of the expected engagement,
hastened to a lofty tower--

"When," says he, "we had reached the tower which commands the
monastery, we descried a fleet of twenty sail. To come up, to range
themselves in a line, and to attack, were the operations of a
minute. The first shot was fired at five o'clock; and, shortly
after, our view of the two fleets was intercepted by the smoke.
When night came on, we could distinguish somewhat better; without,
however, being able to give an account of what passed. The danger
to which we were exposed, of falling into the hands of the smallest
troop of Bedouins which might come that way, did not draw our
attention from an event by which we were so strongly interested.
Rolls of fire, incessantly gushing from the mouths of the cannon,
evinced clearly that the combat was dreadful, and supported with an
equal obstinacy on both sides. On our return to Rosetta, we climbed
on the roofs of the houses; whence, at ten o'clock, we perceived a
strong light, which indicated a fire. A few minutes afterwards, we
heard a terrible explosion, which was followed by a profound
silence. As we had seen a firing kept up, from the left to the
right, on the object in flames, we drew a conclusion that it was
one of the enemy's ships, which had been set fire to by our people;
and we imputed the silence which ensued, to the retreat of the
English: who, as our ships were moored, were exclusively in
possession of the range of the bay; and who, consequently, could
persevere in or discontinue the combat, at pleasure. At eleven
o'clock, a slow fire was kept up; and, at midnight, the action
again became general. It continued till two in the morning. At
day-break, I was at the advanced posts; and, ten minutes after, the
fleets were once more engaged. At nine o'clock, another ship blew
up. At ten, four ships, the only ones which were not disabled, and
which I could distinguish to be French, crouded their sails, and
quitted the field of battle; in the possession of which they
appeared to be, as they were neither attacked nor followed. Such
was the phantom produced by the enthusiasm of hope!

"I took my station at the tower of Abumandur; whence I counted
twenty-five vessels, half of which were shattered wrecks; and the
others incapable of manoeuvring to affo