The water here, however, was too shallow for the men-of-war to anchor in. The _Tigre_, therefore, was moored more than a mile from the shore; next to her was the _Alliance_ sloop. Three of the gun-boats captured from the French, and two Turkish gun-boats, lay nearer to the shore, and the fire of all these vessels swept the ground across which it was already evident that the French main attack would be directed. This was also covered by the fire of the _Theseus_ and three of the captured French gun-boats. The French had, on their arrival, promptly seized a village within half a mile of the wall, and pushed forward their trenches with vigour, establishing four or five batteries, which at once opened fire.