Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/451

 “V. All merchandise that has been removed from Alexandria since the 19th instant is to be included in the above article.

“VI. Refreshments of every description to be supplied the ships, and paid for at the market price, by bills on the British government.

“VII. Officers will be appointed to see that the articles Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, are strictly complied with, and any deviation or non-compliance on the part of the inhabitants of Alexandria, will render this treaty null and void.

(Signed)“.”

This capitulation was signed by the President of the Common Council on the 29th Aug. and the whole of the captured vessels that were sea worthy, twenty-one in number, were fitted and loaded by the 31st, when Captain Henry Loraine Baker, of the Fairy brig, arrived with despatches from Sir Alexander Cochrane, and confirmed the rumours which had already reached Captain Gordon, of strong measures having been taken by the enemy to oppose the return of the squadron; the Fairy having had to fight her way up the river, past a battery of five guns and a large military force. In consequence of this intelligence, Captain Gordon deemed it prudent to quit Alexandria without waiting to destroy those remaining stores which he had not the means of bringing away.

Contrary winds again occasioned our countrymen the laborious task of warping the ships down the river, in which a day’s delay took place, owing to the Devastation getting aground. The Americans took advantage of this circumstance to attempt her destruction by means of three fire-vessels, attended by several row-boats; but their object was defeated through the promptitude and gallantry of her commander, Captain Thomas Alexander, who pushed off with his own boats, and being followed by those of the other ships, chased the enemy’s boats up to the town so recently evacuated. The cool and steady conduct of Mr. John Moore, Midshipman of the Seahorse, in towing the nearest fire-vessel on shore, whilst the others were removed by the smaller boats of the Devastation, gained him Captain Gordon’s highest commendation.

The Meteor and Fairy, assisted by the Anna Maria tender, a prize gun-vessel, and a boat belonging to the Euryalus, armed with a howitzer, had greatly impeded the progress of the enemy in their works, notwithstanding which they were enabled to increase their battery to eleven guns, with a furnace for heating shot. On the 3d, the wind changing to the N.W.,