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but little injury. At 9^h 30' A.M. the Canopus entered the narrow passage of Sestos and Abydos, and sustained a very heavy cannonade from both castles, within point-blank shot of each; but the very spirited return it met with from that ship and those immediately a-stern of her, so considerably diminished its force, that the effect was not so severe on those in the rear.

Immediately to the N.E. of the castles, and between them and Point Pesquies, on which a formidable battery, mounting eight brass guns, each carrying a ball of 200 pounds, and twenty-three iron 32 and 24-pounders, had been newly erected, the Turkish men-of-war already alluded to were at anchor. The van ships of the British gave them their broadsides as they passed; and presently after, the Pompée, Thunderer, and Standard, anchored in the midst of them, the latter within 300 yards of the battery. After a warm action of about half an hour, in which the Active, continuing under sail, did credit to her name, the enemy cut their cables and drifted towards the shore, the people in the battery at the same time making off with the greatest precipitation. The object of Sir W. Sidney Smith was then to destroy the ships, and that service was most rapidly effected; as in less than four hours, the whole of them exploded, except a corvette and a gun-boat, which it was thought proper to preserve^[1].

The following is a copy of the Rear-Admiral’s report to Sir John T. Duckworth, concerning this brilliant affair:–

“His Majesty’s Ship Pompée, within the Dardanelles,
“Feb. 20, 1807.

“Sir,– In reporting to you the entire completion of the service you were pleased to order should be executed by the rear division under my immediate directions, I need not inform you that the ships were anchored in the thick of the Turkish squadron, and in close action with them, as you must have observed it; but as the intervention of the land, after you passed the point, prevented your seeing the subsequent operations, it is my duty to acquaint you therewith. The Turks fought desperately, like men determined to defend themselves and their ships as long as they could; but the superiority of our fire, within musket-shot, obliged them in half an hour to run on shore on Point Pesquies, or Nagara Burun. As the redoubt on the point continued to fire, also as the ships kept their colours up, and the part of their crews which had deserted them remained armed on the beach,

1. See note at p. 318.