Asia's pinnace that brought on the battle, a cannon-shot was fired from an Egyptian ship against the Sirene, the flag-ship of the French admiral. The Sirene immediately replied, and soon made an end of her assailant; but during the fight the Turks sent a fire-ship against her, and it is probable that she would have been destroyed, had it not been for the intervention of Captain Fellowes of the Dartmouth. On their side of the line, the Russians did some excellent work; in fact, every ship of the allied fleet was engaged, and it was not long before the superior discipline and drill of the Christians had their effect on the infidels. One after another the Ottoman ships went down, or were drifted ashore, and in less than four hours from the beginning of the contest the Ottoman fleet had ceased to be. Every armed ship was burnt, sunk, or destroyed; the only remaining vessels belonging to the Turks and Egyptians were twenty-five of the smallest transports, which were spared by order of Admiral Codrington. It was estimated that the loss in men on the Turkish and Egyptian vessels was fully seven thousand.
On the side of the allies, no vessels were destroyed, but the Asia, Albion, and Genoa of the English fleet were so much injured, that Admiral Codrington sent them to Malta for repairs which would enable them to stand the voyage home to England. Seventy-five men were killed and 197 wounded on the British fleet, and the loss of the French was 43 killed and 117 wounded. The Russian loss was not reported, and consequently was not supposed to be great. On the Asia alone there were 16 killed and 26 wounded, one of the former being the son of the Admiral. Captains Bathurst of the Genoa and Bell of the Asia were among the killed, and also Lieutenant Fitz-Roy, who was shot in the pinnace before the opening of the battle. The Asia had 125 round shot in her hull, 18 in her foremast, 8 in the bowsprit, and 25
