Queen Charlotte_ and _Leander_, and grounded a-head of the latter,
under the wall of the town. The gun-boats, and the _Queen Charlotte's_
launch, then opened with carcass-shells upon the largest frigate, which
was moored in the centre of the other ships, too far within the Mole to
be attempted safely by boarding. They soon set her on fire, and
notwithstanding the exertions of the Algerines, she was completely in
flames by six o'clock. From her the fire communicated, first to all the
other vessels in the port, except a brig and a schooner, moored in the
upper part of it, and afterwards to the storehouses and arsenal. At a
little past seven, she came drifting out of the harbour, and passed so
close to the flag-ship as nearly to involve her in the same destruction.

About sunset, a message was received from Rear-Admiral Milne, requesting
that a frigate might be sent to divert from the _Impregnable_ some of
the fire under which she was suffering. She had anchored more to the
northward than was intended, and consequently became exposed to the
heavy battery on the point of rock beyond the lighthouse, and which was
covered from the fire of the rest of the fleet. The _Glasgow_ weighed
immediately, but the wind had been driven away by the cannonade, and she
was only able, after three-quarters of an hour's exertion, to reach a
new position between the _Severn_ and _Leander_; a better for annoying
the enemy, but where she was herself more exposed, and suffered in
proportion. As it was found impossible to assist the _Impregnable_, Lord
Exmouth sent on board Mr. Triscott, one of his aides-de-camp, with
permission to haul off. The _Impregnable_ was then dreadfully cut up;
150 men had been already killed and wounded, a full third of them by an
explosion, and the shot were still coming in fast; but her brave crew,
guided and encouraged by the Rear-Admiral and Captain Brace, two of the
most distinguished and successful officers in the service, would not
allow her to go thus out of battle; and she kept her station,
maintaining an animated fire to the last. To relieve her in some degree,
an ordnance sloop, which had been fitted at Gibraltar as an
explosion-vessel, with 143 barrels of powder, was placed at the disposal
of the Rear-Admiral. She had been intended for the destruction of the
Algerine fleet, but this service had already been effected by other
means. Conducted by Lieutenant Fleming, who had been commanding a
gun-boat near the _Qu