many other gentlemen who were consulted
upon the occasion. The consequence was, that Mr. Blake, agreeably
to the man's desire, advanced money for the construction of a
vessel fit for that purpose. Mr. Day, thus assisted, went to
Plymouth with his model, and set a man in that place to work upon
it. The pressure of the water at 100 feet deep was a circumstance
of which Mr. Blake was advised, and touching that article he gave
the strongest precautions to Mr. Day, telling him, at any
expence, to fortify the chamber in which he was to subsist,
against the weight of such a body of water. Mr. Day set off in
great spirits for Plymouth, and seemed so confident, that Mr.
Blake made a bett that the project would succeed, reducing,
however, the depth of water from 100 yards to 100 feet, and the
time from 24 to 12 hours. By the terms of the wager, the
experiment was to be made within three months from the date; but
so much time was necessary for due preparation, that on the
appointed day things were not in readiness and Mr. Blake lost the
bett.

[Illustration: Photo by International Film Service.

_A French Nieuport Dropping a Bomb._]

In some short time afterwards the vessel was finished, and Mr.
Day still continued eager for the carrying of his plan into
execution; he was uneasy at the idea of dropping the scheme and
wished for an opportunity to convince Mr. Blake that he could
perform what he had undertaken. He wrote from Plymouth that
everything was in readiness and should be executed the moment Mr.
Blake arrived. Induced by this promise, Mr. Blake set out for
Plymouth; upon his arrival a trial was made in Cat-water, where
Mr. Day lay, during the flow of tide, six hours, and six more
during the tide of ebb; confined all the time in the room
appropriated for his use. A day for the final determination was
fixed; the vessel was towed to the place agreed upon; Mr. Day
provided himself with whatever he thought necessary; he went into
the vessel, let the water into her and with great composure
retired to the room constructed for him, and shut up the valve.
The ship went gradually down in 22 fathoms of water at 2 o'clock
on Tuesday, June 28, in the afternoon, being to return at 2 the
next morning. He had three buoys or messengers, which he could
send to