We have now to give an account of the chief naval exploits of the war, when the wooden walls of Old England were to try their strength with the stone ramparts of Russia. While the heavy artillery of the Allies opened fire on the city from the newly-erected batteries on the neighbouring heights, it was arranged that the fleets should attack from the sea. The fleet was to form a semicircle before the harbour's mouth; the French to engage the forts on the south, the English the forts Constantine and Alexander and the Stone and Wasp forts on the north. The morning was actively spent by the crews in preparing for action. At fifty minutes past ten the signal for weighing was made; and the fleet, the fine old _Agamemnon_ leading, stood towards the batteries. She was followed in order by the _Sanspareil_, screw, the sailing--ships being moved by steamers lashed alongside,--_Albion_, by _Firebrand; Queen_, by _Vesuvius; Britannia_, by _Furious; Trafalgar_, by _Retribution; London_, by _Niger; Vengeance_, by _Highflyer; Rodney_, by _Spiteful; Bellerophon_, by _Cyclops; Arethusa_, by _Triton_; while _Samson, Tribune, Terrible, Sphinx, Lynx_, and _Spitfire_ acted as look-out ships, and were allowed to take up independent positions. Besides the stone fortifications, the enemy had thrown up numerous earthworks, and placed guns along the cliff to the north. To one of these forts the seamen gave the name of the Wasp; to another, the Telegraph battery. The French weighed first, a little before ten, and proceeded to their position, on the south of the line, when the enemy opened fire on them. The Turks took up a position in the centre; and now the magnificent _Agamemnon_ steamed on, with the gallant little _Circassian_, commanded by the brave Mr Ball, piloting the way, sounding as he went, and marking the position the larger ships were to take up. At half-past one the _Agamemnon_ began to draw in close with the land, when, to try range, she opened fire from her large pivot-gun on the Wasp battery, which instantly returned it; and in a short time Fort Constantine commenced firing with terrible effect, the _Agamemnon_ suffering fearfully. At two p.m. she anchored, head and stern, in a quarter less five fathoms, 750 yards off Fort Constantine, on which she immediately opened her fresh broadside. At five minutes past two, the _Sanspareil_ and _London_ anchored astern, and ably seconded the gallant Sir Edmund by the fire which they poured into the Star Fort and the smaller forts on the cliff. At twenty minutes past two, the _Albion_ anchored, and engaged the Wasp, to take off the fire from the _Agamemnon_, which, from her position, exposed to a cross fire, was suffering more than the other ships. The _Britannia_, now in fifteen fathoms water, and some two thousand yards off, opened fire, and the action became general.