THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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round by road on the drug, a distance of about four miles, and dropped 
on skidding at the entrance gate of the fort. Time occupied being 
about four and a half hours. 
The guns were then taken across the drawbridge, through the tower, 
and on to the inner bridge by means of skidding and rollers. 
They were then lifted about 16 ft. on to the causeway of the fort, by 
means of the cheeks of a strengthened gyn rigged as sheers. 
The back guy, as well as the fore guy, consisted of 4 J-inch tarred 
rope; the former rove through two double 15-inch blocks, the latter 
through two single 12-inch blocks. 
The main tackle was a coil of 5 \-inch rope, rove through a double 
15-inch and two single 18-inch blocks at the head of the sheers, and 
through a treble 15-inch block at the gun; both ends of the fall being 
led to and worked by iron winches secured on the causeway. 
The feet of the gyn pivoted in wooden shoes, specially made on the 
ball and socket principle. They were about 18 ins. square by 8 ins. deep, 
cupped out in the centre to a depth of 6 ins. by lOins. in diameter, to 
receive oak caps made to fit over the spike and on to the foot of the 
gyn. These shoes answered very well. 
On taking the weight of the gun, the sheers were inclined outwards 
about 7 ft. (Plate I.) 
A gun was raised and landed on the causeway in the course of an 
hour and a quarter. 
Embarking (Plate II.)—The two guns for Port Picasoli, and the three 
for Fort St. Angelo, were embarked on a Government lighter lent from 
H.M. Dockyard. The lighter was 45 ft. long by 15 ft. 6 ins. beam, 
about 4 ft. 6 ins. deep, flat-bottomed, with a fluCsh deck, and with two 
guns on board drew about 8 ft. of water. 
The guns were embarked by means of a strengthened gyn, rigged as 
three-legged sheers; but owing to the dryness of the atmosphere and 
the heat of the sun, the shakes in the cheeks of the gyn had opened 
considerably, and it was considered advisable to strengthen each cheek 
by means of three iron bands ins. wide and \ in. thick, which effec¬ 
tually answered the purpose. 
The back guy was similar to that at Fort Tigne. 
The main tackle (Plate II.) consisted of a coil of 5^-inch rope, rove 
through two treble 15-inch blocks, the running end of which was 
worked by an iron winch. 
The plan of operation was to place a gun in position the previous day, 
with the muzzle projecting well over the wharf, and then erect the 
sheers over it with a heel outwards of about 18 ins. 
On embarking, the weight of the gun was taken by the winch, and 
then by easing off the back guy and hauling on the foot tackles, the 
sheers received the necessary heel outwards—about 7 ft.—and the gun 
was lowered 8 ft. on board of the lighter. The operation took one hour. 
The lighter was then trimmed by lowering a 68-pr. on board by 
means of a crane close to the sheers, but only available for weights of 
10 tons and under. 
On embarking a second gun the same day, the gun was brought up 
39 
