1808	Seahorse in the Archipelago	57

admiral's arrival off Tenedos, the Turkish admiral had moved his fleet to an anchorage in the Dardanells above the first castles.

The intelligence of the peace of Tilsit sent the Russian admiral down the Mediterranean, and put an end to the mission of Pozzi de Borgo. After some preliminary conferences, Sir Arthur Paget, went up alone to Constantinople, in the 38-gun frigate Thetis, Captain William Henry Gage. Either intimidated or cajoled by the French emperor, the Sublime Forte would come to no terms ; and on or about the 19th of October, the Thetis, with the ambassador on board, quitted the Dardanells.

Towards the end of the year, upon an understanding between the Forte and Lord Collingwood, that no Turkish men of war were to cruise in the Ægean sea, and no tribute to be exacted from the inhabitants of the Greek islands, the British admiral quitted the Archipelago ; and, early in the year 1808, detached the 38-gun frigate Seahorse, Captain John Stewart, to cruise there, with particular directions to see that the compact entered into with the Forte in favour of the Greeks was strictly complied with.

It appears that a band of Epirots, who had been taken into the pay and service of Russia, upon being disbanded at the peace of Tilsit and thrown upon their former masters the Turks, had taken possession of Dromo and Saraguino, two small islands situated at the mouth of the gulf of Salonica ; whence, with large boats, they laid the coast, as far as the Dardanells, under contribution, and made prize of all vessels going to Constantinople. The tribute from these countries, being paid principally in corn, was thus intercepted ; and the Turks, having no force outside of the Dardanells sufficient to crush this nest of pirates, made application to Captain Stewart to know whether he would interfere with any squadron sent for that purpose. Being aware what would be the next object of the Turkish commander after he had put down the pirates, Captain Stewart replied, that he should repel by force any ships attempting, in violation of the treaty, to come out of the Dardanells.

The Forte, however, having received intelligence that no other British ship than the Seahorse was cruising in the Archipelago, despatched a squadron, composed of two frigates, two corvette, two mortar-vessels, and some xebecs, upon the service in view. In the latter end of June this squadron anchored off the island of Dromo, made a landing, and surrounded the town of the pirates situated upon a peak. But the freebooters, in the mean time had despatched a fast-sailing boat to the island of Sira near Tino, where the Seahorse lay at anchor.

The intelligence reached Captain Stewart on the 1st of July ; and be instantly got under way, and began working up against a north-north-east wind. Nothing of consequence occurred until the 5th, at noon ; when the Seahorse spoke a Greek ship,

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