The Algerine shipping in the harbor was considerable, including several vessels of war, but no use was made of them in defence, and nearly all were burnt.

The attacking ships commanded some of the batteries, and almost immediately dismounted their guns.

The walls of the casemated works were so thin as to be very soon battered down.

Most of the Algerine guns were badly mounted, and many of them were useless after the first fire.

They had no furnaces for heating shot, and, as "they loaded their guns with loose powder, put in with a ladle," they could not possibly have used hot shot, even had they constructed furnaces.