Excavated Batteries of Gibraltar. 31 



back with his hat on. They have been constructed at an 

 immense expense of labour and money, and are designated by 

 various names, as "Upper gallery," *' Lower gallery," "Queen's 

 gallery," "St. George's Hall," and so on. Their extent is 

 estimated at an English mile, but is probably much greater. 

 Besides these galleries, passages run for miles in the interior 

 of the rock, affording the garrison a thoroughly-protected con- 

 nection with all points that may chance to be threatened. 



The grandest and most imposing of these marvellous excava- 

 tions are the "Queen's gallery" and "St. George's Hall." 

 According to carved inscriptions, most of them were begun 

 and completed between the years 1783 and I789. At the 

 period of our visit, there were mounted on the different fortifi- 

 cations 707 guns, about one hundred of which peeped out of 

 the smaller embrasures. Since that date, however, the number 

 is said to have been increased so as to amount now to about 

 1500. 



During the stay of the Novara^ it fortunately happened 

 that the birthday of Queen Victoria was celebrated, and 

 thus an opportunity was offered of seeing the fiery mountain 

 in full activity. Though the occasion was peaceable, yet 

 the imposing spectacle gave a tolerable idea of the elements 

 of destruction which Gibraltar could put in action if really 

 attacked. The governor of the fortress, surrounded by a bril- 

 liant staff, in which the Spanish governor of Algeziras and his 

 officers played but a sorry part, reviewed the garrison, con- 

 sisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, to the number of 



