1807.] 
¢ i 
assiduity during the time he was placed in 
that arduous situation 
.T. DuckworTH. 
Royal George off Constantinople, Feb, 21. 
My pay 
Thad the honour of transmitting to your 
lordship, by the late frst Lieutenant of the 
Ajax, the various details relating to the trans- 
actions of the squi \dron, till the 17th ult, 
Your lordship will from thence have been in- 
formed from my resolution of passing the Dur- 
danelles the first fair wind. A fine wind trom 
the southward permitted me to carry it into 
effect on the morning of the 19th.—Inrorma- 
tion had been given me by his Majesty’s minis- 
ter, Mr. Arbuthnot, and Sir Thomas Louis, 
that the Turkish squadron consisting of a six- 
ty-four gun ship, four frigates, and several 
corvettes, had been for some time:at anchor 
within the Inner Castle ; and conceiving it 
possible they might hive remained there, I 
had given orders to Rear Admiral Sir Sydney 
Smith, to bring up with the Thunderer, 
Standard, and Act.ve, and destroy duane 
should our passage be’ pane Ata quarter 
hefore nine o’clock, the whole of the squadron 
had passed the outer castles, without having’ 
returned a shot to their fire (which occasioned 
but little injury). 
duced by the desire of his Majesty’s minister, 
xpressed to preserve every appearance of 
ee p y app 
amity, that he might negociate with the 
strongest proof of the pacific disposition of our 
Sovereign towards the Porte: a second bat- 
tery on the European side, 
little effect. At half past nine o’<lock, the 
Canopus, which on account of Sir Thomas 
Louis’s knowledge of the Channel, joined to 
the steady gallantry which Thad before ex- 
perienced, had been appcioted to lead, enter-~ 
ed the narrow passage of Sestos and Abydos, 
and sustained a very heavy cannonade from 
both Castles, within point- blank shot of each. 
They opened their fire on our ships as they 
edntinued to pass in succession, although 
Twas happy in observing that the very spi- 
rited return it met “ial had so. consider. ob! 
diminis!ied ics force, that the effect on the 
sternmost ships could not have been so severe. 
Immediately to the N. E. of the castles ,and 
between them and Point Pesguies on which 
a formidable battery had been newly erected, 
tHe small squadron which 1 have alre ady Al 
luded to’ were at anchor. ‘The van division 
of our Squadron gave them their broadsides as ° 
they passes, and Sir Sydney Smith, with his 
oe closed into the midst, and the effuct 
of the fire was Such that in hil’ an hour the 
Turks had all cut their cables to run on shore 
The ‘object of the rar admiral was then to 
desttoy them, which was most rapidly effect- 
ed; asin tess than tour hotirs the whole’ of 
them had exploded, except a small corvette, ~ 
avd 3 guneboat, which it was thought pro-~ 
per to présarve. J inclose to your Lordsnip a 
statement*or their number: and when } add 
also an account of the loss his Majesty’s ships 
Montury Mac. No. 157. 
Attempt on- Constantinople. 489 
This forbearance was pro-. 
fired also with as- 
have sustaived, I cannot help expressing my 
satisfaction that we have suffered so slightly g 
as, had any oi their stone shot, some of which 
exceeded 800 weight, made such a breach bee 
tween wind and water, as they have done im 
our sides, the ship must have sunk ; or had 
they struck a lower mast in the centre, it 
must evidently have been cut in two3 in the 
rigging, too, no accident occurred that was 
not perectly arranged In the course of neat 
day. The sprit-sail yard of the Royal 'G Georse, 
the gaft of the Canopus, and the main-tope 
sail - aa of the Standard, are the only Spare 
that were injured. It is with peculiar plea- 
sure that I embrace the opportunity which has 
been at this time Bfordcd, of bearing testi- 
mony to the zeal and dis clnguished ability of 
Sir Sidney - Smith ; the manner in which. he- 
executed the service enfrusted to him was 
worthy of the reputation, wich he has long 
since so justly and generally established. 
The terms of approbation in which the rear- 
admiral relates the conduct of Captains Da- 
Cres, Valbot, Harvey, and Moubray, whith, 
from my Mae under the necessity of passing 
the Point of eee before the van could an- 
chor, he ‘had a greater opportunity of observing 
than ] could, cannot but be highly flattering 5 
but 1 was a more immediate witness to the 
able and officer-like conduct which Captain 
Moubray displayed in obedience to my signal, 
by destroying a frigate with which he had: 
been more particularly engaged, haying dtiven, 
her on shore on thesEwropean side, after she 
had been forced to cut her cables, from under 
the fire of the Pompee, and i abe The. 
sixty-four having run on shore on Pesquier 
Point, I ordered the Repulse to work up and. 
destroy her, which C aptain Legge, in con- 
junction with the boats of the Pompee, exes 
cuted with great promptitude ana judsment. 
The battery on the point, of more than thirty: 
guns, which, had it been completely finished, 
was in a position co have annoyed the squa-, 
dron most severely in passing, was taken pose 
session of by the royal marines and boats crews 
of the rear division ; the turks having retired’ 
at their approach, and the guns were immee 
diately spiked. This service was pertormed: 
under the direction of Captain Nicholls, of the 
Standard’s mar.nes, whose spirit and enters 
prize can never be, doubted; bat as circum- 
stances rendered it impra.ticable to effect the 
entire destruction of the redoubt, orders were 
given by Sir Sidney Smita to Captain Mou= 
bray, which | fully approvea, to ren. lin atans 
enor near the Vesquies, and to employ Lieuts. 
Carrol and Arabin, of the Pompee, and Lieut. 
Lawr. Gy oO: the marines to complete the de- 
molizion of the redoubt and guns, which when 
per.ormed, ‘the Active was to continue in the 
passage of the Dardanelles, tiil further orders, 
Ata quarter past five, P. M. the squadron , 
vas enabled to make sail; and on the evening, 
of the next day, the Z0ti. came to an anchor 
at ten o’clock, near the Prince’s islands about 
eight miles from Constantinople, when i dis. 
ap patched 
