[419]. Ante, pp. 307-310. At the new barracks built for the dragoons at Niagara, sergeant Lanyon successfully constructed a circular well, about thirty feet deep, after two or three contractors had attempted it and failed. He laboured himself in laying the stones up to his hips in water, and afforded ample work for a strong party above in preparing the stones for placement, and pumping up the water. The service was effected under many difficulties and hazards, and while the weather was intensely cold. As an instance of his great strength it may be remarked, that six men complained to him of the heavy task they were subjected to in removing timbers about 15 feet long and 12 inches square for constructing a stockade at Fort Mississaqua. Lanyon made no observation, but shouldered one of the unwieldy logs, and, to the amazement of the grumblers, carried it to the spot unassisted.
[420]. ‘Second Report Army and Ordnance Expenditure,’ 1849, p. 500. To such an extent was the diminution in the number of the officers subsequently carried, that in 1849 the amount of expense incurred by the superintendence of officers was reduced to one twenty-second part of the total expenditure; therefore by the more general employment of sappers in the direction of the work, the amount of superintendence was reduced from one-third and one-fourth, to one twenty-second part.
[421]. ii., 1835, p. 154.
[422]. Frome’s ‘Surveying,’ 1840, p. 40. Simms' ‘Math. Inst.,’ 1st edit.
[423]. Frome’s ‘Surveying,’ 1840, p. 44.
[424]. ‘British Companion and Almanack,’ 1843, p. 38.
[425]. First published in a series of letters to the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ and then collected, with additional matter, in a pamphlet.
[426]. Synges’s ‘Great Britain—one Empire.’
[427]. These he patented in November, 1851. A description of the improvements, with sixteen illustrations, is given in the ‘Civil Engineer and Architects’ Journal,' xv., pp. 164, 165.
[428]. In consideration of this event, the Board of Ordnance granted his widow a donation of 20l.; and she was, moreover, assisted by a very handsome subscription from the officers and men of the district in which her husband had served.