The next three days were spent in idleness, awaiting the _Phram_, from which so much was expected.

On board ship there was no discipline, but plenty of hard drinking.

In order to make the men fight well, Brown's idea was to supply them with unlimited rum: the officers kept pace with the men in their libations, and what little discipline existed soon disappeared.
Orders were disobeyed, while drunkenness, violence, and insubordination reigned unchecked.

When remonstrances were addressed to Brown, he refused to stop the supply of liquor, saying that the people must not be put out of humour at this juncture, and they must drink as they pleased: all which is duly recorded by Captain Upton of the _London_.

The enemy meanwhile was observed busily constructing new batteries, and boats full of armed men were constantly crossing the river, but nothing was done to intercept them.
At last, the _Chandos_, _Pelham_, and _Phram_ arrived, having spent ten days in their voyage from Bombay.