232 f^isit to Antwerp at the Capitulation of 1833. 



exploding, it remains buried, and requires digging out. The whole ground 

 was full of these pits. 



We walked on through what had once been a series of market gardens, 

 towards the citadel, and soon met a number of artillery men escorting, 

 with divers facetiae, a huge clay figure of "our lady of the Capuchines," 

 who had been on duty as protectress of battery No. 2, during the siege j 

 " Il-y-a assez des Capuchines," quoth the fellow who carried her, and 

 passed on with his band. 



We now began to search for the trenches, and, moving about rather 

 carelessly, actually tumbled into the third parallel, before we knew where 

 we had alighted. A trench is a ditch about four feet deep, the excavated 

 earth, making about three feet more, being thrown up on the side towards 

 the enemy, and retained in its place by means o( gabions, or hampers with- 

 out tops or bottoms filled with earth ; behind are two steps called ban- 

 quettes, upon whicli musquetry is placed to annoy the enemy, and defend 

 the trenches in case of a sortie. At proper distances tlie trench is widened, 

 and a sort of platform laid down, upon which the guns are placed, rolling 

 backwards and forwards in strong wooden grooves. The guns are pro- 

 tected by a rampart, in which, opposite to each, an opening or embrasure 

 is cut; in the rear is a wooden cell, covered with earth, and bomb proof, 

 for ammunition. Batteries are thrown up during the night, and per- 

 fected during the day. 



We now observed ' le gros mortier de Liege' of 22-inch calibre, and its 

 shells of a thousand pounds weight. It was fired with a detonating lock 

 and a long string. The people stood round at a respectful distance, 

 staring at it open-mouthed. 



A\^e next entered Fort Montebcllo. The way over which the guns 

 had been dragged was a sea of mud, which, notwithstanding the faggots 

 thrown in, swallowed up three parts of each gun-carriage. I had the good 

 fortune, on one occasion, to see three of the enormous 18-pounders from 

 the breaching battery, dragged by the united efforts of about twenty horses 

 along this apology for a road. 



Montebello was not much injured ; the brick cellar or casemate, then 

 above ground, bore a few marks of shot, and one or two shells had left 

 their usual souvenir, the round hole. Two mortar batteries had played 

 from thence, and, to judge from the state of their tenants, had done good 

 service. Behind Montebello was the dogana, or custom-house, perforated, 

 and a pretty little garden upon the glacis of the ditch, the only thing that 

 looked peaceful amidst this scene of war. 



We left the fort by the opposite gate along the Boom road, and march- 

 ing up an infinity of zig-zags, soon arrived at the breaching battery. This 

 formidable battery, consisting of six 18-pounders, was placed opposite to, 

 and not many yards from, an appalling defalcation of the citadel wall. 

 This was the breach. The guns were about fifteen feet apart, defended in 



