THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION, 
17 
View of the Gateway, from a Photograph, 1863, 
Memoranda on the Two large Wrought-iron Guns, left by the English at 
Mont St Michel, Normandy, in 1424. 
“ The guns now stand in front of the second gate of the fortress, their 
general position being shewn above. 
“ They are in bad condition, being much corroded by oxidation, the rust 
covering them in large flaky masses. This renders it difficult to obtain very 
accurate dimensions, or to gather very satisfactory details as to their con¬ 
struction. The particulars given, however, may be relied on, as I took them 
with all possible care. 
“ I found that each of the guns had a granite ball in the barrel, some 
distance down. These balls had been there beyond the memory of ‘the 
oldest inhabitant/ and they had become firmly fixed by rust and dirt. To 
examine the interior it was necessary to draw these, as well as to clear the 
barrels of a mass of hard conglomerated rubbish that filled them behind the 
balls. It was not possible, in the time, to effect this latter operation 
very perfectly, and therefore the dimensions of the small chamber may be 
somewhat uncertain. If, however, any important correction is made hereafter, 
I shall probably be informed of it. 
“The two guns are of different sizes; I will call them the large and small 
gun respectively. 
[vol. iv.] 
3 
