136 THE APRIL BUMHAKD.MENT. CHAP. VI. Counter- prepara- tions by the Russians. Conditions placing the Russians at a disad- vantage. French siege-gun power to that of the English was only as sixteen to thirteen* Of the 998 guns which by this time they had established in battery the Eussians could bring into action against the now threatened attack as many as 466 pieces of ordnance, with an aggregate weight of metal which, compared with that of their adversaries, was as twenty -three to twenty-nine.t In that one respect, therefore, we see that the conflict would open on terms not far removed from equality ; but by other and weighty conditions the scale was decisively turned. First, with only some small exceptions, J the batteries of the Allies were on Heights over- looking the Fortress. Next the zone of ground reached by their missiles included, besides the defences, much more that was hardly less precious — included bodies of troops, included barracks and streets, in- cluded the vast buildings used for warlike stores, warlike factories, and all the treasures unnum- bered that constitute a fortress and arsenal ; so
- The weight of projectiles thrown by the French pieces of
ordnance in one salvo was . . . 15,957 lb. By the English . . . 13,333 ,, Conjoined salvo . . 29,290 „ — Todleben, vol. ii. p. 164. With respect to the 'effectively ' battering-power ' at the command of our people, see post, p. 141. f The weight of the single Russian salvo being 23,102 lb., and that of the Allies 29,290.— Todleben, vol. ii. p. 165. X The little advanced batteries No. VII. and No VII I. in the 3d Parallel of our Left Attack were both of them on low ground.
