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[63] The multitude scarcely believ'd that a man With his senses about him could form such a plan, And thought that as Bedlam was so very nigh You had better been there, than turned loose in the sky! But when they perceiv'd you rose higher and higher, O'ertop'd every building, each church, and each spire, They extoll'd with one voice your superlative merit, Who could hazard your life with so dauntless a spirit, With benevolent wishes each bosom now burns, And Awe and Amazement both fill it by turns.- "Where's he going? cries one,- "Why he shrinks from [our sight! "And where's this poor fellow to quarter to night? "If he soars at this rate in his silken balloon, He'll surely by Sunset be up with the Moon!" Whilst God save his Soul, was the prayer of most, As they took it for granted your Body was lost-- The lovers of science who best of all knew How much might be hop'd from a Genius like you, In silence pursu'd you, unwilling to speak, For the tear of anxiety stole down their cheek.- In their own way of thinking, all felt, and all reason'd, Greedy ALDERMEN judg'd that your flight was ill season'd, That you'd better have taken a good dinner first, Nor have pinch'd your poor stomach by hunger, or thirst. In perfect indiff'rence the BEAU yawn'd a blessing, And fear'd before night that your hair would want dressing. But the LADIES, all zeal, sent their wishes in air, For a man of such spirit is ever their care! ^[[ATTORNIES]] [[end page]] [[start page]] [64] ATTORNIES were puzzled hor now they could sue you, UUNDERWRITERS what premium they'd now take to Do you, Whilst the sallow-fac'd Jew of his Monies so fond Thank'd Moses, he never had taken your Bond. Amid these sensations which mov'd us below Through the realms of pure Ether triumphant you go, A course which no mortal had here before dar'd; For YOU, was the risk, and the glory prepar'd; Though depriv'd of that FRIEND who had urg'd the fond claim To partake all your dangers, and share in your fame, From all human aid though cut off, and alone, When mounting thus singly, you still greater shone!- Ah! tell me LUNARDI,- hereafter you may! What new scenes of wonder your flight must display? How awful the feel, when through new regions gliding, Through currents untry'd, and from cloud to cloud sliding? With what new ideas your mind must o'erflow! With what new sensations your bosom must glow!- How little, how trifling, must then in your eyes Have seem'd what below we look up to, and prize! No more than a molehill, the TOWER's old walls, A Hop-pole the MONUMENT, - Bandbox, ST. PAUL'S. The vast host of people you quitted so lately, Which spread to each present a scene the most stately, To one who so distant on all of us gazes Must look like a meadow embroider'd with daisies; ^[[Nay,]] [[end page]] [[start page]] [65] Nay, e'en this GREAT CITY we all hold so dear As a HONEY-COMB only to you would appear, All it's SHIPPING mere spots, though its bulwark and pride, The BANK and the TREASURY hardly descry'd, The abodes of the Great not discern'd e'en with winking, And the THAMES but a bason for lap-dogs to drink in.- 'Tis the points whence we view things which fix, or create Our imperfect conceptions of Little, or Great!- An adventurous stripling, so sweet OVID sings, Has the boldness to soar once on two mighty wings, Unguided by judgment, and wand'ring too high, He met his just fate, and was plung'd from the sky, And all that the world from this tale have been able To learn, was, it gave false Ambition a fable.- But from flights such as yours we've reason to hope Philosophy one day may gain wider scope, The secrets of nature are slowly reveal'd, Though much is discover'd, far more is concealed.- A spirit like yours can assist best the cause And more clearly illustrate her motions and laws; But should not you the great lot be assigned To establish new doctrines of air or of wind, Should future Adventurers still further rove, And pursuing your course, your discov'ries improve, Yet know, GALLANT YOUTH, that to none but to YOU Will in ENGLAND the praise, and the triumph be due, In the FIRST bold attempt so intrepid who shone, And show'd by Example how much could be done. K ^[[Our]] [[end page]] [[start page]] [66] Our country will gratefully boast of your name, And LUNARDI be plac'd on the bright scroll of fame, With the warmest acclaims of the PUBLIC applauded, By PHILOSOPHERS lov'd - By the MUSE too recorded!- Amidst all these honors, a stranger who fir'd By what he beheld, what yourself have inspir'd, Round your temples while this little tribute he wreaths, Thus with zeal his fond wishes prophetick he breathes, Long enjoy Th' AERIAL THRONE you now sit on! And live, ah! long live, - The COLUMBUS of BRITAIN! -------------- Explanation of the Plate of the Balloon 1 Crown, to which the Rope was fastened 2 Net-work 3 Ropes, forty-five in Number, a Rope for every four Meshes 4 & 5 Nooses, through which the Atmospherical Air was conveyed into the Balloon, when exhibited at the Lyceum 6 Wheel, to which all the Ropes were fastened 7 Ropes, which fasten the Gallery to the Wheel 8 & 9 Oars, by means of which I could keep the Balloon at a certain Level, and descend without loosing Inflammable Air for that Purpose 10 Gallery 11 Grapple, or Anchor, to secure it when it touched the ground 12 English Flag, which I threw down, to assure the incredulous, that there was an Individual in the Gallery 13 Cat, Dog, and a Pidgeon Explanation of the Apparatus. 1 Net 2 Balloon 3 Crown to suspend the Balloon 4 Barrels of Zinc 5 Oil of Vitriol 6 Backs, in which the Water and Oil of Vitriol was mixed 7 Recipient of Oil of Vitriol and Water 8 Pipes, which contain Zinc, Water, and Oil of Vitriol 9 Recipient of the Inflammable Air, full of Soap Lees 10 Recipient for the Residuals 11 Pipes full of Water 12 & 13 Blocks to raise the Balloon 14 Blocks to suspend the Stilliards to weigh the Balloon, Gallery, Machinery, &c 15 Blocks to raise the Flasks of Vitriol 16 A Stage to support the lower Part of the Balloon 17 Tube, which conveys the Inflammable Air into the Balloon [[55 handwritten in pencil]]
