The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-30 00:00:00

PLYMOUTH CITADEL.

Orders have been received for the immediate increase
of the armament of this fortress. 35 18-pounders, newly
cast at the Carron foundry, and weighing each on an
average 2 tone, 4 cwt., 841 b., and supplied with the mo-
dern sights, are to be added to the artillery; 18 of these
were, on the 23rd of March, sent from the gun wharf
at I)evonport, and the same day drawn from Fisher's
Nose, with the assistance of horses, by about 60 ar-
tillerymen, and mounted on the ramparts, under the in-
spection of Captain Graydon, Royal Artillery, the resi-
dent officer, and Mr. Anderson the master gunner. 13
more were received on the 25th March, and the re-
mainder will shortly follow.
These pieces are intended chiefly for the land facing,
and the main entrance to tho fortress—the sea facing
being already provided. Every embrasure throughout
the works is to have a gun. At the south-east acute
angle of the ramparts, over Fisher's nose, preparations
ate making for the erection of a ;56-pounder on a tra-
versing platform, and a similar piece is Jo be mounted
on the west sallyport, hitherto used as the minister's
garden.
A sufficient quantity of balls enclosed in new coronets
will be placed near each gun, and 525 rounds of ammu-
nition, each cartridge containing 101 b. of powder, are
made up ready for the 32-pounders; 60 rounds of the
same weight for the 8 inch guns is also prepared. These
rounds are placed in barrels lying on their bilges in the
powder magazine. The barrels are fitted with bung-
heads, hung on hinges, and so contrived that the con•
tents can be easily taken out where the barrels lay
stowed in the magazine; thus obviating the necessity of
moving them from their places.
Two new powder magazines have been built near
Fisher's Nose, and one is now constructing between the
Lower and Upper Ligonier batteries in the lower fort.
The following will be the disposition of the artillery
at Plymouth Citadel when the present arrangements are
completed:—Commencing at the eastward point above
Fisher's Nose there will be a traversing 56-pounder
commanding an extensive range over the land and
sea; at Cumberland Battery, to the westward, five
32-pounders facing the breakwater and cover-
ing the Ligonier Batteries ; at the Old
Saluting Battery, eight 32-pounders facing the Sound,
with two on the north flank and two on the south flank;
at King Charles's Curtain, eleven 32 pounders facing
St. Michael's Island; at the south or sea-facing of King
Charles's Bastion, four 32-pounders, and two 13 inch
mortars, capable of throwing balls of 2801 b. weight into
the Sound; on the left flank, two 18-pounders command-
ing the ditch to the eastward; on the land-facing of
King Charles's Bastion, five 18-pounders and one
9-pounder ; at the Western Curtain, four 18-
pounders, facing the Hoe ; at King George's
Bastion, ten 18-pounders and two long 9-pounders,
facing landward or covering the west aide of
the inner drawbridge; at the main curtain, four
18-pounders over each side, and in a line with the main
entrance; at Prince Edward's Bastion, eight 18-pounders
and two two long 9-pounders, facing landward or cover-
ing the eastern side of the drawbridge; on the curtain,
between Prince Edward's Bastion and Prince Edward's
Battery, three 18-pounders facing Lambhay-hill ; at
Prince Edward's Battery, four 18-pounders facing Sut-
ton-pool ; one at the south flank, facing Mount Batten,
and three at the north flank, covering the ditch of the
fortification. This completes the circumference of the
ramparts, which are nearly a mile in extent. From
Prince Edward's Battery to the Old Saluting Bat-
tery the turf on the parapets has been removed, and
the whole rebuilt with asphalts brick, and covered with
asphalt composition; and the banquettes between the
ramparts and the parapets have been raised to within 4
feet of the edge of the latter. These and other exten-
sive works have been performed under the superintend-
ence of Colonel Oldfield, Royal Engineers. On the
Queen's Saluting Battery, about 80 feet below and out-
side the main fortifications, there are 21 9-pounders
facing the Sound, and on the Lower Fort Royal Battery
13 32-pounders, nearly on a level with the sea. At
Wilkinson's, 2 32-pounders; at Frederick Battery, 4
32-pounders; Upper Ligonier, 5 32-pounders; and
Lower Ligonier, 6.8 inch guns. The last 17 guns protect
the rocks and beach under the citadel. The traversing 56-
pounder at the west sallyport commands the entire
sweep of the Sound. On the western ravelin, near King
Charles's Bastion, are to be 7 18-pounders, covering the
glacis; on the ravelin over the outer entrance 6 18-
pounders, protecting the outer drawbridge ; and on
Piper's platform, at Fisher's Nose, 4 18-pounders facing
Sutton-pool and Lanabhay-hill.
While it is hoped that the efficiency of these defences
may never be tested by any hostile movement, still the
due preparation for such a contingency reflects credit on
the Government, and gives great confidence to the in-
habitants of Plymouth; a town which, without such
protection, would, by its proximity to the shore, be in a
perfectly defenceless condition.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the qqTerg9ka,9f INlaßitilis,,gambia2,ll;td
Sierra Leone.