252 SERVICE OP ARTILLERY

ries, that a constant firing may be kept up against the de-fences of the place, while the miners are busied in exploringshe countermines : with two stages of countermines, thenumber of rounds for the mortars must be doubled, and atleast four times the quantity of powder provided for theattack of the countermines, together with planks and joistsfor the shafts and galleries. When there are no out-workson the front attacked, the artillery and stores designed (28)for the attack, of the ravelin may be omitted. If the pro-files of the out works are too narrow to admit of cannon,the 16 prs may be left out of the inventory : as the fire fromthe 10 inch mortars will in this cafe be sufficient against theravelin.

30. These observations have reference only to the placeitself: but there are others to be made on the nature of theadjacent country, and the choice of carriages for the trans-port of stores. If the fortress be situated among mountains,where it is difficult or perhaps impossible to use wheel-crtri-ages, a greater number of capstans with ropes and pullies,both single and double, must be provided, that every necessaryarticle may be brought forward by men. If the foil be sorocky as not to furnsth a sufficient quantity of earth for theconstruction of the batteries, a proper number of sacks filledwith earth and wool must be transported to the spot.

If the town be surrounded with rivers or broad canals,some wooden or leather boats with their apparatus shouldbe provided, together with a large quantity of trestles andevery other thing requisite for constructing bridges, for thepassage of the artillery and stores, and for keeping the com-munication open between the several parts of the attack. Ifthe stores be transported in boats or waggons, the oil-clothsfor covering the powder, match, and other combustibles,should be much larger than when they arc carried on beastsof burthen : when the latter expedient is adopted, strongnets must be provided for holding the shot and shells; theweight put into each package should never exceed ifcwt.

31. When the whole or a part of the stores for the siegeis drawn from any fortified town, it ought to be as far dis-tant as possible from the theatre of war : should it of neces-sity be a frontier town, the commanding officer of artilleryought to signify it to the persons at the head of his depart-ment, that the stores he has taken away may be instantlyreplaced ; lest from some accident, the system of the war hy