while a considerable body of Asiatic troops, both horse and foot, appeared on. the hills, it was necessary to make an arrangement for boarding them with some precaution; at the same time that it was of consequence to press them closely before they recovered from the impression and effect of our cannonade. A few shells from the Pompée dispersed the Asiatics, and convinced them that we commanded the ground within our reach, and that they could not protect the green standard they had hoisted, which I caused to be brought off by Lieutenant Oates, of the Pompée’s marines, that they might not rally there again. The Standard’s guns bearing best on the frigates on shore, I sent the Thunderer’s boats to that ship, to be employed with her own under the direction of Captain Harvey, making the signal to him to destroy the enemy’s ships in the N.E. The Active’s having been previously made to follow and destroy a frigate which had cut her cable to get from under the Thunderer’s and Pompée’s fire, and run on shore on the European side, in the N.W.; at the same time, Lieutenant Beecroft, of the Pompée, was detached to take possession of the line-of-battle ship on which the Thunderer’s and Pompée’s guns could still bear, under the protection likewise of the Repulse, which you had considerately sent to my aid; that officer brought me the Captain and second Captain, the latter of whom was wounded; also the flag of the Rear-Admiral who had escaped on shore, which I shall have the honor of presenting to you. The whole of the Turks were landed, in pursuance of your orders, including the wounded, with due attention to the sufferings of our misguided opponents, as I must call them, for the term enemy does not seem applicable, considering their evident good disposition towards us nationally. The ship was then set on fire by the Repulse’s and Pompée’s boats, and completely destroyed.
“Captain Harvey, in making his report to me of the conduct of the boats’ crews, under the command of Lieutenants Carter, Waller, and Colby, of his Majesty’s ship Thunderer, and of the marines employed with them, to board and burn the frigates and corvettes under the command of Captain Nicolls, speaks in strong terms of the gallantry and ability of them all. The latter, whom I have long known to be an intelligent and enterprising officer, after destroying the frigate, bearing the flag of the Captain Pasha, which is preserved to be presented to you, Sir, landed, and, profiting by the consternation of the Turks from the explosions on all sides of them, the effects of which occasioned no small risk to him, Lieutenants Fynmore, Boileau, and the party, he entered the redoubt, (the Turks retreating as he approached) set fire to the gabions, and spiked the guns, thirty-one in number, eight of which are brass, carrying immensely large marble balls; as however, the expected explosion of the line-of-battle ship made it impossible for the boats to stay long enough to destroy them effectually with their carriages, or to level the parapets, the wicker of the gabions being too green to burn, I have directed Lieutenants Carroll and Arabin, of his Majesty’s ship Pompée and Lieutenant Lawrie, of the marines, to continue on that service, with the Turkish corvette, and one gun-boat, which you will observe by the return, were not destroyed; and to act under
