9 
in the Diving-Bell. 
rather high, and the sea rough. We got into a boat at eleven 
o’clock in the morning, and in a few minutes came alongside a 
vessel to which the diving-bell is attached. The workmen were 
then at the bottom of the water, employed in clearing the en- 
trance of the harbour. 
The bell in which we were to descend may be thus de- 
scribed. It was a kind of oblong iron chest, cast in one single 
piece, open below, 6 feet long, 4 broad, and 5 high : it weighed 
four tons ; it was three inches thick at bottom, and half that 
thickness at top. It was cast in London, and, including the 
necessary apparatus and the air-pump, cost about £ 200. The 
bell being a great deal heavier than the water which it displaces, 
descends by its own weight. The upper part is pierced with 
eight or ten holes, in which are fixed the same number of con- 
vex glasses, very thick, which transmit the light. The glasses 
or lenses are fixed in the top of the bell, by means of a copper 
ring, screwed up against the glass, between which and the bell 
a coat of putty is laid, and then screwed hard up, so as to ren- 
der it air-tight. The top is pierced with another hole, about 
an inch in diameter, which receives a long flexible leather pipe, 
intended to introduce into the bell the air compressed from above 
by a forcing-pump. In the inside of the bell is a valve which 
serves to close the aperture, and prevent the air from escaping. 
In the interior, were two small benches on opposite sides of 
the bell, with a foot-board between them. There was room 
enough for four persons. From the middle of the roof de- 
scended several strong chains, intended to sustain a kind of iron- 
basket, in which they place the stones or other matters which 
they wish to carry up. The bell in which we went down was 
suspended by the centre with strong ropes, and managed by 
means of a moveable crane erected on the deck of a small vessel. 
We got into the bell, which was sufficiently elevated above the 
surface for that purpose, by means of a boat placed underneath 
it. We had with us two workmen. 
We descended so, slowly, that we did not notice the motion 
of the bell ; but as soon as the bell was immersed in water, we 
felt about the ears and the forehead a sense of pressure, which 
continued increasing during some minutes. I did not, however, 
experience any pain in the ears ; but my companion suffered so 
