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These opinions are best exhibited by showing,ln plan and description, the various vessels usedfor the construction of military bridges, in theprincipal armies of Europe ; and if we find no-thing in these, that should induce us to makeany material alteration in our system, we shall,at least, ascertain what capabilities and defectsthere may be in that of others. The shape anddimensions of the tin pontoons used in ourarmy, are retained chiefly on account of theirbeing more conveniently and economicallyshipped, stowed, and transported by sea, than ifthey were of irregular shape, and tapering con-struction ; and this is, in truth, a great considera-tion, with us. But, in constructing, out of thecountry, boats for bridges, (as for East India, orother warfare,) where shipment and transport, bysea, demand no consideration, and where woodenboats may, on every account, be preferred tometal, officers, w'ho may be called upon to pre-pare vessels for such operations, may find it ofsome use to refer to the shape and dimensionsof the following descriptions of bateaux andpontoons.

Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, plate 5, represent the newFrench bateau and its carriage.

ft. in.

A B, the length, is . . 31 11 English .

The length of the fore peak 8 6