The Virginian

FOREIGN.

The Turkish and Egyptian Fleet Destroyed.

LONDON GAZ. EXTRAORDINARY. Oct. Nov 10.

Dispatches of the following are copies or extracts. I have been this day received at this office, addressed to John Wilson Croker, Esq. by Vice Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, K. C. B. Commander in-Chief of His Majesty's ships in the Mediterranean:

His Majesty's ship Asia, in the Port of Navarino, October 21, 1827.

Sir—I have the honor of informing His Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, that my colleagues, Count Heyden and Chevalier de Rigny, having agreed with me that we should come into this port, in order to induce Ibrahim Pacha to discontinue the brutal war of extermination which he has been carrying on since his return here from his tour in this Gulf of Patras, the combined squadrons passed the batteries, in order to take up their anchorage, at about two o'clock, yesterday afternoon.

The combined fleet was formed in the order of sailing in two columns, the British and French forming the weather or starboard line and the Russian the lee line.

The Asia led in, followed by the Genoa and Scylla, and anchored close alongside a ship of the line being the flag of the Capitan Bey, another ship of the line, and a large double-banked frigate, each thus having their proper opponent from the line of the Turkish fleet. The two ships turned to windward part of the Egyptian squadron were allotted to the squadron of Baron de la Bretonniere, my aide-de-camp those (of ten sail), to the high admiral of the Russian fleet: his ships at that time in the offing, and pointing to windward, were cut up by our own frigates, and picked up by her own frigates. The French frigate Armide was directed to place herself alongside the outermost frigate, on the left and entering the harbour; and the Cambrian, Glasgow and Talbot next to her, and abreast of the Asia, Genoa and Albion: the Dartmouth and the Mosquito, the Rose, the Brisk, and the Hind, were to look after the six new vessels at the entrance of the harbour. I gave orders that no gun should be fired, unless guns were first fired by the Turks: and those orders were strictly obeyed. The three English ships were accordingly permitted to pass the batteries to moor, as they did with great rapidity; without any act of open hostility, although there was evident preparation for it on board all the Turkish ships; but upon the Dartmouth sending a boat to one of the new vessels Lieut. G. W. H. Fitzroy and several of her crew were shot with musketry. This produced a defensive fire of musketry from the Dartmouth and La Syrenne, bearing the flag of Rear Admiral de Rigny.—It was succeeded by a cannon shot at the Rear Admiral from one of the Turkish ships, which of course, brought on a return, and then very shortly afterwards, the battle became general. The Asia, although placed alongside of the ship of the Capitan Bey, was even nearer to that of Moharem Bey, the commander of the Egyptian ships: and, since his ships did not fire at the Asia, although the action was begun to windward, neither did the Asia fire at her. The latter indeed sent a message, that he would not fire at all, and therefore no hostility took place between our two ships, for some time after the Asia had returned the fire of the Capitan Bey.

In the mean time, however our excellent pilot Mr. Peter Mitchell, who went to interpret to Moharem my desire to avoid bloodshed, was killed by his people in our boat alongside. Whether, with or without his order I know not, but his ship soon afterwards fired into the Asia, and was consequently effectually destroyed by the Asia's fire, sharing the same fate as his brother Admiral on the starboard side, and falling to leeward a mere wreck. These ships being out of the way, the Asia became exposed to a raking fire from vessels in the second and third line which carried away her mizen mast by the board, disabled some of her guns, and killed and wounded several of her crew. As his narration of the proceedings of the Asia would probably be equally applicable to most of the other ships of the other fleet The manner in which the Genoa and Albion took their stations was beautiful, and the conduct of my brother admirals, Count Heyden and the Chevalier de Rigny, throughout, was admirable & highly exemplary.

Captain Eellowes executed the part allotted to him perfectly, and with the able assistance of his little but brave detachment saved the Syrenne from being burnt by the fire vessels. And the Cambrian, Glasgow and Talbot, following the example of Captain Hugon, of the Armide, who was opposed to the leading frigate of the line, effectually destroyed their opponents, and also silenced the batteries. This bloody and destructive battle was continued, with unabated fury, for four hours, and the scene of wreck and devastation which presented itself at its termination was such as have been seldom witnessed. As each ship of our opponents became effectually disabled such of her crew as could escape from her, endeavored to set her on fire, and it is wonderful how we avoided the effects of their successive and direful explosions.

It is impossible for me to say too much for the able and valuable assistance which I derived from Capt. Curzon throughout this long and arduous contest; nor can I say more than it deserves for the conduct of Commander Cavan and the officers and crew of the Asia for the perfection with which the fire at their guns was directed; each vessel to which her broadside was presented, in case, became a complete wreck. His Royal Highness will be aware, that so complete a victory by a few, however perfect, against an excessive number, however individually inferior, cannot be gained but at a considerable sacrifice of life, accordingly I have to lament the loss of Capt. Baumgardt of the Genoa whose example on this occasion is well worthy the imitation of his survivors. (Capt. Bell commanding the Royal Marines of the Asia, an excellent officer, was killed early in the action, in the steady performance of his duty, and I have to mourn the death of Mr. Henry, the Master, admired for the zeal and ability with which he executed his duty and loved by all for his private qualities as a man. Mr. Henry Bayly, my secretary, having received a severe contusion from a splinter, I am deprived temporarily of his valuable assistance in collecting and keeping up, the general returns and communications in the squadrons: I shall therefore cannot notice Mr. E. J. T. White his assistant clerk, whom I have now named to succeed him in pursuance of the Brisk. To much personal obligation is due to the Hon. Lieut. Col. Craddock, for his services, during the heat of the battle, in carrying my orders to the different quarters after my Aides de Camp were disabled. That I beg permission to refer his Royal Highness to the details of the killed and wounded, a subject which it is painful for me to dwell upon; when I contemplate, as I do with extreme sorrow the extent of it. I console myself with the reflection, that the measure which produced the battle was absolutely necessary for obtaining the results contemplated by the Treaty, and that it was brought on entirely by our opponents.

When I found that the boasted Ottoman word of honor was made a sacrifice to wanton, savage devastation, and that a base advantage was taken of our reliance upon Ibrahim's good faith, I felt a desire to punish the offender But it was my duty to restrain, and restrain I did; and I can assure Your Highness that I would still have avoided this disastrous extremity if other means had been open to me. The Asia, Genoa and Albion have each suffered so much that I shall direct my attention to send them to England as soon as they shall have received the necessary repairs for their voyage. The Talbot, being closely engaged with a double banked frigate, has also suffered considerably, as well as others of the smaller vessels, but I hope the defects are not more than can be made good at Malta. The loss of the Turks and Egyptians must have been immense as His Royal Highness will see by the accompanying list obtained from the Secretary of the Capitan Bey, which includes that of two out of the three Turkish ships to which the English division was opposed. Captain Curzon having preferred continuing to assist me in the Asia I have given the charge of my dispatches to Commander Lord Viscount Ingestre, who besides having had a brilliant share in the action, is well competent to give His Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral any further particulars he may require.

I enclose, for His Royal Highness's further information, a letter from Captain Hamilton, descriptive of the proceedings of Ibrahim Pacha and the misery of the country which he has devastated—a protocol of a conference, which I had with my colleagues and the plan & order for entering the port which I gave out in consequence have the honor to be, sir,

(Signed) E. CODRINGTON,

Vice Admiral.