第8章

ButthissamesummersawthereturntoEnglandofHenryCoxwell，andforsomeyearsthestoryoftheconquestoftheairisbesttoldbyfollowinghisstirringcareer，andhisowncommentsonaeronauticaleventsofthisdate。Wefindhimshortlysettingaboutcarryingoutsomereconnoitringandsignallingexperiments，designedtobeofuseintimeofwar。

Thiswasanoldideaofhis，andonewhichhad，ofcourse，beenlongentertainedbyothers，having，indeed，beenputtosomepracticaltestintimeofwarfare。Itwillbewelltomakenoteofwhatattentionthematterhadalreadyreceived，andofwhatprogresshadbeenmadebothintheoryandpractice。

WehavealreadymadesomementioninChapterIV。oftheusewhichtheFrenchhadmadeofballoonsintheirmilitaryoperationsattheendoftheeighteenthandbeginningofnineteenththecentury。Itwas，indeed，withinthefirsttenyearsafterthefirstinventionoftheballoonthat，underthesuperintendenceofthesavantsoftheFrenchAcademy，apracticalschoolofaeronauticswasestablishedatMeudon。ThenamesofGuyton，DeMorveau（adistinguishedFrenchchemist），andColonelCoutellearechieflyassociatedwiththemovement，andunderthemsomefiftystudentsreceivednecessarytraining。

Thepractisingballoonhadacapacityof17，000cubicfeet，andwasinflatedwithpurehydrogen，madebywhatwasthenanewprocessasappliedtoballooning，andwhichwillbedescribedinafuturechapter。Itappearsthattheballoonwaskeptalwaysfull，sothatanyopportunityofcalmweatherwouldbetakenadvantageofforpractice。Anditisfurtherstatedthataballoonwasconstructedsosoundandimperviousthatafterthelapseoftwomonthsitwasstillcapable，withoutbeingreplenished，ofraisingintotheairtwomen，withnecessaryballastandequipment。ThepracticaltrialfortheballooninrealservicecameoffinJune，1794，whenCoutelleinperson，accompaniedbytwostaffofficers，inoneofthefourballoonswhichtheFrenchArmyhadprovided，madeanascenttoreconnoitretheAustrianforcesatFleurus。Theyascendedtwiceinoneday，remainingaloftforsomefourhours，and，ontheirsecondascentbeingsighted，drewabriskfirefromtheenemy。Theywereunharmed，however，andthesuccessfulterminationofthebattleofFleurushasbeenclaimedasdueinlargemeasuretotheservicerenderedbythatballoon。

TheextraordinaryfactthattheuseoftheballoonwasformanyyearsdiscontinuedintheFrenchArmyisattributedtoastrangelysuperstitiousprejudiceentertainedbyNapoleon。LasCases（inhis"PrivateLifeofNapoleonatSt。Helena"）

relatesanalmostmiraculousstoryofNapoleon’scoronation。

Itappearsthatasumof23，500francswasgiventoM。Garnerintoprovideaballoonascenttoaidinthecelebrations，and，inconsequence，acolossalmachinewasmadetoascendat11p。m。

onDecember16thfromthefrontofNotreDame，carrying3，000

lights。Thisballoonwasunmanned，andatitsdepartureapparentlybehavedextremelywell，causinguniversaldelight。

Duringthehoursofdarkness，however，itseemstohaveacquitteditselfinastrangeandwell—nighpreternaturalmanner，foratdaybreakitissightedonthehorizonbytheinhabitantsofRome，andseentobecomingtowardstheircity。

Sotruewasitscoursethat，asthoughwithpredeterminedpurpose，itsailsontillitispositivelyoverSt。Peter’sandtheVatican，when，itsmissionbeingapparentlyfulfilled，itsettlestoearth，andfinallyendsitscareerintheLakeBracciano。Regardedfromwhateverpointofview，theflightwascertainlyextraordinary，anditisnotsurprisingthatinthatageitwasregardedasnothinglessthanaportent。

Moreover，littledetailsofthewonderfulstorywerequicklyendowedwithgravesignificance。Theballoononreachingthegroundrentitself。Next，ereitplungedintothewater，itcarefullydepositedaportionofitscrownonthetombofNero。

Napoleon，onlearningthefacts，forbadethattheyshouldeverbereferredto。Further，hethenceforwarddiscountenancedtheballooninhisarmy，andtheestablishmentatMeudonwasabandoned。

ThereisrecordofanattemptofsomesortthatwasmadetorevivetheFrenchmilitaryballooningschoolintheAfricancampaignof1830，butitwasbarrenofresults。Again，ithasbeenstatedthattheAustriansusedballoonsforreconnaissance，beforeVenicein1849，andyetagainthesamethingisrelatedoftheRussiansatthetimeofthesiegeofSebastopol，thoughKinglakedoesnotmentionthecircumstance。

In1846WisedrewupandlaidbeforetheAmericanWarOfficeanelaborateschemeforthereductionofVeraCruz。Thiswillbediscussedinitsdueplace，thoughitwillbedoubtlessconsideredaschimerical。

Ontheotherhand，eminentlypracticalweretheexperimentsco—ordinatedandbeguntobeputtoanactualtestbyMr。

Coxwell，who，beforehecoulddulyimpresshisprojectuponthemilitaryauthorities，hadtomakepreliminarytrialsinprivateventures。TheearliestofthesewasattheSurreyZoologicalGardensintheautumnof1854，anditwillbegrantedthatmuchingenuityandoriginalityweredisplayedwhenitisconsideredthatatthatdateneitherwirelesstelegraphy，electricflashlight，norevenMorseCodesignallingwasinvogue。

Accordingtohisannouncement，thespectatorsweretoregardhisballoon，captiveorfree，asfloatingatacertainaltitudeoverabeleagueredfortress，theauthoritiesincommunicationwithithavingthekeyofthesignalsandseekingtoobtainthroughthesemeansinformationastotheapproachofanenemy。

Itwastobesupposedthat，bytheaidofglasses，avastdistancearoundcouldbesubjectedtocarefulscrutiny，andaconstantcommunicationkeptupwiththeauthoritiesinthefortress。Further，theflagsorothersignalsweresupposedpreconcertedandunknowntotheenemy，beingformedbyvariationsofshapeandcolour。Pigeonswerealsodespatchedfromaconsiderableheighttotesttheirefficiencyundernovelconditions。Thepublicpresscommentedfavourablyontheperformanceandresultofthisinitialexperiment。

Mr。Coxwell’saccountofanoccasionwhenhehadtotryconclusionswithaveryboisterouswind，andofthewayinwhichhenegotiatedaverytryinganddangerouslanding，willbefoundalikeinterestingandinstructive。ItwasanascentfromtheCrystalPalace，andthemorningwasfairandofbrightpromiseoutwardly;butCoxwellconfessestohavedisregardedafallingglass。Theinflationhavingbeenprogressingsatisfactorily，heretiredtopartakeofluncheon，entirelyfreefromapprehensions;butwhilethusoccupied，hewaspresentlysoughtoutandsummonedbyagardener，whotoldhimthathisballoonhadtornaway，andwasnowcompletelyoutofcontrol，dragginghismenaboutthebushes。Onreachingthescene，themen，ingreatstrength，wereabouttoattemptamorestrenuousefforttodragtheballoonbackagainstthewind，whichCoxwellpromptlyforbade，warningthemthatsotheywouldtearalltopieces。Hethencommenced，asitwere，to"takeinareef，"bygatheringintheslackofthesilk，whichchieflywascatchingthewind，andbydrawinginthenet，meshbymesh，untilthemoreinflatedportionoftheballoonwasleftsnugandofferingbutlittleresistancetothegale，whenhegotherdraggedinadirectionslantingtothewindandundertheleeoftrees。

Eventuallyahazardousanddifficultdeparturewaseffected，Mr。Chandler，apassengeralreadybooked，insistingonaccompanyingtheaeronaut，inspiteofthelatter’sstrongestprotestations。Andtheirfirstperilcamequickly，inanearshaveoffoulingthebalconyoftheNorthTower，whichtheyavoidedonlybyapromptdischargeofsand，thecrowdcheeringloudlyastheysawhowthecrisiswasavoided。Thecar，addsMr。Coxwellinhismemoirs，"wasapparentlytrailingbehindtheballoonwithapendulousswing，whichisnotoftenthecase……

Inlessthantwominutesweenteredthelowerclouds，passingthroughthemquickly，andnoticingthattheirtops，whichareusuallyofwhite，roundedconformation，weretornintoshredsandcrestsofvapour。Above，therewasasecondwild—lookingstratumofanotherorder。Wecouldhear，aswehastenedon，thehumoftheWestEndofLondon;butwewerebowlingalong，havinglittletimetolookaboutus，thoughsomeextrasandbagswereturnedtogoodaccountbymakingabedofthematthebottomendsofthecar，whichweoccupiedinanticipationofaroughlanding。"

Asitcameontorainhardthevoyagersagreedtodescend，andCoxwell，choosingopenground，succeededintheoft—attemptedendeavourtodrophisgrapnelinfrontofabankorhedge—row。

Theballoonpulledupwithsuchashockasinevitablyfollowswhenflyingatsixtymilesanhour，andMr。Coxwellcontinues:

——"Wewereatthistimesuspendedlikeakite，anditwasnotsomuchthequantityofgaswhichkeptusupasthehollowsurfaceofloosesilk，whichactedlikeafallingkite，andtheobviousgameofskillconsistedinnotlettingouttoomuchgastomaketheballoonpitchheavilywithathudthatwouldhavebeenawfullyunpleasant;buttojockeyourfinaltouchinagradualmanner，andyettodoitasquicklyaspossibleforfearofthemachinegettingadrift，since，underthepeculiarcircumstancesinwhichwewereplaced，itwouldhaveinevitablyfallenwithacrushingblow，whichmighthaveprovedfatal。Ineverremembertohavebeeninasituationwhenmorecoolnessandnicetywererequiredtoovercometheperilwhichherebesetus;whileonthatdaythestrongwindwas，strangeasitmaysound，helpingustoalighteasily，thatistosayaslongasthegrapnelheldfastandtheballoondidnotturnoverlikeanunsteadykite。"

Suchperilastherewassoonterminatedwithoutinjurytoeithervoyager。

ThesameremarkwillapplytoanoccasionwhenCoxwellwascaughtinathunderstorm，whichhethusdescribesinbrief:——"OnasecondascentfromChesterfieldwewerecarriedintothemidstofgatheringclouds，whichbegantoflashvividly，andintheendculminatedinastorm。Therewereindications，beforewelefttheearth，astowhatmightbeexpected。Thelowerbreezetookusinanotherdirectionaswerose，butagentle，whirlingcurrenthigherupgotusintothevortexofahighlychargedcloud……Wehadtoprovebyabsoluteexperiencewhethertheballoonwasinsulatedandanon—conductor。Beyondadrenching，nountowardincidentoccurredduringavoyagelastinginallthree—quartersofanhour。"

AvoyagewhichCoxwell（referring，doubtless，toaerialtraveloverEnglishsoilonly）describesas"beingsoverymuchinexcessofaccustomarytripsinballoons"willbeseentofallshortofonememorablevoyageofwhichthewriterwillhavetogivehisownexperiences。Someaccount，however，ofwhatthefamousaeronauthastotellwillfindafittingplacehere。

ItwasanascentonasummernightfromNorthWoolwich，andonthisoccasionCoxwellwasaccom—paniedbytwofriends，onebeingHenryYouens，whosubsequentlybecameaprofessionalballoonistofconsiderablerepute，andwhoatthistimewasanardentamateur。Itwashalfanhourbeforemidnightwhenthepartytooktheirplaces，and，gettingsmartlyawayfromthecrowdinthegalagrounds，shotovertheriver，andshortlywereoverthetownofGreenwichwiththelightsofLondonwellahead。ThentheircoursetookthemoverKenningtonOval，VauxhallBridge，andBattersea，whentheypresentlyheardthestrainsofaScotchpolka。ThiscameupfromthethenfamousGardensofCremorne，and，thebreezefreshening，itwasbutafewminuteslaterwhentheystoodoverKingston，bywhichtimeitbecameaquestionwhether，beingnowclearofLondon，theyshoulddescendorelseliveoutthenightandtakewhatthusmightcometheirway。Thiscourse，asthemostprudent，aswellasthemostfascinating，wasthatwhichcommendeditself，andatthatmomentthehourofmidnightwasheardstriking，showingthatafairlylongdistancehadbeencoveredinashortintervaloftime。

Fromthisperiodtheywouldseemtohavelosttheirway，andthoughscatteredlightsweresightedahead，theyweresoonindoubtastowhethertheymightnotalreadybenearingthesea，adoubtthatwasstrengthenedbytheirhearingthecryofsea—fowl。Afterapause，lightswereseenloomingunderthehazetosea—ward，whichattimesresembledwater;andataillikethatofacometwasdiscerned，beyondwhichwasablackpatchofconsiderablesize。

ThepatchwastheIsleofWight，andthetailtheWaterfromSouthampton。Theywerethuswearingmoresouthandtowardsdanger。TheyhadnoDavylampwithwhichtoreadtheiraneroid，andcouldonlytellfromtheupwardflightoffragmentsofpaperthattheyweredescending。Anotherdeficiencyintheirequipmentwasthelackofatrailropetobreaktheirfall，andforsometimetheywereunderunpleasantapprehensionofanunexpectedandrudeimpactwiththeground，orcollisionwithsomeundesirableobject。Thisinducedthemtodischargesandandtorisktheconsequencesofanotherriseintospace，andastheymountedtheywerenotreassuredbysightingtothesoutharidgeoflightercolour，whichstronglysuggestedthecoastline。

Butitwasmidsummer，anditwasnotlongbeforebirdlifeawakeningwasheardbelow，andthenastreakofdawnrevealedtheirlocality，whichwasovertheExe，withSidmouthandTorBayhardbyontheirleft。Thenfromhere，thelandjuttingseawards，theyconfidentlytraversedDartmoor，andeffectedasafe，ifsomewhatunseasonable，descentnearTavistock。Thedistancetravelledwasconsiderable，buttheduration，ontheaeronaut’sownshowing，waslessthanfivehours。

Intheyear1859theTimescommentedontheusefulnessofmilitaryballoonsinlanguagethatfullyjustifiedallthatCoxwellhadpreviouslyclaimedforthem。Awarcorrespondent，whohadaccompaniedtheAustrianArmyduringthatyear，askspertinentlyhowithadhappenedthattheFrenchhadbeenreadyatsixo’clocktomakeacombinedattackagainsttheAustrians，who，ontheirpart，hadbutjusttakenuppositionsonthepreviousevening。Thecorrespondentgoesontosupplytheanswerthus:——"NosoonerwasthefirstAustrianbattalionoutofVallegiothanaballoonwasobservedtoriseintheairfromthevicinityofMonsambano——asignal，nodoubt，fortheFrenchinCastiglione。IhaveafullconvictionthattheEmperoroftheFrenchknewovernighttheexactpositionofeveryAustriancorps，whiletheEmperorofAustriawasunabletoascertainthenumberordistributionoftheforcesoftheallies。"

ItappearsthatM。Godardwastheaeronautemployedtoobservetheenemy，andthatfreshballoonsfortheFrenchArmywereproceededwith。

ThedatewasnownearathandwhenCoxwell，inpartnershipwithMr。Glaisher，wastotakepartintheclassicalworkwhichhasrenderedtheirnamesfamousthroughouttheworld。Beforeproceedingtotellofthatperiod，however，Mr。Coxwellhasdonewelltorecordoneaerialadventure，which，whilebutnarrowlymissingthemostseriousconsequences，givesaverypracticalillustrationofthechancesinfavouroftheaeronautunderextremecircumstances。

ItwasanascentatCongletoninagaleofwind，aandthecompanyoftwopassengers——Messrs。Pearson，ofLawtonHall——waspresseduponhim。Everythingforetoldaroughlanding，andsometimeafterthestartwasmadetheoutlookwasnotimprovedbythefactthatthedreadedcountyofDerbyshirewasseenapproaching;anditwaspresentlyapparentthatthespotonwhichtheyhaddecidedtodescendwasfacedbyrocksandaformidablegorge。Onthis，Coxwellattemptedtodrophisgrapnelinfrontofastonewall，andsofarwithsuccess;butthewallwentdown，asalsoanotherandanother，thewickercarpassing，withitsgreatimpetus，cleanthroughthesolidobstacles，tillatlasttheballoonslitfromtoptobottom。

Veryseriousinjuriestoheadsandlimbsweresustained，butnoliveswerelost，andCoxwellhimself，afterbeinglaidupatBuxton，gothomeoncrutches。

CHAPTERXIII。SOMENOTEWORTHYASCENTS。

Itwastheyear1862，andthescientificworldinEnglanddeterminedonceagainonattemptingobservationalworkinconnectionwithballoons。TherehadbeenameetingoftheBritishAssociationatWolverhampton，and，undertheirauspices，andwiththeprofessionalservicesofThomasLythgoe，Mr。Creswick，ofGreenwichObservatory，wascommissionedtomakealoftyscientificascentwithaCremorneballoon。Theattempt，however，wasunsatisfactory;andtheballoonbeingcondemned，anapplicationwasmadetoMr。Coxwelltoprovideasuitablecraft，andtoundertakeitsmanagement。TheprincipalsoftheworkingcommitteewereColonelSykes，M。P。，Dr。Lee，andMr。JamesGlaisher，F。R。S。，andashortconferencebetweenthesegentlemenandtheexperiencedaeronautsoonmadeitclearthatamammothballoonfarlargerthananyinexistencewasneededfortheworkinhand。Buthereafatalobstaclepresenteditselfinlackoffunds，forittranspiredthatthegrantvotedwasonlytobedevotedtotrialascents。

ItwasthenthatMr。Coxwell，withcharacteristicenterprise，undertook，athisowncost，tobuildasuitableballoon，and，moreover，tohaveitreadybyMidsummerDay。Itwasabold，aswellasagenerous，offer;foritwasnowMarch，and，accordingtoMr。Coxwell’sstatement，ifsilkwereemployed，thepreparationandmanufacturewouldoccupysixmonthsandcostnotlessthanL2，000。ThefabricchosenwasasortofAmericancloth，andbyunremittingeffortsthetaskwasperformedtotime，andtheballoonforwardedtoWolverhampton，itsdimensionsbeing55feetindiameter，80feetinheightfromtheground，withacapacityof93，000cubicfeet。ButthebestfeatureinconnectionwithitwasthefactthatMr。Glaisherhimselfwastomaketheascentsasscientificobserver。

Notimewaslostingettingtowork，buttwiceoverthechosendayswereunsuitable，anditwasnottillJuly17ththatthetwocolleagues，ofwhomsomuchistobetold，gotawayat9。30

a。m。withtheirballoononlytwo—thirdsfull，toallowofexpansiontotakeplaceinsuchaloftyascentaswascontemplated。And，whenitisconsideredthatanaltitudeoffivemileswasreached，itwillbegrantedthatthescientificgentlemanwhowasmakinghismaidenascentthatdayshowedremarkableenduranceandtenacityofpurpose——theall—importantessentialfortheonerousandtryingworkbeforehim。At9。56

theballoonhaddisappearedfromsight，climbingfarintotheskyintheE。N。E。ThestoryofthevoyagewemustleaveinMr。

Glaisher’shands。Certainevents，however，associatedwithotheraeronauts，whichhadalreadyhappened，andwhichshouldbeconsideredinconnectionwiththenewdramanowtobeintroduced，mayfittinglyheremeetwithbriefmention。

Thetroublearisingfromthecoastingacrosscountryofafallenandstillhalf—inflatedballoonhasalreadybeensufficientlyillustrated，andneedslittlefurtherdiscussion。

Itiscommonenoughtoseeaballoon，whenfullandround，strugglingrestivelyunderamoderatebreezewithascoreofmen，anddraggingthem，andnearatonofsand—bagsaswell，aboutthestartingground。But，ashasalreadybeenpointedout，thepowerofthewindontheglobeisvastlyincreasedwhenthesilkbecomesslackandformsahollowtoholdthewind，likeabellyingsail。Variousmeanstodealwiththisdifficultyhavebeendevised，oneofthesebeinganemergency，orrippingvalve，inadditiontotheordinaryvalve，consistingofanarrangementfortearingalargeopeningintheupperpartofoneofthegores，sothatonreachingearththeballoonmaybeimmediatelycrippledandemptiedofsolargeaquantityofgasastorenderdraggingimpossible。Suchamethodisnotaltogetherwithoutdrawbacks，oneofthesebeingtheconfusionliabletoarisefromtherebeingmorethanonevalvelinetoreckonwith。Toobviatethis，ithasbeensuggestedthattheemergencylineshouldbeofadistinctivecolour。

Butanexperimentwithasafeguardtosomewhatofthisnaturewasattendedwithfatalconsequenceintheyear1824。AMr。

Harris，alieutenantintheBritishNavy，ascendedfromtheEagleTavern，CityRoad，withaballoonfittedwithacontrivanceofhisowninvention，consistingofalargehingeduppervalve，havingwithinitasmallervalveofthesamedescription，theideabeingthat，shouldtheoperationofthesmalleroutletnotsufficeforanyoccasion，thentheshutterofthelargeropeningmightberesortedto，toeffectamoreliberaldischargeofgas。

Mr。Harristookwithhimayounglady，MissStocksbyname，andapparentlytheafternoon——itbeinglateMay——wasfavourableforanaerialvoyage;for，withfullrelianceonhisapparatus，helefthisgrapnelbehind，andwascontentwithsuchassistanceasthegirlmightbeabletorenderhim。Itwasnotlongbeforetheballoonwasfounddescending，andwitharapiditythatseemedsomewhattodisturbtheaeronaut;andwhen，afterare—ascent，effectedbyadischargeofballast，anotherdecideddownwardtendencyensued，Mr。Harrisclearlyrealisedthatsomethingwaswrong，without，however，diviningthecause。Thestorysubsequentlytoldbythegirlwastotheeffectthatwhentheballoonwasdescendingthesecondtimeshewasspokentobyherunfortunatecompanioninananxiousmanner。"Ithenheardtheballoongo’Clap！clap！’andMr。

Harrissaidhewasafraiditwasbursting，atwhichIfainted，andknewnomoreuntilIfoundmyselfinbed。"Agamekeepertellsthesequel，relatingthatheobservedtheballoon，whichwasdescendingwithgreatvelocity，strikeandbreaktheheadofanoaktree，afterwhichitalsostrucktheground。

Hurryingup，hefoundthegirlinsensible，andMr。Harrisalreadydead，withhisbreastboneandseveralribsbroken。

TheexplanationoftheaccidentgivenbyMr。EdwardSpencerisalikeconvincingandinstructive。Thiseminentlypracticalauthoritypointsoutthatthevalvelinesmusthavebeenmadetauttothehoopatthetimethattheballoonwasfullandglobular。Thus，subsequently，whenfromdiminutionofgastheballoon’sshapeelongated，thevalvelinewouldbecomestrainedandbegintoopenthevalve，butinsuchagradualmannerastoescapethenoticeoftheaeronaut。MissStocks，farfrombeingunnervedbytheterribleexperience，actuallymadethreesubsequentascentsincompanywithMr。Green。

Itdeservesmentionthatanotherdisaster，equallyinstructive，buthappilynotattendedwithlossoflife，occurredinDublinin1844toMr。Hampton，whoaboutthistimemadeseveralpublicandenterprisingvoyages。Heevidentlywaspossessedofadmirablenerveanddecision，anddidnothesitatetomakeanascentfromthePorto—BelloGardensinfaceofstrongwindblowingsea—wards，andinspiteofmanyprotestationsfromtheonlookersthathewasplacinghimselfindanger。Thisdangerhefullyrealised，moreparticularlywhenherecognisedthattheheadlandonwhichhehopedtoalightwasnotinthedirectionofthewind’scourse。Resolved，however，ongratifyingthecrowd，Mr。Hamptonascendedrapidly，andthenwithequalexpeditioncommencedaprecipitatedescent，whichheaccomplishedwithskillandwithoutmishap。Butthewindwasstillboisterous，andtheballoonspedonwardalongthegroundtowardsfreshdangerunforeseen，andperhapsnotdulyreckonedwith。Aheadwasacottage，thechimneyofwhichwasonfire。

Aballoonistinthesecircumstancesisapttothinklittleofasinglesmallobjectinhisway，knowinghowmanyarethechancesofmissingorofsuccessfullynegotiatinganysuchobstacle。Thewriterononeoccasionwas，inthejudgmentofonlookersbelow，driftingindangerousproximitytotheawfulCwmavonstackinGlamorganshire，theninfullblast;yetitwasafactthatthatvastventofflameandsmokepassedalmostunheededbythepartyinthedescendingcar。Itmayhavebeenthus，also，withMr。Hampton，whoonlyfullyrealisedhisdangerwhenhisballoonblewup"withanawfullygrandexplosion，"andhewasreducedtotheextremityofjumpingforhislife，happilyescapingthemassofburningsilkandropes。

Theawfulpredicamentoffallingintothesea，whichhasbeenillustratedalready，andwhichwillrecuragaininthesepages，wasablyandsuccessfullymetbyMr。Cunningham，whomadeanafternoonascentfromtheArtilleryBarracksatClevedon，reachingSnakeIslandatnightfall，where，owingtothegatheringdarkness，hefeltconstrainedtoopenhisvalve。Hequicklycommenceddescendingintothesea，andwhenwithintenfeetofthewater，turnedthe"detachingscrew"whichconnectedthecarwiththeballoon。Theeffectofthiswasatoncetolaunchhimonthewaves，but，beingstillabletokeepcontroloverthevalve，heallowedjustenoughgastoremainwithinthesilktoholdtheballoonabovewater。Hethenbetookhimselftothepaddleswithwhichhiscraftwasprovided，andreachedSnakeIslandwiththeballoonintow。Hereheseemstohavefoundgooduseforafurtherportionofhisverycompleteequipment;for，lightingasignalrocket，hepresentlybroughtafour—oaredgigtohissuccourfromPortsmouthHarbour。

Theteachingoftheaboveincidentismanifestenough。Ifitshouldbecontemplatedtousetheballoonforseriousorlengthenedtravelanywherewithinpossiblereachofthesea—board——andthismustapplytoallpartsoftheBritishIsles——itmustbecomeawiseprecaution，ifnotanabsolutenecessity，toadoptsomeformofcarthatwouldbeofavailintheeventofafalltakingplaceinthesea。SufficientconfirmationofthisstatementwillbeshortlyaffordedbyamemorablevoyageaccomplishedduringthepartnershipofMessrs。

GlaisherandCoxwell，onewhichwouldcertainlyhavefoundthetravellersinfarlessjeopardyhadtheircarbeenconvertibleintoaboat。WehavealreadyseenhowessentialWiseconsideredthisexpedientinhisownbolderschemes，anditmayfurtherbementionedherethatmodernairshipshavebeendesignedwiththeintentionofmakingthewateraperfectlysafelanding。

Theballooningexploitswhich，however，wehavenowtorecounthadquiteanotherandmorespecialobjectconsistentlyinview——thatofscientificinvestigation;andwewouldherepremisethattheproperappreciationoftheseinvestigationswilldependonadueunderstandingoftheattendantcircumstances，asalsooftheconstantcharacteristicbehaviourofballoons，whetherdespatchedformeretravelorresearch。