the Sepoy mutiny having reached the admiral, he
immediately despatched them to Calcutta with a force of Royal Artillery
and other troops. During the eventful struggle which ensued, the crews
of the _Shannon_ and _Pearl_, formed into naval brigades, did good
service. In November, 1857, the Indian mutiny being nearly quelled,
operations in China were recommenced. Yeh proved as obstinate as ever,
and to bring him to reason Canton was again attacked. Besides 800
regular troops, the British force consisted of the marines and 1550
blue-jackets, well trained to act on shore. They were formed into three
divisions under Captains Stuart, Key, and McClure, the command of the
whole being confided to Commodore Elliott. The French, who had now
joined the English, had also a naval brigade of less size. The smaller
vessels and gunboats having arrived before Canton, began and kept up a
ceaseless fire on the walls as well as on the heights both inside and
outside the city, replied to by the cannon, jingalls, and rockets of the
Chinese. On the morning of the 29th the naval brigade stormed and
captured a large temple close to the walls, and at daylight the
artillery, which had been landed, opened fire and soon effected a
breach. The signal was now given for the scaling parties to advance,
and rushing forward with ladders in hand they were quickly up to the
walls. The French had the honour of getting over first, not having
waited for the signal. The British seamen in different directions were
not long after them, Commander Fellowes, of the _Cruiser_, being the
first to mount. The Chinese fought bravely, and many of the British
seamen fell. Among them was Captain Bate, of the _Actaeon_, who was
killed while about to mount a scaling ladder. Captain Key with his
brigade seizing a battery turned its guns upon the foe; and division
after division having got over, swept the Chinese before them, till by
nine o'clock the city was won. So large was the city that it took some
days before it could be thoroughly occupied. Among those captured were
Yeh himself and several other mandarins of rank. As a punishment for
his conduct he was sent as a prisoner to Calcutta. The whole loss of
the allies was under 130 men killed and wounded, the larger portion
belonging to the naval brigade. After this the fleet proceeded to the
Peiho, at the mouth of which stands the town of Taku, to which the
emperor had despatched a new commissioner named Tau