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fore necessarily placed above their level, andthe carriage thereby more subject to be over-turned, it will be proper to give a width of 5 ft.6 in. to the new French bateau; and to regain,in length, sufficient to make up for the loss ofcapacity arising from a diminution of breadth;he recommends 30 feet, about 32 feet English ,for this dimension; the depth 2 ft. 6 in. and thesides sloping; by which the bateau is made saferand swifter as a row boat; better calculated togive stability to a bridge, by being more easilymoored, and having increasing power of “ bear-ing” corresponding to every equal additionalvertical immersion.

The French bateau, fig. 1, plate 5, is placedupright on its carriage; the beams are stowed inthe compartments 1, 2, 3, &c. fig. 1, plate 5.This position of the boat, as M. Drieu observes,renders the carriage less liable to overturn thanif the bateau were placed inverted, because thecentre of gravity of the boat is nearer to thebottom, than to the gunwales; and moreover, aboat of such width could not be placed inverted,without being lodged above the level of thewheels, as the Austrian pontoon, fig. 8, plate 5.

To mount, or launch the bateau, the carriageis placed with the pole towards the river, andunlimbered; by which an inclined plane is