The _Helicon_, pursuant to orders, steamed up the harbour and lay off the Arsenal wall, whilst the officer in command went on board the Khedive's yacht _Maharoussa_, expecting to find some one to treat with, but not a person was on board. After waiting half an hour, he signalled that he had been unable to find any of the authorities to communicate with, and returned at 8.20 p.m. As early as four in the afternoon a part of the town had been observed to be on fire, and the conflagration soon after was seen to spread rapidly. During the night the fires on shore continued to extend, and it became evident that it was the richest part of Alexandria, the European quarter, which was in flames. The spectacle as viewed from the ships was grand, but awful in character. The sky on the land side was lighted up with a fierce red glare, and columns of smoke covered the city and surrounding country. The Admiral's first idea was to send a landing-party to save the town. He, however, hesitated on account of the risk to his men. Eventually, to discover the state of things on shore, he landed a party of fifteen men from the _Invincible_. The streets were found completely deserted, and all was silent save for the roar and crackle of the flames and the sound of falling beams and walls. The party returned at three a.m. on the 13th. Daylight revealed the town still wrapped in flames, and an immense cloud of smoke hung over its whole extent. At 5.40 a.m. the _Invincible_, _Monarch_, and _Penelope_ left their anchorage off Mex, and steamed into the outer harbour, with the _Beacon_ and _Bittern_ in company. At 5.50 the _Helicon_, which had again gone in to pick up refugees, embarked and brought 170 of them for distribution amongst the ships outside. They were of all classes and nationalities, and included several women and children. They had passed through the streets unmolested, and reported Alexandria deserted, and that all the troops had left the previous day, after setting fire to the town. It was believed that part of the soldiers had gone to Rosetta, and part to Damanhour. The _Helicon_ reported that there were a great many more refugees, women and children, inside the mole waiting for an opportunity to come off.