zine, and forming round their guns with anything but the precision and silent order which appeared to me to be necessary. I therefore said "Captain Witherspoon, you will please to recollect the immense responsibility which at this moment rests on you, and let that reflection suggest the proper arrangement of your battery at this crisis." "You be." Witherspoon answered thus far, in his usual contemptuous tone; but I presume that my voice and aspect at once overawed him, for he instantly altered his key and manner. This was no supper party, but an encounter of a different kind, where I flatter myself we somewhat change places. battery, but like their leader they passed in silence on, intent, no doubt, on objects far greater than driving a company of artillery from the guns of an outwork. They must have been fearfully harassed by the heavy shot, but no lucky ball had arrested the progress of any, up to the moment when, with nerves strained to their utmost, I witnessed the encounter of our solitary man-of-war with the enemy's flag-ship. Either of these vessels sought the other, so that but little time elapsed ere they were side by side, in the position which I believe sailors call yard-arm and yard-arm, and their stems pointing to me. Suddenly innumerable curls of smoke ascended from the ports of the S, and I saw the "Where were his gibes now! his Frenchman stagger and reel. Then came the report of the tremendous broadside, and both ships were enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Long I looked but could clearly see nothing more; only the roar of the artillery told what was passing behind the sulphury screen. Mean while the hostile fleet stood across the Sound with a fair wind; a few long shots from Staddon towers and Staddon heights fell about them, apparently doing little injury, and they approached the narrow passage between Drake's Island and the mainland. In ten minutes their leader would be under fire of our citadel guns, and those of the island. "Now then, Messieurs les Crapauds, look to yourselves," said I, you shall find no child's play here." I saw the gunners at their guns on the island, and it occurred to me to leave my present position, on the higher ramparts, and see whether our batteries were all ready. I was not myself aware how much my moral superiority was developed by the emergency, until I saw its effect upon Witherspoon. He had just marched his men into Ligonier batteries, and was standing on the higher platform as I came up. The men were scrambling their side arms* from the shed, unlocking the maga gambols, his songs, his flashes of "Now, then," exclaimed Witherspoon, “be ready to fire the moment I give the word." "Aim a little in advance of her, Captain Witherspoon," said I; “'tis the best method for striking." This time Witherspoon appeared to be so awed that he did not answer, nor even look at me, "No. 1, fire!" and bang went a 56-pound shot against her bows. "That told at any rate," said I. One after another the heavy guns discharged their bullets, the upper battery firing red-hot shot. Suddenly the ship let go a broadside, which ploughed up the earth all along our batteries, and sent the stones and bricks flying in a cloud, struck down Side arms-sponges, rammers, handspikes, &c., used in the service of great guns, and usually kept in a shed close to the battery. seven gunners, and dismounted an 8-inch gun. Then without slackening her speed, she held on along the channel. "Western King is our best chance now," I thought; "if they cannot cripple her from thence, she will burn the dockyard." drums beat to arms, seeing that the enemy was yet some miles distant, and our scouts would give due notice of his approach. "Truly," thought I, "misfortunes never come single. The naval attack was enough for one day, and now here we are about to experience a siege. We shall have The gunners had left Ligonier bat fearful work on our own hands, and teries, and were hurrying to King be entirely shut out from knowledge Charles's bastion, in hopes to get of how the dockyard, the magazines, another round at her before she was arsenal, or garrison of Devonport out of range, and I also was hasten- may fare. Where can the fellow have ing thither to witness the further thrown his troops ashore so sudfate of the audacious intruders, when denly! No convenient place nearer I perceived the interior of the fort- than Falmouth or Helford river, and ress to be in a state of strange com- he cannot have effected his march motion. Orderlies were running hither and thither; the old mastergunner, attended by a couple of men, bearing buge bunches of keys, was busy locking and unlocking stores and magazines; fatigue parties were carrying straw and other combustible matter worth saving to the casemates, while the refuse was being burnt on the grass. Our colonel, who chanced to be the senior officer in the citadel, stood in front of his quarters conversing earnestly with the commanding engineer of the district, who lived within the walls, and with the colonel of the other regiment-for two corps lay in the citadel. There was not the least appearance of a parade forming, although it was nearly the appointed hour. Instead of pursuing my way along the ramparts, I descended to the interior, to ascertain if possible what these things might mean. A sergeant whom I met below informed me that he knew nothing with certainty, but the rumour was that an overwhelming enemy's land-force was approaching from the north, and that advices had been sent out in all directions whence assistance might be furnished to apprise others of our danger. Devonport, he supposed, was fully occupied with its own assailants, and not likely to contribute much to our aid: wherefore the colonel was understood to be meditating the best possible defence, sure that by a vigorous resistance he would gain time enough to let succours come up. The colonel, he said, was "as cool as a cucumber," and had ordered the men to get their breakfasts before the from either of those points without terday! Released thus from regimental drudgery, I busied myself in seeing that due preparation was made, and found that orders had been given to treat my suggestions with every possible respect. About noon we were desired to raise the bridges-a sign that the enemy was not far off. How it had fared with the unfortunate townsfolk during that alarming morn, I know not; but on my going into the ravelin to see the order regarding the bridges carried into effect, there I beheld assembled on the glacis troops of the unfortunate people endeavouring to effect an entrance for shelter, but refused admittance by the guard. The reception of such a crowd into the fort was, of course, incompatible with its proper defence; and I advanced to do sternly my unpleasant duty of informing them that their present position was the most dangerous they could possibly occupy, as being the field on which the whole force, both of the attack and the defence, would be exerted. What was my consternation, as well as delight, to behold among the foremost crowd the sweet face of Mary Passingham, and the face of her aged father. My intended stera denial died on my lips, and I thought only how I could except from the general exclusion those whom I so ardently desired to serve aud protect. Mary's glance already rested on my face, no longer furtive or sarcastic, but soft, confiding, and irresistibly appealing, as she hung on the old man's arm. "One moment, said I, to the commander of the guard, "the bridge must be lowered again for a particular object." He hesitated an instant, but seemed to feel compelled to comply. As the ponderous mass swung creakingly to its horizontal position, a sign from me summoned my dear friends to the edge of the ditch, and they were speedily within, the walls; but, alas, not without a number of others, whom it had been impossible to keep from rushing over. Among those to whom I had thus unintentionally afforded an entrance, I was mortified to see my squinting partner, Miss Congdon, whom her fright did not render a whit more captivating, and the tiresome old lady who had annoyed me so last night, looking more grotesque than ever. The former, with her usual effrontery, seized on my arm, and began to repeat her disgusting blandishments; but I was in no humour now for foolery, and in a manner as summary as politeness admitted of, I disengaged myself from her. Then devoting myself to the gentle Mary, who, amid all her alarm, blushed with conscious satisfaction at the course things were taking, I escorted her and her aged companion to the securest bomb-proof in the citadel. Shall I say how, in that short walk, our emancipated spirits perfectly comprehended each other, and what low accents of affection and sweet confidence my ears drank rap. turously in! Nay, those sounds are too cherished, too holy, to be ever submitted to the public eye. The refuge which I chose for my sweet fugitive was but lowly-a soldier's casemated room, very dark and damp; but there was a grate in it, and a fire was speedily kindled. Seeing that at present I could do no more for my Mary's security, I began to address to her a few parting words of tender encouragement, when the odious Congdon interrupted me with "La Low, Nincome, dear! you are not going to leave us helpless females in this horrid den. You are going to stay and take care of us!" And the creature came and hung upon my shoulder, attempting a sob. The queer old lady, too, began again to belabour me with questions_touching the 57th and Mr. Henry Button, whose appearance at that moment, from whatever part of the world they might be serving in, she thought particularly desirable. Longer delay was impossible, therefore, looking towards Mary the devoted feelings which I could not express, I once more sought the parade ground. A very storm of firing was by this time in progress. Muskets, rifles, and artillery, each contributed to the Glacis-A smooth surface of ground sloping gently from the uttermost defensible line of a fortress towards the surrounding country. din. They were bringing down wounded men from the ramparts and taking them to hospital. Missiles flew around me and over my head, tearing up the grass and battering the opposite buildings. Up I ran to the gun terreplein to examine into the state of matters; and jumping on to the banquette, or step, on which musketeers stand to fire over the parapet, looked on an astonishing scene. The bullets flew about so thickly that I was compelled to make with the utmost rapidity my observation of what was passing. It was clear that the enemy had determined to save time in his operations at any other expense; he had therefore selected for his principal attack the north side of the fortress, where the town approaches so closely to the works as to leave but an inconsiderable space to pass over. As he was evidently in immense force, he had not neglected other points, but along the whole exterior line of buildings, where gardens, stores, and dwellings afforded him a place of arms almost ready made, he had availed himself to the utmost of his opportunity. From hundreds of house-tops and windows which were within easy range was rattling a deadly fire of musketry. He had hoisted in some way a gun to the top of the church tower, and, having knocked away the pinnacles, was using it with serious effect. The same expedient was resorted to wherever a high strong house afforded the chance. The Jews' burial-ground had been converted into a mortarbattery. In short, every sort of missile was being hurled in profusion against our devoted ramparts. Direct fire was tearing our parapets, disabling our gunners and marksmen, and spreading havoc along the interior. Ricochet batteries plunged hopping balls along our lines, dismounting ordnance and causing all manner of casualties; while bombs of every size were falling about, spreading death and confusion. Our gunners and small-arm men behaved like heroes, and opposed this overwhelming attack with the utmost devotion. Bullets flew thick through every embrasure, and made the service of the guns truly difficult. Be sides, the enemy among the buildings was better screened almost than we were, and all our shots, whether or not they annoyed him, certainly took effect upon the good town of Plymouth. Even amid the roar of this dreadful struggle, the shrieks and groans of the miserable inhabitants were audible. Impatient of the least delay, our besieger was already beginning to push two saps across our glacis, malgré the vigorous fire we were able to maintain. Seeing this, and having noted other matters which appeared of moment, I was about to seek the Colonel, when, as I was passing a battery, there fell a live shell a few paces in front. The fuze appeared to have burnt very low, but Witherspoon, who, to do him justice, was a gallant fellow enough, ran like lightning from among his guns, and, lifting the deadly globe, had essayed to hurl it into the ditch. Another instant, a hair's-breadth more fuze, and his purpose would have been effected. The shell was leaving his hands when it exploded, and not a recognisable portion remained of what had been the elegant Witherspoon. Many others suffered by the accident, but I, fortunately, was not one of them. There was no time for emotion, and I hurried to tell Colonel S. of the incipient saps. At my sug gestion, he ordered Captain Sefton to select some of the best shots in the garrison, and endeavour to stop the progress of these approaches. While arranging the matter, I happened to encounter my facetious friends, Gore and Chatterton, who were told off to the elevating duty of superintending the filling of sandbags, or sacks of earth used to stop holes and repair damages generally on the works. They were in a sheltered corner, looking utterly bewildered; but, on seeing me, they raised a shout of recognition very unlike their ancient derisive salutation. In most deferential accents one requested me to tell them "what it was all about?" and the other, "when we would have a shy at 'em?" I gave some evasive answer to quiet the poor mudlarks, and passed on. How the enemy achieved the celerity of his processes I can hardly explain according to |