The following letter from Sir Edward Lugard to Captain Vaughan shows the high estimation in which the _Shannon's_ naval brigade was held by the military officers high in command:-- "The _Shannon's_ Brigade advanced upon Lucknow with my division, and acted with it during the entire operations, as you well know. The men were daily--I may say hourly--under my sight, and I considered their conduct in every particular an example to the troops. During the whole period I was associated with the _Shannon's_ Brigade, I never once saw an irregularity among the men. They were sober, quiet, and respectful; and often I remarked to my staff the high state of discipline Sir W. Peel had got them into. From the cessation of active operations until I was detached to Azimghur, I commanded all the troops in the city; and all measures for the repression of plundering were carried out through me, and, of course, every irregularity committed was reported to me. During that period, not one irregularity was reported to me. Indeed, in the whole course of my life, I never saw so well-conducted a body of men... All I have written about the good conduct and discipline of the _Shannon's_ men would, I am convinced, be confirmed by the unanimous opinion of the army at Lucknow. Poor Adrian Hope and I often talked together on the subject; and many a time I expressed to Peel the high opinion I had of his men, and my admiration of their cheerfulness, and happy, contented looks, under all circumstances of fatigue and difficulty. "Believe me, my dear Vaughan, sincerely yours-- "Edward Lugard. "Captain Vaughan, C.B." Another naval brigade was formed from the officers and ship's company of HMS _Pearl_, which did good service, and won the respect of all associated with it. CHAPTER TWELVE. THE SECOND CHINESE WAR--1856-1860. The Chinese Government, forgetting the lesson they had received in the former war with Great Britain, or believing that they could follow the bent of their inclinations with impunity, committed a series of aggressions on British subjects, which demanded our immediate interference. Sir Michael Seymour, the admiral on the station, commenced vigorous measures, without loss of time, to recall them to their senses, with the squadron and marines under his command. He began by opening fire on Canton in October. On the 5th of November he destroyed several Chinese war-junks; and on the 12th and 13th of that month, the Bogue Forts, mounting 400 guns, were captured. On the 12th of January 1857, the marines, with a detachment of the 59th Regiment, attacked the suburbs of the city of Canton, when a few casualties occurred both among the seamen and troops.