第2章

类别:其他 作者:Rev. J. M. Bacon字数:12843更新时间:18/12/18 14:00:38
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!