s, or take us by surprise or
stratagem, would doubtless massacre us all on the spot. We lifted
up our hearts to God, and he heard us from his holy habitation. We
were preserved in safety through the night, though anxious and
sleepless. All our attempts to communicate intelligence of our
situation to the people in Maulmain and Mergui were defeated, and
the heavy rains soon affected the health of the sepoys. We had but
a small supply of rice in the granary near the wharf, and that was
continually in danger of being destroyed or burnt. But through the
kind care of our Heavenly Father, we were preserved alive, and
nothing of great importance occurred until the morning of Thursday,
a little before day-break, when a party of 500 advanced upon us
from the town, and set fire to several houses and vessels near the
wharf. But God interposed in our behalf, and sent a heavy shower of
rain, which extinguished the fire while the sepoys repelled the
assailants.

"At breakfast the same morning we had the happiness of seeing the
Diana steam-vessel coming up the river, with Major Burney on board.
Our hearts bounded with gratitude to God. It was soon agreed that
the Diana should return immediately to Maulmain for a reinforcement
of troops, and Major Burney had the kindness to offer a passage for
Mrs. Boardman and our family together with his own. After looking
to God for direction, I concluded to remain behind, partly in
compliance with Major Burney's advice and desire, but particularly
in the hope of being useful as an interpreter and negotiator, and a
preventer of bloodshed. With painful pleasure I took a hasty leave
of my dear family, and in the evening the Diana left us, not
however without having several shots from cannon or jinjals fired
at her from the people on the city wall. The English forces, small
and weak and sick as they were, were now throwing up breast-works;
and on Saturday the 15th inst. it was agreed to make an attack on
the town, in order if possible to take from the walls the large
guns that bore upon us, and to try the strength of the rebel party.
I stood at the post of observation with a spy-glass to watch and
give the earliest notice of the event, and soon had the pleasure of
announcing that the officers and sepoys had scaled the walls, and