om
Constantinople to Tripoli to confirm the Bashaw in his title;
this ceremony takes place in all the Barbary regencies every five
years. The captain of this vessel informed us that our shot and
shells had made great havoc and destruction in the city, and
among the shipping, and that a vast number of people had been
killed: also informs us that three of the boats which were sunk
by our shot in the actions of the 3d and 28th ultimo, had been
got up, repaired, and fitted for service.

_September 3d._ At two P.M., Tripoli bore south southwest, two
miles and a half distant; wind east by north. At half-past two
the signals were made for the gunboats to cast off, advance, and
attack the enemy's galleys and gunboats, which were all under
weigh in the eastern part of the harbour, whither they had for
some time been working up against the wind. This was certainly a
judicious movement of theirs, as it precluded the possibility of
our boats going down to attack the town, without leaving the
enemy's flotilla in their rear, and directly to windward. I
accordingly ordered the bomb vessels to run down within proper
distance of the town and bombard it, while our gunboats were to
engage the enemy's galleys and boats to windward. At half-past
three P.M., our bombs having gained the station to which they
were directed, anchored, and commenced throwing shells into the
city; at the same time our gunboats opened a brisk fire on the
galleys, &c., within point blank shot, which was warmly returned
by them and Fort English, and by a new battery a little to the
westward; but as soon as our boats arrived within good musket
shot of their galleys and boats, they gave way and retreated to
the shore within the rocks, and under cover of musketry from Fort
English. They were followed by our boats, and by the Syren,
Argus, Vixen, Nautilus and Enterprize, as far as the reefs would
permit them to go with prudence. The action was then divided. One
division of our boats, with the brigs and schooners, attacked
Fort English, whilst the other was engaged with the enemy's
galleys and boats. The Bashaw's castle, the mole, crown, and
several other batteries kept up a constant fire on our bomb
vessels, which were well conducted, and threw shells briskly into
the town; but, from the