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.