There were about 5,000 stand of arms on board, and three
pieces of artillery, which would fire three-pound shot or shell. With
these pieces the salute was fired on the occasion of hoisting the
sunburst on Easter Sunday. As regards ammunition, there were about a
million-and-a-half rounds on board."
Colonel S.R. Tresilian, in the lecture already alluded to, gave the
following facetious account of the warlike stores which were on board
the vessel:--
We found the cargo to consist of 5,000 rat-tail files, of
different sizes and descriptions. Then there were several
smaller files that mechanics carry in their pockets; then
again there was the flat file, in respectable numbers, that
are used for cutting on either edge, and that are carried
in sheathes, to prevent the mechanics from cutting their
neighbours' fingers. These files were to be distributed to the
paupers in Ireland, to enable them to sharpen their teeth, so
that they could masticate animal food at the grand barbecue
that was to be given on the landing of our vessel. Another
portion of the cargo was 200,000 puff-balls and sugar-plums,
for gratuitous distribution among our English friends and
brethren in Ireland.
It surely was a daring venture to run that craft, freighted as she
was, across the ocean, and sail her for days along the coast of
Ireland.
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