78 THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS. 



which was moored in the centre of the other ships, 

 too far within the Mole to be attempted safely by 

 boarding. They soon set her on fire, and notwith- 

 standing the exertions of the Algerines, she was 

 completely in flames by six o* clock. From her the 

 ftre communicated, first to all the other vessels in 

 the port, except a brig, and a schooner, moored in 

 the upper part of it ; and afterwards to the store- 

 houses and arsenal. At a little past seven, she 

 came drifting out of the harbour, and passed so 

 close to the flag-ship, as nearly to involve her in the 

 same destruction. 



About sunset, a message was received from Rear- 

 Admiral Milne, requesting that a frigate might be 

 sent to divert from the Impregnable some of the fire 

 under which she was suffering. She had anchored 

 more to the northward than was intended, and con- 

 sequently became exposed to all the heaviest batte- 

 ries. The Glasgow weighed inmiediately, but the 

 wind had been driven away by the cannonade, arid 

 she was only able, after three-quarters of an hour's 

 exertion, to reach a new position between the Severn 

 and Leander ; a better for annoyujg the enemy, but 

 where she was herself more exposed, and suffered in 

 proportion. As it was found impossible to assist the 

 Impregnable, Lord Exmouth sent on board Mr.Tris- 

 cott, one of his aide-de-camps, with permission to 

 haul off*. The Impregnable was then dreadfully cut 

 up; 150 men had been already killed and wounded, 

 a full third of them by an explosion, and the shot 

 were still coming in fast; but her brave crew, guided 

 and encouraged by the Rear -Admiral and Captain 

 Brace, two of the most distinguished and successful 

 officers in the service, would not allow her to go thus 

 out of battle ; and she kept her station, maintaining 

 an animated fire to the last. To relieve her in some 

 degree, an ordnance sloop, which had been fitted at 

 Gibraltar as an explosion-vessel, with 1 43 barrels of 

 powder, was placed at the disposal of the Rear- 

 Admiral. She had been intended for the destruction 



