1875.] The Channel Tunnel. 491 
Stephenson, Brunel, and Locke, to whom all the plans 
were submitted in detail, this project was soon abandoned ; 
and in conversations which M. de Gamond had on the sub- 
ject with those engineers—and especially with Mr. J. Locke— 
an idea was suggested of improving the means of commu- 
nication between the two countries by narrowing the Straits 
of Dover by throwing out piers from the two opposite shores, 
to be carried as far out to sea as possible, and establishing 
a steam communication between the two piers by means of 
an enormous raft moved by steam. 
We defer for the present from entering further into detail 
regarding M. Thomé de Gamond’s more matured schemes 
for a Channel tunnel whilst we refer briefly to other projects 
that have from time to time been put forward with the view 
of facilitating the Channel passage between England and 
France. Taking these in the order of their importance, we 
may perhaps devote a few lines first in considering plans 
that have from time to time been proposed with a view to 
counteract the motion of vessels in a rough sea, and so add 
to the convenience of travellers. The oldest invention of 
this sort of which we have been able to trace any record 
is mentioned in a curious old book, published in 1677, and 
named ‘‘ Aero-Chanilos, or a Register for the Air.’”’ In it 
a sort of chamber is described, in which air might be rarefied 
or condensed, or otherwise changed for the use of invalids, 
so that they might have change of air without leaving 
home. Of this same chamber the writer says :—“‘ Possibly, 
if the same might be made use of on board ship, it would 
(with the additional contrivance of a chair or bed, hung 
after the manner of a sea-compass) prevent that very 
troublesome affection whereto ‘fresh men’ are subject, 
called sea-sickness, and consequently become very service- 
able to such whose emploiments engage them to under- 
take voyages into very remote parts, and there to reside 
far from their own countries.” 
The earliest patent on the subject appears to be that of 
Pratt (1826), in which a spring mattrass was fixed on a 
‘‘ swinging frame.” A later invention by De Manara, in 
1853, proposed to attach balloons to seats, in such a way as 
to keep them always horizontal. Another, by Ritchie, in 
1866, describes a platform, resting on water in a tank, and 
having its edges attached to the edges of the tank by 
mackintosh, or similar fabric. Differing from all the above 
was a plan, patented in 1866, by M. Simpson, in which the 
body of the patient is firmly fastened down to the ship 
itself. In 1854, L. Wertheimher patented some improve- 
