The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-22 00:00:00

which they were dated by some landsmen, instructed
by the gossip of the common sailors. As we
have observed, such offensive and unsatisfactory
letters ought not to have been printed without much
hesitation ; but, as they have been printed, the mis-
chief has been done, and all that is now possible is to
limit its amount, by showing what the communi-
cations are really worth. The writers charge the
Prince de Joinville pretty directly With want both
of skill and of courage, and impute a like want of
courage to the French marine, and charge the
sailors of the squadron with a great deficiency
in naval gunnery. Now, as to the degree
of professional skill displayed by the Royal
Admiral, we are certainly no competent judges, and
if we were better qualified to judge of a naval
operation than we can pretend to be under the most
favourable circumstances, we want all the requisites
for a correct judgment, knowledge, of the orders
under which the Prince acted—knowledge of the
locality and its defensible parts, knowledge of
the state of the tide, currents, wind, &c. Nor do
the Times' correspondents help us the least in
these particulars; and, indeed, one of the strongest
proofs to us that these persons are not " the
naval officers " they are represented, is their
neglect of supplying that very kind of information
which a professional man would consider the first to
be offered. But if we are unable to form any opinion
from ourselves of the skill of the Prince de Joinville,
we certainly shall not abide by the decision of such
very incompetent judges as the Times' correspondents.
It is quite possible, nay, it is almost necessary, that
the French commander may have made some mistakes.
Every one, how much so ever experienced, makes mis-
takes at the commencement of a great operation ; if
the mistake does not materially obstruct success, as it
did not at Tangiers, it rests uncorrected—it is only
when it happens to be very important, that a
mistake gives a commander occasion to prove
his skill by repairing it, and yet some of the
greatest commanders, naval and military, have
rested no small part ot their fame upon the repair-
ing of blunders originally committed. As to the
imputation upon the Prince's courage, and the
courage of the French navy, it is somewhat late in
the day to impute cowardice to the blood of Henry
the Fourth, nothing degenerated, certainly, 'in that
most intrepid of Princes who now governs France ;
late in the day, also, to impute cowardice to a nation
which, within the memory of many now living, with
equal numbers, and in pitched fields, defeated suc-
cessively the gallant armies of all the most gallant na •
tions of Europe, except one which it does not become
us to name. No; a braver race than the French
people does not exist—probably never existed; if
they have ever found superiors in equal battle, the
superiority has lain in purely physical qualities, aided
by the stubborn confidence which a consciousness of
physical superiority almost always inspires, until
it becomes a habit of the mind. As to the defi-
ciency of the French in naval gunnery, before
subscribing to the opinion of the Times cor-
respondents, we should like to know something of
the state of the weather; the condition of the sur-
face of the sea must seriously affect the success of
artillery practice at 800 or 1,200 yards' range. We
are more sceptical on this point, because we have
lately had the pleasure of conversing with some
bona fide naval officers—men alike distinguished
by their gallantry and their professional skill,
men, too, who having been for some years on the
Mediterranean station, were almost constantly in
company and in communication with the French
marine. Now, the report of the French naval gun-
nery which we have had from these gentleman is
by no means consistent with the statements of the
Times' correspondents. They say that the French
practice, is perfect, adding (not without a touch of
envious feeling) that all the French want is a
better quality of guns fully, to equal the as
yet unrivalled gunnery displayed by the British
fleet at Acre. We think it proper thus to reply in
detail to what we believe to be the gross misrepre-
sentations of the Times, first, because it is always
right to tell the truth ; secondly, because the letters
in the Times indicate a feeling disgraceful to English-
men, and which, if not repudiated in this country as
it merits, must excite a bad feeling elsewhere.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
• CITY, TUESDAY EVENIICG•

TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 94- per mille,
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 2',
39 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at short
being 25 471, it follows that gold is 0.33 per cent.
dearer in London than in Paris.

By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 434
per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 100.
perounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 9i ;
and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short
being 13, 91, it follows that gold is 0.11 dearer in London
than in Hamburgh.
A good deal of uneasiness continues observable at the
Stock Exchange on the subject of our relations with
France, and the fluctuation which has taken place to-
day in the value of the public securities shows that the
market is liable under present circumstances to be rather
severely acted upon by speculative sales. Although the
public have bought freely within the last week, exten-
sive operations for the fall have also been effected, and
these having taken place quietly, their real effect upon
prices has not yet been discovered. Consols opened at
98i for money and the account this morning, and an
attempt was made to mark them 99 ; but as the broker
for the Commissioners only gave 98k, it could not be ac-
complished. At this point there seemed to be much
firmness in prices till the speculators again came in as
sellers, and various reports having got into circulation--
one to the effect that M. Guizot had left the French
Cabinet—they gradually gave way, and finally left off
heavy at 98f.

IPswrcif, AUG. 12.—The late severe gales have
caused very considerable loss of life and property on
the southern and western coasts. Intelligence has just
reached this place of the total wreck of a schooner called
The Whim, Thonne, master, with all hands. The ill-
fated vessel belonged to this port. The fact was com-
municated to the owners by means of a letter addressed
to the postmaster by Mr. Lambert, keeper of the Lizard
light, who says:--" On Friday night the wind blew a
strong gale from the S.E , and between twelve and one
o'clock on the following day it shifted to W., blowing
very severely. A vessel was wrecked outside a high
breaker, called the Smaller Gull rock, in Kynan's cove—
a very dreadful place for any vessel to get into, being
full of rocks. She was so entangled by her chains, that
the hull has not come ashore. She was laden with malt
and beans. Some of the cargo has come ashore; also
her stern and the stern of a small boat corresponding.
One body has been washed ashore, a fine youth, about
17 or 18 years of age, with light round features, no
beard, and about 5 ft. 6 in. high. Every respect has
been paid to the remains. On Saturday I went to Ky-
nan's cove to ascertain the position of the wreck. I saw
the sternboard of this vessel—she is called The Whim,
and gilt on her boat's stern is the name John Thonnes.'
The whole is a total wreck." It has been ascertained
that the crew consisted of the captain, the mate, Robert
Upsam, two seamen, named Jolly and Dean, and the
lad whose body has been cast ashore. The captain and
mate have left wives and families to deplore their loss;
the sailors were single men. I understand that the ship
and cargo were insured. Kynan's cove, the scene of
this, as of many former disasters, lies within a short dis-
tance of the Lizard light. It is considered by nautical
men as the most dangerous point of the coast for vessels
to approach when driven landward by stress of weather.
—Norwich Mercury. _ _

At Wivenhoe, the storm of Saturday last raged
with great fury. The " Prince of Wales,' a fine vessel
of 243 tons, taken as a prize during the war, was
wrecked on Saturday afternoon on the Mouse sands.
The vessel was under the command of Capt. Brown, and
was on her way for the port of London, when she struck.
The " Hope," under the command of Capt. Powell, came
up, and succeeded in saving the captain and crew. A
vast number of vessels have been obliged to take shelter
in the diff'erent harbours along the coast, having many
of them received damage which will for some time pre-
vent them from sailing again.—Norwich Mercury.
TIIE TWELFTH OF AUGUST.--Monday last was an
admirable day for those who wished to enjoy the recrea-
tion of the moors ; the birds, we understand, are nume-
rous, and afford much sport. On Saturday last Mr.
Justice Coltman arrived, from Warwickshire, at the
Oaks, Turton, to enjoy the hospitalities at the residence
of 11. Ashworth, Esq., and two or three days upon the
moors.—Bolton Free Press.

MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—The marriage of
Capt. R. Bernal, M.P. for Wycombe, and Miss Cathe-
rine Isabella Osborne, sole heiress of the late Sir Thomas
Osborne, and daughter of Lady Osborne, was solemnised
on Tuesday at St. George's Church, Hanover-square. The
Rev. Lord Augustus Fitzclarence officiated at the cere-
mony, in the presence of a numerous circle of the rela-
tives and friends of both families. The fair bride was
given away by her uncle, Roar-Admiral the Hon. Gran-
ville Proby.
INCENDIARISAL—On Friday last a fire was disco-
vered to have broken out in a straw stack on the pre-
mises of Mr. Samuel Wm. Bacon, of Bull's Bridge farm,
ILAupstead, contiguous to a barn and extensive outbuild-
ings, but from the protnyt and energetic assistance of
the Labourers and .this present, was sue, dily extin-
guished. Sarah Jobson, aged 15, maid-servant in Mr.
Bacon's house, was apprehended late on Friday night by
Superintendent Oakley, and taken on Saturday before
W. H. Layton, Esq., who remanded her to Dunmow
station.—Essex Herald.

THE ATTACK ON TANGEIRS.
(From the Times.)
GIBRALTAR, SUNDAY, AUG. 11,
By the last conimunication you would have re-
ceived the unexpected account of the attack on Tan-
giers on •Tuesday, the Gth ; the " solution".of which
step, as declared 'on the following day by the Prince
to the French consul here, in a letter, a copy of which
was forwarded to Admiral Owen (who is still here
with the Formidable and Caledonia), was, that the
accounts from Marshal Bugeaud, received a day or
two before, showed further aggressions on the part of
Abd-el-Kader, who was acting on the Moorish ter-
ritory in close combination with one of the Emperor's
sons (Mulai Mamou), or rather his cousin, as he is
stated in these parts to be; while at the same time,
notwithstanding all we had been given to understand
as to matters having terminated according to the
wishes of the French Government, the last communi-
tion from the Emperor, who is at Rabat, to the Prince,
was of a nature to preclude further hopes, as they
went to requiring the dismissal of General Bugeaud.
The Prince will, no doubt, have ere this an official
and satisfactory account of a step which at first
seemed so strange in all these parts. He stated that
he was very desirous of avoiding injury to the town,
for which humane consideration history will no doubt
give him credit. All the consular houses, with the
exception of two (American and Sardinian) suffered
damage, but not to any very, serious extent. The
consular houses being the only large buildings in the
place, were naturally the most exposed to injury from
casual shots. The house of our Consul, being the
very nearest, received five shots, two only of which
did damage of importance. The French Consulate
did not escape.
. Some shells and rockets were in the first instance
discharged from the steamers ; but being found to
fall short, or from some other cause, the attack was
afterwards by cannonade from the large ships and
the Belle Poule, and directed towards the batteries
only, which were stated to have been quite destroyed.
The Vesuvius, however, which has made two trips
to Tangiers since the day of attack, and had officers
on shore on the last visit, brings more certain infor-
mation, by which it appears that the damage is not
so very great as had been supposed, and that but
one gun in the main battery had been dismounted.
The Suffren, on board of which the Prince was,
having been the closest in, received the most
damage. A gentleman who had been at Cadiz with
the French squadron lately, has written to say that
that vessel received twenty-one shots ; forty had been
previously stated. The Belle Poule was said to have
been greatly injured, but the mischief to her has been
but trifling as far as can be ascertained. From the
distance at which the squadron was obliged by cir-
cumstances to take up their anchorage, or from some
other cause, the six hours' firing was certainly fol-
lowed by results very different from what might have
been expected. The loss of lives on shore, including
wretched Jews, has not exceeded seven or eight.
We do not know with any certainty how far the
French may have lost men or officers, these matters
being always so vaguely stated. The Prince has
admitted that the Moorish garrison behaved very
well. Honour be to the gallant General (Ben-Abon
Abd-el-Melach) who behaved so well, as formerly
mentioned, in preventing the Kabyles from entering
the town and causing total destruction. The Moors
stood to their guns to the last moment. It does not
seem to have been a question of making a breach, for
the parapets are not seriously damaged at any point
in particular, and the landing of the 2,000 men " de
debarquement," stated by the Debcds as being on
board, could, naturally not have been ventured upon
in the face of the many thousand Kabyles close at
hand.

The whole of the squadron left Tangiers on Thurs-
day, having remained quiet on Wednesday, and
steered west. The Suffren, with the Prince on board,
not being able to weather Cape Spartel, returned in
the evening to Tangiers, and the Moors were about
firing at her, but submitted to recommendations they
received, and things remained quiet until she was
towed out, and all were out of sight on Friday. Ac-
cording to accounts received at Tangiers, they did
some mischief since at the small town of Arzill, some
nine miles down the coast on the Atlantic side.

It is said that signal vengeance will be inflicted
on that coast, but especially at Mogadore ; but from
what has passed in our neighbourhood,
,humanity
may hope that crippling forts will be considered
enough.
At Larache and Rabat, as well as at Mogadore,
everything is unfavourable to operations by large
vessels, and the swells are so very great near Mo-
ga‘ lore, that even at this season it is not considered
.
safe to lie off the coast. A gentleman who has been
lately at Mogadore, says that the fortifications are not
so contemptible as imagined. They have some good
brass guns, a present from Holland some years ago.
Cidi Mohammed, the Sultan's eldest son, and whose
station is Fez when his father resides at Morocco,
was, by last authentic accounts, at Taza. He had
been ordered from Fez with a large force to the Al-
gerian frontier, for the purpose of quelling the ardour
of the Moors ; but on the receipt by the Emperor of
new aggressions, as he called them, on the part of the
French, the Sultan directed him to remain at Taza
till further orders. Mulai Sulieman, one of the
younger sons, arrived within the last two days at
Tangiers with a force.
Cid Mohammed Ben E'Drees, the Prime Minister,
is said, by a gentleman who lately saw him at Mo-
rocco and Rabat, to be a very clever man, with a
countenance highly expressive of intellect.
Yesterday a good deal of firing was heard from
Tangiers, but we found by the arrivalpf the Vesuvius
that this was occasioned by the Moors firing off their
guns, which had been loaded two or three days
before.

The authorities at Tangiers notified to the neutral
Consuls two days ago, that they might land, as there
wasr
n qan
uo
yesterday
anydpapillaging
l laging
danger. The town was quite
morning; the only excess com-
mitted of the Portuguese Consul's
house, the persons left in charge having abandoned it.
The good Mrs. Hay, our Consul's lady at Tangiers,
who, by her kindness toward the poor of that town
for many years has gained the affection of the popula-
tion, returned to her house two days ago, though Mr.
Hay was absent here on urgent business, so great was
t
her confidence in the people.
The last arrivals from Tangiers are up to within
one hour of closing the mail here, when it was stated
that all at that place was quiet.
GIBRALTAR, AUG. 7.—Notwithstanding all our
hopes of peace in this quarter, and though a special
courier was yesterday morning dispatched, via Madrid,
to say that by letters from our Consul in Morocco,
Mr. Hay, all had been satisfactorily arranged,
we were astounded by the news received by.
the Vesuvius, which arrived in the course of the
night from Tangiers, to find that the French
squadron, which took up a position early yes-
terday morning, began to fire at about half-past
eight, and continued, with occasional interruptions,
until about four. The Vesuvius, with Mr. Hay on
board, from Rabat, where the Sultan is, entered
Tangiers during the attack, at about half-past twelve,
but the firing did not cease on Mr. Hay's arrival.
Having been on board the Vesuvius this morning, the
following is the statement there :—A steamer was
sent some days ago by the Prince (as I think I
stated in my letter of the 2d, by mail steamer) with
a communication to the Sultan, to know whether he
had anything further to state to the Prince, and the
answer of the Sultan, returned early on Monday
last, was that he had not, but that, should anything
further occur to him, he would not fail to forward a
dispatch, the Sultan conceiving, no doubt, that what
had been previously forwarded, and which a gentle-
man who had been with Mr. Hay tells me amounted
to an acquiescence to all demands, on condition of no
territorial aggressions near Ouchda, had been de-
finitive.
The MOors' batteries answered the French fire
promptly, and more cleverly than could possibly
have been expected. Nothing could have been less
effective than the French fire, but few shot telling
out of the many fired—the shot usually fell short.
The Belle Poule, which drew up opposite (though
not near enough) to two small batteries on the
eastern side of the bay, made no impression, and it
is stated that she received some damage. The firing
was chiefly against the forts and batteries. One
shot is said to have struck our Consul's house, but we
are quite at a loss for other details.
We are as much at a loss for the reason of the
cessation of the fire, and for its not having com-
menced again this morning, as we are for its com-
menwment yesterday.
No report up to ten o'clock from our signal-house
as to firing this morning.
No troops landed yesterday.
(FROM A NAVAL OFFICER.)
Her Majesty's ship 'Varspite, Bay of Tangiers,
Aug. 7, 1844.

To the utter astonishment of every one here, yesterday
tnorninw it pleased his Royal Highness the Prince de
Joinville, Rear-Admiral, commanding the French naval
expedition on the coast of Morocco, to commence hos-
tilities on the part of France by bombarding the weakly

- That of late there have been existing differences be-
tween France and Morocco is a matter of notoriety, and
that those differences have arisen out of circumstances
intimately connected with subjects relative to the French
occupation of the Regency of Algeria, is a matter of
equal publicity. But whether the dispute originated
upon the invasion of each other's frontiers, or whether it
involves the independent right of the Emperor of Mo-
rocco, as a sovereign in his own kingdom, upon which
France might attempt ambitious trespass—these are
questions which we have here no warranty sufficient to
express judgment.
All that now The' attention of all
Europe has been drawn to the possibility of a rupture
between France and Morocco. There is no sort of de-
sire, even were the means at hand, to attach upon either
Power the original pretence for quarrel—a more influen-
tial witness will depose upon that particular. All that
now is attempted in thus writing is confined to notice
the manner by which France has conducted herself in
this Mauritanian contest—that is, how France, as a
powerful and civilised nation, has behaved, and also how
the French in their naval expedition have held character
as a maritime power.

Certain it is-, common rumour was rife of the chances
that there would be formal hostilities between France
and Morocco. France herself was the first to proclaim
to the world that such a contingency was likely to occur,
by arming an expedition consisting of three large ships
of the line, the Suffren, the Gemappes, and Triton ; a
first-class frigate, the Belle Poule ; and Castade, Argus,
and Volage, brigs ; in addition to which eight war
steamers accompanied, and the whole of this force was
placed under the command of an ardent and ambitious
Prince of France. The object and future destination of
this strong force were not concealed, but, on the con-
trary, were attended with full publicity, by the fact of
its hovering about the neighbourhood of Tangiers for
some weeks past.
At this juncture, Great Britain, having greatly re-
duced her naval force in the Mediterranean, and that
too widely scattered, appeared in a serious minority
when in the presence of such a force ; the Warspite, 52
guns, being the only ship at Gibraltar for a considerable
time. The Government at home soon saw the necessity
of promptly reinforcing the Mediterranean squadron by
forthwith dispatching the Caledonia, 120, and Albion,
90, which speedily arrived before Gibraltar. In the
meantime, the French were lying at Cadiz. At this
period an interval for conducting negotiations was em-
braced on the part of Great Britain, with the view to
bring about, if practicable, a pacific arrangement of
existing differences between the two great disputants,
France and the Emperor of Morocco.
The French Government, on its part, so far recog-
nised the mediation of Great Britain, as to order the
Prince de Joinville to delay proceedings of a hostile na-
ture, whilst the British Consul-General at Tangiers was
dispatched on a diplomatic mission to the Court of his
Imperial Majesty, charged with instructions for the ex-
press purpose of preventing the resort to any hostilities
of France against the Moorish territories. As this mis-
sion of Mr. Drummond Hay would necessarily occupy
some time, it could not, be at all unreasonable that any
delay for such an important and grave end could have
met with the slightest hesitation in submitting thereto.
Indeed, the French expressed no manner of objection,
but, on the contrary, they at once evinced a readiness to
await the result of the British Consul's mission, at the
same time conceding what was generally thought would
have been ample time fur Mr. 1). Hay's return with the
final terms of the Moorish Government. This period
elapsed on the 26th of July, about which time the
French Consular Agent hauled down his flag. The
British Consul, however, had not yet made his appear-
ance ; still everything continued quiescent in the neigh-
bourhood of Tangiers.

At this time the small bay before Tangiers had as-
sumed a singularly animated and imposing appearance,
enlivened by the presence of vessels of war under no
less than seven different national flags. —British, Spanish,
Danish, Swedish, Sardinian, American, and Tunisian.
The French squadron did not show themselves till
about the Ist instant, and in the meantime Mr. Hay
was anxiously looked for in her ➢Zajesty's steam-vessel
Vesuvius.

Nothing material occurred until the 4th, when the
French Admiral manifested his designs by requesting
all the neutral ships to move further out in the bay, in
order to be without the range of the shore batteries and
forts, &c. Still no one apprehended that hostilities would
ensue ; and muchhowhtande
been
ewn
British
ar
lel y
CI
whenpi
no ms s
oiebdalorelryea pi
Lockyer,
rotechhi fyni sroi,or nni
ns.
hianiegira3o'isefdl:tjhiefestthyes'srtehship Albion, made the signal, "Good
news ! peace will not be disturbed." In fact
information had been received, officially, that Mr. Hay
had happily succeeded in the objects of his mission, and
that he might be hourly expected, being on his return
in the Vesuvius. The French Prince was fully apprised
of the above intelligence, Commodore Lockyer going on
board the Sufi'ren that very morning. In consequence
of this intelligence, in every way satisfactory and wel-
come to the British, and no less so to all the others con-
gregated here, an early dispersion of the different ships
was confidently anticipated. But, alas ! early yester-
day morning how did these pleasing dreams of peace
prove only visionary and evanescent, the sequel will show.
At daylight, on the 6th of August, an unusual stir and
activity was apparent in the French squadron, the whole
of the steam force getting up their steam, the other ships
shortening inscable, and altogether there were unequi-
vocal indications of a general movement. What are the
French about to do ? Are they preparing to depart ?
This was the mos t natural and prevailing supposition.
But judge the unqualified and universal surprise to see,
shortly after 7 A.M., the steamers with the ships in tow,
and arranging them in hostile position before the town
of Tangiers, and also various other forts in the bay!
Although the Moors were at their guns, both in the
citadel and various defences, still they did not offer any
'interruption to their opponents in taking up their posi-
tion for attack, which also the French did in a very
leisurely manner. Had the Moors opened fire whilst in
the above predicament, there seems but little doubt that
the guns from the batteries would have been most de-
structive upon the ships ; more particularly as the ships
lay for a considerable time in a raking position. At the
very outset, therefore, in this early stage of the proceed-
ing, the Prince was loudly censured for evincing so much
want of judgment. . .

However, to come at once to the business, at forty
minutes past eight A.m., the French ships being in posi-
tion, simultaneously by signal, opened hre upon the for-
tifications of the town and other adjacent batteries, castle,
&c. The Suffren and Gemappes were occupied till two
P.M. in silencing the citadel and batteries of the town ;
and it must not be forgotten that those formidable liners
received during the latter part of the above period the
able assistance of the Belle Poule, whilst the other armed
vessels were engaging the various detached forts in other
parts of the bay. At the first onset the Moors smartly
replied to their antagonists, but did not maintain the
opposition much more than half an hour, excpting from
one gun at the castle, and another solitary gun lower
down. This latter was vigorously plied till near noon.
Although the Moors soon relinquished their guns, yet
these two guns afforded an obstinate resistance, which
caused the French to continue a protracted cannonade,
which was remarked to have been very irregular and de-
sultory, and without precision. Indeed, at the ter-
mination of the above attack, from a distant observation,
it did not appear that either the castle or batteries gene-
rally had sustained very material damage. Very few
guns are disabled. The walls, from being in a weak and
decayed condition, are of course greatly shattered in a
few places ; but if those very batteries were in the pos-
session of skilful artillerymen, they are, notwithstanding,
in their present state still capable of a formidable defence
against such opponents. Upon the whole, it appeared
the universal impression that the Prince, with his two
liners and a frigate, had not displayed a good exhibition
in gunnery ; and in two particular instances, that occur-
red during the day, the impression as to the total defi-
ciency of the French in the art of gunnery received most
remarkable confirmation.

The first case which shall be -adduced was exhibited
by the Triton, of 82 guns. A small fort, mounting about
nine guns, standing a mile and a half from Tangiers
north-west along the coast, had by repeatedly firing an
occasional gun attracted the notice of the belligerents ;
accordingly, about noon, the said ship was ordered to
proceed to silence it, towed by a steamer. As the Triton
neared her object three or four random and distant shots
were discharged at her, and before the ship got abreast
of the fort the Moors abandoned the guns, for they
offered no resistance. The ship,however,'most undauntedly
persisted in firing five or six rounds during two hours !
The gallant crew then for half an hour took rest, after
which, as a parting salvo, they discharged at the fort
two rounds more of shot, and then magnanimously
moved off, taken again in tow by the steamer ! But
how great was the astonishment of every one to perceive,
as the smoke cleared away, such very
little injury done.
The embrasures, indeed, were hardly touched, perhaps
not more than six shots left any impression, notwith-
standing the ship lay not more than three quarters of a
mile distant !
The second instance presented to observation, illus-
trating the same inefficiency with respect to gunnery,

was exemplified by the Belle Poole, a heavy new 60-
' gun frigate. About' 1 P.M., the Belle Poole was ordered
to weigh and proceed immediately to silence a round
fort, on the eastern side of the bay, right opposite the
town. The frigate forthwith proceeded on the service as-
signed her, and a more miserable attempt or a more con-
temptible failure perhaps was never witnessed, and does
not cease to call forth the ridicule and jeers of all who were
spectators of the transaction. As the Belle Punic approach-
ed her station towards the fort its defenders fired by way of
challenge several distant shots ; these, from their distant
range, gave unleniable evidence of the heavy calibre of the
guns, and induced the Frenchman to shorten sail very
soon, and creeping up timidly drop anchor at such a dis-
tant position that the guns of the ;frigate could not reach
the beach, much less prove effective against the object
of assault. However, the Frenchman resolutely fired
irregular rounds of shot in the direction of the fort for
fall two hours, but with as much effect as though aimei
at the rock of Gibraltar ! After this achievement a
steamer took the frigate in tow ' • but the fort, in scornful
defiance, gave her the last and farewell shot I In the
instance just stated, the Moors stood by their guns to
the last, and the sole reason that the French frigate
escaped a most severe chastisement is entirely attributa-
ble to the want of gunnery science on the part of the
Moors, for the fort was armed with ordnance of formi-
dable character, and undoubtedly would, if properly
directed, have committed terrible execution, for the shot
frequently passed right over the Belle Poole.'
Thus ended the French operations for the day, the
whole squadron hauling outside the bay ? During the
whole of the action, the numerous steamers were idly
looking on ; their services were confined to that of
towing the other ships, and the taking shelter amongst
the neutral vessels I In the meantime, about half-past
12 P.M., the Vesuvius arrived with Mr. Hay, the British
Consul. Whatever the French may themselves think of
their exploit in assaulting -the old and ill-defended forCi-
fications of Tangiers, they have not acquired the respect
of those who observed and noted their proceedings. In
short, there seems to be but one and a general opinion—
that the " tricolour" has rather been dishonoured
throughout the affair. The French have evinced on this
occasion both a disgraceful want of gallantry and a con-
temptible incapacity and deficiency. The Prince has
made a very sorry debut as a naval commander, and, if
this should characterise the future " Nelson" of the
French navy, France ought to welcome his resignation,
for the Prince de Joinville has not maintained the honour
of the national flag, and this too in the presence of so
many foreign flags.
It was generally expected that, after thus in aenanner
silencing those non-effective batteries of Tangiers, the
French would have landed and taken possession of the
works and defences, if not the town, and thus have com-
pleted the day's proceeding ; but in not doing this the
Prince has betrayed more sagacity. Hil Aoyal High-
ness was, it may be conceived, very doubtful as to the
extent of discomfiture he had created amongst the
Moors, notwithstanding the havoc of his guns upon the
batteries. The success of a storming party was ques-
tionable, and he therefore prudently acted on that
maxim so convenient to those wanting in energy and
courage. _ _ _

Before concluding my article it must not be omitted
to be stated that there was one circumstance in this
transaction which affords, and did in a most striking
manner give, the most unqualified satisfaction to the
whole British squadron present at it, namely, the con-
spicuous deficiency of the French marine in their gun-
nery. Yesterday, in every point did the French clearly
and indubitably prove themselves totally insufficient to
cope with the British navy. This fact ought to be
made known, nor can it be too widely circulated in
England,—the evident and vast disparity in every branch
of naval efficiency between the French and ourselves.
Before the events of yesterday, there was certainly not
an officer on board this ship, perhaps not a man, but
would have given our rivals credit and character for
far more professional ability than they themselves dis-
played. Nor would there have existed any doubt in the
least as to the French having requisite courage. But
now it is said of them that, in this affair before Tangiers,
they undertook and attempted more than they had
ability or dared to perform. Facts as they occurred
have been simply laid down. Nothing is here stated but
that which is believed to be substantially correct.
Therefore, if any inference may be deduced from the
foregoing, it must strongly demonstrate that the above
opinion is not grounded upon any oblique sentiments of
national jealousy or caprice, but is founded upon the
evidence of plain unextenuated facts.
Unfortunately it has been the spirit too much in-
dulged in of late (a spirit we have always deprecated, as
in every way improper, and attended with no beneficial
tendency), to make odious comparisons between the
practical efficiency of the two great naval Powers. His
Royal Highness the Prince de Joinville himself ii not
free from partaking this pretty spirit, but has talked on
paper in such a formidable aspect as well nigh to fright
our grandmothers and nurses in England. But let them
calm their fears. The royal sailor is by no means so
dreadful as he would appear. Much as war was to be
abhorred by every well regulated mind—above all, much
as a collision with France is to be avoided, nevertheless,
with such a jealous, litigious, and troublesome race as
the French—unfortunately for the repose of Europe, have
shown themselves, perhaps the permanent, substantial,
and cordial tranquillity of the two Powers—England and
France—cannot be attained without a resort to arms,
without a temporary sacrifice of peace. Should such a
contest take place, we entertain no apprehensions as to
the result. And then would the great disparity between
the two great nations be again decidedly manifested to
the world ; and then, and not till then, will there be
peace in Europe.
(FROM ANOTHER OFFICER.)
Tangiers Bay, August 6, 1844.
This morning, between three and four o'clock, we ob-
served movements amongst the French squadron—
steamers lighting their fires, and the line-of-battle
ships, taking up position close in shore, anchored head
and stern, for the purpose of getting their broadsides to
bear on the town. This appeared to us rather a curious
piece of proceeding, as they had not declared hostili-
ties ; consequently the Moors allowed them to take up
the prominent position, while, if the Moors had opened
a fire on them when taking it up, they wouli have ma-
terially injured them. According to the opinion of
sailors, they went rather a lubberly way to work, and I
may say rather a cowardly one too ; the steamers being
all under weigh, they took a position outside the ships
amongst us that were remaining neutral.
At fifty minutes past eight, the French line-of-battle
ships opened on the forts with three broadsides with a
very bad direction, which we were rather surprised at,
considering they had all the morning to consider, and
that they were only 800 yards off. The forts returned
the salute with spirit, and the bombardment then became
general. As the smoke cleared away, we saw the poor
unfortunate Moorish forts crumbling into dust. As they
were in a dilapidated state before the action commenced,
it was impossible that they should stand against the
broadsides of the French line-of-battle ships ; but still,
though the firing was great, every now and then you
would see the smoke bursting from the embrasures of
the fort, and defying the Frenchman. One fort on a
hill annoyed them very much, but, after a little time,
when the French knew they had nothing to fear from
the enemy's fire, their direction became very good, and
soon silenced the forts. The signal was made from the
Saffron, with the flags of the Prince de Joinville, to
cease firing, which was instantly obeyed ; but then the
forts would not give in, and fired a few shots, which, of
course, made the Frenchmen open fire again, and did
sad havoc on the Moorish town, and no doubt slaughtered
a great many of the inhabitants.
At ten o'clock there was only occasional firing, the
forts having ceased. I understand they have not much
ammunition. lam confident that a frigate could take
the place, and they are quite ignorant of the present
destructive warfare of European nations. So the French
have not had muchto contend with, and have Only enjoyed
little target practice at the expense of the unfortunate
Moors. There are a few forts along shore which annoy
the steamers (though they keep close to all the ships
that are neutral on the occasion). The Prince has sent
the Belle Poule frigate down to quiet them, but her
firing is so wretchedly bad that, from all appearances
she has given it up altogether. I forgot to mention the
steamers fired a few rockets, which bad very little effect.
12 o'Clock.—No firing, except now and then a shot
from a small masked fort, but everything is quiet. The
Vesuvius, war steamer, has just made her appearance, with
Mr._,Drummond Hay on board, from Mogadore. So we
shall see what will come next, as there was not the slight-
est idea that the French were going to take this active
measure.
slightest idea of. Ferhaps
forts still have the red flags
take place we have not the
punish the Moors for
he has only fired on the town to
sa
ngceo iunvgr i nt o
at all events they
their showing fight on the frontiers ;
.ey
The ships have hauled off from the town, and the
have not much to boastof, as g
were far from good ; and,•considering there was a man-
order.
for their good gunneiTed
to have hadthe
chance of see-
ingl myself am deligh
fire,
squadron under and for the future
a French se ~ _
shall look on the boasting journals of France with a
wanhdatmi
haveo f -Iw basreegnfirtnojmomi anyl
Joinville
letteri nationsne
anda
th lookingisthgeans
ga to,e it
i: willamv: , nsa os t
tshpee
locker.a‘ v well
laugh on my face. I must say one thing more, though
vrsupieiteo,pTenasnghieisrsfißraey,apTounestdhaisy,dAefuengkac.relli.ekses
lam not a boaster, but one regiment from ibraltar,
and a hundred artillerymen manning these forts. would
thilliinirgrisn
(FROM ANOTHER OFFICER.)
speaking) place. At six o'clock this
m(Pcrioormnncpienagrdaehtijivs:e%sil'nyqauadron of three line-of-battle ships and a
large frigate of 60 guns were taken in tow by the like
number of steamers and also two brigs ; besides these
there were four more steamers, making in all 14 French
pendants. The ships of the line and frigate were towed
to a short gun-shot distance from the devoted forts, if they
may be called so. The brigs anchored off the beach to
fire at tne detached forts. The steamers are now cruis-
ing round us, out of gun-shot. They are still at it. I was
speaking with a lieutenant, who gave it as his opinion all
would be amicably settled. Just as he said the words,