al of the batteries on the shore, were still
unsilenced; and two heavy guns, mounted on the Moncrieff system (by
which the gun rose to a level of the parapet, fired, and instantly sank
again), had continued to fire all day, in spite of the efforts of the
fleet to silence them.

Next morning, however, there was a long heavy swell, and the ironclads
were rolling too heavily for anything like accuracy of aim; but as
parties of men could be seen, at work in the Moncrieff battery, fire
was opened upon them, and they speedily evacuated it.

All night, the Palace of Ras-el-Teen burned fiercely. Another great
fire was raging in the heart of the town, and anxiety for those on
shore, for the time, overpowered the feeling of exultation at the
victory that had been gained.

At half-past ten a white flag was hoisted at the Pharos battery, and
all on board watched, with deep anxiety, what was to follow. Lieutenant
Lambton at once steamed into the fort, in the Bittern, to enquire if
the government were ready to surrender. It was three o'clock before he
steamed out again, with the news that his mission was fruitless; and
that the white flag had only been hoisted, by the officer in command of
the fort, to enable himself and his men to get away unmolested.
Lieutenant Lambton had obtained an interview with the military
governor, on behalf of the government, and told him that we were not at
war with Egypt, and had simply destroyed the forts because they
threatened the fleet; that we had no conditions to impose upon the
government, but were ready to discuss any proposal; and that the troops
would be allowed to evacuate the forts, with the honour of war.

It was most unfortunate that the fleet had not brought with them two or
three thousand troops. Had they done so they could have landed at once,
and saved a great portion of the town from destruction; but as he had
no soldiers, the admiral could not land a portion of the sailors, as
the large Egyptian force in the town, which was still protected by a
number of land batteries, might fall upon them.

At five o'clock the Helicon was sent in to say that white flags would
not be noticed, unless hoisted by authority; and if they were again
shown, the British admiral would consider them the signs of a general
surrender. It was a long time before the Helicon returned, with news
that no communication had been received from the enemy, that the
barracks and arsenals seemed to be deserted and, as f