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^[[Septr 18. 1784 - handwritten in ink ]
Further authentic Particulars of the late AERIAL EXCURSION, collected from the Conversation of Mr. LUNARDI.
WHEN the balloon first ascended, he was enabled, by the gradual progress it made, to take a distinct survey of the vast multitudes who were contemplating his flight; particularly the crowd in Moorfields ; their faces, which were directed towards him, presenting the most uncommon appearance. At this moment it struck him, that if he threw his flag amongst them it would occasion some diversion; he therefore waved it, as a farewell salute, and dropped it from his hand. His oar fell presently after ; which accident, for a time, embarrassed him, but still the balloon held on its course with a steady motion. While he remained over the city, the acclamations of the populace came to his ear, softened by the distance, into a most pleasing murmur. He was enabled, by one effort of the sight, to behold each extremity of London; it was literally a bird's-eye view of this vast metropolis. Its superb edifices, squares, the Thames, and the shipping on it, were objects that enriched the scene. As this magnificent spectacle diminished, he cast his eye towards his compass, and was surprised to find his course altered from a western to due north ; however, he did not think it necessary to change the direction, not having fixed upon any particular spot of destination. He now looked at his barometer, and found he was at a considerable height, and that the balloon went with great celerity, the scene below continually varying, some objects with-drawing, and others presenting themselves. He was enabled, when at an altitude of full four miles, to distinguish corn-fields from pasture lands, so clear was the vision. The balloon descended so low near Barnet, that he spoke with some persons ; as it rose again, he extended his sight to the horizon round, and beheld the earth, a suspended globe in immensity of space. Recovering from the reverie this magnificent object occasioned, he thought of his terrestrial friends, and being in a state of the utmost composure, wrote six letters to his associates on earth, some of which he committed to the winds, and such was their fate, that they have all, save one, been since heard of. Those that he retained were delivered to some of the guests of the hospitable Mr. Baker.
The accounts which stated that his clothes were covered with ice, when he came down; and that his wine was twice frozen, prove to be erroneous. The mercury did not at any one time approach the freezing point; nor did he experience any greater degree of cold, than being induced barely to button his coat. While he was proceeding on his way, he felt himself dry, and prepared to drink to the health of their Majesties, the King of Naples, the Prince of Wales, the Prince of Caramanico, the People of England, and some particular friends; but found himself without a corkscrew: in this predicament he determined on breaking off the neck of his bottle, which he effected with the utmost ease; and applied the neck to the following experiment : he estimated by his barometer, that he was full four miles in height, and throwing the neck towards the earth, found by means of his stop-watch, it was four minutes and a half in ſalling. He was enabled by reason of its glittering in the sun, to see it distinctly till it struck the ground.
The appearance which the machine had to many spectators, of its being violently agitated, must have been occasioned by the intervening medium, as Mr. Lunardi did not feel the least unpleasing motion during his voyage. His course varied at times to the Eastward and Westward of the North, but never more than one point. The azure canopy over him appeared serene and beautiful ; and the beams of the sun, playing upon clouds that every instant varied their form and colour, produced the most sublime sensations. He was proceeding on his way, when he was suddenly surprised at an appearance, which for a time he imagined was the sea, but recollecting the course he had taken, he discovered they were clouds, agitated and rolling over one another, like the waves of the ocean. He made a descent towards them, and as they broke beneath him, the earth again exhibited towns, villas, rivers, and fields, in the most pleasing diversity.
The relation of his leaving his little cat in charge of a woman is true; and that, on his final descent, he was assisted by a girl, to whom he gave half a guinea.
The place where Mr. Lunardi descended was a kind of inclosure; he passed very nearly over several hedge-rows full of trees, and in the last field very narrowly escaped a rugged stump of a tree, which might have done him great mischief, as the balloon was unmanageable; it rebounded several times from the earth with great force, and broke the gallery, beside bending the trumpet.
Mr. Lunardi declared that he felt no anxiety during his flight, and that the only ground for apprehension, would have been a thunder-cloud. He further observed that he felt not the least fatigue, more than what was occasioned by the labour he had undergone in preparing the balloon, for several days before the morning of his embarkation.
Mr. Sheldon, who followed Mr. Lunardi from London, on a fine hunter, changed his horse three times, and kept so well up with him, as to be enabled to dine in his company at Ware.
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CHEMICAL PROCESS of filling the AEROSTATIC MACHINE.
It may be pleasing, and at this time not uninteresting, to persons unacquainted with the principles of chemistry, to be informed of the method employed for obtaining inflammable air ; and even to those acquainted with chemical processes, it must be acceptable to have explained the application of the apparatus used in filling the balloon of M. Lunardi. We may, we think, without impropriety, express ourselves, on a supposition that our Readers have seen the works still standing in the Artillery Ground.
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In two large casks on the ground, the zink, a semi-metal, was deposited, and, we are informed, some steel filings. In two backs or cisterns, erected high, the vitriolic acid and water were mixed, the water was conveyed into them by an engine; from these backs the mixture of acid and water was conveyed by tubes into the large casks; in these, on the application of the acid to the zink, an effervescence took place, and the inflammable air, the object of the process, was extricated from the zink. From each cask a tube proceeded, which conveyed the air to a tub elevated between the backs; at the bottom of this tub, immediately above the parts where the tubes entered, a valve was placed, which opened upwards by the impulse of the inflammable air; this valve was kept down by the weight of the fluid in the tub; this fluid was water impregnated with an alkali. The inflammable air transmitted through this alkaline fluid, was corrected of any acid, and volatilized and elevated in the process; it was then conveyed into the balloon by a tube proceeding from the upper extremity of the cask. When an addition of the mixture of acid and water was made to the zink in the large casks, it was necessary to discharge the fluid already in them ; this was carefully preserved by the assistance of troughs lined with lead; for it is necessary to remark, that the combination of vitriolic acid and zink, when crystallized, constitutes a valuable drug called white vitriol.
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AERIAL EXCURSION,
^[[Sept-20-1784. - handwritten in ink]]
Collected from the CONVERSATION of Mr. LUNARDI.
We seize the earliest opportunity in our power, of laying before the public some particulars respecting Mr. Lunardi's Tour,- which will be found to differ from the accounts given in most of the other prints; but, as they are of an authentic nature, they claim the credit of our numerous readers; who will find in the publication of his Narrative, which is now preparing, a confirmation of the facts herein-mentioned.
When the Balloon first ascended, he was enabled by the gradual progress it made, to take a distinct survey of the vast multitudes who were contemplating his flight; particularly the croud in Moorfields ; their faces which were directed towards him, presenting the most uncommon appearance. At this moment it struck him that if he threw his flag amongst them, it would occasion some diversion;- he therefore waved it, as a farewell salute, and dropped it from his hand.- His oar fell presently after; which accident, for a time, embarrassed him, but still the balloon held on its course with a steady motion.- While he remained over the city, the acclamations of the populace came to his ear, softened by the distance, into a most pleasing murmur.- He was enabled by one effort of the sight, to behold each extremity of London; it was literally a bird's-eye view of this vast metropolis. Its superb edifices, squares, the Thames, and the shipping on it, were objects that enriched the scene. As this magnificent spectacle diminished, he cast his eye towards his compass, and was surprized to find his course altered from a western, to due north;----however he did not think it necessary to change the direction,- not having fixed upon any particular spot of destination. He now looked at his barometer, and found he was at a considerable height, and that the balloon went with great celerity,- the scene below continually varying, some objects withdrawing, and others presenting themselves.- He was enabled, when at an altitude of full four miles, to distinguish corn-fields from pasture-lands, so clear was the vision. The balloon descended so low near Barnet, that he spoke with some persons; as it rose again, he extended his sight to the horizon round, and beheld the earth, a suspended globe in immensity of space. Recovering from the reverie this magnificent object occasioned, he thought of his terrestrial friends, and being in a state of the utmost composure, wrote six letters to his associates on earth, some of which he committed to the winds, and such was their fate, that they have all, save one, been since heard of. Those that he retained, were delivered to some of the guests of the hospitable Mr. Baker.
Many of the accounts in other prints, have been very erroneous in stating that his cloaths were covered with ice, when he came down ; and that his wine was twice frozen.-- The Mercury did not, at any one time approach the freezing point; nor did he experience any greater degree of cold, than being induced barely to button his coat. While he was proceeding on his way, he felt himself dry, and prepared to drink to the health of their Majesties, the King of Naples, the Prince of Wales, the Prince of Caramanico, the People of England, and some particular friends; but found himself without a cork-screw: in this predicament he determined on breaking off the neck of his bottle, which he effected with the utmost ease; and applied the neck to the following experiment.---- He estimated by his barometer, that he was full four miles in height, and throwing the neck towards the earth, found by means of his stopwatch, it was four minutes and a half in falling;- he was enabled, by reason of its glittering in the sun, to see it distinctly till it struck the ground.
The appearance which the machine had, to many spectators, of its being violently agitated, must have been occasioned by the intervening medium, as Mr. Lunardi did not feel the least unpleasing motion during his voyage.- His course varied at times to the Eastward and Westward of the North, but never more than one point. The azure canopy over him appeared serene and beautiful; and the beams of the sun,- playing upon clouds that every instant varied their form and colour, produced the most sublime sensations. He was proceeding on his way, when he was suddenly surprized at an appearance which, for a time, he imagined was the sea, but recollecting the course he had taken, he discovered they were clouds;- agitated and rolling over one another, like the waves of the ocean.- He made a descent towards them, and as they broke beneath him, the earth again exhibited towns, villas, rivers and fields in the most pleasing diversity.
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The relation of his leaving his little cat in charge of a woman is true ;- and, that on his final descent he was assisted by a girl, to whom he gave half a guinea.
Mr. Lunardi declared that he felt no anxiety during his flight, and that the only ground for apprehension, would have been a thunder-cloud. He further observed that he felt not the least fatigue, more than what was occasioned by the labor he had undergone in preparing the balloon, for several days before the morning of his embarkation.
Mr. Sheldon, who followed Mr. Lunardi from London, on a fine hunter, changed his horse three times, and kept so well up with him, as to be enabled to dine in his company at Ware.
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One of the country fellows who came round Mr. Lunardi when he alighted, told him, the balloon appeared so dark that he took it for a fire-ball!
Mr. Sheldon gave a dinner at the London Tavern on Saturday last, at which Mr. Blanchard was present. Mr. Lunardi was invited, but could not attend.
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An English lady of spirit, beauty, and family, of the name of Litchfield, has expressed a desire to take a tour in a balloon, and it is said will certainly carry her purpose into execution.
Mr. Lunardi was yesterday entertained by the Sheriffs of London, at the Sessions-house in the Old-Bailey, and was received and treated with the greatest marks of respect by the Judges, and other distinguished persons who were present at dinner, they all seeming to vie with one another in shewing him marks of civility, and promoting with liberality the success of his subscription.
^[[Sept.23.1784 - handwritten in ink]]
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The few following particulars, respecting the late aërial excursion, are collected from the conversation of Mr. Lunardi, who is preparing a narrative on the subject for publick inspection:- He was enabled by one effort of the sight to behold each extremity of this vast metropolis, which he describes as a spectacle of uncommon graudeur. When he remained over the city the acclamations of the multitude came to his ear, softened by the distance into a most pleasing murmur. At an altitude of four miles he could distinguish corn-fields from pasture-land, so clear was the vision. He was so composed that he wrote six letters to his friends on earth, some of which he committed to the winds, and such was their fate, that they have all, save one, been since heard of. Those he retained were delivered to some of the guests of the hospitable Mr. Baker.- The report of ice being on his clothes is erroneous; the mercury did not at any one time approach the freezing point; nor did he experience any greater degree of cold, than being induced barely to button his coat. Being dry, he prepared to drink to the health of their Majesties, the King of Naples, the Prince of Wales, the Prince of Caramanico, the People of England, and some particular friends, but found himself without a cork-screw; in this predicament his resource was to break off the neck of the bottle, which he did with the utmost ease, and applied the neck to the following experiment: he estimated by his barometer that he was full four miles in height, and throwing the neck towards the earth, found, by his stop-watch, it was four minutes and a half in falling - he was enabled by its glittering in the sun to see it distinctly till it struck the ground.
The appearance which the machine had, to many spectators, of being violently agitated, must have been occasioned by the intervening medium, as Mr. Lunardi did not feel the least unpleasing motion during his voyage. His course varied at times to the Eastward and Westward of the North, but never more than one point. The azure canopy over him appeared serene and beautiful; and the beams of the sun playing upon clouds that every instant varied their form and colour, produced the most sublime sensations. He was proceeding on his way, when he was suddenly surprised at an appearance which, for a time, he imagined was the sea, but recollecting the course he had taken, he discovered they were clouds, agitated and rolling over one another like the waves of the ocean; he made a descent towards them, and as they broke beneath him, the earth again exhibited towns, villages, rivers, and fields, in the most pleasing diversity.
Mr. Lunardi declared that he felt no anxiety during his flight, and that the only ground for apprehension would have been a thunder-cloud. He felt no more fatigue than what was occasioned by the labour he had undergone in preparing the balloon, for several days before the morning of his embarkation.
The relation of his leaving his little cat in charge with a woman is true; and on his final descent he was assisted by a girl, to whom he gave half-a-guinea.
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^[[63 - handwritten in pencil at the bottom of the page.]]
