merlons - 03/30/03 09:59 PM
Franklin tells how in about 1740, he became concerned that the tensions between European nations made it desirable to make preparations for a militia to defend Philadelpia. He succeed in getting a milita started, and then got support for having
artillery placed on the waterfront.
"I then propos’d a lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and furnishing it with cannon. It filled expeditiously, and the battery was soon erected, the merlons being fram’d of logs and fill’d with earth. We bought some old cannon from Boston, but, these not being sufficient, we wrote to England for more, soliciting, at the same time, our proprietaries for some assistance, tho’ without much expectation of obtaining it."
merlon
n.
5Fr < It merlone < merlo, a battlement < ML merulus< ?6 the solid part of a battlement or parapet, between two openings, or crenels
artillery placed on the waterfront.
"I then propos’d a lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and furnishing it with cannon. It filled expeditiously, and the battery was soon erected, the merlons being fram’d of logs and fill’d with earth. We bought some old cannon from Boston, but, these not being sufficient, we wrote to England for more, soliciting, at the same time, our proprietaries for some assistance, tho’ without much expectation of obtaining it."
merlon
n.
5Fr < It merlone < merlo, a battlement < ML merulus< ?6 the solid part of a battlement or parapet, between two openings, or crenels