It was arranged that the English sailing-vessels should be taken into position by the smaller steamers lashed to their sides. In this manner they drew up before the forts: the _Queen_, _Britannia_, _Trafalgar_, _Vengeance_, _Rodney_, and _Bellerophon_, with the _Vesuvius_, _Furious_, _Retribution_, _Highflyer_, _Spitfire_, _Spiteful_, and _Cyclops_ alongside, arrived at their appointed positions about an hour after the French had commenced firing. The ships in advance were the magnificent steamer the _Agamemnon_, bearing the flag of Sir Edmund Lyons, the brave second in command; the _Sanspareil_, _Sampson_, _Tribune_, _Terrible_, _Sphynx_, and _Lynx_, and the _Arrow_ gun-boat, accompanied by the sailing vessels, _Albion_, _London_, and _Arethusa_, towed by the _Firebrand_, _Niger_, and _Triton_. Preceding this imposing force, a little steam-tug, the _Circassia_, commanded by Mr. Ball, led the way, carefully sounding as it went, and marking out the position for the larger ships. Sir Edmund Lyons had already settled the share he was determined to take in the day’s adventure, and had selected the enormous fort of Constantine as the object of his special attention. The _Terrible_ and _Sampson_, dashing through the storm of fire from the casemates of Constantine, anchored opposite two very mischievous little batteries, one of which the sailors named the Wasp, from its power of annoyance in comparison with its size, and the other the Telegraph, from its proximity to the signal station. In a few moments a vigorous shelling was opened upon these two batteries, which briskly replied. The _Agamemnon_ now opened fire, and never was a cannonade more briskly sustained, or exhibited greater precision of fire. Sir Edmund had anchored his vessel at the very edge of the shoal, which extended about 900 yards from the fort. At this distance the Russian fire was most severe. For four hours the gallant crew bore the galling shower of missiles which cut through the rigging, pierced the hull, and sent many a brave fellow to his last account. The _Albion_ and _London_ boldly came within range, but so deadly was the fire, that they soon withdrew, terribly crippled. The _Sanspareil_ admirably seconded the efforts of the _Agamemnon_, and maintained a telling fire upon the fort. At length that too withdrew, and the dauntless Sir Edmund was left to bear the brunt of the concentrated fire of the Russian guns. His ship was riddled with shot, the sails and rigging hanging in shreds, yet, with a bull-dog pertinacity, he clung to his opponent. Despatching his lieutenant in an open boat, he summoned the _Bellerophon_ to his aid. His message was characteristically pithy: “Tell them to come in; these forts will sink me, and I’m d----d if I leave this.” The _Bellerophon_ quickly responded; and throwing a volley into the big fort, passed on to where the Wasp and Telegraph forts were showering their missiles on the gallant _Agamemnon_.