by the explosion of powder magazines injudiciously placed and improperly secured; that the castle, though built of poor materials, was but slightly injured by the French fire; that the Mexicans proved themselves ignorant of the ordinary means of defence, and abandoned their works when only a few of their guns had been dismounted; that notwithstanding all the circumstances in favor of the French, their killed and wounded, in proportion to the guns acting against them, was upwards of four times as great as the loss of the English at the battle of Trafalgar!

St. Jean d’Acre.—­The narratives of the day contained most exaggerated accounts of the English attack on St. Jean d’Acre; now, however, the principal facts connected with this attack are fully authenticated.  For the amount of the fleet we quote from the British official papers, and for that of the fort, from the pamphlet of Lieutenant-colonel Matuszewiez.  These statements are mainly confirmed by the narratives, more recently published, of several English and French eye-witnesses.

The fortifications were built of poor materials, antiquated in their plans, and much decayed.  Their entire armament amounted to only two hundred guns, some of which were merely field-pieces.  The water fronts were armed with one hundred cannon and sixteen mortars, those of the smaller calibre included. (Fig. 38.) When approached by the British fleet, the works were undergoing repairs, and, says Commodore Napier, “were fast getting into a state of preparation against attack.”

The British fleet consisted of eight ships of the line, carrying six hundred and forty-six guns; six frigates, carrying two hundred and thirty-six guns; four steamers, carrying eighteen guns; and two or three other vessels, whose force is not given.  “Only a few guns,” says Napier, “defended the approach from the northward,” and most of the ships came in from that direction.  The western front was armed with about forty cannon; but opposed to this were six ships and two steamers, carrying about five hundred guns.  Their fire was tremendous during the engagement, but no breach was made in the walls.  The south front was armed in part by heavy artillery and in part by field-pieces.  This front was attacked by six ships and two steamers, carrying over two hundred guns.  The eastern front was armed only with light artillery; against this was concentrated the remainder of the fleet, carrying about two hundred and forty guns.  The guns of the works were so poorly mounted, that but few could be used at all; and these, on account of the construction of the fort, could not reach the ships, though anchored close by the walls.  “Only five of their guns,” says Napier, “placed in a flanking battery, were well served, and never missed; but they were pointed too high, and damaged our spars and rigging only.”  The stone was of so poor a quality, says the narrative of Colonel Matuszewiez, that the walls fired upon presented on the exterior a shattered