castle, under the direction of Mr. Christopher Scroeder, master's mate ; and the last mounted 24-pounder in the north ravelin, manned from the Tigre, under the direction of Mr. Jones, midshipman. These guns, being within grape-distance of the head of the attacking column, added to the Turkish musketry, did great execution. The Tigre's two 68-pounder carronades, mounted in two djerms lying in the mole, and worked under the able direction of Mr. James Bray, carpenter of the Tigre, threw shells into the centre of that column with evident effect, and checked it considerably.

Still, however, the besiegers gained ground, and made a lodgment in the second story of the north-east tower, the upper part being entirely battered down, and the ruins in the ditch forming the ascent by which they mounted. Daylight on the 8th discovered to the besieged the French standard, hoisted on the outer angle of the tower. The fire from the former had comparatively slackened, and even the flanking fire was become of less effect, the French having covered themselves in this lodgment, and the approach to it by two traverses across the ditch. These the French had constructed under the fire of the whole preceding night : they were composed of sand-bags, and the bodies of the dead built in with them, and were so high that their bayonets only were visible.

Hassan-Bey's troops were in the boats, although as yet only half way to the shore. This was a most critical point of the contest ; and an effort was necessary to preserve the place for a short time until the newly arrived troops could take their stations at the walls. Accordingly, Sir Sidney himself landed with the ships' boats at the mole, and led the crews, armed with pikes, to the breach. Many fugitives accompanied the British ; and the latter found the breach defended by a few Turks, whose most destructive missiles were heavy stones, which, striking the assailants on the head, overthrew the foremost down the slope, and impeded the progress of the rest. Fresh parties of French, however, ascended to the assault, the heap of ruins between the two parties serving as a breastwork for both : here the muzzles of their muskets touched, and the spear-heads of their standards locked.

Djezzar-Pacha, according to the ancient Turkish custom, had been sitting in his palace, rewarding such as brought him the heads of his enemies, and distributing musket-cartridges with his own hands. Hearing that Sir Sidney and his brave shipmates were on the breach, the old man hastily quitted his station, and, coming behind the British, pulled them down with violence, saying, that if any harm happened to his English friends ; all would be lost. This amicable contest as to who should defend the breach, occasioned a rush of Turks to the spot ; and thus time was gained for the arrival of the first body of Hassan-Bey's troops.

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