Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/335

 THE EMBAKKATION. 305 Vice-Admiral Dundas, commanding the whole CHAP. XIX British fleet had his flag on board the Britannia ; 1_ Lyons, in the Agamemnon, had charge of the convoy. Each vessel had assigned to her the place she was to take when the signal for mov- ing should be given. Before night, the whole of the English flotilla, together with that part of the French and the Turkish flotilla which had the command of steam- power, was assembled in Baljik Bay, and in readi- ness to sail on the morrow. Men remember the beauteous morning of the Departure of 7th of September. The moonlight was still float- Armadlan.i ing on the waters, when, from numberless decks, steam- V6SS6lS eyes straining out towards the east were able to hail the dawn. A gentle, summer breeze was blowing fair from the laud. At a quarter before five, a gun from the Britannia gave the signal to weigh. The air had become obscured by the busy smoke of the engines, and it was hard to see how and whence due order would come ; but presently the Agamemnon moved through, and with signals at all her masts, for Lyons was on board her, and the colours, one after another, flying cease- lessly out to the breeze, seemed to picture the eagerness of a mind engaged in directing the con- voy. The French steamers of war went out with their transports in tow, and their great sailing vessels formed line. The French went out more quickly than the English, and in better order. Many of their transports were vessels of very small size ; and of necessity, therefore, they were VOL. II. u