MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 59 



of M. de Gamond's geological conclusions, recommended that liis 

 investigations should be practically tested by sinking pits on the 

 two coasts, and driving a few short headings under the sea at the 

 expense of the two governments. Owing possibl}' to the back- 

 wardness of the Great British Circumlocution Office, this recom- 

 mendation does not appear to have had any practical result. In 

 1857, M. de Gamond published the upshot of his researches, and 

 the report of the commission ; and at the Paris Exposition of 

 1867, he publicly exhibited liis plans. It was very natural that 

 Mr. Low, after his interview with the emperor, should put him- 

 self in communication with M. Thome de Gamond. This gentle- 

 man unreservedly placed his experience at Mr. Low's disposal, 

 and, after a time, the results of their joint labors were laid before 

 Mr. James Brunlees. He, after careful examination, consented 

 to co-operate with the two engineers in the prosecution of the 

 work. A committee of French and Eno^Iish ofentlemen of inllu- 

 ence and position was, by desire of the emperor, formed to fur- 

 ther the project; and it is by the executive committee of this 

 body, under the chairmanship of Lord Richard Grosvenor, that 

 the matter is now practically brought before the public. 



But the opinions of Messrs. Low and Brunlees, and of M. 

 Thome de Gamond, received further confirmation. 



Mr. John Hawkshaw, whose name is well known to the public 

 at large and to the engineering world, was induced to test the 

 question, and to ascertain, by elaborate independent investigation, 

 the possibility of a sub-channel tunnel. With characteristic care 

 and caution he took nothing for granted, but went himself over 

 the whole ground already traversed by Mr. Low and by M. de 

 Gamond. His geological researches led him to the same conclu- 

 sions, and his expression of opinion in favor of the gray chalk 

 was very decided. Not even satisfied with the theoretical results 

 of these investigations, carefully though they were made, Mr. 

 Hawkshaw held it necessary to make borings on each coast, at 

 the precise points at which the ends of the tunnel would be situ- 

 ated. Thus Mr. Hawkshaw and the French commission came to 

 the same decision. Now, the well at Calais, from which a con- 

 siderable part of the geological inferences had been drawn, was 

 at some distance from the spot where it was proposed to begin 

 the tunnel on the French side, and possibly the strata might, in 

 the precise place indicated, not run as anticipated. 



This did not, however, turn out to be the case. The actual 

 borings conclusively proved the correctness of the views enter- 

 tained. 



The boring on the Ens^lish coast was commenced at St. Mar- 

 garet's Bay, near the South Fol'cland, in the beginning of 1866, 

 and was satisfactorily completed in 1867. It was carried com- 

 pletely through the chalk and into the green sand, which was 

 reached at a depth of 540 feet below high water. The boring on 

 the French coast, 3 miles westward of Calais, was carried to a 

 depth of 520 feet below high water. It was intended to pass 

 through the chalk as on the English side, but accident frustrated 

 this design. 



