Whenever the ground was difficult, their trenches generally ceased to afford shelter; a shallow excavation in the rock, and a few stones thrown up in front, appeared to be all that was considered necessary in such cases.

They were often faulty in direction as well as in profile, being not unfrequently badly defiladed, or not gaining ground enough and entirely too cramped; nor were they pushed as close to the Redan as they ought to have been before giving the assault.

In too many cases the expression '_tatonnement_ of the French would seem to convey the best idea of their operations.

Their batteries, however, were very well constructed.

The magazines, platforms, etc., were usually similar to those adopted at Chatham, although unnecessary deviations were sometimes complained of.