eadly messengers. The Egyptians
stuck to their guns with the greatest bravery, but their skill was far
from being equal to their courage, and the greatest portion of their
shot flew high over the vessels; this was especially the case with the
heavy guns, the lighter and more manageable pieces were better aimed,
and the round shot continually struck the men-of-war but failed to
penetrate their iron sides. On the other hand, the huge shot and shell
of the ironclads committed terrible devastation on the batteries. These
were for the most part constructed of stone, which crumbled and fell in
great masses under the tremendous blows of the English shot and shell.

After an hour's continued firing the return from the forts began to
slacken. Many of the guns were dismounted, and rugged gaps appeared in
their walls; but it was not for three hours later that the Egyptian
gunners were driven from their pieces. Even then they continued to fire
steadily from several of their forts. At one o'clock the gunboats had
silenced the fire of the Marabout Fort, and proceeded to aid the
_Invincible, Monarch_, and _Penelope_ in their bombardment on the Mex
batteries; and the _Temeraire_, which had hitherto been engaged with a
fort commanding the Boghaz Channel, joined the _Alexandria, Sultan_, and
_Superb_, and their fire completely silenced the Pharos forts and blew
up the enemy's powder magazine. By four o'clock in the afternoon, the
enemy's fire ceased altogether, but for another hour and a half the
fleet continued to pound the forts.

The action was decisive; almost every Egyptian gun was dismounted, the
forts were riddled with holes and reduced to ruins, and the slaughter of
the Egyptian artillery was very great, while on the English side the
casualties amounted to only 5 killed and 28 wounded. So tremendous was
the effect produced by the fire of the British guns, that the Egyptian
soldiers entirely lost heart, and although the fleet carried no force
capable of effecting the capture of the town, if staunchly defended, the
Egyptians at once evacuated Alexandria. The European quarter was
plundered and fired by the mob of the town, and an enormous amount of
damage done.

As soon as the place was found to be evacuated, a strong body of marines
and bluejackets landed and took possession of it, and speedily restored
order, and held the city until the arrival of the troops from England.
Sir Archibald Alison came out and took command o