nese received
their assailants with a hot fire, but were soon driven out, retreating
to Cough's Fort. The ships kept up a continued cannonade during the day
and the following night, and on the 29th it was determined to make a
grand attack by escalade on the east wall of the city. The advance was
led by the brave Major Luard, the 59th, under Major Burmister, covering
the French Naval Brigade and Royal Marines. At an appointed time the
ships were to cease firing, and the assault was to be made. The
Chinese, meantime, were keeping up a hot fire on their approaching
assailants from their walls. It was necessary to ascertain the best
spot for placing the scaling-ladders. Captain Bate volunteered to go,
and Captain Naun, of the Engineers, accompanied him. Captain Bate had
run across an open space, and was looking down into the ditch, when a
shot struck him. He fell. Dr Anderson rushed out through a hot fire,
accompanied by Captain Bate's coxswain, to his assistance, but he never
spoke again. They escaped uninjured.

"Some minutes before the time, the French advanced, and the English
could not be kept back. They had crossed the ditch, and were clustered
under the walls before the scaling-ladders could be brought up. A young
Frenchman had taken off his shoes and gaiters, and was trying to work
himself up to the southern angle of the bastion, aided by Major Luard,
who was propping him up with the muzzle of the Frenchman's own firelock,
when a ladder was placed, and Luard, leaping on it, stood first upon the
wall. He was followed by a Frenchman, the bandmaster of the 59th, and
Colonel Hope Graham. At the same time, Stuart, of the Engineers, was
balancing in air on a breaking ladder at the north side of the bastion;
but though he sprang to another, two or three Frenchmen got up before
him. Here, also, Corporal Perkins and Daniel Donovan, volunteer
sappers, pushing on with the French, were among the first over the wall.
Meantime the Chinese had been tumbling down all sorts of missiles; but
when the Allies were once upon the walls, the great body of them
retired. They poured down into the city, and fired from the streets;
they dodged behind the buildings on the ramparts, and thence took aim
with their cumbrous matchlocks. A few single encounters occurred, and
Major Luard's revolver disposed of one lingerer; but the Allies
generally fired right and left, and pushed on to the right, so as to
sweep the wall upwards tow