Pontchartrain, Minister of State, to repair to Rochefort, to conduct spring water to the port from the fountains of the city, which were supplied from a source, though quite insufficient for the city, in the neighborhood. In his researches he discovered a good and copious source, at less than half a league, but on the other side of the river, the Charente. Many difficulties were presented, because at low water vessels might ground upon the pipes and injure them.

However, Mr. Gautier proposed to lay down two leaden pipes, to preserve a supply in case of accident to one, and to protect them by wooden frames in an effectual way against injury, should vessels lay upon the defence frames

during low water. Mr. Begon, intendant of the Marine, approved the plan, but it was finally rejected.

" Some years after," says Mr. Gautier, " when I had charge of the roads on the Rhone, and of many other works in the Province of Languedoc, and while at Aries, I heard that a vessel had cast anchor in the Rhone, opposite the city, to

take some loading ; but when the commander wanted to sail again he could not raise the anchor. This fact attracted much attention, and many people went to witness the singular circumstance. The Captain, unwilling to lose his anchor, sent down a man, to find what was the matter. The diver reported that the anchor was hooked under something round, but he could not tell what it was. A capstan was applied to raise it, which succeeded.