Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/364

 terms; in defiance of which five agas, with from 1200 to 1600 troops, have thrown themselves into the Morea Castle, and refuse to surrender, unless a written order to do so be produced from Ibrahim Pacha of Egypt, or Ibrahim Pacha of Lepanto.

“Under these circumstances. General Schneider has resolved on commencing offensive operations against the castle, and intends, on the night of the 19th instant, to open his batteries near the walls, hoping that this operation, accompanied by a demonstration on the part of the allied naval forces here, may induce the agas to surrender. If this should fail, the General will prepare for battering in breach. * * * * * * * * I have promised to approach the fort on the 19th instant, as near as the wind and other circumstances will admit, under the hope that the dread of a naval attack may have the same effect that it undoubtedly had in the surrender of Patras. * * * * * * I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“, Captain.”

“''To Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm, K.C.B., &c. &c. &c.''”

“H.M.S. Blonde, 30th Oct. 1828.

“Sir,– In obeying your orders to act in concert with the senior officer of His Most Christian Majesty’s ships, I have had the good fortune of finding myself associated with those distinguished officers. Captains Mauduit Duplessis, of la Duchesse de Berri; Hugon, of l’Armide; and Villeneuve, of la Didon; and in detailing the proceedings of the Blonde, I at the same time describe those of the French frigates: for I assure you, that throughout an arduous service of twelve days and nights, in very unfavourable weather, the most perfect concert and hearty co-operation have been invariably manifested.

“On the 18th inst., General Schneider expressed a wish that four 18-pounders should be landed from each ship; and in less than four hours they were on shore, with all their appointments; the difficulties occasioned by the surf on the beach being overcome by the fine spirit which animated all – French and English being in the water, mutually assisting each other. In this operation, the zeal and intelligence of Lieutenant Thomas Saumarez Brock, were very conspicuous.

“On the 20th, Lieutenants Alfred Luckraft and Sidney Colpoys Dacres; Messrs. Mockler, Hay, Blair, and Austen, mates; and Messrs. De Sausmarez, Kennedy, Hawkins, and Dor, midshipmen; landed with a party of seamen and commenced making the batteries, under the direction of the French officers of engineers and artillery.

“At nine o’clock on the 22d, the Marine battery opened its fire on Morea Castle, and in a few hours silenced the guns opposed to it; but as the army advanced in their approaches to the breaching batteries, the castle opened fresh guns, which rendered it necessary for the Marine battery to fire at intervals, for eight days and nights.

“Last evening, the guns of the frigates, with two 24-pounders which