and, on the 20th, brought up about 8 miles from the Turkish capital “At 10 o’clock,” says Sir J. T. Duckworth, “I sent Captain Capel, in the Endymion, to anchor near the town, if the wind, which was light, would permit the ship to stem the current; and to convey the Ambassador’s despatches to the Sublime Porte, in the morning, by a flag of truce; but he found it impracticable to get within 4 miles, and consequently anchored at half-past 11 P.M.”
At this latter period. Lieutenant Willoughby received an order to hold himself in readiness to leave the ship with a flag of truce, early enough to reach Seraglio Point by the first break of day: his surprise at being selected for such an important service was only equalled by the pleasure he felt on the occasion.
About 2-30 A.M. Lieutenant Willoughby shoved off, taking with him a letter from the Hon. William Arbuthnot to the Grand Vizier, demanding the surrender of all the Turkish men of war, with stores sufficient for their equipment; and promising that, in case a favorable answer was given, every hostile demonstration should immediately cease. Lieutenant Willoughby was also charged with an energetic message from the Ambassador and Vice-Admiral, allowing the Grand Seignor only half an hour, after the translation of the letter, to determine upon peace or war. We should here particularly remark, that the British Minister had hitherto failed in obtaining an answer to any of his despatches.
Accompanied by Mr. Arbuthnot’s dragoman[1], Lieutenant Willoughby arrived close to Seraglio Pohit by daybreak; at which time numerous vessels and boats, of every shape and size, crowded with men, were rapidly passing over from the Natolian shore to protect Constantinople.
Ignorant of the nature of a flag of truce, many of this heterogeneous flotilla fired at Lieutenant Willoughby’s unarmed boat, as they passed a-head of her, thereby obliging him to increase his distance from them; even the regular sentries at the point invariably opened their fire whenever he attempted to near it; and to and to his embarrassment, the dragoman,
- ↑ Interpreter.
