466 THE GREAT SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 
Not a bad record of disaster for 24 hours. 
“4th June.—Hoisted the Royal Standard, and the Dons fired a great 
deal at it, and sent one shot through it. At 1 p.m. our North Front 
fired a Round from Right to Left at the Mill Battery, but only shewed 
the Dons they could hardly hit it.” 
“9th June-—About 11 a.m. the Laboratory of the Dons took fire 
and blew up, with a great number of Loaded Shells, &c.” 
In order to counteract the effect of the enemy’s gun boats the 
Governor caused some prames or gun boats to be constructed at about 
this time, and to be moored within range of our guns, but at a suffi- 
cient distance to keep the enemy’s gun boats from coming close in. 
Drinkwater says that two brigs were cut down to form these prames, 
one of which was called the Vanguard, carried two Spanish 26 
pounders two 12-prs and was rigged like a settee; and at the end of his 
diary Captain Spilsbury gives coloured drawings of this boat and the 
Repulse, and also the Fortune which was cut down to a prame later 
in the year. 
His entry referring to it is— 
21st June.—One of our Gun Boats or Prames enioheds and carries 
four 26 prs. and two 12 prs.” 
Another development of the defence devised about this time was 
the construction of a battery at the end of the old Mole from which 
the enemy’s camp could be shelled. The annoyance this work caused 
the Spaniards made them name it the “ Devil’s tongue” battery—and 
as such it is known to this day. 
Its armament consisted of a 13 inch sea service mortar fired with a 
charge of 284 to 30 lbs. of powder, and five 32 pounders and one 18 
pounder sunk in the sand at an angle of 42°, and using charges of 
fourteen and nine pounds of powder respectively. Spilsbury says— 
“27th June.—All ready at the old Mole for throwing shot and Shells 
into the Spanish Camp.” 
This battery was first fired on June 28th and produced an excellent 
effect. 
Here is an experiment :—~— 
“7th July.—tTried the Strength of Powder, when a difference of 40 
or 50 yards was found in two ounces of different Powder dried against 
undried.”’ 
Here is another very curious entry :— 
“ 15th July.—tVhe Jews’ Burying Ground dug up in the night by 
Captain W Artillery and made a garden of.” 
_ © 16th July.—The Dons now and then return a shot but reluctantly, 
our Batteries tease them.” 
“One 12th that had had his Thigh broke by a shell came. out of the 
Hospital yesterday, got Drunk and broke it again.” 
“19th July.—The Merlons Queen’s Battery Willis’s Cassoned and 
finished last night, and the Dons have not fired at it.” 
“20th July.—The Dons saluted us from the Lines with 28 or 9 shots, 
and fired a Feu de Joie, from the Camp, Island, Shipping, Gun Boats, 
