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countries; and, if not sufficiently strong and longin the arms, the picks may easily be reinforcedand lengthened. The weight of the anchor, fig.16, is about 1 cwt. To give the substituteanchor greater weight, crow bars, if procurable,should be used for the shanks, and for unitingpieces c c : if these cannot be had, timber maybe used, and weight given by packings of stones.At first sight it appears, that the difficulty ofprocuring anchors is one of the most formidableimpediments in devising means for passing largerivers, by floating bridges made upon the spot;and military history shows that many seriousaccidents have occurred from the insufficiencyof anchors, even with regular equipments; but Iam persuaded that such men as those engineersand staff officers whose eminent talents and ser-vices in these departments I have endeavouredto describe, would, under any circumstances,find this the least difficult part of such under-takings, and always be prepared to supply anywant of this description.

The practical efficacy of all these expedientswill depend, very much, upon the nature andconsistency of the bottom of the river, at theparticular parts at which they may be placed;and consequently upon the degree of intel-ligence with which choice may be made of