1875.] The Channel Tunnel. 489 
French mining engineer, in the service of the Depart- 
ment du Nord. His scheme was conceived at the close of 
the last century. It was laid before the First Consul in 
1802, and plans illustrating the project were for several 
years exhibited, first at the Luxemburg Palace, then at the 
School of Mines, and afterwards atthe Institute. Mathieu’s 
project consisted of a subterranean way formed of two 
tunnels, one on the top of the other, forming in section an un- 
even line, the highest point being in the centre of the Channel, 
and inclining in opposite directions towards England and 
France respectively. The lower tunnel was to act asa canal 
to drain off any waters that might enter through leakage, 
and from which it would discharge at either end into drain- 
age reservoirs. In the upper tunnel was formed a paved 
road, lighted byoil jets, and traversed bya service of diligences 
drawn by horses, which was the only known method of con- 
veyance in those days. It is not shown exactly how the en- 
trances to these tunnels were to be approached on either side, 
but they must necessarily have been situated at a great depth 
below the surface of the ground. For ventilating the tunnel, 
as well as for use in its construction, M. Mathieu proposed to 
erect circular iron chimneys rising above the surface of the 
water, and secured in position by masses of rock deposited 
at their bases. 
When the Peace of Amiens was declared the author of 
this scheme thought that his projet would at once be car- 
ried out. It was introduced to the notice of Fox on the 
occasion of his visit to Paris during the short peace that 
followed, and was received by him with favour: he regarded 
it as a most efficacious means of assuring peace between 
England and France. It is stated that Fox spoke on the 
subject to Napoleon, who exclaimed ‘Oh! c’est une des 
grandes choses que nous pourrous faire ensemble.” 
Subsequently one Dr. Payerne proposed to form a level 
bed at the bottom of the sea by depositing concrete, and 
upon this to construct a tunnel by means of diving bells. 
MM. Franchot and Tessier proposed to form a passage 
through a tube of cast-iron laid on the bed of the sea, but 
they appear to have suggested no means for securing a level 
surface. M. Favre designed a submarine tunnel having an 
outside casing of wood or sheet iron, and resting on piers 
of iron lined with brickwork in order to overcome the un- 
evenness of the sea bed. In 1850 M. Ernest Mayer proposed 
a submarine tunnel between the South Foreland and Cape 
Gris-Nez, and some years ago M. S. Dunn laid out a plan 
for constructing a tunnel under the water, of which the 
