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LIFE OF CHARLES HALIDAY. XC1
Haliday's, at Paris, that the address was carried each day
by a different one of the party, and it was thus in Quigley's
care the day of their arrest. Upon their fortunate escape,
Allen returned to Ireland, took part in the Rebellion of
1798, and escaped again ; and, in 1803, was active in
Robert Emmet's outbreak.
He escaped arrest and lay hidden with some young friend
in Trinity College until he was put into a cask, carried to
George's-quay and shipped for France. There he entered
the French military service and obtained a commission in
the Irish Legion.
This regiment was one of those that in April, 1810, most
The French
closely invested the city of Astorga in Spain.
artillery having made a breach, General Junot, who commanded
the besieging army, ordered an assault. The
"
forlorn hope," consisting of six companies of light infantry,
was led by Colonel (then Captain) Allen of the Irish regi-
ment. The breach was obstinately defended by the Spaniards,
but Allen succeeded in making with his Voltigeurs a lodg-
ment in the works, and throughout the ensuing night
maintained himself there, and kept up an incessant firing to
intimate his existence and position.
General Junot having
next morning determined on a general assault of the town,
Colonel Ware (another Irishman, a descendant of Sir James
Ware, the antiquary), with his grenadiers was to enter first,
but the garrison surrendered.
One who knew Allen well at Paris in the later years of his
life, said, a gayer, more light hearted, and agreeable man he
never met, and that the same might be said of Colonel Miles
Byrne and others of the band of Irish exiles, their com-
panions.
He often looked with admiration, he said, on these men
who had so long lived with their lives in their hand, show-
ing such ease and hilarity.
Allen, he said, kept his whole substance in coin in a box,
mistrusting all Government securities, being persuaded that