第3章

Buthewasflatteredbyacomplimentofayethigherorder。HewastoldthatwhilehehoveredoverLondontheKingwasinconferencewithhisprincipalMinisters，andhisMajesty，learningthathewasinthesky，isreportedtohavesaidtohiscouncillors，"Wemayresumeourowndeliberationsatpleasure，butwemayneverseepoorLunardiagain！"Onthis，itisfurtherstatedthattheconferencebrokeup，andtheKing，attendedbyMr。PittandotherchiefofficersofState，continuedtoviewLunardithroughtelescopesaslongasheremainedinthehorizon。

ThepublicPress，notablytheMorningPostofSeptember16，paidaworthytributetotheheroofthehour，andonelastactofanexceptionalcharacterwascarriedoutinhishonour，andremainsinevidencetothishour。InameadowintheparishofStandon，nearWare，therestandsaroughhewnstone，nowprotectedbyanironrail。ItmarksthespotwhereLunardilanded，andonitiscutalegendwhichrunsthus:

LetPosterityknowAndknowingbeastonishedthatOnthe15thdayofSeptember1784

VincentLunardiofLuscainTuscanyThefirstaerialtravellerinBritainMountingfromtheArtilleryGroundInLondonAndTraversingtheRegionsoftheAirForTwoHoursandFifteenMinutesInthisSpotRevisitedtheEarth。

OnthisrudemonumentForagesberecordedThatWondrousEnterpriseSuccessfullyatchievedBythePowersofChemistryAndtheFortitudeofManThatImprovementinScienceWhichTheGreatAuthorofallKnowledgePatronyzingbyHisProvidenceTheInventionofMankindHathgraciouslypermittedToTheirBenefitAndHisownEternalGlory。

CHAPTERIV。THEDEVELOPMENTOFBALLOONPHILOSOPHY。

Inlessthantwoyearsnotonlyhadthescienceofballooningreachedalmostitshighestdevelopment，buttheballoonitself，asanaerostaticmachine，hadbeenbroughttoastateofperfectionwhichhasbeenbutlittleimproveduponuptothepresentthour。Betterorcheapermethodsofinflationwereyettobediscovered，lighterandmoresuitablematerialremainedtobemanufactured;butthenavigationoftheair，whichhithertothroughalltimehadbeenbeyondman’sgrasp，hadbeenattained，asitwere，atabound，andatthehandsofmanydifferentandindependentexperimentalistswasbeingpursuedwithalmostthesamedegreeofsuccessandsafetyasto—day。

Norwasthisall。Therewasyetanothertriumphoftheaeronauticalartwhich，withinthesamebriefperiod，hadbeentoallintentsandpurposesachieved，evenifithadnotbeenbroughttothesamestateofperfectionasatthepresenthour。

ThiswastheParachute。Thisfactisonewhichforasufficientreasonisnotgenerallyknown。Itisverycommonlysupposedthattheparachute，inanythinglikeitspresentform，isaverymoderndevice，andthattheartofsuccessfullyusingithadnotbeenintroducedtotheworldevensolatelyasthirtyyearsago。Thus，wefinditstatedinworksofthatdatedealingwiththesubjectthatdisastrousconsequencesalmostnecessarilyattendedtheuseoftheparachute，"thedefectsofwhichhadbeenattemptedtoberemediedinvariousways，butuptothistimewithoutsuccess。"Amorecorrectstatement，however，wouldhavebeenthattheartofconstructingandusingapracticableparachutehadthroughmanyyearsbeenlostorforgotten。Inactualfact，ithadbeenadoptedwitheveryassuranceofcompletesuccessbytheyear1785，whenBlanchardbyitsmeanslowereddogsandotheranimalswithsafetyfromaballoon。AfewyearslaterhedescendedhimselfinalikeapparatusfromBasle，meeting，however，withthemisadventureofabrokenleg。

Butwemustgomuchfurtherbackfortheactualconceptionoftheparachute，which，wemightsuppose，mayoriginallyhavebeensuggestedbytheeasyfloatingmotionwithwhichcertainseedsorleaveswilldescendfromloftytrees，orbythemodeadoptedbybirdsofdroppingsoftlytoearthwithout—stretchedwings。M。delaLoubere，inhishistoricalaccountofSiam，whichhevisitedin1687—88，speaksofaningeniousathletewhoexceedinglydivertedtheKingandhiscourtbyleapingfromaheightandsupportinghimselfintheairbytwoumbrellas，thehandlesofwhichwereaffixedtohisgirdle。In1783，thatis，thesameyearasthatinwhichtheballoonwasinvented，M。leNormandexperimentedwithalikeumbrella—shapedcontrivance，withaviewtoitsadoptionasafireescape，andhedemonstratedthesoundnessoftheprinciplebydescendinghimselffromthewindowsofaloftyhouseatLyons。

Itwas，however，reservedforM。JacquesGarnerinin1797tomakethefirstparachutedescentthatattractedgeneralattention。GarnerinhadpreviouslybeendetainedasaStateprisonerinthefortressofBade，inHungary，afterthebattleofMarchiennesin1793，andduringhisconfinementhadponderedonthepossibilityofeffectinghisescapebyaparachute。Hissolitarycogitationsandcalculationsresulted，afterhisrelease，intheinventionandconstructionofanapparatuswhichheputtoapracticaltestatParisbeforethecourtofFranceonOctober22nd，1797。Ascendinginahydrogenballoontotheheightofabout2，000feet，heunhesitatinglycuthimselfadrift，whenforsomedistancehedroppedlikeastone。

Thefoldsofhisapparatus，however，openingsuddenly，hisfallbecameinstantlychecked。Theremainderofhisdescent，thoughleisurely，occupying，infact，sometwelveminutes，appearedtothespectatorstobeattendedwithuncertainty，owingtoaswingingmotionsetupinthecartowhichhewasclinging。

Butthefactremainsthathereachedtheearthwithonlyslightimpact，andentirelywithoutinjury。

ItappearsthatGarnerinsubsequentlymademanyequallysuccessfulparachutedescentsinFrance，andduringtheshortpeaceof1802visitedLondon，wherehegaveanexhibitionofhisart。Fromthemostreliableaccountsofhisexploititwouldseemthathisdropwasfromaverygreatheight，andthatastronggroundwindwasblowingatthetime，theresultofwhichwasthatwild，wideoscillationsweresetupinthecar，whichnarrowlyescapedbringinghimincontactwiththehousetopsinSt。Pancreas，andeventuallyswunghimdownintoafield，notwithoutsomeunpleasantscratches。

NorwasGarnerintheonlysuccessfulparachutistatthisperiod。APolishaeronaut，JordakiKuparento，ascendedfromWarsawonthe24thofJuly，1804inahotairballoon，takingup，aswasthecustom，anattachedfurnace，whichcausedtheballoontotakefirewhenatagreatheight。Kuparento，however，whowasalone，hadasaprecautionprovidedhimselfwithaparachute，andwiththisheseemstohavefoundnodifficultyineffectingasafedescenttoearth。

Itwasmanyyearsafterthisthatfreshexperimentalists，introducingparachutesonnewlinesandfaultyinconstruction，metwithdeathordisaster。Enough，however，hasalreadybeensaidtoshowthatintheearlyyearswearenowtraversinginthishistoryaperfectlypracticableparachutehadbecomeanaccomplishedfact。TheearlyformiswelldescribedbyMr。

MonckMasoninalettertotheMorningHeraldin1837，writtenontheeveofanunrehearsedandfatalexperimentmadebyMr。

Cocking，whichmustreceivenoticeinduecourse。"Theprinciple，"writesMr。MonckMason，"uponwhichalltheseparachuteswereconstructedisthesame，andconsistssimplyofaflatteneddomeofsilkorlinenfrom24feetto28feetindiameter。Fromtheoutermarginallaroundatstatedintervalsproceedalargenumberofcords，inlengthaboutthediameterofthedomeitself，which，beingcollectedtogetherinonepointandmadefasttoanotherofsuperiordimensionsattachedtotheapexofthemachine，servetomaintainitinitsformwhenexpandedintheprogressofthedescent。Tothiscentrecordlikewise，atadistancebelowthepointofjunction，varyingaccordingtothefancyoftheaeronaut，isfixedthecarorbasketinwhichheisseated，andthewholesuspendedfromthenetworkoftheballooninsuchamannerastobecapableofbeingdetachedinaninstantatthewilloftheindividualbycuttingtheropebywhichitismadefastabove。"

Itfollowedalmostasamatterofcoursethatsosoonastheballoonhadbeenmadesubjecttosomethinglikeduecontrol，andthushadbecomerecognisedasanewmachinefairlyreducedtotheserviceofman，itbegantoberegardedasaninstrumentwhichshouldbemadecapableofbeingdevotedtoscientificresearch。Indeed，itmaybeclaimedthat，amongtheveryearliestaeronauts，thosewhohadsailedawayintotheskiesandbroughtbackintelligentobservationsorimpressionsoftherealmofcloud—land，orwhohadonlydescribedtheirownsensationsatloftyaltitudes，hadalreadycontributedfactsofvaluetoscience。Itistimethen，takingeventsintheirduesequence，thatmentionshouldbemadeoftheendeavoursofvarioussavants，whobeganaboutthecommencementofthenineteenthcenturytogatherfreshknowledgefromtheexplorationoftheairbyballoonascentsorganisedwithfittingequipment。Thetimehadnowcomeforpromotingtheballoontohigherpurposesthanthoseofmereexhibitionoramusement。Inpointoffact，ithadalreadyinonewaybeenturnedtoseriouspracticalaccount。IthadbeenusedbytheFrenchduringmilitaryoperationsintherevolutionarywarasamodeofreconnoitring，andnotwithoutsuccess，sothatwhenafterduetrialthewarballoonwasjudgedofvalueanumberofsimilarballoonswereconstructedfortheuseofthevariousdivisionsoftheFrencharmy，and，aswillbetoldinitsproperplace，one，atleast，ofthesewasputtoapositivetestbeforethebattleofFleurus。

But，returningtomorestrictlyscientificascents，whichbegantobemootedatthisperiod，weareatonceimpressedwiththewidespreadinfluencewhichtheballoonwasexercisingonthinkingminds。Wenotethisfromthefactthatwhatmustbeclaimedtobethefirstgenuineascentforscientificobservationwasmadeinaltogetherfreshground，andatsodistantaspotasSt。Petersburg。

Itwasnowtheyear1804，andtheRussianAcademyhaddeterminedonattemptinganexaminationofthephysicalconditionofthehigheratmospherebymeansoftheballoon。

TheideahadprobablybeensuggestedbyscientificobservationswhichhadalreadybeenmadeonmountainheightsbysuchexplorersasDeLuc，Saussure，Humboldt，andothers。Andnowitwasdeterminedthattheirresultsshouldbetestedalongsidesuchobservationsascouldbegatheredinthefreeheavenfarremovedfromanydisturbingeffectsthatmightbecausedbycontiguitytoearth。Thelinesofenquirytowhichspecialattentionwasrequiredweresuchaswouldbenaturallysuggestedbythescientificknowledgeofthehour，thoughtheymayreadsomewhatquaintlyto—day。Wouldtherebeanychangeintheintensityofthemagneticforce？Anychangeintheinclinationofthemagnetisedneedle？Wouldevaporationfindanewlaw？Wouldsolarraysincreaseinpower？Whatamountofelectricmatterwouldbefound？Whatchangeinthecoloursproducedbytheprism？Whatwouldbetheconstitutionofthehigherandmoreattenuatedair？Whatphysicaleffectwouldithaveonhumanandbirdlife？

Theascentwasmadeat7。15onasummereveningbyM。RobertsonandtheAcademician，M。Sacharof，towhomweareindebtedforthefollowingresumeofnotes，whichhaveaspecialvalueasbeingthefirstoftheirclass。Risingslowly，adifferenceofatmosphereovertheNevagavetheballoonadownwardmotion，necessitatingthedischargeofballast。Aslateas8。45p。m。

afineviewwasobtainedoftheNewskiIslands，andthewholecourseoftheneighbouringriver。At9。20p。m。，whenthebarometerhadfallenfrom30inchesto23inches，acanaryandadoveweredismissed，theformerfallingprecipitately，whilethelattersaileddowntoavillagebelow。Allavailableballastwasnowthrownout，includingasparegreatcoatandtheremainsofsupper，withtheresultthatat9。30thebarometerhadfallento22inches，andatthisheighttheycaughtsightoftheupperrimofthesun。Theactionofheartandlungsremainednormal。Nostarswereseen，thoughtheskywasmainlyclear，suchcloudsaswerevisibleappearingwhiteandatagreatheight。Theechoofaspeakingtrumpetwasheardafteranintervaloftenseconds。Thiswassubstantiallytheoutcomeoftheexperiments。Thepracticaldifficultiesofcarryingoutprearrangedobservationsamidtheinconvenienceofballoontravelweremuchfelt。Theirinstrumentswereseriouslydamaged，andtheirresults，despitemostpainstakingandpraiseworthyefforts，mustberegardedassomewhatdisappointing。

Buteretheautumnofthesameyeartwootherscientificascents，admirablyschemedandfinancedatthepublicexpense，hadbeensuccessfullycarriedoutatParisinawarballoonwhich，aswillbetold，hadatthistimebeenreturnedfrommilitaryoperationsinEgypt。Inthefirstofthese，GayLussacascendedincompanywithM。Biot，withverycompleteequipment。Choosingteno’clockinthemorningfortheirhourofdeparture，theyquicklyenteredaregionofthin，butwetfog，afterwhichtheyshotupintodensercloud，whichtheycompletelysurmountedataheightof6，500feet，whentheydescribedtheuppersurfaceasbearingtheresemblance，familiarenoughtoaeronautsandmountaineers，asofawhiteseabrokenupintogentlyswellingbillows，orofanextendedplaincoveredwithsnow。

Aseriesofsimpleexperimentsnowembarkeduponshowedthebehaviourofmagnetisediron，asalsoofagalvanicpileorbattery，toremainunaltered。Astheiraltitudeincreasedtheirpulsesquickened，thoughbeyondfeelingkeenlythecontrastofacolderairandofscorchingraysofthesuntheyexperiencednophysicaldiscomfort。At11，000feetalinnetwhichtheyliberatedfelltotheearthalmosthelplessly，whileapigeonwithdifficultymaintainedanirregularandprecipitateflight。Acarefullycompiledrecordwasmadeofvariationsoftemperatureandhumidity，andtheysucceededindeterminingthattheupperairwaschargedwithnegativeelectricity。Inallthisthesetwoaccomplishedphysicistsmaybesaidtohavecarriedoutabrilliantachievement，eventhoughtheiractualresultsmayseemsomewhatmeagre。Theynotonlyweretheirownaeronauts，butsucceededinarrangingandcarryingoutcontinuousandsystematicobservationsthroughouttheperiodoftheirremaininginthesky。

Thisvoyagewasregardedassuchapronouncedsuccessthatthreeweekslater，inmid—September，GayLussacwasinducedtoascendagain，thistimealone，andundercircumstancesthatshouldenablehimtoreachanexceptionallyhighaltitude。

Experiencehadtaughttheadvisabilityofcertainmodificationsinhisequipment。Amagnetwasingeniouslyslungwithaviewoftestingitsoscillationeveninspiteofaccidentalgyrationsintheballoon。Thermometersandhygrometerswerecarefullyshelteredfromthedirectactionofthesun，andexhaustedflasksweresuppliedwiththeobjectofbringingdownsamplesofupperairforsubsequentanalysis。

Againitwasanearlymorningascent，withabarometeronthegroundstandingat30。6inches，andaslightlymistyair。

Lussacappearstohaveaccomplishedtheexceedinglydifficulttaskofcountingtheoscillationsofhismagnetwithsatisfactiontohimself。At10，000feettwentyvibrationsoccupied83seconds，ascomparedwith84。33secondsattheearth’ssurface。Thevariationofthecompassremainedunaltered，asalsothebehaviourofmagnetisedironatallaltitudes。Keepinghisballoonunderperfectcontrol，andmaintainingauniformandsteadyascent，heatthesametimesucceededincompilinganaccuratetableofreadingsrecordingatmosphericpressure，temperatureandhumidity，anditisinterestingtofindthathewasconfrontedwithanapparentanomalywhichwillcommonlypresentitselftotheaeronautobserver。Upto12，000feetthetemperaturehaddecreasedconsistentlyfrom82degreesto47degrees，afterwhichitincreased6degreesinthenext2，000feet。Thisbynomeansuncommonexperienceshallbepresentlydiscussed。Theballoonwasnowsteadilymanoeuvredupto18，636feet，atwhichheightfreezingpointwaspracticallyreached。Thenwithafurtherclimb20，000feetisrecorded，atwhichaltitudetheardentphilosophercouldstillattendtohismagneticobservations，norishisarduousandunassistedtaskabandonedhere，butwithmarvellouspertinacityheyetstruggledupwardstillaheightofnolessthan23，000feetisrecorded，andthethermometerhadsunkto14degreesF。Fourmilesandaquarterabovethelevelofthesea，reachedbyasolitaryaerialexplorer，whoselegitimatetraininglayapartfromaeronautics，andwhosemaincarewastheobservationofthephilosophicalinstrumentshecarried！TheachievementofthisFrenchsavantmakesabrilliantrecordintheearlypagesofourhistory。

ItisnotsurprisingthatLussacshouldowntohavingfeltnoinconsiderablepersonaldiscomfortbeforehisventurewasover。

Inspiteofwarmclothinghesufferedgreatlyfromcoldandbenumbedfingers，notlessalsofromlabouredbreathingandaquickenedpulse;headachesupervened，andhisthroatbecameparchedandunabletoswallowfood。Inspiteofall，heconductedthedescentwiththeutmostskill，climbingdownquietlyandgraduallytillhealightedwithgentleeaseatSt。

Gourgen，nearRouen。Itmaybementionedherethattheanalysisofthesamplesofairwhichhehadbroughtdownprovedthemtocontainthenormalproportionofoxygen，andtobeessentiallyidentical，astestedinthelaboratory，withthefreeairsecuredatthesurfaceoftheearth。

ThesuddenandapparentlyunaccountablevariationintemperaturerecordedbyLussacisastrikingrevelationtoanaerialobserver，andbecomesyetmoremarkedwhenmoresensitiveinstrumentsareusedthanthosewhichweretakenupontheoccasionjustrelated。Itwillberecordedinafuturechapterhowmoresuitableinstrumentscameincourseoftimetobedevised。Itisonlynecessarytopointoutatthisstagethatinstrumentswhichlackduesensibilitywillunavoidablyreadtoohighinascents，andtoolowindescentswhere，accordingtothegenerallaw，theairisfoundtogrowconstantlycolderwithelevationabovetheearth’ssurface。Itisstrongevidenceofconsiderableefficiencyintheinstruments，andofcarefulattentiononthepartoftheobserver，thatLussacwasabletorecordthetemporaryinversionofthelawofchangeoftemperatureabove—mentioned。

Hadhepossessedmoderninstrumentalequipmenthewouldhavebroughtdownayetmoreremarkableaccountoftheupperregionswhichhevisited，andlearnedthatthevariationsofheatandcoldwereconsiderablymorestrikingthanhesupposed。

Withaspeciallydevisedinstrumentusedwithspecialprecautions，thewriter，aswillbeshownhereafter，hasbeenabletoprovethatthetemperatureoftheair，astraversedinthewaywardcourseofaballoon，isprobablyfarmorevariableandcomplexthanhasbeenrecordedbymostobservers。

TheexceptionalheightclaimedtohavebeenreachedbyGayLassacneednotforamomentbequestioned，andthefactthathedidnotexperiencethesamepersonalinconvenienceashasbeencomplainedofbymountainclimbersatfarlessaltitudesadmitsofreadyexplanation。Thephysicalexertiondemandedofthemountaineerisentirelyabsentinthecaseofanaeronautwhoissailingatperfecteaseinafreeballoon。Moreover，itmustberememberedthat——amostimportantconsideration——theaerialvoyager，necessarilytravellingwiththewind，isunconscious，saveatexceptionalmoments，ofanybreezewhatever，anditisawell—establishedfactthatadegreeofcoldwhichmightbeinsupportablewhenabreezeisstirringmaybebutlittlefeltindeadcalm。Itshouldalsoberemembered，indulyregardingGayLussac’sremarkablerecord，thatthiswasnothisfirstexperienceofhighaltitudes，anditisanacknowledgedtruththatanaeronaut，especiallyifhebeanenthusiast，quicklybecomesacclimatisedtohisnewelement，andsufficientlyinuredtoitsoccasionalrigours。

CHAPTERV。SOMEFAMOUSEARLYVOYAGERS。

Duringcertainyearswhichnowfollowitwillpossiblybethoughtthatourhistory，sofarasincidentsofspecialinterestareconcerned，somewhatlanguishes。Yetitmaybewrongtoregardthisperiodasoneofstagnationorretrogression。

Beforepassingontolaterannals，however，wemustdulychroniclecertainexceptionalachievementsandendeavoursasyetunmentioned，whichstandoutprominentlyintheperiodwehavebeenregardingasalsointheadvancingyearsofthenewcenturyAmongthesemustinjusticebeincludedthosewhichcomeintotheremarkable，ifsomewhatpatheticsubsequentcareerofthebrilliant，intrepidLunardi。

Compellingeverywhereunboundedadmirationhereadilysecuredthemeansnecessaryforcarryingoutfurtherexploitswhereverhedesiredwhileatthesametimehemetwithameasureofgoodfortuneinfreedomfrommisadventuresuchashasgenerallybeendeniedtolessboldadventurers。Withinafewmonthsofthetimewhenwelefthim，thepopularheroandhappyrecipientofcivicandroyalfavours，wefindhiminScotlandattemptingfeatswhichaknowledgeofpracticaldifficultiesbidsusregardasextraordinary。

Tobeginwith，nothingappearsmoreremarkablethantheease，expedition，andcertaintywithwhichindayswhennecessaryfacilitiesmusthavebeenfarhardertocomebythannow，hecouldalwaysfillhisballoonbytheusuallytediousandtroublesomemodeattendinghydrogeninflation。WeseehimathisfirstScottishascent，completingtheoperationinlittlemorethantwohours。ItisthesamelateratGlasgow，where，commencingwithonlyaportionofhisapparatus，hefindstheinflationactuallytoproceedtoorapidlyforhispurpose，andhastoholdthepowersathiscommandstronglyincheck。

Later，inDecemberweather，havingstillfurtherimprovedhisapparatus，hemakeshisballoonsupportitselfaftertheinflationofonlytenminutes。Then，asifassuredofimpunity，hetreatsrecognisedriskswithaspeciesofcontempt。AtKelsohehailsalmostwithjoythefactthatthewindmustcarryhimrapidlytowardsthesea，whichintheendhenarrowlyescapes。AtGlasgowthechancesofsafelandingarestillmoreagainsthim，yethehasnohesitationinstarting，andatlastthecatastropheheseemedtocourtactuallyovertookhim，andheplumpedintotheseanearBerwick，wherenosailwaseveninsight，andawinter’snightcomingon。Fromthispredicamenthewasrescuedbyaspecialprovidencewhichoncebeforehadnotdesertedhim，wheninatumultofviolentandcontrarycurrents，andatagreatheighttoboot，hisgallerywasalmostcompletelycarriedaway，andhehadtoclingontothehoopdesperatelywithbothhands。

Thenwelosesightofthedauntless，light—heartedItalianforone—and—twentyyears，whenintheGentleman’sMagazineofJuly31，1806，appearsthebriefline，"DiedintheconventofBarbadinas，ofadecline，Mr。VincentLunardi，thecelebratedaeronaut。"

Garnerin，ofwhommentionhasalreadybeenmade，accomplishedinthesummerof1802twoaerialvoyagesmarkedbyextremevelocityintherateoftravel。ThefirstoftheseisalsoremarkableashavingbeenthefirsttofairlycrosstheheartofLondon。CaptainSnowdon，R。N。，accompaniedtheaeronaut。

TheascenttookplacefromChelseaGardens，andprovedsogreatanattractionthatthecrowdoverflowedintotheneighbouringpartsofthetown，chokingupthethoroughfareswithvehicles，andcoveringtheriverwithboats。Onbeingliberated，theballoonspedrapidlyaway，takingacoursemidwaybetweentheriverandthemainhighwayoftheStrand，FleetStreet，andCheapside，andsopassedfromviewofthemultitude。Suchadeparturecouldhardlyfailtoleadtosubsequentadventures，andthisispithilytoldinaletterwrittenbyGarnerinhimself:"Itaketheearliestopportunityofinformingyouthatafteraverypleasantjourney，butafterthemostdangerousdescentIevermade，onaccountoftheboisterousweatherandthevicinityofthesea，wealightedatthedistanceoffourmilesfromthisplaceandsixtyfromRanelagh。

Wewereonlythree—quartersofanhourontheway。To—nightI

intendtobeinLondonwiththeballoon，whichistorntopieces。Weourselvesarealloverbruises。"

OnlyaweekafterthesameaeronautascendedagainfromMarylebone，whenheattainedalmostthesamevelocity，reachingChingford，adistanceofseventeenmiles，infifteenminutes。

Thechiefdangerattendingaballoonjourneyinahighwind，supposingnoinjuryhasbeensustainedinfillingandlaunching，resultsnotsomuchfromimpactwiththegroundonalightingasfromthesubsequentalmostinevitabledraggingalongtheground。Thegrapnels，spurningtheopen，willoftenobtainnogripsaveinahedgeortree，andeventhenlargeboughswillbebrokenthroughordraggedaway，releasingtheballoononafreshcareerwhichmay，forawhile，increaseinmadimpetuosityastheemptyingsilkoffersadeeperhollowforthewindtocatch。

Theelementofriskisofanothernatureinthecaseofanightascent，whentheactualalightinggroundcannotbedulychosenorforeseen。Amongmanyrecordnightascentsmayhere，somewhatbyanticipationofevents，bementionedtwoembarkeduponbytheheroofourlastadventure。M。GarnerinwasengagedtomakeaspectacularascentfromTivoliatParis，leavingthegroundsatnightwithattachedlampsilluminatinghisballoon。Hisfirstessaywasonanightofear]yAugust，whenheascendedat11p。m。，reachingaheightofnearlythreemiles。Remainingaloftthroughthehoursofdarkness，hewitnessedthesunriseathalf—pasttwointhemorning，andeventuallycametoearthafterajourneyofsomesevenhours，duringwhichtimehehadcoveredconsiderablymorethanahundredmiles。Alikeboldadventurecarriedoutfromthesamegroundsthefollowingmonthwasattendedwithgraverperil。A

heavythunderstormappearingimminent，Garnerinelectedtoascendwithgreatrapidity，withtheresultthathisballoon，underthediminishedpressure，quicklybecamedistendedtoanalarmingdegree，andhewasreducedtothenecessityofpiercingaholeinthesilk，whileforsafety’ssakeheendeavouredtoextinguishalllampswithinreach。Henowlostallcontroloverhisballoon，whichbecameunmanageableintheconflictofthestorm。Havingexhaustedhisballast，hepresentlywasrudelybroughttoearthandthenborneagainstamountainside，finallylosingconsciousnessuntiltheballoonhadfoundanchoragethreehundredmilesawayfromParis。

Anightascent，whichreadsasyetmoresensationalandextraordinary，isreportedtohavebeenmadeayearortwopreviously，andwhenitisconsideredthattheballoonusedwasoftheMontgolfiertypetheaccountasitishandeddownwillbeallowedtobewithoutparallel。Itrunsthus:CountZambeccari，Dr。GrassatiofRome，andM。PascalAndreoliofAntonaascendedonaNovembernightfromBologna，allowingtheirballoontorisewithexcessivevelocity。InconsequenceofthisrapidtransitiontoanextremealtitudetheCountandtheDoctorbecameinsensible，leavingAndreolialoneinpossessionofhisfaculties。Attwoo’clockinthemorningtheyfoundthemselvesdescendingovertheAdriatic，atwhichtimealanternwhichtheycarriedexpiredandwaswithdifficultyre—lighted。Continuingtodescend，theypresentlypitchedintotheseaandbecamedrenchedwithsaltwater。Itmayseemsurprisingthattheballoon，whichcouldnotbepreventedfallinginthewater，isyetenabledtoascendfromthegripofthewavesbythemeredischargeofballast。（Itwouldbeinterestingtoinquirewhatmeanwhilehappenedtothefirewhichtheypresumablycarriedwiththem。）Theynowroseintoregionsofcloud，wheretheybecamecoveredwithhoarfrostandalsostonedeaf。At3a。m。theywereoffthecoastofIstria，oncemorebattlingwiththewavestillpickedupbyashoreboat。Theballoon，relievedoftheirweight，thenflewawayintoTurkey。

Howeveroverdrawnthisnarrativemayappear，itmustbereadinthelightofanotheraccount，thebare，hardfactsofwhichcanadmitofnoquestion。Itisfiveyearslater，andonceagainCountZambeccariisascendingfromBologna，thistimeincompanywithSignorBonagna。AgainitisaMontgolfierorfireballoon，andonnearingearthitbecomesentangledinatreeandcatchesfire。Theaeronautsjumpfortheirlives，andtheCountiskilledonthespot。Certainly，wheneveryallowanceismadeforpardonableorunintentionalexaggeration，itmustbeconcededthatthereweregiantsinthosedays。Giantsintheconceptionandaccomplishmentofdeedsofloftydaring。

Menwhocamescathlessthroughsupremedangerbyvirtueofthecalmnessandcouragewithwhichtheywithstoodit。

Amongotherappallingdisasterswehaveanexampleofaterrificdescentfromavastheightinwhichtheadventurersyetescapewiththeirlives。Itwasthesummerof1808，andtheaeronauts，MM。AndreoliandBrioschi，ascendingfromPadua，reachaheightatwhichabarometersinkstoeightinches，indicatingupwardsof30，000feet。Atthispointtheballoonbursts，andfallsprecipitatelynearPetrarch’stomb。

Commentingonthis，Mr。Glaisher，thevalueofwhoseopinionissecondtonone，isnotdisposedtoquestionthegeneraltruthofthenarrative。InregardtoZambeccari’sescapefromthesearelatedabove，itshouldbestatedthatinthecaseofagas—inflatedballoonwhichhasnomorethandippeditscarorgalleryinthewaves，itisgenerallyperfectlypossibletoraiseitagainfromthewater，providedthereisonboardastoreofballast，thedischargeofwhichwillsufficientlylightentheballoon。AcaseinpointoccurredinamostromanticandperilousvoyageaccomplishedbyMr。Sadleronthe1stofOctober，1812。

Hisadventureisoneofextraordinaryinterest，andofnolittlevaluetothepracticalaeronaut。ThefollowingaccountiscondensedfromMr。Sadler’sownnarrative。HestartedfromthegroundsofBelvedereHouse，Dublin，withtheexpressedintentionofendeavouringtocrossovertheIrishChanneltoLiverpool。Thereappeartohavebeentwoprincipalairdrifts，anupperandalower，bymeansofwhichheentertainedfairhopesofsteeringhisdesiredcourse。Butfromtheoutsethewasmenacedwithdangersanddifficulties。Erehehadleftthelandhediscoveredarentinhissilkwhich，occasionedbysomeaccidentbeforeleaving，showedsignsofextending。