doubtful point whether a return lay open to us at all.” The total loss sustained in this fruitless expedition, was 42 killed, 235 wounded, and 4 missing; the Pompée’s share of which was only 5 seamen wounded.
On the 4th of March, Sir John Duckworth issued the following letter of thanks to the officers, &c. under his command:–
“Although unforeseen and insurmountable obstacles, prevented the squadron under my command from effecting at Constantinople the objects which it had in view, I cannot refrain from offering my most heartfelt acknowledgments to all who have so nobly contributed their exertions, throughout the arduous service in which we have been engaged. To Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Louis, who, with the gallantry and cool judgment which marked his character, led the squadron; and to Rear-Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, I beg to present my sincere thanks for their able assistance, as well as to the captains, officers, seamen, and royal marines, for the steady bravery which has been so eminently displayed, in forcing and returning through a passage so strongly fortified by nature and by art, and which had till now been deemed impregnable.”
The copy of this document, addressed to the subject of this memoir, was accompanied by the following lines:–
“Feeling that the want of ultimate success should not restrain me from doing that justice I owe to those who have so handsomely supported the honor of their country, I enclose you a copy of thanks, I think it my duty to issue, as a tribute of my approbation and obligation to the squadron, and to none more than you, my dear Sir! for which I again offer you my thanks, as I am, with high esteem and regard, &c. &c.”
“Sir W. S. Smith.”
The squadron, after leaving the Dardanelles, proceeded to the coast of Egypt, where it arrived a few days after the surrender of Alexandria and its forts to the naval and military forces, under the respective commands of Captain (now Sir Benjamin) Hallowell, and Major-General Frazer. Sir W. Sidney Smith soon after returned to England, where he arrived in the month of June.
On the 20th Oct. in the same year (1807), the court of Portugal, after consuming several weeks in fruitless attempts to conciliate Buonaparte, found itself under the necessity of shutting the ports of that kingdom against the ships of Great Britain. About the same time, Sir W. Sidney Smith was appointed to the command of a squadron, with which he
