212 Account of the Descent 



&c. &c. have recently called more than ordinary public atten- 

 tion to the operations of the diving-bell, — it may be perhaps 

 not uninteresting to you to receive an account of a very novel 

 experiment which I have lately witnessed. 



This was the descent of Mr. Steele, in a bell which, from its 

 peculiar properties, he calls "the Communicating Diving-Bell ," 

 for which he has obtained a patent ; as also for some appara- 

 tus above water, with which the bell is in connexion, con- 

 structed upon a theory which leads, in the application of its 

 principle, to some exceedingly curious and interesting conse- 

 quences. 



The bell consists of two compartments in combination : one 

 of them the common diving-bell, open at the bottom ; but the 

 second is a close chamber with a bottom, called by the in- 

 ventor " the Communicating Chamber" This compartment 

 is supplied with air by pipes reaching above water, and is 

 separated from the former by a partition, in which is set a 

 small circular window of extraordinary strength and thickness, 

 but the glass is of such clearness that not a particle of light 

 seems to be lost in its transmission ; so that the vision from 

 one chamber to the other is just as distinct as if no such me- 

 dium were interposed. 



The inventor, before descending, placed a lighted lantern 

 in the open compartment, he next entered the communicating 

 chamber through a circular aperture, which was firmly screwed 

 down upon him ; and he then gave orders to be lowered under 

 water. 



In this descent, the water was prevented from entering the 

 open bell by the ordinary operation of the condensing air- 

 pump upon deck ; and Mr. Steele had consequently an oppor- 

 tunity of observing every thing within it, strongly illuminated 

 by the lantern ; while at the same time, instead of being ob- 

 liged to endure the pressure of condensed air, and to depend 

 upon signals by strokes of a hammer, he sat at his ease in air 

 of no greater density than that of the atmosphere, and con- 

 versed through one of the pipes with his friends above water. 



While he remained down, he described what he saw in the 

 open bell, and gave such directions as circumstances rendered 

 necessary. At one time, for instance, he observed that the 

 water was rising within its cavity, and he ordered that the con- 

 densing air-pump should be worked more strongly ; this was 

 accordingly done, and the water immediately descended until 

 it was on a level with the bottom. During this time, by simply 

 turning a cock, he had the means of refreshing the air in his 

 chamber at pleasure, by a current of condensed air from the 

 open bell. After some time he desired that thev should "heave 



up," 



