462 THE GREAT SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR, 
Puddings made of it. Veal sells at 2 guineas per quarter.”’ 
“22nd November.—A. Ten Inch Howitzer was fired and found to carry 
as far with about 5lb. powder, as a 138 Inch Mortar that requires 
ror L052 
A little later we read that “the above Howitzer at 39 Degrees 
Elevation throws to Fort Barbara with only 2lb. 10 oz. of Powder, is of 
a new Construction, few of them only are in the Garrison.” 
Presently we read that “ Mr. Boyd, Carpenter, constructed a en 
with which to mount a Gun.” 
On December Ist he has the following amusing entry: “ Some of the 
Artillery so careless as to make use of a Magazine as a Guard Room.” 
The British Gunner is proverbially a careless person, but he perhaps 
excelled himself in that respect in this instance. 
On December 2nd:—“ A mule on the works strayed to the Spanish 
Lines”; and on the 4th “A Parley, and the mule sent back.” 
Here is a quaint experiment in Artillery practice. 
‘11th December.—Tried if a shell would go further from a Height or 
upon a Level which proved in the former. It was thought here that a 
shell went straight forward from the Piece to the end of the Progressive 
Force and then fell perpendicularly down.”’ 
Where was the Gunnery Instructor ? 
“« 14th December.—A Deserter killed and hanged by them, a Dragoon 
in pursuit of him was knocked off his Horse by one of our Guns and lay 
some time but afterwards got up and walked awa 
Practice at a moving target was evidently well ‘understood by our 
Artillery if they hit a dragoon on the wing, but the efficacy of their fire 
is rather discounted by the fact that the dragoon afterwards got up and 
walked away, unless Spanish dragoons were made of particularly hard 
material a hundred years ago. 
“ 19th December.—The Donsexercised small arm and fired a good deal. 
Vessels not to be fired at unless within the distance of 6 Degrees 
Elevation.” 
* 12th January, 1780.—Forts Barbara and Phillip fired several shots 
at our waggons going to the Devil’s Tower for stone, one came to the 
French Parade through a House and fellin the street and wounded a 
woman—to the great surprise of everyone who did not think they could 
throw a shot so far.” 
“26th January.—A shot came near the Demi Bastion from their Morning 
Gunat Point Malo.” This is probably what is now known as the Hesse 
Demi Bastion flanking the Grand Battery at the entrance to the 
Fortress. 
Punta Mala is about 4,000 yards distant from the Demi Bastion. 
In January 1780 arrived Admiral Roduey’s fleet with provisions for 
the garrison—not before they were wanted—and the surrender from 
starvation which at one time seemed not impossible was averted. 
The diary for the next few months contains little of special Artillery 
interest, and most of it 1s devoted to the price of food, scarcity or other- 
wise of provisions, and the health of the garrison. 
A new excitement was to arise however in June 1780, Itisthus noted 
by Captain Spilsbury. 
