in the order of two sailing lines: the British and
French squadrons forming the starboard line, and the Russian squadron
the lee line. As it was Admiral Codrington's object only to have the
enemy's fleet within his grasp, and then, before laying hold of it, to
make his propositions anew to Ibrahim, orders were given that not a
gun should be fired unless the Turks should begin. These orders were
strictly obeyed; but on seeing the approach of the allies, the Turkish
commander concluded that they had come to attack them without any
further ceremony, and therefore prepared for battle. As they approached,
the Capitana Bey observed,--"The die is now cast; I told you the English
would not be trifled with." Their flotilla was drawn up in a crescent
with springs on its cables, and it consisted of seventy-nine ships of
war, armed with 2,240 guns, beside those in the formidable batteries on
shore. In point of strength the Turks had the advantage over the allies,
as their ships amounted only to twenty-six, carrying 1,324 guns. The
Turks, however, had only three two-deckers, while the allies had ten
sail of the line, which greatly compensated for the discrepancy of
strength. The fire commenced on the enemy's side; for when the British
admiral despatched one of his pilots to the flag-ship of the Turkish
commander, expressing an earnest desire to avoid all effusion of blood,
the messenger was shot at and killed. The same vessel also soon after
fired into the "Asia," and the conflict then became general. The battle
continued with fury during four hours; the English bearing the brunt of
the engagement. At the end of that time the Turkish and Egyptian fleets
had disappeared: the Bay of Navarino was covered with their wrecks, and
only a few of the smaller vessels escaped into the inner harbour. The
carnage on board the Turkish ships was dreadful: nearly six thousand men
had perished in the action. On the part of the allies the severest
loss was sustained by the British squadron; having seventy-five
killed, including Captain Bathurst of the "Genoa," and one hundred and
ninety-seven wounded. The French, who emulated the skill and valour
of the English, had forty-three killed and one hundred and seventeen
wounded; and the Russians fifty-seven killed and one hundred and
thirty-seven wounded. The scene of wreck and devastation on the side
of the Turks was such as had not been witnessed since the battle of
Lepanto: of about one hundred men-of-war