ithdrew the ultimatum, and requested the
ministers to remain in Pekin, as the country was so disturbed.

This expression of anxious care for the welfare of the Europeans was a
blind, for at four o'clock, the hour fixed in the ultimatum, fire was
opened upon the legations, and the siege began.

All the women and children were brought in to the legation compound, and
it was decided to hold the British Embassy as the last line of defence,
the supreme command being assigned to Sir Claude Macdonald, the
commanding officer of each guard being in command of their several
legations.

Three sides of the legation compound were surrounded by Chinese
buildings, and these constituted a very grave danger, as attempts were
made, by setting them on fire, to burn out the legation buildings; and
on the 22nd June one of these attempts nearly succeeded, the fire was
got under, and the building destroyed under a hail of bullets.

Just outside the legation and only a few feet away was the Hanlin
Academy. This was the most venerated and ancient building in Pekin, and
contained a priceless collection of books and ancient Chinese
manuscripts, which could never be replaced. These buildings were a
source of great danger if fired; the Europeans hesitated to destroy such
a building; not so the Chinese, and on the 23rd it was found to be in
flames, with a strong wind blowing towards the legation buildings.
Fortunately, the wind changed, or these could not have been saved.

On the discovery that the building was on fire, a party of British and
American marines and volunteers rushed in and drove out the Chinese,
killing a good many; but it was too late to save the library, and only a
few of its manuscripts were rescued. Thus the Chinese in their fury
against the foreigner had destroyed a collection which for many
centuries had been the pride of their literati.

The buildings had to be demolished on all sides as they were
successively set on fire, and at length the legation buildings were safe
from this source of danger, but the work was carried out under a
continuous rattle of rifle fire, and there were numerous casualties.

On 24th June Captain Halliday with 30 marines was sent to clear out a
party of the enemy who had set fire to the State buildings of the
British legation, and were taking cover in the buildings. A hole being
made in the legation wall, Captain Halliday followed by his men crept
through, and at once came upon the enemy, an