The Dominion of the Air

第18章

Amodificationofthisinstrument，asemployedbythewriter，consistedofalight，spherical，drum—shapedframeoflargesize，which，whencoveredwithdarkmaterialandhungintheclearbelowthecarofaloftyballoon，couldbewellseeneitheragainstblueskyorgreyatagreatdistance。Theso—calleddrumcould，byaverysimplecontrivance，readilyworkedfromthecar，bemadetocollapseintoaveryinconspicuousobject，andthusbecapableofdisplayingMorseCodesignals。Alongpausewiththedrumextended——likethelongwaveofasignallingflag——woulddenotea"dash，"andashortpausea"dot，"andthesemotionswouldbeatonceintelligibletoanyoneacquaintedwiththenowuniversalMorseCodesystem。

Providedwithanapparatusofthekind，thewritermadeanascentfromNewburyatatimewhenthemilitarycampswerelyingonSalisburyPlainatadistanceofnearlytwentymilestothesouth—west。Thegroundwindupto2，500feetonstartingwasnearlyduenorth，andwouldhavedefeatedtheattempt;again，theairstreamblowingabovethatheightwasnearlydueeast，whichagainwouldhaveprovedunsuitable。Butitwasmanifestlypossibletoutilisethetwocurrents，andwithgoodlucktozig—zagone’scoursesoastocomewithineasysignallingdistanceofthevariouscamps;and，asamatteroffact，weactuallypassedimmediatelyoverBulfordCamp，withwhichweexchangedsignals，whiletwoothercampslayclosetorightandleftofus。Fortunefavouringus，wehadactuallyhitourmark，thoughitwouldhavebeensufficientfortheexperimenthadourcourselainwithintenmilesrightorleft。

Yetafurtherusefortheballooninwarfareremainsuntriedinthiscountry。ActingundertheadviceofexpertsintheService，thewriter，intheearlypartofthepresentyear，suggestedtotheAdmiraltythedesirabilityofexperimentingwithballoonsasameansofdetectingsubmarineenginesofwar。

Itiswellknownthatreefsandshoalscangenerallybeseenfromaclifformastheadfarmoreclearlythanfromthedeckorotherpositionnearthesurfaceofthewater。Wouldnot，then，aballoon，ifskilfullymanoeuvred，serveasavaluablepostofobservation？TheAdmiralty，inacknowledgingthecommunication，promisedtogivethemattertheirattention;butbythemonthofJunethePresshadannouncementsofhowtheself—sameexperimentshadbeensuccessfullycarriedthroughbyFrenchauthorities，whileafewdayslatertheAdmiraltywrote，"Forthepresentnoneedisseenfortheuseofacaptiveballoontodetectsubmarines。"

Amongmanyandvariedballooningincidentswhichhaveoccurredtothewriter，therearesomewhichmaynotunprofitablybecomparedwithcertainexperiencesalreadyrecordedofotheraeronauts。Thunderstorms，aswitnessedfromaballoon，havealreadybeencasuallydescribed，anditmayreasonablybehopedthattheobservationswhichhave，undervaryingcircumstances，beenmadeathighaltitudesmaythrowsomeadditionallightonthisfamiliar，thoughsomewhatperplexing，phenomenon。

Tobeginwith，itseemsamootpointwhetheraballooncaughtinathunderstormis，orisnot，inanyspecialdangerofbeingstruck。Ithasbeenarguedthatimmunityundersuchcircumstancesmustdependuponwhetherasufficientlylongtimehaselapsedsincetheballoonlefttheearthtoallowofitsbecomingpositivelyelectrifiedbyinductionfromthecloudsorbyrainfallinguponitssurface。Buttherearemanyotherpointstobeconsidered。Thereistheconstantescapeofgasfromthemouth;thereisthemassofpointedmetalintheanchor;and，again，itisconceivablethataballoonrapidlydescendingoutofathunderstormmightcarrywithitachargeresidingonitsmoistenedsurfacewhichmightmanifestitselfdisastrouslyastheballoonreachedtheearth。

Instancesseemtohavebeennotinfrequentofballoonsencounteringthunderstorms;but，unfortunately，inmostcasestheobservershavenothadanyscientifictraining，ortheaccountswhicharetohandarethoseofthetypeofjournalistwhoischieflyinquestofsensationalcopy。

ThusthereisanaccountfromAmericaofaProfessorKingwhomadeanascentfromBurlington，Iowa，justasathunderstormwasapproaching，withtheresultthat，insteadofscuddingawaywiththewindbeforethestorm，hewasactually，asifbysomeattraction，drawnintoit。Onthishisaimwastopiercethroughthecloudabove，andthenfollowsadescriptionwhichitishardtorealise:——"Therecamedowninfrontofhim，andapparentlynotmorethan50feetdistant，agranddischargeofelectricity。"Thenhefeelsthecarlifted，thegassuddenlyexpandstooverflowing，andtheballoonishurledthroughthecloudwithinconceivablevelocity，thishappeningseveraltimes，withtremendousoscillationsofthecar，untiltheballoonisbornetoearthinatorrentofrain。Wefancythatmanypracticalballoonistswillhardlyendorsethisdescription。

Butwehaveanother，relatingtooneofthemostdistinguishedaeronauts，M。EugeneGodard，who，inanascentwithlocaljournalists，wascaughtinathunderstorm。Herewearetold——presumablybythejournalists——that"twicethelightningflashedwithinafewyardsoftheterror—strickencrew。"

Onceagain，inanascentatDerby，aspectatorwrites:——"Thelightningplayeduponthesphereoftheballoon，lightingitupandmakingthingsvisiblethroughit。"This，however，onemustsuppose，canhardlyapplytotheballoonwhenliberated。

Butagraphicdescriptionofaverydifferentcharactergiveninthe"QuarterlyJournaloftheRoyalMeteorologicalSociety"

forJanuary，1901，isofrealvalue。ItappearsthatthreelieutenantsofthePrussianBalloonCorpstookchargeofaballoonthatascendedatBerlin，and，whenataheightof2，300

feet，becameenvelopedinthemist，throughwhichonlyoccasionalglimpsesofearthwereseen。Atthispointasharp，cracklingsoundwasheardatthering，likethesparkingofahugeelectricalmachine，and，lookingup，thevoyagersbeheldsparksapparentlysomehalf—inchthick，andovertwofeetinlength，playingfromthering。Thunderwasheard，but——andthismayhavesignificance——onlybeforeandaftertheabovephenomenon。

AnotherinstructiveexperienceisrecordedoftheyoungerGreeninanascentwhichhemadefromFrankfort—on—the—Maine。Onthisoccasionherelatesthatheencounteredathunderstorm，andataheightof4，400feetfoundhimselfatthelevelwherethestormcloudsweredischargingthemselvesinadeluge。Heseemstohavehadnodifficultyinascendingthroughthestormintotheclearskyabove，whereabreezefromanotherquarterquicklycarriedhimawayfromthestormcentre。

Thisco—existence，orconflictofoppositecurrents，isheldtobethecommoncharacteristic，ifnotthemaincause，ofthunderstorms，andtallieswiththefollowingpersonalexperience。ItwasintypicalJulyweatherof1900thatthewriterandhisson，accompaniedbyAdmiralSirEdmundFremantleandMr。PercivalSpencer，madeaneveningascentfromNewbury。

Ithadbeenadayofstorms，butabout5p。m。，afterwhatappearedtobeaclearingshower，theskybrightened，andwesailedupintoacloudlessheaven。Thewind，at3，000feet，wastravellingatsomethirtymilesanhour，anderethedistanceoftenmileshadbeencoveredaformidablethunderpackwasseenapproachingandcomingupdeadagainstthewind。

Nothingcouldbemoreevidentthanthattheballoonwastravellingrapidlywithalowerwind，whilethestormwasbeingborneequallyrapidlyonanupperanddiametricallyoppositecurrent。Itprovedoneofthemostseverethunderstormsrememberedinthecountry。ItbroodedforfivehoursoverDevizes，afewmilesahead。Ahomesteadonourrightwasstruckandburnedtotheground，whileonourlefttwosoldierswerekilledonSalisburyPlain。Theskyimmediatelyoverheadwas，ofcourse，hiddenbythelargeglobeoftheballoon，butaroundandbeneathusthestormseemedtogatherinabluegreymist，whichquicklybroadenedanddeepenedtill，almostbeforewecouldrealiseit，wefoundourselvesintheveryheartofthestorm，thelightningplayingallaroundus，andthesharphailstingingourfaces。

Thecountrymenbelowdescribedtheballoonasapparentlyenvelopedbythelightning，butwithourselves，thoughtheflasheswereincessant，andonallsides，thereverberationsofthethunderwerenotremarkable，beingratherbriefexplosionsinwhichtheyresembledthethunderclapsnotinfrequentlydescribedbytravellersonmountainheights。

Theballoonwasnowdescendingfromadoublecause:theweightofmoisturesuddenlyaccurnulatedonitssurface，andtheveryobviousdownrushofcoldairthataccompaniedthestormofpeltinghail。Withaverylimitedstoreofballast，itseemedimpossibletomakeafurtherascent，norwasthisdesirable。

Thesignallingexperimentsonwhichwewereintentcouldnotbecarriedoninsuchweather。Theonlycoursewastodescend，andthoughthiswasnotatoncepracticable，owingtoSavernakeForestbeingbeneathus，weeffectedasafelandinginthefirstavailableclearing。

Ashasbeenmentioned，Mr。Glaisherandotherobservershaverecordedseveralremarkableinstancesofoppositewindcurrentsbeingmetwithatmoderatealtitudes。None，however，canhavebeenmorenoteworthyorsurprisingthanthefollowingexperienceOfthewriteronWhitMondayof1899。Theascentwasunderanovercastsky，fromtheCrystalPalaceat3p。m。，atwhichhouracolddrizzlewassettlinginwithamoderatebreezefromtheeast。Thus，startingfromtheusualfillinggroundnearthenorthtower，theballoonsailedoverthebodyofthePalace，andthenceoverthesuburbstowardsthewesttilllostinthemist。Wethenascendedthrough1，500feetofdense，wettingcloud，and，emerginginbrightsunshine，continuedtodriftfortwohoursatanaveragealtitudeofsome3，000feet;1，000feetbelowuswastheill—defined，everchanginguppersurfaceofthedensecloudfloor，anditwasnolongerpossibletodetermineourcourse，whichwethereforeassumedtohaveremainedunchanged。Atlength，however，asameasureofprudence，wedeterminedtodescendthroughthecloudssufficientlytolearnsomethingofourwhereabouts，whichwereasonablyexpectedtobesomewhereinSurreyorBerks。Onemerging，however，belowthecloud，thefirstobjectthatloomedoutofthemistirnmediatelybelowuswasacargovessel，intheriggingofwhichourtrailropewasentanglingitself。OnlybydegreesthefactdawneduponusthatwewereintheestuaryoftheThames，andbeatinguptowardsLondononceagainwithancastwind。Thusitbecameevidentthatatthehigherlevel，unknowntoourselves，wehadbeenheadedbackonourcourse，fortwohours，byawinddiametricallyopposedtothatblowingontheground。

Tworecentdevelopmentsofthehot—airwarballoonsuggestgreatpossibilitiesinthenearfuture。Onetakestheformofasmallcaptive，carryingaloftaphotographiccameradirectedandoperatedelectricallyfromtheground。Theotherisaself—containedpassengerballoonoflargedimensions，carryingincompletesafetyaspecialpetroleumburnerofgreatpower。

ThesenewandimportantdeparturesaremainlyduetothemechanicalgeniusofMr。J。N。Maskelyne，whohaspatentedandperfectedtheminconjunctionwiththewriter。

CHAPTERXXVIII。THECONSTITUTIONOFTHEAIR。

Somefairideaoftheconditionsprevailingintheupperairmayhavebeengatheredfromthemanyandvariousobservationsalreadyrecorded。Statingthecasebroadly，wemayassertthatthesameatmosphericchangeswithwhichwearefamiliarattheleveloftheeartharetobefoundalsoatallaccessibleheights，equallyextensiveandequallysudden。

Standingonanopenheathonagustyday，wemayoftennotetherhythmicbuffetingofthewind，resemblingtheassaultofrollingbillowsofair。Theevidenceofthesebillowshasbeenactuallytracedfaraloftinballoontravel，whenaeronauts，lookingdownonawind—sweptsurfaceofcloud，haveobservedthissurfacetobethrownintoaseriesofrollsofvapour，whichwerebutvastandveritablewavesofair。Theintervalbetweensuccessivecrestsofthesewaveshasononeoccasionbeenestimatedatapproximatelyhalfamile。Wehaveseenhowtheseairstreamssometimesholdwideandindependentswayatdifferentlevels。Wehaveseen，too，howtheysometimesmeetandmingle，notinfrequentlyattendedwithelectricaldisturbanceThroughbroaddriftsofairminorairstreamswouldseemoftenliterallyto"thread"theirway，breakngupintofilamentsorwanderingrillsofair。InthevoyageacrossSalisburyPlainlatelydescribed，whiletheballoonwasbeingcarriedwiththemoresluggishcurrent，anumberofsmallparachutesweredroppedoutatfrequentintervalsandcarefullywatched。Thesewouldcommonlyattendtheballoonforalittlewhile，until，gettingintosomeminorairstream，theywouldsuddenlyandrapidlydivergeatsuchwideanglesastosuggestthatcrossingouractualcoursethereweresidepaths，downwhichthesmallerbodiesbecamewafted。

Onanotheroccasionthewritermetwithstronglymarkedandaltogetherexceptionalevidenceofthevehemenceandpersistenceoftheseminoraerialstreamlets。ItwasonanoccasioninAprilweather，whenaheavyovercastskyblottedouttheupperheavens。Inthecloudlevelsthewindwassomewhatsluggish，andforanhourwetravelledatanaveragespeedofalittleovertwentymilesanhour，neverhigherthan3，000feet。Atthispoint，whileflyingoverHertfordshire，wethrewoutsufficientballasttocausetheballoontoriseclearofthehazylowerair，andcomingunderthefullinfluenceofthesun，theninthemeridian，weshotupwardsatconsiderablespeed，andsoonattainedanaltitudeofthreemiles。Butforaconsiderableportionofthisclimb——while，infact，wewereascendingthroughlittlelessthanamileofourupwardcourse——wewereassailedbyimpetuouscrosscurrents，whichwhistledthroughcarandriggingandsmoteusfairlyonthecheek。Itwasaltogetheranovelexperience，andthemoreremarkablefromthefactthatourmainonwardcoursewasnotappreciablydiverted。

Thenwegotabovethesecurrents，andremainedatourmaximumlevel，whilewefloated，stillatonlyamoderatespeed，thelengthofacounty。Thedescentthenbegan，andonceagain，whilewedroppedthroughthesamedisturbedregion，thesamefar—reachingandobtrusivecross—currentassailedus。Itwasquiteobviousthatthevehementcurrentsweretooslendertotelllargelyuponthehugesurfaceoftheballoon，asitwasbeingsweptsteadilyonwardsbythemainwind，whichnevervariedindirectionfromgroundlevelsuptothegreatestheightattained。

ThisexperienceisbutconfirmationofthestoryofthewindtoldbythewindgaugesontheForthBridge。Herethemaximumpressuremeasuredonthelargegaugeof300squarefeetiscommonlyconsiderablylessthanthatonthesmallergauge，suggestingthatthelattermustbeduetothreadsofairoflimitedareaandhighvelocity。

Furtherandveryvaluablelightisthrownonthepeculiarwaysofthewind，nowbeingconsidered，byProfessorLangleyinthespecialresearchesofhistowhichreferencehasalreadybeenmade。Thiseminentobserverandmathematician，suspectingthattheold—fashionedinstruments，whichonlytoldwhatthewindhadbeendoingeveryhour，oratbesteveryminute，gavebutamostimperfectrecord，constructeddelicategauges，whichwouldrespondtoeveryimpulseandgivereadingsfromsecondtosecond。

Inthiswayheestablishedthefactthatthewind，farfrombeingabodyofevenapproximateuniformity，isundermostordinaryconditionsirregularalmostbeyondconception。

Further，thatthegreaterthespeedthegreaterthefluctuations，sothatahighwindhastoberegardedas"airmovinginatumultuousmass，"thevelocityatonemomentperhapsfortymilesanhour，thendiminishingtoanalmostinstantaneouscalm，andthenresuming。"Infact，intheverynatureofthecase，windisnottheresultofonesimplecause，butofaninfinitenumberofimpulsesandchanges，perhapslongpassed，whicharepreservedinit，andwhichdieonlyslowlyaway。"

Whenwecometotakeobservationsoftemperaturewefindtheconditionsintheatmosphereaboveustobeatfirstsightnotalittlecomplex，andaltogetherdifferentindayandnighthours。Fromobservationsalreadyrecordedinthisvolume——notablythoseofGayLussac，Welsh，andGlaisher——ithasbeenmadetoappearthat，inascendingintotheskyindaytime，thetemperatureusuallyfallsaccordingtoagenerallaw;buttherearefoundregionswherethefalloftemperaturebecomesarrested，suchregionsbeingcommonly，thoughbynomeansinvariably，associatedwithvisiblecloud。Itisprobable，however，thatitwouldbemorecorrectnottointerpretthepresenceofcloudascausingmanifestationofcold，butrathertoregardthemeetingofwarmandcoldcurrentsasthecauseofcloud。

Thewriterhasexperimentedintheupperregionswithaspecialformofairthermometerofgreatsensibility，designedtorespondrapidlytoslightvariationsoftemperature。Testingthisinstrumentononeoccasioninaroomofequablewarmth，andwithoutdraughts，hewaspuzzledbyseeingtheindexinacapillarytubesuddenlymountingrapidly，duetosomecausewhichwasnotapparent，tillitwasnoticedthattheparlourcat，attractedbytheproceedings，hadapproachedneartheapparatus。Thebehaviourofthisinstrumentwhenslungintheclearsomedistanceoverthesideoftheballooncar，andcarefullywatched，suggestsbyitsfitful，sudden，andrapidchangesthatwarmercurrentsareoftenmakingtheirwayinsuchslenderwanderingrillsashavebeenalreadypicturedaspermeatingthebroaderairstreams。Duringnighthoursconditionsarereversed。Thewarmerairradiatedofftheearththroughthedayhasthenascended。Itwillbefoundatdifferentheights，lyinginpoolsorstrata，possiblyresemblinginform，couldtheybeseen，massesofvisiblecloud。

Thewriterhasgatheredfromnightvoyagesinstructiveandsuggestivefactswithreferencetotheascentofairstreams，duetodifferencesoftemperature，particularlyoverLondonandthesuburbs，anditisconceivablethatinsuchascendingstreamsmaylieameansofdealingsuccessfullywithvisitationsofsmokeandfog。

Onelessontaughtbyballoontravelhasbeenthatfogorhazewillcomeorgoinobediencetotemperaturevariationsatlowlevels。ThusthickhazehaslainoverLondon，moreparticularlyoverthelowerparts，atsundown。Thenthroughnighthours，asthetemperatureofthelowerairhasbecomeequalised，thehazehascompletelydisappeared，butonlytoreassertitselfatdawn。

AdescriptionoftheveryimpressiveexperienceofanightsailoverLondonhasbeenreserved，butshouldnotbealtogetheromitted。Glaisher，writingofthespectacleasheobserveditnearlyfortyyearsago，describesLondonseenatnightfromaballoonatadistanceasresemblingavastconflagration。Whenactuallyoverthetown，amainthoroughfareliketheCommercialRoadshoneuplikealineofbrilliantfire;but，travellingwestward，OxfordStreetpresentedanappearancewhichpuzzledhim。"Herethetwothicklystuddedrowsofbrilliantlightswereseenoneithersideofthestreet，withanarrow，darkspacebetween，andthisdarkspacewasbounded，asitwere，onbothsidesbyabrightfringelikefrostedsilver。"Presentlyhediscoveredthatthisricheffectwascausedbythebrightilluminationoftheshoplightsonthepavements。"

London，asseenfromaballoononaclearmoonlightnightinAugustayearago（1901），woreasomewhatalteredappearance。

Therewerethefairylampstracingoutthestreets，which，thoughdarkcentred，woretheirsilverlining;butinirregularpatchesawhiterlightfromelectricarclampsbroadenedandbrightenedandshoneoutlikesomepyrotechnicdisplayabovetheblackhousetops。Throughthevasttownranablank，blackchannel，theriver，windingonintodistance，crossedhereandtherebybridgesshowingasbrightbands，andwithbrightspotsoccasionallytomarkwherelaytherivercraft。Butwhatwasmoststrikingwasthesilence。ThoughthenoiseofLondontrafficasheardfromaballoonhasdiminishedoflateyearsowingtothebetterpaving，yetindayhourstheroarofthestreetsishearduptoagreatheightasahard，harsh，grindingdin。Butatnight，afterthelast’bushasceasedtoply，andbeforethemarketcartsbeginlumberingin，theballoonist，ashesailsoverthetown，mightimaginethathewastraversingaCityoftheDead。

Itisatsuchtimesthatashoutthroughaspeakingtrumpethasamoststartlingeffect，andmoreparticularlyablastonahorn。Inthiscaseafteranintervalofsomesecondsawildnotewillbeflungbackfromthehouse—topsbelow，answeredandre—answeredonallsidesasitechoesfromrooftoroof——awild，weirduproarthatawakessuddenly，andthendiesoutslowlyfaraway。

Experimentswithechoesfromaballoonhaveprovedinstructive。

If，whenridingataheight，say，of2，000feet，achargeofgun—cottonbefiredelectrically100feetbelowthecar，thereport，thoughreallyasloudasacannon，soundsnomorethanamerepistolshot，possiblypartlyowingtothegreaterrarityoftheair，butchieflybecausethesound，havingnobackgroundtoreflectit，simplyspendsitselfintheair。Then，alwaysandunderallconditionsofatmospheresoever，thereensuesabsolutesilenceuntilthetimefortheechobackfromearthhasfullyelapsed，whenadeafeningoutburstofthunderrisesfrombelow，rollingonoftenformorethanhalfaminute。Twonoteworthyfacts，atleast，thewriterhasestablishedfromaverylargenumberoftrials:first，thatthetheoryofaerialechoesthrownbackfromemptyspace，whichphysicistshaveheldtoexistconstantly，andtobepartofthecauseofthunder，willhavetobeabandoned;and，secondly，thatfromsomecauseyettobefullyexplainedtheechobackfromtheearthisalwaysbehinditstime。

Butballoonshaverevealedfurthersuggestivefactswithregardtosound，andmoreparticularlywithregardtothevaryingacousticpropertiesoftheair。Itisafamiliarexperiencehowdistantsoundswillcomeandgo，risingandfalling，oftenbeingwaftedoverextraordinarydistances，andagainfailingaltogether，orsometimesbeinglostatnearrange，butappearinginstrengthfurtheraway。Afreeballoon，movingintheprofoundsilenceoftheupperair，becomesanadmirablesoundobservatory。Itmaybeclearlydetectedthatincertainconditionsofatmosphere，atleast，therearewhatmaybeconceivedtobeaerialsoundchannels，throughwhichsoundsare，momentarilyconveyedwithabnormalintensity。Thisphenomenondoesbutservetogiveanintelligiblepresentmentoftheunseenconditionsexistingintherealmofair。

Itwouldbereasonabletosupposethatwereaneyesoconstitutedastobeabletosee，say，cumulusmassesofwarmerair，stratamottledwithtracesofothergases，andbedsofinvisiblematterinsuspension，onemightsupposethatwhatwedeemtheclearestskywouldthenappearfleckedwithformsasmanyandvariousasthecloudsthatadornoursummerheavens。

Butthereismatterinsuspensionintheatmospherewhichisveryfarfrominvisible，andwhichinthecaseoflargetownsisverycommonlylyinginthickstrataoverhead，stoppingbackthesunlight，andformingthenucleusroundwhichnoisomefogsmayform。Experimentingwithsuitableapparatus，thewriterhasfoundonastillafternooninMay，at2，000feetaboveKingstoninSurrey，thattheairwaschargedfarmoreheavilywithdustthanthatoftheLondonstreetsthenextday;and，again，athalfamileabovethecityinthemonthofAugustlastdust，muchofitbeingofagrossandevenfibrousnature，wasfarmoreabundantthanongrassenclosuresinthetownduringtheforenoonofthedayfollowing。

AnattempthasbeenmadetoincludeEnglandinaseriesofinternationalballoonascentsarrangedexpresslyforthepurposeoftakingsimultaneousobservationsatalargenumberofstationsoverEurope，bywhichmeansitishopedthatmuchfreshknowledgewillbeforthcomingwithrespecttotheconstitutionoftheatmosphereuptothehighestlevelsaccessiblebyballoonsmannedandunmanned。ItisverymuchtoberegrettedthatinthecaseofEnglandtheattemptherespokenofhasrestedentirelyonprivateenterprise。FirstandforemostinpersonalliberalityandtheworkoforganisationmustbementionedMr。P。Y。Alexander，whosezealintheprogressofaeronauticsissecondtononeinthiscountry。

TwicethroughhiseffortsEnglandhasbeenrepresentedintheimportantworkforwhichContinentalnationshavenodifficultyinobtainingpublicgrants。ThefirstoccasionwasonNovember8th，1900，whenthewriterwasprivilegedtooccupyaseatintheballoonfurnishedbyMr。Alexander，andequippedwiththemostmoderntypeofinstruments。ItwasastormyandfastvoyagefromtheCrystalPalacetoHalstead，inEssex，48milesin40minutes。Simultaneouslywiththis，Mr。AlexanderdismissedanunmannedballoonfromBath，whichascended8，000

feet，andlandedatCricklade。OtherballoonswhichtookpartinthecombinedexperimentweretwofromParis，threefromChalaisMeudon，threefromStrasburg，twofromVienna，twofromBerlin，andtwofromSt。Petersburg。

Thesectionofourcountrymenspeciallyinterestedinaeronautics——agrowingcommunity——isrepresentedbytheAeronauticalSociety，formedin1865，withtheDukeofArgyllforpresident，andforthirtyyearsunderthemostenergeticmanagementofMr。F。W。Brearey，succeedingwhomashon。secs。

havebeenMajorBaden—PowellandMr。EricS。Bruce。Mr。

Breareywasoneofthemostsuccessfulinventorsofflyingmodels。Mr。Chanute，speakingasPresidentoftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers，paidhimahighandwell—deservedcomplimentinsayingthatitwasthroughhisinfluencethataerialnavigationhadbeenclearedofmuchrubbishandplaceduponascientificandfirmbasis。

Anothercommunitydevotingitselftothepursuitofballoontripsandmattersaeronauticalgenerallyisthenewly—formedAeroClub，ofwhomoneofthemostprominentandenergeticmembersistheHon。C。S。Rolls。

IthadbeenannouncedthatM。Santos—DumontwouldbringanairshiptoEngland，andduringthesummerofthepresentyearwouldgiveexhibitionsofitscapability。ItwasevenrumouredthathemightcircleroundSt。Paul’sandaccomplishotheraerialfeatsunknowninEngland。ThepromisewasfulfilledsofarasbringingtheairshiptoEnglandwasconcerned，foroneofhisvesselswhichhadseenservicewasdepositedattheCrystalPalace。Insomemysteriousmanner，however，neversufficientlymadecleartothepublic，thismachinewasonemorningfounddamaged，andM。Santos—Dumonthaswithdrawnfromhisproposedengagements。

Inthusdoingheleftthefieldopentooneofourowncountrymen，who，inhisfirstattemptatflightwithanairshipofhisowninventionandconstruction，hasprovedhimselfnounworthyrivalofthewealthyyoungBrazilian。

Mr。StanleySpencer，inaverybriefspaceoftime，designedandbuiltcompletelyintheworkshopsofthefirmanelongatedmotorballoon，75feetlongby20feetdiameter，workedbyascrewandpetrolmotor。Thismotorisplacedintheprow，25

feetawayfrom，andinfrontof，thesafetyvalve，bywhichprecautionanydangerofignitingtheescapinggasisavoided。

Should，however，acollapseofthemachinearisefromanycause，thereisanarrangementforthrowingtheballoonintotheformofaparachute。Further，thereisprovidedmeansforadmittingairatwillintotheballoon，bywhichthenecessityformuchballastisobviated。

Mr。Spencerhavingfilledtheballoonwithpurehydrogen，madehisfirsttrialwiththismachinelateinaneveningattheendofJune。TheperformanceofthevesselisthusdescribedintheWestminsterGazette:——"Thehugeballoonfilledslowly，sothatthelightwasrapidlyfailingwhenatlastthedoorsofthebigshedslidopenandtheshipwasbroughtcarefullyout，hermotorstarted，andhermaidenvoyagecommenced。WithMr。