, and lie had the misfortune to be taken
prisoner, together with his whole crew, by a man-of-war