Mr. Perigal on the Mode of Constructing the Pyramids. 405 



To Lieut.-Col. Dansey^ Woolwich. 



Sir, — I called upon Dr. Faraday yesterday, to beg him to 

 take charge of a paper I wished to present to the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, on a mode of 

 raising very ponderous stones, practised, as I imagine, by the 

 Egyptians in the erection of their pyramids and temples; by 

 the Druids in constructing Stonehenge ; and in the location of 

 rocking-stones, &c. ; which I had re-invented in the month of 

 May last. On seeing the explanatory diagrams I have had 

 engraved, he told me he had some recollection that a plan on 

 a similar principle (viz. by tilting the stone) was proposed by 

 you, many years ago, for lifting heavy guns, &c. ; and he re- 

 commended me to write to you about it. 



Of course, under these circumstances, I feel constrained to 

 pause, lest I should risk the imputation of plagiarism ; I trust 

 therefore you will kindly furnish me with the requisite infor- 

 mation as to whether your contrivance had reference to the con- 

 struction of the Pyramids, Stonehenge, and such like struc- 

 tures ; and acquaint me in what Publications I can find an ac- 

 count of it. Its application to military purposes had not oc- 

 curred to me, my thoughts not having any particular tendency 

 that way; for a like reason it is not impossible, although 

 perhaps not very probable, that you may not have contem- 

 plated its applicability to the Pyramids and Stonehenge. The^ 

 elucidation of a difficulty that has puzzled the world for more 

 than two thousand years is worthy of some credit; and I should 

 be glad to acquire that to which I am fairly entitled by my dis- 

 covery, if I can do so without infringing upon or appearing 

 to usurp any share of what is due to your acknowledged pri- 

 ority. Had I known I was anticipated, I should have saved 

 a good deal of time and trouble, and been spared some little 

 expense and mortification. 



The British Association meet at York next week, on the 

 2Gth instant, I believe ; consequently, the sooner you fjivour 

 me with a reply the more you will oblige, 



Yours truly, 

 5 Smith Street, Chelsea, Sept. 19, 1844. Henry PerigaL. 



To Henry Perigal, Esq. 

 Sir, — I have had the pleasure to receive your favour of 

 yesterday. In reply I beg to state, that my method of raising 

 weights has long been in practice in the artillery drills, and I 

 do assure you that my imagination has always dwelt upon the 

 applicability of it upon the most extended scale, from lifting a 

 gun on to its carriage to raising a line-of-battle ship in a dock ; 

 not excluding Luxor Monoliths, Stonehenge Architraves, &c. 

 &c. &c. ; and it was with reference to such general applica- 



