for sea by the 13th of August.  The Rear-Admiral shifted his flag into the Impregnable, and on the 14th the combined expedition sailed for Algiers.  The Leander was ordered to take a transport in tow, and keep on the Admiral’s weather-beam, and the Dutchmen kept to windward of all.  We were met by an easterly wind two days after leaving Gibraltar, and on the third day we were joined by the Prometheus, from Algiers, whither she had been dispatched to bring away the British Consul; the Dey, however, was apprized of the expedition and detained him, as well as two boats’ crews of the Prometheus, but the Consul’s wife and daughter escaped, and got safely on board.

The foul wind prevented the squadron making much way, but the time was employed to advantage in constant exercise at the guns, and the men were brought as near to perfection as they could be; in handling them each man knew his own duty, as well as that of the captain of the gun, fireman, boarder, powder-man, rammer, &c.  Each took his turn to the several duties, and continued changing up to the 27th.

The coast of Africa was seen on Monday, and as the day dawned on Tuesday, the 27th, Algiers appeared about ten miles off.  The morning was beautifully fine, with a haze which foretold the coming heat:  as the morning advanced, the breeze failed us, but at nine o’clock we had neared the town to within about five miles; the long line of batteries were distinctly seen, with the red flag flying in all directions, and the masts of the shipping showed above the walls of the mole.  The Severn, with a flag of truce flying, was detached with the terms of the Prince Regent, and this was a most anxious period, for we were in the dark as to the feelings of the Dey, whether the offered terms were such as he could consistently accept, or that left him no alternative but resistance.  During this state of suspense, our people were, as usual, exercised at the guns, the boats hoisted out, and prepared for service by signal, and at noon we were ready for action.

The ship’s company were piped to dinner, and at one o’clock the captain and officers sat down to theirs in the gun-room, the principal dish of which was a substantial sea pie; wine was pledged in a bumper to a successful attack, and a general expression of hope for an unsuccessful negotiation.  At this time, the officer of the watch reported to the captain, that the admiral had made the general telegraph “Are you ready?” Chetham immediately directed that our answer “ready” should be shown, and at the same moment the like signal was flying at the mastheads of the entire squadron.  The mess now broke up, each individual of it quietly making arrangements with the other in the event of accident, and we had scarcely reached the deck, when the signal “to bear up” was out, the commander in-chief leading the way, with a fine, steady breeze blowing on the land.  We ran in on the admiral’s larboard-beam, keeping within two cables’ length