So writes Captain Basil Hall, with evident truth. But the chapter remains to be written. As regards the East India Company, however, the history of convoys presents no very great difficulty, as the Company's records exist to supplement those of the Admiralty.

The East India Company's ships were not compelled to accept convoy as many other ships were. The Act did not apply to them, as their heavy armament gave them something of the status of ships-of-war. They had the freedom which Letters of Marque conferred. At the same time, they were scarcely ever allowed to sail singly in war-time, and it was very rarely that they lacked naval protection. The Company could not afford to take risks. The ships, indeed, were nearly all hired; but those belonging to the Company itself were not insured. More important still, the outward-bound vessels often carried military stores on the safe arrival of which a campaign in India might turn. And the cargoes of homeward-bound ships, although insured, were a matter of national importance.