304 SERVICE OF ARTILLERY

up are to be deposited; distinguishing those that may hawanted for common use, from those that can be only want-ed in case of a siege : likewise the laboratory, carpenter’s,blacksmith’s, and armourer’s strops. In very large townsthey are generally fixed in some buildings at a distance fromthe attack; but in ci'adels, forts, castles, and small placeswhich are exposed on every side, they must indispensably besecured in bomb-proofs. The powder magazines are themost important and hazardous of all; they should be dryand secure. During the siege the powder ought to be dis-tributed in several bomb-proof magazines at a distance fromeach other; that in cafe of accident, the whole may not beblown up at once; and that the enemy may not be able tofind out the quantity in store. The nature also of the placesin which the different articles are deposited should be attendedto: since the powder, saltpetre, sulphur, cordage, iron, &c.otsght to be deposited in dry places; whereas the grease, oil,pitch, candles and other articles subject to melt or evapo-rate, should be kept in very cool places. It being the dutyof the engineers during the siege, to keep all the parts of theworks in a proper state of defence, they are to make returnsof the quantity of spare fascines, gabions, pickets and pal-lisadoes, that may be necessary for that purpose; There isno danger of providing too great a number of these articles;for any that are not used in the repair of the works, may becollected together in the breach, and set on fire; which willserve to prolong the defence of the place.

125. The following is a particular state of the quantityand quality of the different species of ordnance stores requisitefor sustaining a siege of 30 days in a fortress N N, ( 1 19).

Proportion of Guns, Carriages, Ammunition and Stores.

Ordnance, Carriages, and Side-arms.

Nature.

No.

Pr.

s 3 2

12

Brass guns .

18

L 8

12

Iron ditto .

18

Brass short ditto .

4

Total of guns

64

Carriages