According
to tidings from Tunis
dated until 12 August were there still 2 French ships of the line. The other
ships of the French squadron in the bay
of Tunis sailed towards Smyrna. Also the British
squadron commanded by Stopford left the bay and was 20 August at Malta. At that
moment he commanded 7 ships of the line, 2 frigates and some smaller vessels
and steamboats. Off Athene was also a British ship of the line daily was a
second tone to arrived in the Mediterranean.
Since 1814 hadn’t been such a strong British naval force in this
areas. Nothing was more reported dealing with the Egyptian and Turkish fleets
so a battle was not to be feared anymore.
