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[[Left Column]] [[??]] the lecturer said that on only one occasion during the last twenty four years had he failed [[??]] to reach this westerly current, and he [[??]] found it at an altitude of from five to ten thousand feet. That occasion was last August, when ascending from St. Louis they sailed in a lower current and were driven to the northeast. Subsequent ascension, however, from the city of Lafayette, made for the express purpose, had settled the fact that the current was there and could at all times be found, though, from a multiplicity of causes, he had previously failed to ascend into it. He had no hesitation, therefore, in saying that a circum mundane feat the character which he proposed could be accomplished, and that it was necessary it should be accomplished before the subject of air navigation could be laid before the world in its proper light. What was required to effect this object was a balloon from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty feet in diameter, though for a mere voyage to Europe, one from eighty to one hundred feet would be ample in its powers and proportion. The latter would require about 3,500 yards of linen, and would possess a carrying capacity of six tons. In both cases a seaworthy boat should be attached to the car, and contain all the appurtenances necessary for the emergency should the balloon fail to accomplish the voyage. It was an important fact in the expansion of balloons that at the time of starting they should not be more than one half filled with hydrogen gas, for such was the rarifying power of the air that at an altitude of three and a half miles the balloon became completely distended. Such is the effect of the atmosphere at these great altitudes that an apple, wrinkled and corrugated upon the earth, at a height of two and a half miles becomes as smooth and plump as a fruit in full bloom upon the tree. Even the human body expands when thus elevated, and he had himself experienced the novel sensation of having every line and wrinkle removed from his face, and appear as smooth to touch as if he were a boy. In reference to the sensations experienced by balloon voyagers, they partook of the same change which marked everything removed to these aerial heights. The circulation of the blood is increased, the brain becomes more active, the respiration quicker, impressions are more vivid, and in his own case the lecturer said his feelings became so exhilarated when gazing upon the beautiful country beneath him, that it was impossible to restrain his ejaculatory devotion to the works of nature. The time required to reach the Continent of Europe would vary with the character of the current in which the balloon was allowed to progress. It might move at a rapidity of one hundred miles, or at a rate of only thirty miles an hour, but taking the average, say of about fifty miles, the voyage would probably not consume more than sixty hours. Were the attempt made to circumnavigate the globe with a larger ship, it might occupy twelve days. Professor Wise spoke in an entertaining strain upon the subject for an hour, covering a broad ground, to which a mere sketch like the present cannot do justice. In the course of his remarks he referred to many interesting incidents in his own and the experience of others, the improvements which have taken place in the artsince the early experiments upon it, and concluded by an eloquent appeal in favor of aerial navigation as all important to the military, scientific and commercial interests of the world. CITY NEWS. BALLOON ASCENSION.--Mr. JOHN WISE, the distinguished aeronaut of Lancaster Pa., made a balloon ascension yesterday afternoon, from Palace Garden, cor of 6th avenue and 14th street. Shortly after 3 o'clock P.M., crowds of all ages and sexes began to collect in and about the Garden, and roofs of buildings, in doorways, windows, and every other available spot whence a sight could be obtained. The balloon was 26 by 28 feet in dimensions, and was made of linen, not of silk. The inflation commenced a little before 3 o'clock, and continued till near 5 o'clock, when the aerial voyager was expanded to nearly its full capacity, and seemed impatient for the adventure. A band of music was in attendance. Just before getting into the car, Mr. WISE announced to the throng that Mr. AUGUSTUS CONNOR, of Thompson street, whom he had been instructing for a time past in the secrets of ballooning, would make an ascension from that place on Saturday of this week. After fifty pounds of ballast was placed in the car, and Mr. WISE stepped in. The balloon was gradually loosened, and rose in the air, the band striking up an accompaniment, and the multitude making the welkin ring with cheer upon cheer. It was just five o'clock when Mr. WISE started on his novel journey. The wind was blowing rather fresh, and at first moved the balloon in a northwesterly direction. When up in the air some thousands of feet, his person yet distinctly visible, Mr. WISE waved his hat repeatedly to the gazing multitude he had left on the little planet below him, and followed up this demonstration with repeated wavings of a miniature star spangled banner he had taken with him, to which the crowd in the Garden responded with most vigorous cheers and waving of hats. He afterwards placed himself on the edge of the car, standing for some little time on one foot on either side. After sailing six or seven minutes, the balloon changed its direction from north-west to north, and then bore round gradually to north-east, and the last that was seen of it it was moving nearly due east. The ascension was a beautiful one, and could scarcely have been bettered. [[Middle Column]] The New-York Times. NEW-YORK, FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1860. THE NEW-YORK TIMES. Aeronautic. BALLOON ASCENSION FROM PALACE GARDEN--PROF. WISE GOES UP IN HIS NEW BALLOON GANYMEDE. Prof. WISE, Sen., the veteran aeronaut, made a successful ascension, in his new balloon Ganymede, yesterday afternoon, from Palace Garden. The announcement drew a large crowd of the curious to the vicinity, a majority of whom, as usual, availed themselves of the neighboring roofs and upper windows, to enjoy the spectacle gratis. The balloon, which is the smallest the Professor has ever used is 27 by 29 feet in diameter, and bears the inscription Ganymede, with the mottos "Extra Flammantia," "Menia Mundi," on its sides, the name being in large letters. It is not quite half as large as his balloon Jupiter, and contains, when fully inflated, about 10,000 cubic feet of gas. It is made of light cambric linen, and is coated with a varnish of the Professor's own invention. It is only capable, when inflated with common gas, of sustaining one person, besides the necessary ballast, while, with pure hydrogen gas, it would easily support two persons of the Professor's weight. The basket was a neat one, made o the usual material, about 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 feet square, and 20 inches deep. A grappling of some 15 pounds was deposited in the bottom of the basket, to which was securely attached the end of a small line, some ten fathoms in length of three strands, and made of linen thread, very strong and pliable. The netting was of strong cotton twine of a small size, the basket ropes attached to the circular hoop being of hemp, about the size of an ordinary clothes-line. The balloon was placed upon a raised platform in the middle of the open space, and the process of inflation commenced at twenty minutes before three P.M., the gas being conducted from the main int he street through a varnished cloth hose, six inches in diameter. Prof. La Mountain and Mr. Conner assisting. While the spectators were waiting for the time announced for the ascension, the band beguiled the time by playing lively music. At 4 o'clock the Professor, seeing that the audience was still small, but that the quarters were gradually coming in, asked for fifteen or twenty minutes delay, which was unanimously granted. At 4 1/2 o'clock the order for unloosening the cords from the sandbags was given; three of the smaller sacks were deposited in the basket as ballasts, and an extra coat as protection against the cold. The Professor himself stepped in, holding in his hands two miniature flags. At 4 3/4 P.M., the wind having slightly lulled, the only rope which held the balloon was severed by the Professor's knife, and the Ganymede rose slowly but majestically into space, amid cheers of the multitude. Prof. Wise now mounted the sides of the basket, holding by the hoop, and waved his little flags, the crowd from below and from the house-tops cheering vociferously. In a moment more the balloon rose above the houses, ans was caught by the fresh southeast wind, which carried it rapidly toward the northwest. At the altitude of about half a mile it took a southerly current, and, going half a mile higher, during which the aeronaut was seen to discharge considerable ballast he struck a current which carried him slowly toward to East River. When last seen, he was passing in a northeast direction, towards Flushing, and it was believed he would be alight, before dark, somewhere on Long Island. The ascension was perfectly successful, and give great satisfaction to those who witnessed it. Among the spectators were noticed Prof. Lowe, who is said to be about to revive the transatlantic balloon scheme. Mr. Barnum was also present, and kept the people in good humor by an occasional joke. On Saturday next, at the same hour, Mr. Angustus Conner, a pupil of Prof. Wise, is announced to make an ascension in the same balloon at the same place. John Wise on Ballooning. Mr. John Wise, Aeronaut, of Lancaster, Pa., spoke on ballooning, last evening, in the hall of the Palace Garden, before and audience of nearly one hundred persons, among whom we noticed, Mr. T.S. Carlincourt Lowe, the author of the the great gas-ship, known last Fall as the City of New-York. Mr. Wise's lecture was a paper prepared some eight years ago for the purpose of prevailing on the Smithsonian Institute or Congress to grant him aid in the prosecution of his aerial enterprises. Occasionally he left his MSS. to read from his book. He dwelt upon the fact that increasing the size of the balloon, its lifting power increased much more rapidly than its weight; a balloon need not be very large to admit of being made of copper, and if as large as the Great Eastern, it could be built of iron plates. He quoted from Mr. Green's experiments on the great Eastern current, published 20 years ago, proving the existence beyond all doubt. Mr. Wise then explained the natural theory of the winds according to the Ecclesiastes: "The wind goeth towards the noth "and turneth about towards the south; it whirleth "continually, and the wind returneth again according "to its circuits." he illustrated this with a diagram. He had always found the great Eastern current at an altitude less than 10,000 feet, except last Summer, when he ascended from Lafayette, Ind., at which time he found it at an elevation of 12,000 feet. He thought it practicable to sail round the world in a ballooon. To cross the ocean would require a balloon 80 to 100 feet in diameter, to make which 3,500 yards of silk would be needed. This half filled with hydrogen gas, would require 16,000 pounds, or eight turns. To go round the world would require a balloon 150 feet in diameter, made of 14,000 yards of silk, and capable of lifting 135,000 pounds. With this a seaworthy sloop could be carried, to be used on an emergency. The smaller balloon would carry a life-boat with several persons and all necessary apparatus. Mr. Wise explained the operation of the drag-rope. he noticed the remarkable fact that in a balloon there was nothing of the sensation of vertigo or giddiness. The question of circum-aeronauting the globe was merely a question of time. Mr. Wise alluded to the use of the balloon at the battle of Fleerus, and last year at the battle of Soferino. He had found the great Eastern current flowing at rates from 50 to 100 miles per hour. At an elevation of three miles, a velocity of 100 miles per hour could always be attained, which would require only 30 hours to cross the Ocean, or 12 days to circum-aeronaut the globe. Traveling about by means of local current he thought much more [[right column]] up with Profesor Wise, and would talk to them when he came down. There was a fine brass band present, which served to make the time pass more pleasantly. Everything being prepared at a quarter before five o'clock the Professor entered the basket and the balloon immediately thereafter ascended in good style, the crowd giving three cheers as the aerial voyager took his departure. The balloon took a northerly direction at the start but after it ascended a half or three quarters of a mile, it struck a current of air which changed its courses to the eastward, over Long Island, where it probably descended. The name of the balloon is "Ganymede/" It is quite small, being sufficient only to bear up the weight of one person. Its largest diameter is 27 by 29 feet, and it holds 10,000 cubic feet of gas. It is made of light cambrick linen, covered with a varnish of the Professor's own preparation. The basket was a square willow one, 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches. Prof. Wise took with him a small grappling iron weighing about 16 lbs.; also a rope about ten fathom in length, which was made of linen thread. Then Professor had the best wishes of those present for a safe