who had juft joined me with the troops from Conftantinople, compofing the fecond maritime expedition deftined for the recovery of Egypt. As foon as our joint exertions had reftored order, we proceeded to the mouth of the Damietta branch of the Nile, to make an attack thereon, as combined with the fupreme Vizier, in order to draw the attention of the enemy that way, and leave his highnels more at liberty to advance with the grand army, on the fide of the defert. The attack begun by the Tigre's boats taking polletion of a rained caftle fituated on the eastern fide of the Bogaz, or entrance of the Channel, which the inundation of the Nile had infulated from the main land, leaving a fordable paffage. The Turkish flag, difplayed on the tower of this caftle, was at once the fignal for the Turkish gun-boats to advance, and for the enemy to open their fire, in order to diflodge us; their nearest poft being a redoubt on the main laud with two 32-pounders, and an S-pounder field-piece mounted thereon, a point-blank fhot diftant. The fire was returned from the launch's carronade, mounted in a breach in the castle, and from field pieces in the Imall boats, which foon obliged the enemy to discontinue working at an intrenchment they were making to oppofe a landing. Lieutenant Stokes was detached with the boats to check a body of cavalry advancing along the neck of land, in which he fucceeded; but I am forry to fay with the lofs of one man killed and one wounded. This interchange of hot continued, with little intermiffion, during the 29th, 30th, and 31ft, while the Turkish tranfports were drawing nearer to the landing

place, our fhells from the carronade annoying the enemy in his work and communications; at length the magazine blowing up, and one of their 32-pounders being filenced, a favourable moment offered for difembarkation. Orders were given ac, cordingly; but it was not till the morning of the 1ft of November, that they could effectuate this operation. This delay gave time for the enemy to collect a force more than double that of the first divifion landed, and to be ready to attack it before the return of the boats with the remainder. The French advanced to the charge with bayonets. The Turks completely exculpated themfelves from the fufpicion of cowardice having been the cause of their delay, for when the enemy were within ten yards of them they rushed on, fabre in hand, and in an instant completely routed the first line of the French infantry. The day was ours for the moment; but the im petuofity of Olman Aga, and his troops, occafioned them to quit the ftation affigned them as a corps of referve, and to run forward in pur. fuit of the fugitives: European tactics were, of course, advantageoufly employed by the French at this critical juncture. Their body of referve came on in perfect order, while a charge of cavalry, on the left of the Turks, pat them completely to the route in their turn.Our flanking fire from the castle and boats, which had been hitherto plied with evident effect, was now neceflarily fut ended, by the impoffibility of pointing clear of the Turks in the confufion. The latter turned a random fire on the boats, to make them take them off, and the lea was, in an inftant, covered with turbans, while the air was filled with piteous F 4

woans

London Gazette, July 12.
Admirally-Office.

Copy of a Letter from Captain Inman, of his Majefty's Ship Andromeda, to Evan Nepean, Efq.

Off Dunkirk, July 8,

Sir, I beg you will be pleafed to inform their lordships that, agreeable to their orders to me of the 17th of June, to take under my command the fire-veffeis and others named in the margin *, and endeavour to take and deftroy the enemy's frigates in Dunkirk Roads, we joined at the appointed rendezvous the 27th following; but, from contrary winds, and the tide not anfwering, could not make the attempt before laft night, when I fear the enemy had been apprized of my intention, as we were much annoyed by gun-veffels and others lying advanced fome distance, which afforded the frigates an opportunity to cut their cables, and avoid our fire-fhips. I had di

rected captain Campbell, of the Dart, to get in, if he could, to the eafternmoft, and lay her on-board, at the time I hoped the firft firefhip would have been entangled with the westernmost. The hand, fome and intrepid manner of his completely carrying her in less than a quarter of an hour, and bringing her out, muft convince their lordflips of his unparalleled bravery, and the very gallant conduct of his officers and fhip's company, as the enemy's frigate was fo much fuperior in force; and had it not been fo inftantly done, the fhip could not have been got over the banks, as the water had begun to fall. By captain Campbell's report to me, great praise is due to lieutenant M'Dermeit, who, I am forry to fay, is badly wounded. I enclose captain Campbell's letter to me, giving an account of this tranfaction; and have the pleasure to obferve, that one spirit seemed to actuate the whole; but am forry that, notwithstanding the fteady conduct of captains Edwards, Butt, Leef, and Carthew, of the feveral fire-veffels, in remaining on board till completely in flames, the three enemy's fhips, from cutting their cables, efcaped before the wind, and ran out of Dunkirk Roads fome little diftance down the inner channel, within the Braak Sand: one of them got on fhore for a fhort time, but at daylight we had the mortification to obferve her working back on the ebb tide, and, with the other two, regained their anchorage, though not without confiderable damage, having received the fire of the Dart,

Biter, and Boxer gun-brigs, within piftol-fhot, before they cut. I kept the Selby in the rear to act, had any remained long enough on fhore, to have deftroyed them by firing carcafes, and have now to regret I referved her for that purpose, as I am confident, had captain Williams been directed to lay one of the enemy's flips on board, he would have been fuccefsful in bringing her out. I put Mr. Scott, first lieutenant of the Andromeda, in the command of the boats in a gig, and Mr. Cochran, third lieutenant, in another boat; and as I had all the cutters to attend on the fire-veffels except the Kent, directed their lieutenants in gigs to put themselves under his command, and by which means not any lives were loft; the Kent, lieutenant Cooban, I directed to attack the gunveffels, who trimmed them pretty handfomely, and prevented any boats from annoying our's that were employed to take out the crews of the fire-fhips. I feel particularly indebted to captains Mainwaring, Baker, and Seater, as allo to lieutenant King, fecond lieutenant, who was left in command of the Andromeda, for their perfeverance in getting over the banks, to render us every affiflance by boats, and to be in readiness to meet the enemy, had they ventured over the Braak Sand; which pofition they maintained for that purpofe in fpite of freth gales, and direct oppofition to the eftablifhed pilots, who gave up the charge of each fhip on their hands while in this fituation; and before, when I first made the propofition, pofitively refused taking charge of any velfels of the lighteft draught of water intended for this fervice; but with the affiftance of Mr. Moor, maler (who I put on board the Dart,

to lead in), and Mr. Wheatland, mate of the Ann hired cutter, who very handfomely volunteered their fervices to take any of the fhips in, on my fuggefting it to them, and fome men which I got out of fmugglers, I was enabled to put one on board each of the gun-veffels and fire-brigs: I feel an inward fatisfaction at bringing the whole of the fquadron through the roads without the leaft difficulty. I cannot omit mentioning that Mr. Butcher, maf ter of the Nile, and Mr. Dean, master of the Vigilant (luggers), at my request, would have laid as a leading mark at Gravelines Hook; the former performed this fervice, and I embarked with 30 volunteers from the Andromeda in the latter; and through the whole of this fervice I feel particularly indebted to the commanders of the feveral veffels and cutters for their very fleady conduct. I enclofe a lift of the killed and wounded, and am forry to fay, captain Leef, of the Comet, is among the latter, having been blown up. I have allo to acquaint you, for their lordships' information, that, from the mangled and unhappy state of many of the prifoners, I was induced to fend a flag of truce with them into Dunkirk.

I have the honour to be, &c.
H. Inman.

Dart, off Dunkirk, July 8.

Sir, Agreeable to the directions you honoured me with, to board the cafternmost of the enemy's frigates in Dunkirk Roads, fhould it be practicable, I have complete fatisfaction in acquainting you, that about one, A. M. I fucceeded in carrying La Defirée national frigate, mounting 40 guns, long 24-pounders on the