"The conduct of a Turkish soldier, who was sent up in the Cyclops, has been admirable in organizing and keeping together parties of the mountaineers.

"Having distributed all the arms, I now send the Cyclops for a fresh supply. "I think we may dispose of more, and I take the liberty of suggesting that they should be sent immediately before the present enthusiasm has time to subside.

"The painful part of my duty is to enclose the list of killed and wounded in the attack on Gebail. I deeply lament that it has been so severe.

"I have the honour to transmit detailed reports of their proceedings from Capt. H. Austin, of her Majesty's steam ship Cyclops, and from Capt. Robinson, commanding the detachment of royal marines; and I beg to add, that I most fully concur in the encomiums that they pass upon the officers and men under their respective orders.

(Signed)

"I have the honor, &c.

"H. B. MARTIN, Captain."

"Commodore Charles Napier, C.B., II.M.S. Powerful."

"H.M.S. Cyclops, off the town of Gebail, September 12th, 1840.

"SIR,-In accordance with your directions, I have the honour to report, that in conjunction with Captain Robinson, in command of the detachment of royal marines, (specially embarked on board her Majesty's ship under my command,) I first reconnoitered a position for disembarkation; after which the detachment, consisting of 200 rank and file, and 200 armed Syrians, were put into the boats of her Majesty's ships Princess Charlotte, Bellerophon, and Hastings, under the command of Lieutenants Johnson, Hallett, and Thompson, of those ships, and then landed under the cover of the fire of her Majesty's ships Carysfort, Dido, and Cyclops, about a quarter of a mile to the southward of the town of Gebail. The troops being formed, the gardens in front were scoured by the launches' guns, the boats at this moment remaining fully armed and afloat, in perfect readiness for the re-embarkation of the force should it prove necessary.

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Taking to my assistance the second lieutenant, (George Giffard,) Mr. Butler (mate,) and Mr. J. B. Caffari, (Maltese pilot,) as an interpreter, with two gigs' crews, we advanced most cautiously, and so soon as we were within musket-shot a party was detached to wave our ensign, for the purpose of showing our position, in order that the caanonading might cease.

"This having been accomplished, and while moving steadily forward, a most sharp and destructive fire was opened from the castle, and at this moment only was the cap of one man seen.

"The firing appeared to proceed principally from a line below the ground upon which we were; from this effective resistance, I immediately saw the doubt that existed as to our success, but having advanced thus far, a volunteer party immediately proceeded to advance to the right, for the purpose of determining if there was a chance of forcing an entrance. However, the fire increasing, in conjunction with Captain Robinson, the whole force was drawn off by retiring steadily, under cover of the walls, conveying all the wounded that could be removed. At this moment a small boat was despatched to you, that we were out of the line of the ships' fire, for the purpose of awaiting the result of a further cannonade; having waited for which, on the beach, during a period of two hours and a half, and seeing the little effect that was produced upon the base of the castle, and numerous persons, some of whom were armed, coming in from all directions, I considered it my duty to re-embark the marine forces, first offering to the natives whom I had landed, either to remove them or wait afloat for their protection, while they took up an elevated position of safety; and by a little persuasion they chose the latter. I then embarked in the spare boats all the unarmed persons who ran to this boat, and in the act of returning I had the satisfaction of meeting you. For the detail of the operations, in a military point, I beg to refer you to the enclosed report of Capt. Robinson, in command of the

detachment of the royal marines, whom it is our duty especially to notice, and who commanded and directed the operations of his men in a most able, courageous, and praiseworthy manner; and I beg to observe, that the conduct of the officers and men under his command was in accordance with that ever displayed by the royal marines when under fire. It is with much pain and regret that I have to lament so severe a loss, without at this moment having succeeded in gaining possession of the castle.

"I have to notice the able assistance rendered by Lieut. Giffard and Mr. Butler (mate), both of this ship, who accompanied me in the attack; the former, with my coxswain, George Martin, I regret to say, were severely wounded.

"I should not be doing justice to the division of boats before mentioned, if I did not express my satisfaction and full approbation of the ready co-operation afforded by them in the landing and re-embarkation of the troops, and their state of readiness to receive and cover them if necessary-Lieut. Thompson, the senior lieutenant of the Hastings, being in command.

"A Turkish soldier sent on board to superintend the distribution of arms, behaved exceedingly well, first in organizing the Syrians when on board, and afterwards in keeping them together on shore, and leading them on to the attack, and again in posting them so advantageously as would have enabled them to be of considerable use, had the force within advanced.

"I beg leave to inclose a return of the killed and wounded on board H.M. steam ship under my command.

"I have the honor, &c.
(Signed)

"HORATIO T. AUSTIN, Captain.

Capt. H. B. Martin, senior officer off Gibella, H.M.S. Carysfort."

"H.M.S. Cyclops, Sept. 12th, 1840. "SIB. I beg to acquaint you, for the information of Captain Martin, senior officer, with the proceedings of the detachment under my command, consisting of about two hundred rank and file of the royal marines, divided into four companies, under the command of Capt. Searle, and of Lieutenants Searle, Harrison, and Adair. Having had the pleasure to agree with you so perfectly as to the selection of the place for landing, it is only necessary for me to say, that the cannonading and shelling of the position and castle of Gebail, having been executed apparently with the most perfect and complete success by H.M.S. Carysfort, Dido, and Cyclops; and the gardens, fences, &c., thoroughly scoured and swept by the fire of the launches, the detachment was landed and formed in column, extended to the right, and then advanced directly upon the building, covered by the fences on the ascent as far as the summit, which being gained without the slightest intimation of the presence of an enemy-and you, as well as myself considered it impossible, after the effectual battering the building had undergone, that any one could remain in it, the companies were advanced in front of the last wall, and in the act of extending to advance, when a very heavy fire of musketry was suddenly opened from the loop holes of the castle, but principally, as it since appears, from the loop holes of the castle a few inches above the ground from excavation passages; the fire was returned by the detachments, and after one or two rounds I withdrew the men under the last wall, and pushed forward a sergeant and four or five men, to ascertain whether there was any possibility of getting access into the building, either by the doors, or the vacancies caused by the bombardment. The enemy's fire, however, became so warm, that as you were present in person during the whole affair, you must be aware it was quite hopeless to persevere with any prospect of success, and, therefore, I withdrew the detachments to the point of disembarkation, and from thence, in about an hour afterwards, the whole were once more embarked in the Cyclops. The painful part of my duty is to report the extent of our loss, which, as you will perceive, amounts (by the return annexed,) to one corporal and two privates killed, and one corporal and one private since dead from their wounds; and one second lieutenant, one lance sergeant, and fourteen privates wounded, nearly all severely.

"The pleasing part of my duty now remains, which is, to state that nothing could exceed the zeal, courage, and alacrity of the non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates, who fully sustained the honorable character of the

corps.

My warmest gratitude is due to Capt. Searle, (the next senior officer,) and also to Lieutenants Adair, Searle, and Harrison, commanding companies, for the gallant and most efficient support I received from them; and also to Lieut. Spalding, acting adjutant to the detachment, for the active performance of every part of his duty, and more particularly for his gallantry in exerting himself in bringing off the wounded.

"I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)

"CHARLES ROBINSON.

"Captain Royal Marines, commanding Detachments."

"Return of officers and men belonging to her Majesty's ships and vessels, killed and wounded in the assault upon the fortified position of Gebail, September the 12, 1840.

"Benbow.-Killed, two royal marines; wounded, four royal marines, se

verely.

Lastings.-Killed, two royal marines; wounded, second Lieut. Charles W. Adair, R.M., slightly; seven royal marines, severely; three royal marines, aghtly.

"Castor.-Wounded, one royal marine, severely.

"Zebra.-Killed one royal marine.

"Cyclops.-Wounded, Lieutenant George G. Giffard, severely; one seaman,

severely.

"Total killed, 5; total wounded, 18."

"On the attack of Gebail, where our sailors and marines were repulsed, on arriving at the beach to re-embark for their respective ships, Lieut. Grenfell, first of the Cyclops steam-frigate, was observed to run back accompanied by a seaman, having missed an English Jack; arriving at the scene of action, under a heavy fire from the Egyptians, he carried away the flag, while the shot was flying in all directions about him and his bold companion; and getting down to the boats, they were received with three hearty cheers."

CAPTURE OF SIDON AND TYRE.

"Sidon, September 27th.

"Sidon, with its garrison of nearly 3,000 men, its immense stores of arins, ammunition, provisions,―of material of every description,—are all in the hands of the Sultan's troops.

"After the reconnoissance of the 20th, it was determined to send a force to attempt the reduction of the town. Accordingly, on the evening of the 24th, the Thunderer, 84, Capt. Berkeley, with the Wasp brig, an Austrian frigate, and a Turkish corvette, got under weigh from D'jouni for Sidon. On the evening of the 25th, the Gorgon steam frigate took on board from four to six hundred marines, while the Cyclops steam-frigate received about 1,500 Turkish troops, under the command of à Prussian officer, Col. Lane. Early on the morning of the 26th, the steamers got underway, and in a few hours joined the other ships, about three miles to the northward of Sidon. The force was here increased by the very seasonable arrival of the steamer Stromboli, having on board from 3 to 400 marines from England, having touched at Gibraltar and Malta; of the Hydra from Tyre.

"The steamers having towed the other ships into position, they all anchored, forming a crescent, which completely commanded the town from one extremity to the other. The Stromboli anchored to the extreme south; next to her the Wasp, the Austrian frigate, and the Turkish corvette. In the centre, commanding with her broadside the fort and causeway communicating with the

barrack, lay the Thunderer, having the Cyclops and Gorgon steamers to the southward. The latter hoisted the broad blue pennant, Commodore Napier being on board. About half-past eight a flag of truce was sent on shore, and the town summoned. In the meantime some of the inhabitants took advantage of the offer of the French steamer Castor, (which has been recently giving us some curious illustrations of French neutrality,) and went on board. In about two hours the ships opened fire, and it was only after they had been thundering away for an hour or so that we could form some estimate of the strength of the place. Shot and shell fell on it as thick as hailstones, without either making any very visible impression upon the walls, or enabling us to catch a glimpse of the red fez of a single soldier. At about one o'clock, however, a breach was made in the sea wall of the fort, while at nearly the same time one of the terrific broadsides of the Thunderer swept in the whole side of the outer barrack square. Between the smoke of the guns, and the dust of tumbling walls, it was impossible to see whether soldiers were retreating from the barrack or not. At all events, a signal was made to land the Turkish troops, and Capt. Austin, of Cyclops, was directed to attempt the breach. The launches, pinnaces, and boats of the different ships, with about 1,100 of the Turks, inmediately put off under the protection of a continuous fire.

"When the boats reached the shore, the ships necessarily ceased firing; and before a single soldier could set his foot on land, a heavy fire of musketry was opened upon them from the barracks and buildings in the neighbourhood. The fire was returned from the guns of the launches, while all the boats pulled steadily in upon the shore, although the shot passed through some of them, severely injuring some of the soldiers and the crew. It is due to the Turks to say, that although two of them were shot dead in the boats, not a man of the whole body flinched from the landing. Had I not seen, (although at a safe distance) the cool courage of the English blue-jackets, I could not have believed that a union of personal bravery, and perfect discipline could have brought men to perform such duties with such steadiness and determination. While they were engaged in their perilous task of landing the troops, Commodore Napier, in one of the Gorgon's boats, had got under the breach. When my attention was first called to this point, he was nearly up to his arm-pits in water, making a scaling ladder of the shoulders of his boat's crew. He succeeded in mounting, but had scarcely time to look in, before a discharge of musketry from an opposite building obliged him to abandon the attempt. The troops from the boats, however, through a small aperture, were entering one by one from the opposite side, the guns from the launches and the sailors still keeping up a protecting fire. A scaling ladder was also thrown up the breach, by which a considerable number of the troops effected an entrance at that point. Within half an hour the fort was in the possession of the Sultan's troops. Col. Lane, and Lieut. Wemyss, (of the Cyclop's marines,) immediately turned one of the guns of the fort upon the opposite building, and thus checking the fire of musketry considerably facilitated the landing of the remainder of the troops.

"While the Turkish soldiers were thus occupied in taking possession of the fort, the ships continued their fire upon the barracks, and upon the fortress which commands the whole town. The fort, thus occupied, may be said to be the centre, as nearly as possible of the attack; and, while it was making, the marines were landed at both extremes from the Gorgon on the right, and from the Stromboli and the Austrian frigate on the left. Those from the Gorgon immediately formed on the beach, and having sent skirmishers into the wood by which it is bordered, marched upon the barrack; Commodore Napier accompanying them. It was arranged that the attack upon the barracks and the neighbouring buildings, occupied by the Egyptians should be made simultaneously by the marines from the right, and the troops from the fort. This fort is connected with the barracks by a narrow causeway or bridge, which was fully exposed to the fire of the enemy. It was a trying service for any body of men to attempt to cross it. One of the mates of the Cyclops, Mr. Cumming, volumteered to lead the Turks, and he fully succeeded in inspiring them with a portion of his own intrepid spirit. They undauntedly followed their young and dashing

leader-some of them over the bodies of their fallen comrades. The whole forces directed by Captain Austin, Col. Lane, and Walker Bey, moved quickly after them. They were immediately accompanied by the marines, led by Capt. Morisson; and after a brief, but severe struggle, the barrack was evacuated, the main body of the Egyptians retreating up a narrow arched street. From a large house opposite to the barrack the firing was still continued. The leader of the Egyptian force, Hassan Bey, headed a sortie from this house; and having three different times fired upon the marines, he himself fell, having received three musket balls through the body. No man could have served a cause with more desperate fidelity. From one of the prisoners it was subsequently ascertained that this leader had cut down one of his own followers, who, at the last moment, attempted to hoist a white flag. Seeing the soldiers and marines in possession of the fort, the barracks, and the principal street, the Egyptians at this point offered no further resistance, and 1,800 of them at once laid down their arms. They were immediately marched across the cause way into the

fort.

"In the meantime the attack upon the extreme left was made by the marines of the Stromboli, and of the Austrian frigate. The landing here was more difficult and more severely contested thian on the right. About 280 marines, English and Austrian, were embarked in the boats of the different ships, and after a heavy cannonading had, apparently, cleared the way for them, pulled for the shore. This part of the attack was under Lieut. Russell, of the Stromboli, who was accompanied by Mr. Chamberlayne, Mr. Warren, and Mr. Hunt, and about twenty of his ship's crew. The marines were led by Capt. Whylock and Lient. Hocking. There was some little difficulty in landing, owing to the surf. During the time the men were leaving the boats, they were exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, by which some of them were severely wounded. As soon as they formed, they rushed up a steep sand declivity, leading to the breach through which they were to enter the town. Poor Hocking, while cheering on the marines, a few yards in advance of them, received a mortal wound. The men continued, vieing with each other to reach the walls first. An Austrian marine had the unfortunate glory, and was shot dead in the breach, which was immediately carried. The object of this division was to gain the fortress, which commands the whole town from an eminence almost in the centre. The attacking party fought their way gallantly through the streets, firing up into the houses upon their assailants, and in less than an hour their flag was floating from the fortress. The rigging of the ships was immediately manned, and three inspiriting cheers announced the complete success of the attack.

"There was one incident worthy of remark connected with the attack upon the left of the town. Two midshipmen-Mr. Hunt of the Stromboli, and one of the Austrian frigate-were entrusted with the ensigns upon landing. They contested the honor of first planting each his own ensign-endeavouring to outrun each other under the very heaviest of the fire. The union jack was first hoisted. The Austrian Archduke wrote that evening to the Admiral to ask Mr. Hunt's promotion; but as he had not yet passed, he is rewarded with an Austrian order. I believe a similar reward will be bestowed on his brave young competitor.

"Lieut. Hocking is the only English officer who fell. Six or eight marines and blue-jackets are, I believe all our loss in killed. A considerable number, however, have been wounded, some severely. The Turks suffered in about the same proportion. It is said that about 300 Egyptians were killed, 2,470, including some sick, have been taken and sent to Djouni.

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Although the officers of marines, and of the ships, made every exertion to prevent pillage, yet, taken as the town was by assault, it was impossible altogether to restrain the victorious soldiers. A new house, just finished, and splendidly furnished by Soliman Pacha, was completely gutted, and the valuable furniture destroyed. Even to Egyptian prisoners, however, I did not hear of a single act of personal violence."