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CORRESPONDENCE.
THE LATE BALLOON VOYAGE.
To the Editor of Harper's Weekly:
   THE excitement of the public mind in regard to the transcontinental balloon voyage from St. Louis to Jefferson County, New York, having passed away, a few words or explanation concerning the false reports that were circulated about it, and a consequent misunderstanding therefrom resting in that public mind, may be opportune at this time. 
   Your own journal, as well as many other respectable papers, have been imposed on by fabricated accounts, purporting to be from Mr. O. A. Gager and from Mr. John La Mountain.
   Permit me to say that I have no ill-feeling against Mr. La Mountain. I verily believe that no trouble would  have arisen with him had he not placed himself in the hands of an indiscreet relation connected with the Troy Times. This person is attempting to build up a reputation for Mr. La Mountain by destroying mine, which I have been more than twenty years in acquiring- time will show with what success. 
   As for me, my business is to sail balloons, to improve the system of aerial navigation, to teach it to others; to improve the art in every way I can, and not to engage in controversies about little details of this or that experiment. I claim to have done nothing but an ordinary duty in our late trip- just what any other ordinary man of the same experience and inclinations might have done; and I feel it a duty I owe to science and to the truth to give a full faithful report in pamphlet form. This pamphlet I have submitted to the perusal of Mr. O. A. Gager for correction and revision before it went to press, and he has made such alterations and corrections as he deemed proper. I deemed this a duty I owed to Mr. O. A. Grager, because he was the projector of the Atlantic, and because he is a gentleman of energy, intelligence, and manly integrity. 
   His candid letter to me upon his seeing fabricated reports which have appeared is perhaps the best and most explanatory commentary upon this abuse of a well-intended adventure. We all felt devoted to our mission, and sincere and harmonious in our action, until the genetleman of the Troy Times thought fit to mar that harmony by his ill-directed and ill-timed intermeddling. 
   I here submit this letter: 
NEW YORK, July 10, 1859.
FRIEND WISE, Lancaster, Pennsylvania:
   DEAR SIR,-I have not yet seen John La Mountain since we left him in "Adams". You have doubtless seen what purports to be "his account," written by Mr. Demers of the Troy Times. Also an account of his reception on his return to Lansingburg. The motives that have prompted all the articles in the Troy Times are plainly seen and generally known even in their own vieinity, and by Mr. La Mountain's friends; and I am confident the general feeling of the sensible public in their own vicinity is much changed since their publication. I was asked while in Troy by Mr. Demers how I liked Mr. La Mountain's account. My reply was, I thought it unworhty of notice, knowing that it was written by himself (Demers). I could only say that it was, I thought it rather ungenerous for Mr. La Mountain to allow his signature to be affixed to an article stating "he was deserted by his fellows, sick and disabled," when he turned back his own accord, and at the time when I divided with him all the funds I had with me, being enough to have brought him safely home. Still I told him (Demers) I would take it as a favor if he would not allude to my remarks, or in any way associate my name more than possible with any thing he published. I would much prefer to be before the world in the position I find myself from his accounts- a coward and a deserter from my friends in time of need and sickness- than to have him parade my name in his journal. I insisted upon their disavowing the authority of the report given to the public as "Mr. Gager's account," which they did. Then I had got through with them. I am very much averse to a newspaper controversy, knowing that it would please them too well. That is the only thing, I think, they offer for allowing his signature to go to, such a statement, knowing, as you would yourself after reading it, that it was never written by him. 
I am, as ever, truly yours,
O. A. GAGER.
  I deem this brief explanation necessary to the cause of truth, to integrity of Mr. Grager, to the correction of the fabricated reports, to the sustainment of Mr. Hyde's account, and to my own humble efforts in the interesting act. 
Respectfully yours,
JOHN WISE.
P.S.- I will shortly prepare you an article on my further progress.