REPORTS ON MOUNTING OF HEAVY ORDNANCE AT MALTA. 
613 
Saturday , Jan. 26th. —Advanced gun 39 yds., when a very heavy storm of 
wind and rain came on and turned the road into a mass of mud ; so work was 
stopped and the men sent home. 
Fifty-three men were employed for an hour-and-a-half. Incline 1° 30'. 
Monday, Jan . 28th. —Advanced the gun 264 yds. along level ground. 
The lane at one part was very narrow, and great care was necessary to 
prevent men being jammed against the wall while bringing up planks and 
rollers from rear to front of gun. 
Eight hours* work. Two reliefs of 53 each. 
Tuesday , Jan. 29th. —Advanced gun 369 yds. down incline of from 
1° to 4°. 
A preventor rope, made fast to an anchor holdfast in rear, was used in 
descending the latter slope; two turns being taken round a trunnion, and 
slacked off as the gun was moved forward by the winch and single rope in 
front. (On level ground a single rope taken to winch from gun was found 
sufficient to move the latter forward.) Eoad broader, but still too narrow 
to be convenient. 
Eight hours* work. Tw r o reliefs of 67 and 68 men. 
Wednesday , Jan. 30th. —Advanced gun down slope of from 2° to 10°. 
One piece was very steep, but the preventor rope as above described was 
found sufficient to check the gun. Then advanced up slope of from 2° to 6°. 
The holdfast anchors being now placed in the made ground of the glacis 
of Fort San Eocco, gave out, and a good deal of time was lost in making an 
efficient holdfast. 
This was done by making the standing end fast round the archway of the 
entrance to the fort, and the winch (with running end going to it) fast to 
two anchors, one behind another; these anchors being additionally secured 
by planks laid across them, the planks being held by picquets. Total distance 
advanced, 143 yds. 
Two reliefs of 57 and 54 men. Eight hours* work. 
Thursday , Jan. 31st.— Advanced to top of slope, shifted holdfasts and 
winch, and entered the entrance through glacis. The entrance being narrow 
and winding, the rollers had to be cut carefully. 
Great inconvenience was felt all through the operations on account of the 
fewness and sponginess of the rollers, which were apparently made of 
unseasoned wood. Occasionally a roller would break to pieces, and then the 
sleigh would have to be raised by the hydraulic jacks, of which we carried 
two with us, and the roller removed. 
Then, having so few rollers under the sleigh, the latter had to be halted 
every time a rear roller was brought to the front. This lost much time. 
I was unable to procure any more rollers; there being, I believe, no more 
in the island. There ought to be seven rollers under the sleigh, and two 
extra; we were reduced to five under the sleigh, and none extra. 
Total distance advanced to day, 130yds. Eight hours* work; two reliefs 
of 54 and 54 men. 
Friday , Feb. 1st .-—Entered fort across bridge, which was built up under¬ 
neath with skidding, and advanced through the archway. 
This was an awkward turn, and required careful cutting of the rollers. 
