The inventors will never rest till they have got a
submarine vessel as perfect as that imagined by Jules Verne. The Standard correspondent at Rome telegraphed on Tuesday a long description of a new boat designed by a Signor Balsamello, which was tried the other day at Civita Vecchia. The principal feature of the vessel is that she is spherical, a pila nautica, or nautical ball, which is yet able to move rectilineally through the water. Inside she is fitted with lenses, which enable those in the interior not only to find their way, but to see objects which it may be desired to bring to the surface. For instance, a beam with weights attached was thrown into the sea. After it had sunk, the "nautical ball" followed suit and soon reappeared, bearing along with it the beam which it had seized by means of its grapnels. It seems curious that, in spite of its spherical shape, the ball will not only move in a straight line, but change its direction with the greatest ease. At present the propelling force is supplied by hand-labour, but in the future an electric motor will be employed. If the descriptions are correct, the vessel, from which, it must also be mentioned, successful sub- marine photographs are said to have been taken, should prove of great practical service, and not remain a mere engine of war. A boat that can dive for lost treasure and explore foundations will be of use in a thousand ways.
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