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; the _William_ belonging to Bombay, from Bengal; the _Severn_, a Bengal freight ship for Bussorah, value nine or ten lakhs of rupees; the _Derby_ belonging to the Hon'ble Company, with the Grab _Restoration_, value Rs.5,22,743-4-6; the sloop _Pilot_ and the _Augusta_; also the _Dadaboy_ from Surat, _Rose_ from Mangalore, Grab _Anne_ from Gombroon, _Benjimolly_ from the Malabar coast, and _Futte Dowlat_ from Muscat." The Council were desirous of getting Toolajee into their own custody, fearful that, if left in Mahratta hands, he would be set free before long, and the work would have to be done over again.