1807 - Admiral Seniavin in the Archipelago


 
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Naval history of Great Britain - Vol. IV
by
William James
1807 British and Turkish Fleets 314

Rear-admiral Sir Thomas Louis (who died soon afterwards on board the Canopus), quitted the coast, for England ; where, on the 26th of May, the Royal-George safely arrived.

The further operations of the British in Egypt, being wholly of a military nature, need not be here detailed. It may suffice to state, that the troops, being overpowered by numbers, suffered reverses ; and after losing upwards of 1000 of their number in killed, wounded, and prisoners, were compelled, in the middle of September, to evacuate Egypt, and re-embark on board their ships. This the British were permitted to do by a convention with the governor of Egypt ; who, immediately on their departure, entered the city of Alexandria at the head of a powerful army, and rehoisted on its lofty towers, the standard of Mahomet.

While on the subject of Turkish affairs, we must give some account of the naval war carried on between Russia and the Porte. Vice-admiral Seniavin, who made so bold a proposal to Sir John Thomas Duckworth, had been educated in the British navy, and, if we are rightly informed, subsequently gave a proof of his attachment by retiring from service while hostilities existed between Russia and England. The squadron now under his orders, and of which Rear-admiral Greig was the second in command, consisted of the:

Gun Ship Gun Ship
80 Rafael 66 Ratvizan
74 Twerday (flag) St.-Petro
Motchnoy 60 Skoroy
St.-Cafael Frigate
St.-Helene 26 Kilduyn
Yarrowflaul Venus
Moscow    

With this fleet, having taken possession of the islands of Lemnos and Tenedos, and placed a garrison in the latter, the Russian admiral blockaded the Dardanells. Another Russian squadron cruised off the mouth of the Bosphorus, and effectually cut off all communication between Constantinople and the Black Sea.

Imboldened by their success over a formidable squadron of the far-famed British, the Turks hastened to equip their fleet to act against the Russians in the Archipelago. With this stimulus to their exertions, the Turks managed, by the middle of May, to equip a squadron of eight sail of the line, six frigates, some ship and brig corvettes, and about 50 gun-vessels. On the 19th this fleet passed the Dardanells, and, finding that the Russian admiral had gone to the island of Imbro, steered for Tenedos. Here the Turks endeavoured to land a body of troops, but were repulsed, and stood over to the coast of Natolia. On the 22d the two fleets got a sight of each other ; and that of the Turks immediately crowded sail to escape through the

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