THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
15 
take all the dimensions afresh, and I accordingly proceeded to do so. My 
first difficulty was that the breech end of the north gun w r as inserted through 
the wall into a private cellar on the other side; and to get its length and 
girth I must go there. I found only the wife at home, who said the cellar 
was filled with things which could not be moved. I tried to persuade her, 
but she was a regular virago, as immovable as the things in the cellar, so I 
was obliged to wait till her husband came home, and he agreed to clear 
the place to a certain extent for one franc compensation. I had also to get 
stone and rubbish removed from the outside, and so, with some patience, I 
succeeded in getting views and dimensions of the exterior of the guns. 
“ The inside, however, (as I have stated in my memorandum), I found 
stopped up with the granite balls; but as I was very desirous to make my 
work complete, I enquired for the mayor, to get his permission. I found he 
was a fisherman, and was out fishing, and would not return till late, so I 
had to return to Pontorson to sleep, and go back to the Mont the next 
morning. 
“ I found the mayor an impracticable individual, who, apparently to shew 
his little authority, refused to allow me to remove the balls, or touch the guns 
other than the outside. I told him I had the sub-prefect's permission, but he 
said the guns were the property of the commune; he was the commune; he 
would not allow it, and there was an end of the matter. The real motive of 
the refusal however, came out soon; he said the commune wanted to sell 
the guns, and that if I could persuade our government to buy them, we 
could take them away and measure them at our leisure ! I found it hopeless 
to argue further, so I bid him good morning; and after taking all the further 
particulars I could, I returned to Avranches, and made my arrangements 
for proceeding on my journey. 
“I thought it proper to write to the director, telling him the result 
of my application to the mayor, but so little did I think of any result from 
this letter, that I did not even give him my address at Avranches. Judge 
therefore of my surprise when, on Sunday evening, a special messenger came 
to me with a letter, having been sent with it by the director 12 or 13 miles 
through pouring rain, with orders to find me out without fail and without 
delay. The letter was so exceedingly courteous and considerate that it is 
worth while to send you a copy, which I enclose; and it gave me so 'polite an 
invitation to return to the Mont, that it w r ould have been ungracious to refuse* 
I accordingly went back there on Monday morning, and saw the director. 
I dontknow what had passed between him and the Maire, but it was evident 
the latter was extinguished; for the director had got men and tools ready to 
draw out the balls, and though during the operation the fisherman passed by, 
he studiously turned his head away, and I saw him no more. 
“We began with the north or smaller gun, but we had great trouble 
to move the ball, it was so hard caked and rusted in. We commenced 
about 2 p.m., and by dark we had got it out, and by dint of poking and 
raking with heavy iron bars, we had also succeeded in somewhat clearing out 
the barrel and chamber behind. The ball hi the biggest gun, however, 
although we had a separate gang at it all the afternoon, had hitherto refused 
to stir; and I had proposed to give it up, but the director would not hear 
of that, and insisted on my dining and sleeping with him, where I was made 
very welcome. 
