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THE

NAUTICAL MAGAZINE

AND

Naval Chronicle

FOR 1841.

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A CRUIZE IN THE LEVANT.-From Alexandria to the Coast of Syria.

[Extracts from the remarks of H.M.S. Alfred, Capt. R. Maunsell.-
W. H. Hall, Master.-June, 1832.]

From Jaffa to the Bay of Acre.

BETWEEN Jaffa and Cape Carmel the land is rather low, and sandy near the sea, till you come to the latter, which is a long flat mountain, and terminating in a point towards the sea. At noon this Cape bore N.N.E.4 E., seven leagues; and some mountains nearly abreast of us E.b.N., distant seven or eight miles. Latitude observed 32° 28′ N. After running twelve miles from noon, sounded in twenty-five fathoms, soft black mud; we were then distant from the shore about six miles. Passed Kaiseria, Tortura, and Athelite; the latter is situated on a promontory, with a small bay to the southward of it, in which we saw two vessels at anchor. The old ruined walls and towers about Athelite are very remarkable; between the latter and Mount Carmel is a rock, laid down in some charts, about three miles off shore, bearing from the Cape W.b.S. S. In passing we saw nothing of it, but the shoal which extends off Mount Carmel we passed very close to, for it shoaled very suddenly from seven to four and three-quarters fathoms; tacked immediately, and as we stood off it deepened. After the ship was about, took the following bearings, and had at the time six fathoms.

Buildings on Mount Carmel
Northern outer low tower
Acre

S.E. E.
E.b.N.N.
N.E.

Having deepened our water considerably, we tacked and stood into the bay for Acre. As we drew near the latter, found the soundings very irregular, so hauled up north-west for the anchorage off Kaiffa, and shoaled very gradually. From the middle of the bay, we had from twelve to six and a half fathoms, in which we anchored, about threeENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 1.-VOL. FOR 1841.

B

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town to the ship at anchor off Kaiffa five and a half to twelve, and six and a half fathoms. Acre to ship S.W. S., nine miles.

The walls and town of Acre we found in a complete state of ruins, from the shot and shells of the Egyptians during the late seige; not a house or mosque had escaped.

The harbour is small, but appears very safe, and well adapted for merchant vessels, or small men-of-war. The outer anchorage is very much exposed to all winds from south-west to north-west.

There is a dangerous shoal about three miles off, S.S.W. from the town, and must be carefully avoided by ships running for Acre.

Kaiffa is a small walled town or village, situated close to the sea, and may be easily known from its being the only town on the south side of the bay. Castle point which is to the west of it, is a long low point, with an old castle on it; and on the eastern side are the ruins of the city of old Kaiffa: on its western side is a long sandy beach.

Cape Carmel, which is to the westward of the latter, is high, and very remarkable, on the top of it is a Monastery, and another large building, used as an hospital for the Egyptian soldiers, that were wounded at the seige of Acre.

Took the following bearings from the top of the Monastery :

Ruins of Athelite

Outer distance southern land beyond it
Cape Blanco

S.S.W.
S.b.W. W.
N.N.E.E.

The latter Cape and Mount Carmel form the Bay of Acre, and are distant from each other five leagues,

FALL OF ST. JEAN D'ACRE,

Foreign Office, November 30th, 1840. A DESPATCH, of which the following is a copy, has been received at this office, addressed to Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign affairs, by Colonel Sir Charles Felix Smith, c.B., commanding the forces in Syria :

"St. Jean d'Acre, November 5th, 1840. "MY LORD, On the 29th ult. it was finally determined between Sir Robert Stopford and myself, that the siege of Acre should be undertaken. I accordingly detached Omar Bey for the purpose of advancing from Sidon with 2,000 Turks upon Tyre, and thence to occupy the Pass of the White Mountain, to the northward of this place; and on the 31st, the Admiral made sail from Beyrout roads, having previously embarked in the squadron 3,000 men, under the immediate command of the Pasha Selim, and small detachments of Royal Artillery, and Sappers, under Major Higgins, of the former corps, and Lieut. Aldrich, Royal Engineers.

"Omar Bey reached the position assigned to him at the same hour on the 2d inst., that the fleet appeared off Acre.

"Owing to light winds, the ships did not get into action till 2 P.M. on the 3d, when an animated fire commenced, and was maintained, without intermission, until darkness closed the operations of the day. About three hours later the governor, with a portion of the garrison, quitted the town, which was taken possession of by the allied troops at daylight the following morning. The moral influence on the cause in which we are engaged, that will result from its surrender, is incalculable.

**During the bombardment, the principal magazine and the whole arsenal

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Press Marute, Jeyrnu. Tember 31st, 1940.

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der "Erosor is Frera erary of State for Foreign Affairs, to AG, Unordnun oreinstances herein stated, in attack on the fortress of St. sare, apua winch – vas nenusi" wilbering, and preparing arrangeSCT is posse is sucess Ani í are now to acquaint pbonation, mat, laving marked 3000 Turkish troops, enson ne Muren ships of the spudron, as per mara na service de moment wind and weather permit, ande far-A imir Bandeira, and the Turkish 4 10 had already preceded himself, with a flag

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I have the honor to be. &c...

ROBBAT STOPFORD, Admiral.”

Princess Charinite, off St. Jean d'Acre, Nor. 4th, 1840. So-You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Vituiraity, that he town and fortress of Acre were taken possession of by the ailed forces under my command this morning, in the name of the Sultan."

**The circumstances which led to this result, occurred on the 3d, when a heavy canonade from the ships and vessels, beginning at 2 P.M. and ending at 5, completely demolished the town, and materially damaged the fortifications, miticing the Egyptians to evacuate the place in the night. A tremendous exhesiva of a large magazine of powder teck place about 4 P.M. on the 3d.

The racks were made upon the west lines, and the south face of the

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