DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.33567#0170
78
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Toulon, and the Needle there transferred to a seaworthy vessel specially built to bring it to Havre,
whence it would be taken to Paris by a number of the small craft usually employed in the navigation
of the Seine.
This plan, as is easily seen, was very complicated, and Baron Tupinier, Director of Ports, showed
its faults most clearly to the Minister of Marine, whereupon a commission was formed, composed
of MM. de la Borde, Tupinier, Drovetti, Taylor, Briet, de Mackau, and de Livron, with Baron d' Haussez
as president. These gentlemen, after a long discussion, recommended that Baron Taylor should be sent
to Egypt to consult with Besson and de Cerisi on the best plan of removal, as well as to obtain the
cession of the two other newly coveted obelisks. The friendly disposition of Mohammed Ali was so
well known as to leave little doubt of his consent. The approval of King Charles was immediately
obtained, and on the 6th of January, 1830, Baron Taylor was duly invested with the royal authority
to wait upon the Pacha, to negotiate the cession of the Luxor obelisks, and have Cleopatra's Needle
transported to France. A credit of #20,000 was opened to defray the expenses of the mission, and
the brig " Lancier " was detailed to convey him to Egypt.
These preliminaries settled, attention was again bestowed upon the methods of executing the
various operations, and a plan advanced by Baron Rolland was approved by the Minister of Marine,
who ordered the construction of the " Luxor " even before the departure of Baron Taylor on his mission.
The " Luxor" was an immense barge of such build as to ascend the Nile, receive on board one of the
obelisks, and bring it to Paris. That is to say, the task set the constructors was to produce a vessel
that could navigate two rivers and the high seas, should not draw over six and a half feet with the
obelisk in, should pass under the bridges across the Seine, and should be strong enough to take the
enormous weight while lying on a beach. Of course M. Rolland had to depart from the usual rules
of naval architecture ; the proportion of length to breadth was very small, five keels were fitted,
and the necessary longitudinal and transverse strength obtained by multiplying fastenings and ties.
The result was an immensely strong craft, shaped like a parallelopipedon with rounded angles ;
three masts were given her. It is perhaps needless to add that the material of which she was built
was wood ; iron shipbuilding in those days was a thing of the future. The launch took place at
Toulon on the 26th of July, 1830, and M. Mimerel, naval constructor, and M. Verninac de St. Maur,
also of the navy, were detailed to take charge of the work, the former having charge of all operations
on shore, and the latter being in command of the vessel afloat.
Meanwhile Baron Taylor reached Egypt after many delays, had an audience with the Pacha, and
succeeded in the principal object of his mission. It was not without difficulty, however, as Mr.
Barker, the British Consul, had labored indefatigably, and finally obtained the cession of the Luxor obelisks
to England. The skilful diplomacy of M. Taylor, added to the Viceroy's desire to please the French
envoy, soon suggested a way out of that difficulty, and Mr. Barker was offered the magnificent obelisk
of Karnak in place of those of Luxor, which he accepted. Then came the news of the events of July, 1830,
and intrigues were commenced to have the gift withdrawn. But M. Taylor and the French Consul-
General, M. Mimaut, were determined to retain ownership of the obelisks, whatever might be the
action of the new government in the matter of taking possession of them. They had no difficulty
in persuading the Pacha that his gift had really been to the French nation and not to the person of
the king, and therefore the Revolution could afford no reason for withdrawing his gift. The following
letter from the Egyptian Prime Minister to Count Sebastiani, the new Minister of Marine, finally
confirmed the cession.
<?/* ^
Toulon, and the Needle there transferred to a seaworthy vessel specially built to bring it to Havre,
whence it would be taken to Paris by a number of the small craft usually employed in the navigation
of the Seine.
This plan, as is easily seen, was very complicated, and Baron Tupinier, Director of Ports, showed
its faults most clearly to the Minister of Marine, whereupon a commission was formed, composed
of MM. de la Borde, Tupinier, Drovetti, Taylor, Briet, de Mackau, and de Livron, with Baron d' Haussez
as president. These gentlemen, after a long discussion, recommended that Baron Taylor should be sent
to Egypt to consult with Besson and de Cerisi on the best plan of removal, as well as to obtain the
cession of the two other newly coveted obelisks. The friendly disposition of Mohammed Ali was so
well known as to leave little doubt of his consent. The approval of King Charles was immediately
obtained, and on the 6th of January, 1830, Baron Taylor was duly invested with the royal authority
to wait upon the Pacha, to negotiate the cession of the Luxor obelisks, and have Cleopatra's Needle
transported to France. A credit of #20,000 was opened to defray the expenses of the mission, and
the brig " Lancier " was detailed to convey him to Egypt.
These preliminaries settled, attention was again bestowed upon the methods of executing the
various operations, and a plan advanced by Baron Rolland was approved by the Minister of Marine,
who ordered the construction of the " Luxor " even before the departure of Baron Taylor on his mission.
The " Luxor" was an immense barge of such build as to ascend the Nile, receive on board one of the
obelisks, and bring it to Paris. That is to say, the task set the constructors was to produce a vessel
that could navigate two rivers and the high seas, should not draw over six and a half feet with the
obelisk in, should pass under the bridges across the Seine, and should be strong enough to take the
enormous weight while lying on a beach. Of course M. Rolland had to depart from the usual rules
of naval architecture ; the proportion of length to breadth was very small, five keels were fitted,
and the necessary longitudinal and transverse strength obtained by multiplying fastenings and ties.
The result was an immensely strong craft, shaped like a parallelopipedon with rounded angles ;
three masts were given her. It is perhaps needless to add that the material of which she was built
was wood ; iron shipbuilding in those days was a thing of the future. The launch took place at
Toulon on the 26th of July, 1830, and M. Mimerel, naval constructor, and M. Verninac de St. Maur,
also of the navy, were detailed to take charge of the work, the former having charge of all operations
on shore, and the latter being in command of the vessel afloat.
Meanwhile Baron Taylor reached Egypt after many delays, had an audience with the Pacha, and
succeeded in the principal object of his mission. It was not without difficulty, however, as Mr.
Barker, the British Consul, had labored indefatigably, and finally obtained the cession of the Luxor obelisks
to England. The skilful diplomacy of M. Taylor, added to the Viceroy's desire to please the French
envoy, soon suggested a way out of that difficulty, and Mr. Barker was offered the magnificent obelisk
of Karnak in place of those of Luxor, which he accepted. Then came the news of the events of July, 1830,
and intrigues were commenced to have the gift withdrawn. But M. Taylor and the French Consul-
General, M. Mimaut, were determined to retain ownership of the obelisks, whatever might be the
action of the new government in the matter of taking possession of them. They had no difficulty
in persuading the Pacha that his gift had really been to the French nation and not to the person of
the king, and therefore the Revolution could afford no reason for withdrawing his gift. The following
letter from the Egyptian Prime Minister to Count Sebastiani, the new Minister of Marine, finally
confirmed the cession.