﻿110 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



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by means of two capstans placed on the deck of another vessel, 

 anchored at some distance from the shore. Pumps and buckets were 

 now brought into use to clear the barge of the water with which she 

 had been filled ; but to the surprise and consternation of those en- 

 gaged, she did not rise equally; the centre, bearing most of the 

 weight, remained at the bottom, while the head and stern, springing 

 up, gave to the whole the form of a sharp curve : the timbers gave 

 way, and the seams opening, the water reentered rapidly; 400 men 

 were then set to bale, in order that every part might be simultane- 

 ously cleared : but the curve became greater in proportion to the 

 diminution of the internal volume of water. 



M. Lascary, who, from the time the rock had been placed on the 

 deck of the vessel, had been a simple spectator of these operations, 

 which occupied two weeks, now received orders to draw it again 

 upon the wharf. He immediately applied himself to remedy the 

 error which had been committed in not distributing the weight 

 equally without removing the stone. He first caused the head 

 and stern of the barge to be loaded with large stones, until they sank 

 to a level with the centre ; the rock was then raised by means of 

 screws and beams of timber, diverging to every part of the vessel, 

 placed under and against it ; and, on the removal of the screws, the 

 pressure being equal in every part, she regained her original form. 

 The water was next pumped out, the stones removed from the head 

 and stern, a ship lashed on each side of the barge, which, on the 

 22J September, arrived opposite the quay where it was intended to 

 erect the statue. 



Not the least difficult part of the work, the debarkation, remained 

 to be done. As the river was here of a greater depth than at the 

 place of embarkation, rows of piles had been driven into the bottom 

 alongside the quay, and cut off level at a distance of eight feet be- 

 low the surface ; on these the barge was rested ; and, to prevent the 

 recurrence of the rising of the head -and stern when the supports 

 should be removed, three masts, lashed together, crossing the deck 

 at each extremity, were secured to the surface of the quay. It was 

 then feared that, as the rock approached the shore, the vessel might 

 keel and precipitate it into the river. This was obviated by fixing 

 six other masts to the quay, which projected across the whole breadth 



