pled with him for life or death.

A full description of the numerous actions which took place from the
commencement to the termination of the war, extending over so many
months, would at the present day be far from interesting. We shall,
therefore, but briefly allude to some of them.

CAPTURE OF CHUSAN.

The crisis had come. The Chinese had determined to drive away the
"foreign devils" from their coasts, and the "foreign devils" had equally
determined to show that they were a match for the Celestials.

On 5th July 1840, Chusan, a small island in the Chinese sea, fell into
the hands of the British. The previous day, HMS _Conway, Alligator_,
and _Wellesley_, with a troopship and two transports, arrived in Chusan
harbour. The ships took up position opposite a large Joss House or
Temple. Sir Gordon Bremer was in command of our force. In the evening
a deputation was sent on shore, calling upon the governor to surrender
the town of Chusan and avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The Chinese admiral
and two mandarins themselves came to refuse this offer. During that
night the people were seen strengthening their fortifications, while the
inhabitants were flying up the river in their merchant junks, which were
allowed to pass without impediment, although their cargoes, probably
containing much that was valuable, would have made the fortunes of many
a British officer. However, they were allowed through untouched, for
our bluejackets had not come to war against civilians and women and
children. Indeed, to their credit, in no instance throughout the war
did the helpless suffer injury at the hands of either British soldiers
or sailors.

On the 5th, vast crowds could be seen along the hills and shores, and
the walls of the city were lined with troops. Twenty-four guns were
placed on the landing-place, which, with the appearance of several
war-junks, showed that resistance was going to be offered.

The troops were landed in two divisions, under Major-General Burrell's
supervision. The fire from the batteries and from the shores was soon
silenced by the British "men of war." Not far distant from the city was
a hill surrounded on three sides by a deep canal and very boggy land,
and our troops took up position on this hill; and though fire was opened
on them till nearly midnight, the effects of it were scarcely felt. On
the morning of the 6th the guns were directed towards the city, but as
no sound could be heard or troops s