The Dartmouth having proceeded for the last time into the bay, with the final requisitions, and having brought back no satisfactory reply, on Saturday, the 20th of October, 1827, about noon, Admiral Codrington, favoured by a gentle sea-breeze, bore up under all sail for the mouth of the Bay of Navarino.  A buzz ran instantly through the ship at the welcome intelligence of the admiral’s bearing up; and I could easily perceive the hilarity and exultation of the seamen, and their impatience for the contest.

Our ship’s crew was chiefly composed of young men, who had never seen a shot fired; yet, to judge from their manner, one would have thought them familiar with the business of fighting.  The decks were then cleared for action, and the ship was quite ready, as we neared the mouth of the bay.

The Asia led the fleet, and was the first to enter the bay, followed by the ships in two columns.  This was about one o’clock, or rather later.  Abreast of Sir Edward Codrington was the French admiral, distinguished by the large white flag at the mizen.  Then came the Genoa and Albion, followed by the Dartmouth, Talbot, and brigs, along with the French and Russian squadrons, in more distant succession.  Every sail was set, so that the vast crowd of canvass, that looked more bleached and glittering in the rays of the sun, and contrasted with the deep blue unclouded sky, presented a magnificent and spirit-stirring spectacle.  The breeze was just powerful enough to carry the allied fleet forward at a gentle rate, and as the wind freshened a little at times, it had the effect of causing the ships to heel to one side in a graceful, undulating manner,—­the various flags and pendants of the united nations puffing out occasionally from the mast-heads.  The sea was smooth, the weather rather warm, and the air quite clear.  As we neared the entrance of the bay, the land presented all around a rugged, steep appearance towards the sea.  In the distance, the mountains were visible, of a light blue, with whitish clouds apparently resting on their summits.  The town and castle of Navarino presented a bright, picturesque look, and some spots of cultivation were to be seen.  In the interior there rose in the air what looked like the smoke of some conflagration, and such we all believed was the case, as the Turkish soldiery had been employed in ravaging the country, and carrying away the inhabitants.  An encampment of tents lay near, close to the castle, and large bodies of soldiers were easily discernible crowding on the batteries as we approached.  We were about five hundred yards distant from the castle.  The breadth of the entrance was about a mile.