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



space was full of beams and bricks, the ruins of two Louses, which had 

 formerly stood one over each gate-way. Mounting the rampart, to enter 

 them, we fell in with a portion of an enormous sphere, which at once pro- 

 claimed itself to have proceeded from the great mortar of Liege ; the lump 

 of iron must have weighed nearly fifty pounds. A man near took up a 

 smaller shell, to knock off a corner, and was about to throw it, when be- 

 hold it was loaded ; he put it down again rather abruptly. With a little 

 clambering, we got into the gate-house. Chass^ in peaceful times had, it 

 seemed, resided there. The roof and upper story had disappeared, together 

 with the ceiling of the lower rooms : a fine mirror was smashed to atoms, 

 the window cases were blown out, and the walls and floor were rough and 

 full of large holes ; upon the wreck of the latter lay some five or six shot 

 and shells, reposing very quietly after their rapid traject. Leaving the gate- 

 house, we proceeded along the rampart towards the bastion Fernando, pur- 

 posing to make the circuit of tiie work, before we descended into the interior. 

 We groped our way into the first casemate we came to, it was beneath the 

 bastion, a very long arched vault. In it were paillasses, villanously dirty; 

 potatoes, copper forks, kettles, beef, and brown bread, all heaped together, 

 and emitting an intolerable odour ; at the further end were several shells 

 loaded and primed; and near them an open powder barrel, with its leathern 

 top. We pushed aside the apron, but it was empty, and then, to our 

 horror, we observed that the whole of the floor was strewed with its con- 

 tents, a spark would have blown us all up, and we had upon inspection 

 nailed shoes. It may be concluded that we beat a speedy though cautious 

 retreat. 



The cannon on the ramparts were much injured; the mortars, being all 

 sheltered, were in better condition ; shot, shells, powder-casks, priming- 

 horns, grape and canister, with abundance of matches, lay about in all 

 directions. 



The batteries on the right flank of bastion Fernando had suffered se- 

 verely ; the upper one, ktely thrown up, had been destroyed by the fire 

 of the enemy's counter-battery, and its materials had choked up the case- 

 mates below. As it is of immeuse importance to keep up a sharp and 

 steady fire from the flank of a bastion ; and, as the surface compreliended 

 under that term is narrow, the guns are placed in tiers, like those of a ship 

 of war, the lower batteries being in fact casemates with ports. This plan 

 is faulty, inasmuch as it weakens the rampart ; such had been the case 

 here, the rampart and the upper batteries having been beaten away, leaving 

 only the lower guns, two beautiful long brass twelves, in a serviceable con- 

 dition. As each gun was dismounted, a new one had been dragged into 

 its place. 



Behind the bastion de Toledo, that in which the breach was effected, a 

 double stockade had been thrown up, in case of an assault. The work 

 here had been at the hottest; there was a large pit at the gorge, into 



