[Sidenote: 1857. May 30.] The time had arrived that the Admiral had arranged for the destruction of the Chinese Fleet. Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, my late aide-de-camp when I had the Naval Brigade in Crimea, was now with me as Commodore’s Flag Lieutenant. My gig only held one sitter besides self. Among my other boys I had on board the _Hong-Kong_ with Goodenough were Lord Charles Scott, Victor Montagu, and Harry Stephenson. I left Commander Turnour in the _Bittern_ to arrange my other boys. He had with him Lieutenant Stanley Graham, Dupuis, Foster, Pilkington, and A. V. Paget. In the _Sir Charles Forbes_ were Lieutenant Lord Gilford and Hardy M‘Hardy. In the Macao Fort were Lieutenant W. F. Johnson and Captain Magin, Lieutenant Owen, Royal Marines, Hon. F. G. Crofton, and H. B. Russell, Master’s Assistant. My late youngster, “Jacko Hall,” in _Childers_ brig was now Flag Captain: a strictly religious man. [Sidenote: June 1.] Though everything was ready he had sufficient influence with our good chief not to desecrate the Sabbath, and so deferred the attack until Monday, the 1st of June, on which day I had the honour of leading the boats of the Fleet in an attack on a strong force of the Imperialist junks posted in two divisions in well-selected positions in the Fatshan Creek. The following account is taken from a letter to my sister Mary:-- _Alligator_, CANTON RIVER, _June 20, 1857_. The three weeks of this month have been full of excitement. We commenced on the first with as pretty a boat action as can be imagined, though it may not be appreciated because it occurred in distant China. From the heights the Fatshan Creek affair must have been a beautiful sight. My broad pennant was hoisted on board the _Hong-Kong_. The shallow water caused her to ground; she would otherwise have been in front. Took with me Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, having previously been commanded by Her Majesty, through Sir Charles Phipps, to take every care of him, and left Victor Montagu, my proper gig’s mid, on board; but the lifting tide soon put him in the midst. We took the lead. The first division of the Chinese were attacked simultaneously by about 1900 men. I had not more than a quarter of that number to attack the second division, which was three miles higher up the river in a well-selected place, evidently the _élite_ of their Fleet. The junks numbered twenty in one compact row, mounting about fourteen guns each, removed to the side next us, those in the stern and bow being heavy 32-pounders. Boarding nets were dropped on our boats, but not until our men were alongside, as it enabled them all the quicker to sever the cables connecting the junks. _Raleigh’s_ boats well up, and did not require cheering on. The Chinese fired occasional shots to ascertain exact distance,