d through the Chinese lines by native runners, urging
the imperative necessity of prompt relief. During the greater part of
that period the foreign quarter was subjected to heavy rifle and
artillery fire, and the continuous fighting at close quarters with the
hordes of Chinese regulars, as well as Boxers, decimated the scanty
ranks of the defenders. The supply of both ammunition and food was
slender. But the heroism displayed by civilians and professional
combatants alike was inexhaustible. In their anxiety to burn out the
British legation, the Chinese did not hesitate to set fire to the
adjoining buildings of the Hanlin, the ancient seat of Chinese classical
learning, and the storehouse of priceless literary treasures and state
archives. The _Fu_, or palace, of Prince Su, separated only by a canal
from the British legation, formed the centre of the international
position, and was held with indomitable valour by a small Japanese force
under Colonel Sheba, assisted by a few Italian marines and volunteers of
other nationalities and a number of Christian Chinese. The French
legation on the extreme right, and the section of the city wall held
chiefly by Germans and Americans, were also points of vital importance
which had to bear the brunt of the Chinese attack.

Little is known as to what passed in the councils of the Chinese court
during the siege.[52] But there is reason to believe that throughout
that period grave divergences of opinion existed amongst the highest
officials. The attack upon the legations appears to have received the
sanction of the dowager-empress, acting upon the advice of Prince Tuan
and the extreme Manchu party, at a grand council held during the night
of the 18th/19th June, upon receipt of the news of the capture of the
Taku forts by the international forces. The emperor himself, as well
as Prince Ching and a few other influential mandarins, strongly
protested against the empress's decision, but it was acclaimed by the
vast majority of those present. Three members of the Tsung-Li-Yamen
were publicly executed for attempting to modify the terms of an
imperial edict ordering the massacre of all foreigners throughout the
provinces, and most of the Manchu nobles and high officials, and the
eunuchs of the palace, who played an important part in Chinese
politics throughout the dowager-empress's tenure of power, were heart
and soul with the Boxers. But it was noted by the de