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[[start left-hand column]] [[start clipping 1 of 3]] Though Mr. Lunardi has announced his ascension, with his Balloon, for this day, in the Artillery Ground, yet it is not impossible, from the present very sudden change in the weather, that he may be obliged to put off his departure to some future day. In this case the disappointment the public may meet is not to be attributed to him, but to the levity of his mother Luna, who made her appearance anew yesterday evening; and all that can be said of the Sieur Lunardi, even in case of a failure, will be, that he has been Moonstruck. ^[[15 Sept. 1784 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 3]] ^[[15 Sept 1784 - handwritten in ink]] FLIGHT in an AIR BALLOON. This day at noon, it is suspected Mons. Lunardi means to eclipse the sun: An English gentleman goes aloft in company with him, in the character of the Man in the Moon! After this adventurous pair have passed the atmospheric limits, it is imagined they mean to have a boxing-bout with Castor and Pollux, and to drive them from their situation among the constellations, which place they mean to assume! They mean to take only a sack of flour and a few bottles of rum with them, by way of provisions; the flour will be made into cakes, as they pass through the rain clouds, which will be baked in the sun, the first fine day afterwards; they will of course catch wild fowl enough on their passage to supply their table: and in regard to their store rum, it is only necessary to fasten a shower to the tail of the balloon, and they will never be in want of grog! As all the town are mad after the fight, Monsieur Lunardi has fixed upon the artillery ground as the spot most contiguous to Bedlam! [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 3 of 3]] Friday, Sept. 17. LONDON. Further Particulars respecting Mr. LUNARDI'S Aerial Excursion. The state of uncertainty in which the Public continued on Wednesday, and the greatest part of yesterday, respecting the termination of Mr. Lunardi's tour through the unexplored element of air, was relieved by an express which the Prince Caramanieo [[Caramanico?]] received yesterday evening from that spirited adventurer; it was dated at Ware, in Hertfordshire, and contained advice of his having descended a little past five o'clock on Wednesday evening, at a place called Collier's-end, about four miles from Ware. His excursion was of the duration of three hours and a quarter, being the period which he proposed continuing afloat, although he had gaz enough to have kept his balloon suspended for three days. It is computed that his course was at the rate of eight miles an hour, and that at times he was at an elevation of full three miles from the earth. He took with him a quadrant, thermometer, barometer, and an optical instrument, for the purpose of making observations. Notwithstanding this philosophical adventurer went, in point of distance, only 26 miles from London, he made a much longer traverse through the aerial region, and computes, that had he gone in a strait line, he would have been above 70 or 80 miles from the place of his departure. He experienced, in the different regions of air through which he passed, a variety of climates; sometimes the cold was so intense, as to freeze the water he took with him; he did not feel any inconvenience from heat, after his first ascent, at which time he was very warm. He appeared much fatigued, but declared, that was more owing to his exertions in preparing his machine before he went up, than to his exercise in regulating it afterwards. His course from the Artillery-ground was Westerly, till he came nearly over Bedford-house; after which, ascending in a higher current of air, he steered due North. Besides the chickens he took up with him, he was also provided with some ham, and three bottles of white wine; but did not take any refreshment, during his airy voyage, save a few glasses of wine. The extreme coldness of the atmosphere caused in him, as it always does, an almost invincible inclination to sleep; and this co-operated with other circumstances to induce Mr. Lunardi to conclude his journey where he did. He had been twice before near touching the ground; first at Hornsey, and again near Hatfield, and at one time was so close to the earth, as to speak with a trumpet to the wondering spectators under him. At Northaw, he descended so low as to converse with a villager, a servant of Mr. Strong's, who was digging gravel. He there threw out his cat, which had accompanied him, and it was taken up alive by an inhabitant. As Mr. Lunardi approached the earth (the time before he landed), the country people shewed great marks of terror; and from their dread, for some time, he was apprehensive of dangerous consequences. By throwing out, however, a large quantity of his ballast, he mounted again to a height much beyond what he had before attained. Here the cold became so intense, that the dense vapour which had adhered to his clothes in the lower regions, froze into icicles, and a little water which he poured into an open vessel froze in a minute or two. He warmed himself, in this situation, by drinking a few glasses of wine. In this high station he met with a fresh current of wind, which directed him more to the West, and again, when he descended, he recovered his second wind, and pursued the northerly course. Night was coming on fast, and he descended about four miles beyond Ware. He sailed along the surface of the earth for a considerable space, and in a convenient field, at a place called Collier's end, he threw out his grappling iron, and by means of a tree, which served as an anchorage, he came gently to the ground. A young woman in the field assisted in holding the machine down, while he alighted and secured it to its anchorage. At first she seemed to be much frightened, but on Mr. Lunardi's assuring her there was no danger, and explaining, as well as he could, his situation, and the nature of his journey, she readily gave her assistance. On the balloon first reaching the ground, it rolled about some time, and drew the gallery after it, which drove Mr. Lunardi against a tree, but he fortunately received no damage. A considerable quantity of ice was found upon the gallery, though not far from a state of dissolution. [[end clipping]] [[start centre column]] [[start clipping 1 of 3]] A few minutes after Mr. Lunardi alighted, a number of country people hastened round him, together with many of the Gentlemen of the country, among whom was William Baker, Esq: late Member for Hertford, in whose company he proceeded, amidst the acclamations of the people, to Ware, where he dined at the Bull Inn, with a number of the most respectable Gentlemen in the county, who vied with each other in testifying every mark of attention and regard to the philosophic hero. Mr. Lunardi seemed to be in perfect spirits, though from the intense cold and fatigue, he complained of an aching in his back. He had undergone an immense labour, for, independent of the exercise in the air, he had been up the greatest part of three nights previous to his experiment. He informed the company, that he was engaged very much in working his oar, and at one time felt himself exceedingly cold, and confirmed the account of the water he took with him being frozen; the dog and cat that accompanied him fell asleep, he said, which he likewise at that period was inclined to, and the cat's breath afterwards appearing to be nearly exhausted, he threw it out of the gallery. During the voyage he drank in all twelve glasses of wine. When [[remainder of column covered]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 3]] RONICLE. [[ChRONICLE.]] No 4350. SEPTEMBER 18, 1784 Mr. Lunardi is a young gentlemen of good family at Naples; being a younger son, he had little more to encounter the world with, than a very liberal education, a good person, and an enlightened mind. He was sent in the early part of his life to the East Indies, where he remained some time without benefiting from the plunder practiced in the East. On his return, being of an enterprising and philosophical turn of mind, he was selected from his countrymen as Second Secretary to Prince Caramanico, the Neapolitan Ambassador. Some time after their arrival in England, the Prince honoured Mr. Lunardi with his confidence and appointment, as Principal Secretary to the Embassy; in which capacity he remained until the Prince was recalled to his appointment at a different Court. It was Mr. Lunardi's first intention to have extended his flight a few miles only from the metropolis, and having ascended to a particular height, he proposed working his way back again to the Artillery-ground by the assistance of his wings. This scheme, however was frustrated by the loss of one wing; but from the evident power he preserved over the balloon under this disadvantage, he certainly would have succeeded with both. Being asked what he thought himself of the expedition up into the air which he was about to undertake, "he answered "I have an Alexander's hope!- Alluding to the expression of that great hero when preparing for his Asiatic expedition: - "Thus do I dispose of my hereditary "dominions, and reserve for myself hope! Mr. Biggin's disappointment, who was to have accompanied Mr. Lunardi, was the most mortifying that ever could befal a man of spirit and enterprise. It arose from the following circumstance: Dr. Fordyce, who attended the filling of the balloon till 12 o'clock the night preceding the experiment, retired home for a few hours rest, after having given the workmen the most clear directions to pursue the same process till his return, which was about four o'clock, when, to his great surprise and distress, he found the men had got drunk, and so totally neglected their charge, that the whole had been at a stand from the moment of his departure. To this neglect alone was it owing, that Mr. Biggin could not ascend with Mr. Lunardi, the globe requiring full four hours more filling with inflammable air, to enable it to carry up the largest gallery with the two adventurers! It must be matter of no small concern to the admirers of Mr. Lunardi's courage and enterprizing disposition, to think of his being so poorly rewarded. About five hundred people paid for admission into the Artillery Ground; very few of whom sat in the half-guinea seats, and still fewer in the guinea ones; on a moderate computation, therefore, it is supposed the money taken could not amount to much more than 150l. Admitting the expence of constructing and filling the machine to have been paid by money taken at the Lyceum, which with the subscriptions at the same place, did not exceed 900l., this is not an object at all adequate to the personal risk of this ingenious Gentleman. Mess. Blanchard and Boby, the two celebrated French aerial navigators, came over to see Mr. Lunardi's ascent; the former, from motives of delicacy, was not in the Artillery Ground, but Mr. Boby was present, and gave his assistance in filling and raising the balloon. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 3 of 3]] ^[[24 Sept - handwritten in ink - 1784]] PANTHEON. The EXHIBITION of Mr. LUNARDI's BALLOON Is opened at the PANTHEON, where it is to be seen in the exact state it was in when Mr. Lunardi descended at Collier's Hill near Ware in Hertfordshire; and as every circumstance, though ever so trifling or minute, is interesting, when connected with a great and important adventure, the curious will be gratified with the sight of the two little animals, (a cat and dog) which shared with him the dangers of that hazardous and uncommon voyage. Mr. Lunardi will attend personally, as much as his business and occupations will permit, for the satisfaction of those who may wish to see and converse with him. Admittance to the Pantheon, One Shilling. The Public are likewise informed, that in compliance with the general wish of people of the first rank and fortune at the West end of the metropolis, as well as the most respectable Merchants and individuals in the City, that a SUBSCRIPTION should be opened for Mr. LUNARDI, not only as a testimony of their approbation of his merit, but to defray the expences of his first voyage, and make amends for the advantages taken by the neighbourhood of the Artillery Ground on the day of his ascent, that Subscriptions are accordingly opened at the following places, viz. New Lloyd's Coffee-house; Brooke's and White's, St. James's Street; Debrett and Stockdale's, Booksellers, Piccadilly; the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill; the Parliament-street Coffee-house; and at the Pantheon. - All Letters, Messages, &c. intended for Mr. Lunardi are to be left at his house, No. 6, Poland-street, or at the Pantheon. [[end clipping]] [[start right-hand column]] [[start clipping 1 of 2]] September 23, 1784. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 2]] LUNARDI'S AERIAL NAVIGATION. To combat the prejudices of a nation, and the incredulity of mankind, especially when deterred by examples of resentment in consequence of deception or misfortune; when awed by the danger incurred in experiment, and the uncertainty of success in the project, must certainly require the greatest effort of human resolution to encounter. Whilst we were recollecting the occasion, which collected at least one tenth of the inhabitants of the metropolis within the optical powers of an individual, we could not help indulging ourselves in these eccentrick reflections. The aerial voyage, which has long been proposed by Mr. Lunardi, was appointed for yesterday, and perhaps the English nation never witnessed, upon any former occasion, such a number of persons being collected together as were to be seen within the environs of Moorfields; not a plain or an eminence, a window or a roof, a chimney or a steeple, within the sight of Bedlam, but what was populously thronged. About half past one o'clock the Prince of Wales arrived in the Artillery Ground, viewed the apparatus of the balloon, and retired to the Artillery house, which was principally occupied by his suite, and the persons who had liberally paid the adventurer for their admission. We were sorry indeed to observe that such general advantages had been taken by the neighbourhood, of farming their windows, and for benefits which were due only to the novelty and spirit of the enterprise; we were the more sorry, as the ground, which should have been liberally offered, was, under a false idea of generosity, on the present occasion, most unhandsomely rented. The operation of filling the balloon was carried on under the inspection of Dr. Geo. Fordyce, during the whole of the preceding night. The materials of the rarefied air were zink, oil of vitriol, and steel shavings. About a quarter before two o'clock the balloon was sufficiently filled and closed, and the gallery and other apparatus prepared to be suspended; but on Mr. Lunardi and his intended companion, Mr. Biggins, a young gentleman of fortune and enterprise, taking their situations, and finding the machine unequal to their weight, it was determined that Mr. Lunardi should ascend alone. A cannon having been fired as a preparatory signal, Mr. Lunardi embraced his friends, and all matters being adjusted, a second cannon was fired as the signal of ascension. Insensible must that heart be which was not at that moment interested for his fate. About five minutes after two, the machine was launched; and after mounting about twelve yards, it descended. Mr. Lunardi took his seat in the gallery with great composure, but finding himself too equally poized, he discharged a part of the ballast, which consisted of small bags of white dry sand, and by that means relieved his weight, and caused a regular and most beautiful ascension. After he had cleared the buildings, subject to the direction of an easterly wind, he saluted the spectators with great elegance and gallantry, by waving a blue flag, which he had taken for that purpose, and seemingly bade them a friendly adieu. The gallery was formed of an upright four feet square, and netted with a strong cord, breast-high, but quite open at the top. After this salutation for the space of five minutes, he dropped his flag with an air of security, and having seated himself, took to his oars; but soon after one of them came down, which alarmed his friends for the consequence. Steering at this moment due west, he suddenly tacked towards the north, and with little variation of altitude. Until by degrees he had established that direction, his progress seemed exceedingly elevated and swift, tho' the balloon appeared to be under masterly management. We viewed this object, nevertheless, distinctly for one hour and twenty minutes, with a mixture of anxiety and delight. Mr. Lunardi afterwards lowered himself towards the earth near Barnet, but not liking the situation, and having the command of his machine, he discharged a part of his ballast, and pursued his course until he arrived over Collier's Hill, in Hertfordshire, at 25 minutes past four o'clock, where he alighted. His companions in this adventurous voyage were a dog and a cat. Mr. Lunardi was not a little affected by the difference of climates thro' which he passed, as may be readily conceived by those who are told that icicles hanging on his clothes when he descended. The Reverend Mr. Douglas, of Little Stanhope-street, followed Mr. Lunardi on horseback as far as Northaw Common, near Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, about eighteen miles from the metropolis. Mr. Lunardi seemed perfectly collected and composed, and appeared to be a complete master of his wonderful machine. He was observed by the above Gentleman to make use of his oar, and descended about half past four o'clock within eighty feet of the ground, moved to the left, and then ascending, took a turn towards Cambridge. It is somewhat singular, that among the great and numerous crowd of spectators that attended the letting off the above machine, the Rev. Mr. Douglas, and Mr. Churchill, the Prince of Wales's Equerry, were observed to be the only persons that followed Mr. Lunardi from town. His Majesty viewed the balloon through a telescope from the Queen's presence chamber. The Duke and Duchess of Richmond, in company with Mr. Pitt, occupied an apartment at the floor-cloth manufactory, in the City Road, to see Mr. Lunardi's ascent, for which accommodation, it is said, the sum of fifty guineas was paid! Mr. Fox, Col. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Burke, Lord North, Col. North, and a number of the nobility and persons of fashion, male and female, were on the ground, or in the surrounding houses. Dr. Franklin some time since decided on the impracticability of governing the aerostatique globe by oars. - A ship has two mediums, water and wind, to act against each other; the balloon has but one; and the attempt to direct them by winged oars, that philosopher thought would be equally weak with opposing the wind of a lady's fan to a barge rapidly carried down the tide. The Publick are so satisfied with Mr. Lunardi's noble machine, exhibitest yesterday, and the uncommon pains he and his friends took to prevent their being disappointed, that there is not a doubt but he will meet with a liberal reward from the generosity of Englishmen, either but a publick subscription among the connoisseurs, or some other more delicate way of testifying their approbation. [[end clipping]] [[end page]] ^[[59 - handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]]
