xlvi 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



drift mud had accumulated vastly 'in the lake, I 

 determined to cut a channel three and twenty feet 

 deep, through the intervening rock to the level 

 below ; in order to effect a drainage for the water, 

 which hitherto had discharged itself from a sluice, 

 merely acting as a by-wash. 



On the 12th of March, 1857, being at sludging- 

 work, close to the old gateway, and in front of it ; 

 we found an iron swivel cannon, eight feet deep in 

 the mud, and resting on the remains of the ancient 

 bridge. The little iron ball, mentioned above, 

 seems to have been cast to fit this gun. I have 

 no doubt in my own mind, but that this is the gun, 

 and this the ball which were used at the period of 

 the defence. We have since found several musket 

 bullets, a sword blade, a battle spear, two daggers, 

 the heads of a hammer and an axe, many coins, 

 three or four keys of very ancient shape, a silver 

 spur, and two silver plates, all deep in the mud, 

 and within the woodwork of the former bridge. 



Up to the time of this discovery, nothing whatever 

 had been known of these articles. But my Father 

 often said, that our plate was put under water when 

 Charley Stuart's father made his appearance from 

 abroad. 



The following historical fact, will possibly let 

 out the long concealed secret, touching the gun and 

 the minor arms. 



