e in
length. It was strongly defended by batteries rising one above another,
and along a tongue of land, which defends the entrance into the inner
part of the harbour, and also the approach to it, was a range of strong
batteries, which our ships were obliged to pass, to take their station
near the town, for the purpose of bombarding it. In the whole, the
city was defended by about one thousand pieces of ordnance. During a
conversation with Captain Brisbane, Lord Nelson had named twenty-five
ships of the line as the force requisite to attack Algiers, but Lord
Exmouth was satisfied he could accomplish the enterprise with the small
fleet above described. He arrived off Algiers on the 27th of August; and
all proposals for conciliation, and all demands for the relief of the
British consul being ineffectual, the fleet passed the batteries and
commenced their appointed work. The "Queen Charlotte" led the attack,
and she answered to the guns of the batteries with a broadside which
swept off' about five hundred men from the crowded mole, soldiers and
spectators. Before the battle became general, the "Queen Charlotte" had
demolished the fortifications on the mole; then drawing her broadside
more to the northward, she soon brought down the tower of the
light-house. Gun after gun fell from the batteries, and the last of them
was dismounted just as the artillery-men were in the act of discharging
it. The battle had not long commenced when the enemy's flotilla of
gim-boats advanced with daring courage to board the "Queen Charlotte,"
which by this time was seconded by the "Leander;" but as soon as they
were discovered in the midst of the smoke, a few guns from both these
ships sent thirty-three of the Algerine gun-boats to the bottom. The
cannonade, which was of the most awful description, had continued for
an hour without producing any signs of submission, and then Lord Exmouth
determined to destroy the enemy's ships. This was effected by throwing
laboratory torches and carcass-shells on board of the nearest frigates,
which, taking fire, communicated the flames to the rest, until they
were burnt to the water's edge. The bombardment continued, with little
intermission, till nearly eleven: the Algerines fighting all the time
with the utmost fury and desperation. About ten it was deemed advisable
to take a large offing during the night. It was extremely dark: but the
darkness was illuminated by a violent storm of lightning accompanied
wi