The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-21 00:00:00

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was exemplified by the Belle Poole, a heavy new 60-
gun frigate. About 1 P.M., the Belle Pottle was ordered
to weigh and proceed immediately to silence a romtd
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 BellePoule approach-
ed her station towards the fort its defenders fired by way of
challenge several distant shots ; these, from their distant
range, gave undeniable evidence of the heavy calibre of tl e
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 resell
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
full two hours, but with as much eff .ct as theiteh eh:el
at the rock of Gibraltar ! After this aehievsment a
steamer took the frigate in tow ; but the fort, in scornful
defiance, gave her the last and farewell shot ! 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 ordnanse of formi-
dable character, and undoubtedly would, if properly
directed, have committed terrible execution, for the shut
frequently passed right over the Belle Ponle.
Thus ended the French operations for the day, the
whole squadron hauling c utside the bey ? 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 !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 fora!'
fications of Tangiers, they have not acquired the respect
of those who observed, and noted their proceedings. In
short, there seems to he but one and a general opinion--
that the " tricolour" has !rather been dishonourrd
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 a manner
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 tile
Prince has betrayed more sagacity. Hir -Royal 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 tire
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 profcssional 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 Taegiers,
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 eny oblique sentiments of
national jealousy or caprice, but is founded upon the
evidence of plain unextenuated facts.

Unfortunately it has been the spirit tco 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. Ilis
Royal Highness the Prince de Joinville himself is 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, hare
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 pe:Te. 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.

(FIiOM ANOTHER OFFICER.)
Tangiers Pay, 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 woull 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-bathle
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
genera). 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 rho
Suffren, with the flags of the Prince de Joinrille, to
cease firing' which was instantly obeyed ; but then tlij
forts would not give in, and fired a few shots, which, of
course, made the Frenchmen open fire again, and did
sal 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 much to contend with, and havellay 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 had 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 j ust made her appearance, with
Mr. Drummond Hay on board, from Mogadore. So we
shall see what will come next, as there was nat thia slight.
est idea that the French were going to take this active.
measure.

The ships have hauled off from the town, and the ..
forts still have the red flags flying; so what is going to
take place we have not the slightest idea of. Perhaps
he has only fired on the town to punish the Aloors fur
their showing fight on the frontiers ; at all events they
have not much to boastof, as their firing and mauceuvring
were far from good ; and, considering there was a man-
of-war from all nations looking on, it will not speak well
for their good gunnery order.
I myself am delighted to have had the chance of see-
shall ing a
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laugh on my face. I must say one thing more, though
I am not a boaster, but one regiment from Gib her
and a hundred artillerymen manninc, these forts, would
ra ,
have sent Joinville and his
(FROsMpitAe, gang to Davy's locker.'
HER )
War •ay,Aug.
I begin my letterat Tuesday, ug. 6.
the same time as the warlike
Prince
GC Joinville opens his fire apon this defenceless
(comparatively speaking) place. At six o'clock this
morning
his squadron 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 the 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,.
broadsides from all the ships were poured into the place,
and instantly returned by the forts from a few guns. 'lt
is now two hours since the firing began, the Frenchmen
keeping up a continued blaze, and for one hour not a
shot has been fired by the Moors. They have alUOie
time been firing from, I should think, a dozen gunnd
no more. The place is becoming a mass of rubs, tio far
as lie can see, but it is nothing more than exercise for
their men ; they may have lost two or three mon, but
certainly not more, and not a rope or spar has been shot
in any
away of them. A steamer has just passed us,
and she has one shothole just above the water line, and
two have struck her in the stern. She was hankering
round a fort a long way off, and they served her with a
shot. The "grand nation" have nothing to boast off ; ' -
they took up the best -positions With an overpowering
force against a savage and barbarous people, whose only •
force lies in the- madness—of-fanaticism.- •
still firing.. The Vesuvius (from Alogtdore) has jute
hove in sight, so I shall keep this open till the place is