第2章

PresentlyIheardanoiseintheupperpartoftheballoon，whichgaveashockasthoughithadburst。Icalledtomycompanion，’Areyoudancing？’Theballoonbynowhadmanyholesburnedinit，andusingmyspongeIcriedthatwemustdescend。

Mycompanion，however，explainedthatwewereoverParis，andmustnowcrossit。Therefore，raisingthefireoncemore，weturnedsouthtillwepassedtheLuxemburg，when，extinguishingtheflame，theballooncamedownspentandempty。"

Daringaswasthisascent，itwasinachievementeclipsedtwomonthslateratLyons，whenamammothballoon，130feetinheightandlifting18tons，wasinflatedinseventeenminutes，andascendedwithnolessthansevenpassengers。Whenmorethanhalfamilealoftthismachine，whichwasmadeoftooslendermaterialforitshugesize，suddenlydevelopedarentofhalfitslength，causingittodescendwithimmensevelocity;butwithoutthesmallestinjurytoanyofthepassengers。Thiswasamemorableperformance，andtheaccount，sensationalasitmayread，isbynomeansunworthyofcredit;for，aswillbeseenhereafter，aballoonevenwhenburstorbadlytorninmidairmay，ontheprincipleoftheparachute，effectitsownsalvation。

Inthemeanwhile，therivalballoonofhydrogengas——theCharliere，asithasbeencalled——hadhaditsfirstinnings。

BeforethecloseoftheyearMM。RobertsandCharlesconstructedandinflatedahydrogenballoon，thistimefittedwithapracticablevalve，andinpartnershipaccomplishedanascentbeatingallpreviousrecords。Theday，December17，wasoneofwintertemperature;yettheaeronautsquicklyreached6，000feet，andwhen，afterremainingaloftforoneandahalfhours，theydescended，Robertsgotout，leavingCharlesinsolepossession。Lefttohimself，thisyoungrecruitseemstohavemetwithexperienceswhicharecertainlyunusual，andwhichmustbeattributedlargelytothenoveltyofhissituation。Hedeclaredthatat9，000feet，orlessthantwomiles，allobjectsontheearthhaddisappearedfromview，astatementwhichcanonlybetakentomeanthathehadenteredcloud。

Further，atthismoderateelevationhenotonlybecamebenumbedwithcold，butfeltseverepaininhisrightearandjaw。Heheldon，however，ascendingtill10，500feetwerereached，whenhedescended，havingmadeajourneyofthirtymilesfromthestart。

Ascents，allontheContinent，nowfollowedoneanotherinrapidsuccession，andshortlytheMM。Robertsessayedaventureonnewlines。Theyattemptedtheguidanceofaballoonbymeansofoars，andthoughtheyfailedinthistheywerefortunateinmakingafreshrecord。Theyalsoencounteredathunderstorm，andbyadoptingaperfectlyscientificmethod——ofwhichmorehereafter——succeededineludingit。Thestormbrokearoundthemwhentheywere14，000feethigh，andatthisaltitude，notingthattherewerediversecurrentsaloft，theymanagedtomanoeuvretheirballoonhigherorloweratwillandtosuittheirpurpose，andbythisstratagemdrewawayfromthestormcentre。Aftersixandahalfhourstheirvoyageended，butnotuntil150mileshadbeencovered。

Itmustbefreelygrantedthatprodigiousprogresshadbeenmadeinanartthatasyetwaslittlemorethanayearold;butassuredlynotenoughtojustifytheabsurdlyinflatedideasthattheContinentalpublicnowbegantoindulgein。Menlosttheirmentalbalance，allowingtheirimaginationtorunriot，andspeculationbecameextravagantintheextreme。Therewastobenolimithenceforwardtotheattainmentoffreshknowledge，noranyboundsplacedtowheremanmightroam。Theuniversewasopentohim:hemightvoyageifhewilledtothemoonorelsewhere:Pariswastobethestartingpointforotherworlds:Heavenitselfhadbeentakenbystorm。

Moderationhadtobelearnederelongbythedisciplineofmorethanonesternlesson。Hithertoamarvellous——callitaProvidential——goodfortunehadattendedthefirstaerialtravellers;andevenwhenmishapspresentlycametobereckonedwith，itmayfairlybequestionedwhethersomanylivesweresacrificedamongthosewhosoughttovoyagethroughtheskyaswerelostamongsuchasfirstattemptedtonavigatethesea。

Itisinsuchventuresaswearenowregardingthatfortuneseemsreadiesttofavourthedaring，andifImaydigressbrieflytoadduceexperiencescomingwithinmyownknowledge，I

wouldsaythatitistohisveryimpulsivenessthattheenthusiastoftenowesthesafetyofhisneck。Itisthetimid，nottheboldrider，thatcomestogriefatthefence。Itisthemanwhodrawsbackwhoisknockedoverbyatramcar。Sheerimpetus，moralorphysical，oftencarriesyouthrough，asinthecaseofafallfromhorse—back。Totumbleoffwhenyourhorseisstandingstillandreceiveadeadblowfromthegroundmighteasilybreakalimb。Butatfullgallopimmunityoftenliesinthefactthatyoustriketheearthatanangle，andbeingcarriedforward，impactislessabrupt。IcanonlysaythatIhaveonmorethanoneoccasionfoundthegreatestsafetyinaballoonventureinvolvingtheelementofrisktolieincompleteabandonmenttocircumstances，andintheincreasedlifeandactivitywhichthedeliriumofexcitementcallsforth。

Incomparing，however，man’sfirstventuresbyskywiththosebysea，wemustrememberwhatfargreaterdemandtheformermusthavemadeuponthespiritofenterpriseanddaring。

Wecanpicturetheearliestseavoyagertakinghisfirstlessonastrideofalogwithonefootonthebottom，andthusproceedingbysurestagestillhehadbuilthiscoracleandlearnedtopaddleitinshoalwater。Butthecasewaswhollydifferentwhenthefirstfrailairshipstoodathermooringswithstraininggearandfiercelyburningfurnace，andwhentheskysailorknewthatnocoursewaslefthimbuttodiveboldlyupintoanelementwhencetherewasnosteppingback，andseparatedfromearthbyagulfwhichmaninstinctivelydreadstolookdownupon。

Takingeventsintheirduesequence，wehavenowtorecordavoyagewhichtheterrorsofskyandseatogethercombinedtomakememorable。Winterhadcome——earlyJanuaryof1785——when，inspiteofshortdarkdaysandfrostyair，M。Blanchard，accompaniedbyanAmerican，Dr。Jeffries，determinedonanattempttocrosstheChannel。TheychosetheEnglishside，andinflatingtheirballoonwithhydrogenatDover，boldlycastoff，andimmediatelydriftedouttosea。Probablytheyhadnotpaidduethoughttotheeffectoflowsunandchillyatmosphere，fortheirballoonrosesluggishlyandbegansettlingdownerelittlemorethanaquarteroftheircoursewasrun。Thereupontheypartedwithalargeportionoftheirballast，withtheresultthattheycreptonasfarasmid—

Channel，whentheybegandescendingagain，andcastouttheresidueoftheirsand，togetherwithsomebooks，andthis，too，withtheuncomfortablefeelingthateventhesemeasureswouldnotsufficetosecuretheirsafety。

Thiswasinrealitythefirsttimethataseapassagehadbeenmadebysky，andthegravityoftheirsituationmustnotbeunder—estimated。Wearesoaccustomedinaseapassagetotheconstantpassingofothervesselsthatweallowourselvestoimaginethatafrequentedportionoftheocean，suchastheChannel，isthicklydottedoverwithshippingofsomesort。Butinentertainingthisideaweareforgetfulofthefactthatweareallthewhileonasteamertrack。Thetruth，however，isthatanywhereoutsidesuchatrack，evenfromthecommandingpointofviewofahigh—flyingballoon，theoceanisseentobemorevastthanwesuppose，andbearsexceedinglylittlebuttherestlesswavesuponitssurface。Oncefairlyinthewaterwithafallenballoon，thereisclearlynorisingagain，andthelifeoftheballooninthisitswrongelementisnotlikelytobealongone。Theglobeofgasmayunderfavourablecircumstancescontinuetofloatforsomewhile，buttheopenwickercaristheworstpossibleboatforthelucklessvoyagers，whiletoleaveitandclingtotheriggingisbutaforlornhope，owingtothemassofnettingwhichsurroundsthesilk，andwhichwouldproveadeath—trapinthewater。Therearemanyinstancesofliveshavingbeenlostinsuchadilemma，evenwhenhelpwasnearathand。

Ourvoyagers，whomweleftinmid—airandstream，weresoondescendingagain，andthistimetheythrewouttheirtackle——anchor，ropes，andothergear，stillwithoutadequatelymendingmatters。Thentheircasegrewdesperate。TheFrenchcoastwas，indeed，wellinsight，butthereseemedbutslenderchanceofreachingit，whentheybegandivestingthemselvesofclothingasalastresort。Theupshotofthiswasremarkable，anddeservesamoment’sconsideration。Whenaballoonhasbeenlightenedalmosttotheutmostthedischargeofasmallweightsometimeshasamagicaleffect，asisnotdifficulttounderstand。Throwingouttenpoundsatanearlystage，whentheremaybefivehundredpoundsmoreofsuperfluousweight，willtellbutlittle，butwhenthosefivehundredpoundsareexpendedthenanextratenpoundsscrapedtogetherfromsomewhereandcastoverboardmaycauseaballoontomakeagiantstrideintospacebywayoffinaleffort;anditwassowithM。Blanchard。Hisexpiringballoonshotupandovertheapproachingland，andcamesafelytoearthneartheForestofGuiennes。AmagnificentfeastwasheldatCalaistocelebratetheaboveevent。M。Blanchardwaspresentedwiththefreedomofthecityinagoldbox，andapplicationwasmadetotheMinistrytohavetheballoonpurchasedanddepositedasamemorialinthechurch。OnthetestimonyofthegrandsonofDr。Jeffriesthecarofthisballoonisnowinthemuseumofthesamecity。

AverynoteworthyexampleofhowaballoonmaybemadetotakeafreshleaseoflifeissuppliedbyavoyageofM。Testuaboutthisdate，whichmustfindbriefmentioninthesepages。Inoneaspectitislaughable，inanotheritissublime。Fromeverypointofviewitisromantic。

Itwasfouro’clockonathreateningdayinJunewhenthesolitaryaeronauttookflightfromParisinasmallhydrogenballoononlypartiallyfilled，butriggedwithsomencontrivanceofwingswhichweredesignedtorenderitself—propelling。

Discovering，however，thatthisdevicewasinoperative，M。

Testu，afteraboutanhourandahalf，allowedtheballoontodescendtoearthinacornfield，when，withoutquittingholdofthecar，hecommencedcollectingstonesforballast。Butasyetheknewnotthewaysofchurlishproprietorsofland，andinconsequencewaspresentlysurprisedbyatroublesomecrowd，whoproceeded，astheysupposed，totakehimprisonertillheshouldpayheavycompensation，dragginghimofftothenearestvillagebythetrailropeofhisballoon。

M。Testunowhadleisuretoconsiderhissituation，andpresentlyhitonastratagemthelikeofwhichhasoftensincebeenadoptedbyaeronautsinlikepredicament。Representingtohiscaptorsthatwithouthiswingshewouldbepowerless，hesufferedthemtoremovetheseweightyappendages，whenalsodroppingaheavycloak，hesuddenlycutthecordbywhichhewasbeingdragged，and，regainingfreedom，soaredawayintothesky。

Hewasquicklyhighaloft，andheardthunderbelowhim，soonafterwhich，thechillofeveningbeginningtobringhimearthward，hedescriedahuntinfullcry，andsucceededincomingdownnearthehuntsmen，someofwhomgallopeduptohim，andfortheirbenefitheascendedagain，passingthistimeintodensecloudwiththunderandlightning。Hesawthesungodownandthelightninggatherround，yetwithadmirablecouragehelivedthenightoutalofttillthestormswerespentandthemidsummersunroseoncemore。Withdaylightrestored，hisjourneyendedataspotoversixtymilesfromParis。

Wehave，ofcourse，recountedonlyafewofthemorenoteworthyearlyballooningventures。Inrealitytherehaduptothepresenttimebeenscoresofascentsmadeindifferentlocalitiesandinallconditionsofwindandweather，yetnotalifehadbeenlost。Wehavenow，however，torecordacasualtywhichcostthefirstandboldestaeronauthislife，andwhichisallthemoreregrettableasbeingduetocircumstancesthatshouldneverhaveoccurred。

M。PilatredeRosier，accompaniedbyM。Romain，determinedoncrossingtheChannelfromtheFrenchside;and，thinkingtoaddtotheirbuoyancyandavoidtheriskoffallinginthesea，hitontheextraordinaryideaofusingafireballoonbeneathanotherfilledwithhydrogengas！WiththisdeadlycompoundmachinetheyactuallyascendedfromBoulogne，andhadnotleftthelandwhentheinevitablecatastrophetookplace。

Theballoonscaughtfireandblewupataheightof3，000feet，whiletheunfortunatevoyagersweredashedtoatoms。

CHAPTERIII。THEFIRSTBALLOONASCENTINENGLAND。

Asmaybesupposed，itwasnotlongbeforetheballoonwasintroducedintoEngland。Indeed，thefirstsuccessfulascentonrecordmadeinourowncountrytookplaceinthesummerof1784，tenmonthsprevioustothefatalventurenarratedatthecloseofthelastchapter。Now，itisaremarkableandequallyregrettablecircumstancethatthoughthefirstascentonBritishsoilwasundoubtedlymadebyoneofourowncountrymen，thefactisalmostuniversallyforgotten，orignored，andthecreditisaccordedtoaforeigner。

Letusinstricthonestyexamineintothecase。VincentLunardi，anItalian，SecretarytotheNeapolitanAmbassador，PrinceCaramanico，beinginEnglandintheyear1784，determinedonorganisingandpersonallyexecutinganascentfromLondon;andhissplendidenterprise，whichwaspresentlycarriedtoasuccessfulissue，willformtheprincipalsubjectofthepresentchapter。Itwillbeseenthatremarkablesuccesscrownedhisefforts，andthathisfirstandevermemorablevoyagewascarriedthroughonSeptember15thofthatyear。

Morethanamonthpreviously，however，attentionhadbeencalledtothefactthataMr。TytlerwaspreparingtomakeanascentfromEdinburghinahotairballoon，andintheLondonChronicleofAugust27thoccursthefollowingcircumstantialandremarkableletterfromacorrespondenttothatjournal:？

"Edinburgh，Aug。27，1784。

"Mr。Tytlerhasmadeseveralimprovementsuponhisfireballoon。

Thereasonofitsfailureformerlywasitsbeingmadeofporouslinen，throughwhichtheairmadeitsescape。Toremedythisdefect，Mr。Tytlerhasgotitcoveredwithavarnishtoretaintheinflammableairaftertheballoonisfilled。

"Earlythismorningthisboldadventurertookhisfirstaerialflight。TheballoonbeingfilledatComelyGarden，heseatedhimselfinthebasket，andtheropesbeingcutheascendedveryhighanddescendedquitegraduallyontheroadtoRestalrig，abouthalfamilefromtheplacewhereherose，tothegreatsatisfactionofthosespectatorswhowerepresent。Mr。Tytlerwentupwithoutthefurnacethismorning;whenthatisaddedhewillbeabletofeedtheballoonwithinflammableair，andcontinuehisaerialexcursionsaslongashechooses。

"Mr。Tytlerisnowinhighspirits，andinhisturnlaughsatthoseinfidelswhoridiculedhisschemeasvisionaryandimpracticable。Mr。TytleristhefirstpersoninGreatBritainwhohasnavigatedtheair。"

Referringtothisexploit，Tytler，inalaudatoryepistleaddressedtoLunardi，tellsofthedifficultieshehadhadtocontendwith，andartlesslyrevealsthecool，confidentcouragehemusthavedisplayed。Noshelterbeingavailablefortheinflation，andastrongwindblowing，hisfirstmisfortunewasthesettingfiretohiswickergallery。Thenextwasthecapsizinganddamagingofhisballoon，whichhehadlinedwithpaper。Henowsubstitutedacoatofvarnishforthepaper，andhisgallerybeingdestroyed，sothathecouldnolongerattempttotakeupastove，heresolvedtoascendwithoutone。Intheendtheballoonwassuccessfullyinflated，whenhehadthehardihoodtoentrusthimselftoasmallbasket（usedforcarryingearthenware）slungbelow，andthustolaunchhimselfintothesky。Hedidsoundertheconvictionthattheriskheranwasgreaterthanitreallywas，forhearguedthathiscraftwasnowonlylikeaprojectile，and"mustundoubtedlycometothegroundwiththesamevelocitywithwhichitascended。"Onthisoccasionthecrowdtriedforsometimetoholdhimnearthegroundbyoneoftherestrainingropes，sothathisflightwascurtailed。Inasecondexperiment，however，hesucceededinrisingsomehundredsoffeet，andcametoearthwithoutmishap。

ButlittlefurtherinformationrespectingMr。Tytlerisapparentlyforthcoming，andthereforebeyondrecordingthefactthathewasthefirstBritishaeronaut，andalsothathewasthefirsttoachieveaballoonascentinGreatBritain，weareunabletomakefurthermentionofhiminthishistory。

Ofhisillustriouscontemporaryalreadymentionedthereis，onthecontrary，muchtorecord，andwewoulddesiretogivefullcredittohisadmirablecourageandperseverance。ItwaswithacertainnationalandpardonablepridethattheyoungItalianplannedhisboldexploit，feelingwithasenseofself—

satisfaction，whichheisatnopainstohide，thatheaimedatwinninghonourforhiscountryaswellasforhimself。Inaletterwhichhewrotetohisguardian，ChevalierGherardoCompagni，healludestothestolidindifferenceoftheEnglishpeopleandphilosopherstothebrilliantachievementsinaeronauticswhichhadbeenmadeandsomuchbelaudedontheContinent。HeproclaimstherivalryasregardsscienceandartexistingbetweenFranceandEngland，attributingtothelatteranattitudeofsullenjealousy。AtthesametimeheisfullyalivetothenecessityofgainingEnglishpatronage，andsetsaboutsecuringthiswithtactfuldiplomacy。Firsthecastsaboutforasuitablespotwherehisenterprisewouldnotfailtoenlistgeneralattentionandperhapspowerfulpatrons，andhereheisstruckbytheattractionsandfacilitiesofferedbyChelseaHospital。HethereforeappliestoSirGeorgeHoward，theGovernor，askingfortheuseofthefamoushospital，towhich，ontheoccasionofhisexperiments，hedesiresthatadmittanceshouldonlybegrantedtosubscribers，whileanyprofitsshouldbedevotedtothepensionersofthehospital。

Hisapplicationhavingbeengranted，heassureshisguardianthathe"stillmaintainshismentalbalance，andhissleepisnotbanishedbythemagnitudeofhisenterprise，whichisdestinedtoleadhimthroughthepathofdangertoglory。"

Thisletterwasdatedthe15thofJuly，andbythebeginningofAugusthisadvertisementwasalreadybeforethepublic，invitingsubscribersandannouncingaprivateviewofhisballoonattheLyceum，whereitwasmcourseofconstruction，andwasbeingfittedwithcontrivancesofhisownintheshapeofoarsandsails。HehadbythistimenotonlyenlistedtheinterestofSirGeorgeHoward，andofSirJosephBanks，buthadsecuredthedirectpatronageoftheKing。

Butwithinafortnightamostunforeseenmishaphadoccurred，whichthreatenedtooverwhelmLunardiindisappointmentandruin。AFrenchmanofthenameofMoret，designingtoturntohisownadvertisementtheattentionattractedbyLunardi’sapproachingtrials，attemptedtoforestalltheeventbyanenterpriseofhisown，announcingthathewouldmakeanascentwithahotairballooninsomegardensnearChelseaHospital，andatadateprevioustothatfixeduponbyLunardi。Inattempting，however，tocarryoutthisunworthyprojecttheadventurermetwiththediscomfiturehedeserved。Hefailedtoeffecthisinflation，andwhenafterfruitlessattemptscontinuedforthreehours，hisballoonrefusedtorise，alargecrowd，estimatedat60，000，assembledoutside，brokeintotheenclosure，committinghavoconallsides，notunattendedwithactsofviolenceandrobbery。

Thewholeneighbourhoodbecamealarmed，anditfollowedasamatterofcoursethatLunardiwasperemptorilyorderedtodiscontinuehispreparations，andtoannounceinthepublicpressthathisascentfromChelseaHospitalwasforbidden。

Failureandruinnowstaredtheyoungenthusiastintheface，anditwassimplythegenerousfeelingoftheBritishpublic，andthedesiretoseefairplay，thatgavehimanotherchance。

Asitwas，hebecametheheroofthehour;thousandsflockedtotheshowroomsattheLyceum，andheshortlyobtainedfreshgrounds，togetherwithneedfulprotectionforhisproject，atthehandsoftheHon。ArtilleryCompany。Bythe15thofSeptemberallincidentaldifficulties，themereenumerationofwhichwouldundulyswellthesepages，hadbeenovercomebysheerpersistence，andLunardistoodintheinenclosureallottedhim，hispreparationsindueorder，with150，000souls，whohadformedforhoursadensemassofspectators，watchingintentlyandnowconfidentlytheissueofhisboldendeavour。

Buthisanxietieswereasyetfarfromover，foraLondoncrowdhadneveryetwitnessedaballoonascent，whilebutamonthagotheyhadseenandwreakedtheirwrathuponthefailureofanadventurer。Theywerenotlikelytobemoretolerantnow。Andwhentheadvertisedhourfordeparturehadarrived，andtheballoonremainedinadequatelyinflated，mattersbegantotakeamoreseriousturn。Halfanhourlatertheyapproachedacrisis，whenitbegantobeknownthattheballoonstilllackedbuoyancy，andthatthesupplyofgaswasmanifestlyinsufficient。Theimpatienceofthemobindeedwaskeptinrestraintbyonemanalone。ThismanwasthePrinceofWaleswho，refusingtojointhecompanywithinthebuildingandcarelessoftheattitudeofthecrowd，remainedneartheballoontocheckdisorderandunfairtreatment。

Butanhouraftertimetheballoonstillrestedinertandthen，withfineresolution，Lunarditriedonelastexpedient。Hebadehiscolleague，Mr。Biggen，whowastohaveascendedwithhim，remainbehind，andquietlysubstitutingasmallerandlighterwickercar，orrathergallery，tookhisplacewithinandseveredthecordsjustasthelastgunfired。ThePrinceofWalesraisedhishat，imitatedatoncebyallthebystanders，andthefirstballoonthateverquittedEnglishsoilroseintotheairamidtheextravagantenthusiasmofthemultitude。Theintrepidaeronaut，pardonablyexcited，andfearfullestheshouldnotbeseenwithinthegallery，madefranticeffortstoattractattentionbywavinghisflag，andworkedhisoarssovigorouslythatoneofthembrokeandfell。

Apigeonalsogaineditsfreedomandescaped。Thevoyager，however，stillretainedcompanionsinhisventure——adogandacat。

Followinghisownaccount，Lunardi’sfirstactonfindinghimselffairlyabovethetownwastofortifyhimselfwithsomeglassesofwine，andtodevourthelegofachicken。Hedescribesthecityasavastbeehive，St。Paul’sandotherchurchesstandingoutprominently;thestreetsshrunktolines，andallhumanityapparentlytransfixedandwatchinghim。A

littlelaterheisequallystruckwiththeviewoftheopencountry，andhisecstasyispardonableinanovice。Theverdantpastureseclipsedthevisionsofhisownlands。Theprecisionofboundariesimpressedhimwithasenseoflawandorder，andofgoodadministrationinthecountrywherehewasasojourner。

Bythistimehefoundhisballoon，whichhadbeenonlytwo—thirdsfullatstarting，tobesodistendedthathewasobligedtountiethemouthtoreleasethestrain。Healsofoundthatthecondensedmoistureroundtheneckhadfrozen。

Thesetwostatementspointtohishavingreachedaconsiderablealtitude，whichisintelligibleenough。Itis，however，difficulttobelievehisfurtherassertionthatbytheuseofhissingleoarhesucceededinworkinghimselfdowntowithinafewhundredfeetoftheearth。Thedescentoftheballoonmust，inpointoffact，havebeenduetoacopiousoutrushofgasathisformeraltitude。Hadhisoarreallybeeneffectiveinworkingtheballoondownitwouldnothaveneededthedischargeofballastpresentlyspokenoftocauseittoreascend。Anyhow，hefoundhimselfsufficientlyneartheearthtolandapassengerwhowasanxioustogetout。Hiscathadnotbeencomfortableinthecoldupperregions，andnowatitsurgentappealwasdepositedinacornfield，whichwasthepointoffirstcontactwiththeearth。Itwascarefullyreceivedbyacountry—woman，whopromptlysoldittoagentlemanontheothersideofthehedge，whohadbeenpursuingtheballoon。

ThefirstascentofaballooninEnglandwasdeservingofsomerecord，andanaccountalikecircumstantialandpicturesqueisforthcoming。ThenovelandastonishingsightwaswitnessedbyaHertfordshirefarmer，whosetestimony，publishedbyLunardiinthesameyear，runsasfollows:——

Thisdeponentonhisoathsayeththat，beingonWednesday，the15thdayofSeptemberinstant，betweenthehoursofthreeandfourintheafternoon，inacertainfieldcalledEtna，intheparishofNorthMimmsaforesaid，heperceivedalargemachinesailingintheair，neartheplacewherehewasonhorseback;

thatthemachinecontinuingtoapproachtheearth，thepartofitinwhichthisdeponentperceivedagentlemanstandingcametothegroundanddraggedashortwayonthegroundinaslantingdirection;thatthetimewhenthismachinethustouchedtheearthwas，asnearasthisdeponentcouldjudge，aboutaquarterbeforefourintheafternoon。Thatthisdeponentbeingonhorseback，andhishorserestive，hecouldnotapproachnearertothemachinethanaboutfourpoles，butthathecouldplainlyperceivethereingentlemandressedinlightcolouredcloaths，holdinginhishandatrumpet，whichhadtheappearanceofsilverorbrighttin。Thatbythistimeseveralharvestmencomingupfromtheotherpartofthefield，tothenumberoftwelvemenandthirteenwomen，thisdeponentcalledtothemtoendeavourtostopthemachine，whichthemenattempted，butthegentlemaninthemachinedesiringthemtodesist，andthemachinemovingwithconsiderablerapidity，andclearingtheearth，wentoffinanorthdirectionandcontinuedinsightataverygreatheightfornearanhourafterwards。

Andthisdeponentfurthersaiththatthepartofthemachineinthewhichthegentlemanstooddidnotactuallytouchthegroundformorethanhalfaminute，duringwhichtimethegentlemanthrewoutaparcelofwhatappearedtothisdeponentasdrysand。Thatafterthemachinehadascendedagainfromtheearththisdeponentperceivedagrapplewithfourhooks，whichhungfromthebottomofthemachine，draggingalongtheground，whichcarriedupwithitintotheairasmallparceloflooseoats，whichthewomenwererakinginthefield。Andthisdeponentfurtheronhisoathsayeththatwhenthemachinehadrisenclearfromthegroundabouttwentyyardsthegentlemanspoketothisdeponentandtotherestofthepeoplewithhistrumpet，wishingthemgoodbyeandsayingthatheshouldsoongooutofsight。Andthisdeponentfurtheronhisoathsayeththatthemachineinwhichthegentlemancamedowntoearthappearedtoconsistoftwodistinctpartsconnectedtogetherbyropes，namelythatinwhichthegentlemanappearedtobe，astageboardedatthebottom，andcoveredwithnettingandropesonthesidesaboutfourfeetandahalfhigh，andtheotherpartofthemachineappearedintheshapeofanurn，aboutthirtyfeethighandofaboutthesamediameter，madeofcanvaslikeoilskin，withgreen，red，andyellowstripes。

NATHANIELWHITBREAD。

SwornbeforemethistwentiethdayofSeptember，1784，WILLIAM

BAKER。

Itwasacuriousfact，pointedouttothebraveItalianbyaresident，thatthefieldinwhichthetemporarydescenthadbeenmadewascalledindifferentlyEtnaorItaly，"fromthecircumstancewhichattendedthelateenclosureofalargequantityofroots，rubbish，etc。，havingbeencollectedthere，andhavingcontinuedburningformanydays。ThecommonpeoplehavingheardofaburningmountaininItalygavethefieldthatname。"

ButthevoyagedidnotendatEtna。The，asyet，inexperiencedaeronautnowcastoutallavailableballastintheshapeofsand，asalsohisprovisions，andrisingwithgreatspeed，soonreachedagreateraltitudethanbefore，whichhesoughttostillfartherincreasebythrowingdownhisplates，knives，andforks。Inthissomewhatrecklessexpenditurehethoughthimselfjustifiedbytherelianceheplacedonhisoar，anditisnotsurprisingthatintheendheownsthatheowedhissafetyinhisfinaldescenttohisgoodfortune。Thenarrativecondensedconcludesthus:——

"AttwentyminutespastfourIdescendedinameadownearWare。

Somelabourerswereatworkinit。Irequestedtheirassistance，buttheyexclaimedtheywouldhavenothingtodowithonewhocameontheDevil’sHorse，andnoentreatiescouldprevailonthemtoapproachme。IatlastowedmydeliverancetoayoungwomaninthefieldwhotookholdofacordIhadthrownout，and，callingtothemen，theyyieldedthatassistanceatherrequestwhichtheyhadrefusedtomine。"

Asmaybesupposed，Lunardi’sreturntoLondonresembledaroyalprogress。Indeed，hewaswelcomedasaconquerortowhomthewholetownsoughttodohonour，andperhapshisgreatestgratificationcamebywayoftheaccountshegatheredofincidentswhichoccurredduringhiseventfulvoyage。AtadinneratwhichhewasbeingentertainedbytheLordMayorandjudgeshelearnedthataladyseeinghisfallingoar，andfancyingthathehimselfwasdashedtopieces，receivedashocktherebywhichcausedherdeath。Commentingonthis，oneofthejudgesbadehimbereassured，inasmuchashehad，asifbycompensation，savedthelifeofayoungmanwhomightlivetobereformed。Theyoungmanwasacriminalwhosecondemnationwasregardedascertainatthehandsofthejurybeforewhomhewasbeingarraigned，whentidingsreachedthecourtthatLunardi’sballoonwasintheair。Onthissomuchconfusionarosethatthejurywereunabletogiveduedeliberationtothecase，and，fearingtomissthegreatsight，actuallyagreedtoacquittheprisoner，thattheythemselvesmightbefreetoleavethecourt！