Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-18

beng n great deal heavier lhaD the water vhch.h
displaces, desccnds by It's weight. The upper |
part is pierced with eight ten holes, in which Me
fixed the number OF convex glasses, YER, thick,
which transmit the light. The glasses lenses are |
iixed in The top of the bell, by means copper ring
screwed up against the glass, between which and the
bell coat OF putty is laid, aud then screwed hard
So as TO render IL airtght. The top is pierced with
another hole, about aa inch in diameter, which
ceiyes long flexible leather pipe iaicnded intro
tucc into the bell the air compressed from above by
forcing pump. In the inside of the bell is valve
whic, serves close the aperture, and proven, the
ar from escaping. In ihc interior, were Two small
beuchcs on Opposite sides of the hell, with foot
board between them. There was room enough for
ionr persons. From the middle OF the roof descend
ed several strong Chains, intended Ia sustain Kind
OF iron basket, in which they place the stones or
| other matters which they wish to carry up. The he'll
| IN which we went down Was suspended nv the
tire with strong ropes, and managed by means of
moveable erected the deck of small vessel.
We got into the bell, which sufficiently elevated
above the surface for that purpose, by means OF Il
boat placed underneath it. We had with two
workmen.
| We descended so SLOWLY that we did not notice
the motion OF the bell ). but the bell
Immersed in wat,s, we felt about the ears and the
forehead sense ofpressure, which continued increas
ing during some minutes did moi, however, cxpc-
renee any pain IN tue ears but my companion su-
icred SO much, that we were obliged TO stop de-
scent Tor n short time. To remedy that inconycni-
encc, the workmen instructed us after having closed
our nostii and mouth, TO cndeavor SHALLOW, and
10 restrain our respiration, Ton some mumrns, in
4
on ihe Eustachian tube. My companion, however,
having tried IT, found himself very little relieved by
| thus remedy: After some minutes, we resumed our
| descent. NV fieud suffered considerably he was
pale, his lips were totally discolored his appearance
was that oia man on the point OF ;,in,ing he in
involuntary low spirits, owing, perhaps, the yo-
fence oil the pain, added To that kin, oil apprehension
winch our situation unavoid,biy inspired This APP
peared 10 me the more remarkable, my case was
totally The reverse. was in state OF excitement
Resembling the effect of some spirituous liuuo,
4 oh npty
sure round my head, as il an iron circle had been
bound about IL. spoke with the wo kn,cu, and had
! some difficulty in hearing them This difficulty of
nearing rose To such height that during thu &c or
! tour minutes could no; hear them speak | could
, not, indeed, hear myself speak, though spoke ms
iondly as possible; nor did the great noise
caused Dy the violence Of the agast the sides
oil the bell reach my ears thus saw confirmed Inv
! experience what Dr. Wollasion had ioreseen ly the
I DRY ~ nus curious and interesting paper on Sounds
/ ihaudble 10 certain ears
After some moments we arrived az tb,. bottom or
me water where every unpleasant sensation almost
entirely ieIt us. We were then twenty feet be-
low me surface confess that the recollection Of
''e great depth joined the idea that the smallest
stone, or other matter should obstruct tho action of
'ne Na'Ye, the bell woulib he instantly filed with wa
eT, ut' MOI iail TO create for short time kind of
1neashless. One of the workmen however, to whom
impaired my thoughts that subject desired me
wan smile, 10 look ut OF tie glasses placed a.
pave us, which observed 10 be so much cracked i'm
tie middle, that bubbles of air were continually es-
Gaping;
! we hrehthed during the whole Of our stay under
water with much ease. We experienced now and
| men great heat Oui perspiraon sometimes
! cop!onS, nnu sometimes there suddenly came over
! us so thich vapour To prevent my seeing the
workmen placed opposite !; but ms bv means of
Tue Signals They constantly sent from above pure
all, w so irge quantities, that great part of what
was contained IN the bell made escape with great
E,o'ehee, tins inconvenience very soon Disappeared
! Our pulse was not affected
MIR. Bald who went down two DAYS befnro mo -;
one OF the bells used nj Howih and TO whose kind
| ness am indebted for the communication of his
notes and observations, look with him a tIcrmone-
tT ana found tic temperature of the mir nj the sur-
lace and IN the inside of the bell To be 63 dcgs Fair
while the temperature of the xater within \ foot Of
inc bottom nt to say nineteen feet below the sur
ihce) rs 50 Fahr.
The light which we bad in ro;pr dozen mil =, H.
bottom OF the sea wasvcry strong MI Bald could
distinguish very easily in descending Il great number
r ana elmer marine animals, which fed at the
approach OF tie diving bell. The sun shonc bright
ana could write and read very easily We gathered
seme fuel Facns flmn Fucms sacch.fri.,.s, Se) we
| took some marne animals. and obtained several pie
ces oil rock, Which suggest some interesting views
explanatory oitcir fo nation, which is peraps oy.
ing as IN the case OF coral, &c. certain animals
nat part oil the bottom Of the which did not pre-
sent any rock, was composed of sand and pcbblrs
The current of was very violent the colour Of
e water, rs seen through the glasses, seemed TO us
10 he OF light green in the bell, where we had ten
or twelve inches oft, il was quite colourlass
Having remained more than an hour at the bottom
an'i having seen the men work easily as in the
open air, they made signals, and we assembled
iny satisfied with what we had seen, and oony nccd
OF the i;Gity and safety of these submarine opera
tons Before we went down, they had lost their
basket at the bottom of the water and, IN order 10
hnd again. they we're obliged, in using their signals
10 have the bell moved in every direction which rave
MS the advantage of becoming well acquainted with
The method they employed to make themselves under
stood In going up, the sensations whol, we experi-
enced IN the head were very different from those
which we felt in descending IL seemed to us that our
heads we're growing larger, and thar all the homes
were about TO separate. This dsagreeabIe sensa-
time above the surface not onlv much pIeascd with
"hatwe had seen, but also with the idea Of emerging
sale from our narrow prison.