It was characteristic of all the warlike expeditions he sent out, that while he was indefatigable in preparing armaments, all other details requisite to success were left to chance.

The Council resolved that Weekes was unfit to be Commodore, and deposed him.

To fill his place the veteran Alexander Hamilton, whose recent defence of the _Morning Star_ had shown his fighting capacity, was induced to relinquish his private trade, and made Commander-in-Chief of all the Company's frigates on a salary of Rs.80 a month.

His ship, the _Morning Star_, was also hired by the Council.
As soon as the monsoon was over, he was required to conduct an expedition to relieve the Carwar factory, which was beleaguered by the Sunda Rajah.
The chief of the factory at this time was Mr.George Taylor.

In the spring of 1717, a Bombay merchant's ship carrying an English pass and flying English colours had been seized by the Rajah, who imprisoned the crew.
Demands for their surrender were being made, when, in May, the _Elizabeth_, belonging to Mr.Strutt, a private merchant at Surat, with L15,000 worth of treasure on board, went ashore near Carwar.