The men-of-war were in line, on the side nearest to the fort, to protect the mortar vessels and smaller ships from its fire.
Passing the point of the promontory, they stood into the river, and anchored at a distance of fifty yards from the north face of the fort.
A gun from the admiral's ship gave the signal, and a hundred and fifty pieces of cannon at once opened fire, while the mortar vessels threw shell into the fort and town.

In ten minutes after the fire began, a shell fell into one of Angria's large ships, and set her on fire.

The flames soon spread to the others, fastened together on either side of her, and in less than an hour this fleet, which had for fifty years been the terror of the Malabar coast, was utterly destroyed.
In the meantime the fleet kept up their fire, with the greatest vigour, upon the enemy's works; and, before nightfall, the enemy's fire was completely silenced.

No white flag, however, was hung up, and the admiral had little doubt that it was intended to surrender the place to the Mahrattas.
As soon, therefore, as it became quite dark, Colonel Clive landed with the troops, and took up a position between the Mahrattas and the fort; where, to his great disappointment and disgust, Ramajee Punt found him in the morning.

The admiral again summoned the fort, declaring that he would renew the attack, and give no quarter, unless it was surrendered immediately.