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[[start left-hand column]] [[start clipping 1 of 1]] CAPTAIN SOWDEN's ACCOUNT OF THE LATE AERIAL EXCURSION. ^[[July 4 1802 - handwritten in ink ]] As numberless questions have been put to me respecting the sensations I experienced while in the upper regions, I think it a duty incumbent on me to inform the Public, and to set them right as to the erroneous ideas they have of an aerostatic voyage. On our first ascending, we felt a few drops of rain. After we had gained the height of about 3000 feet, I desired Mr. GARNERIN not to ascend any higher till he had passed the metropolis, that the inhabitants might be gratified with a full view of us. When we had got at a small distance from London, we ascended through some very thick clouds, of which I could perceive three distinct rows, at the lower one of which we found the quicksilver of the thermometer at 15 degrees, and I was obliged to put on my great coat; but on ascending still higher, we found the air more temperate, and the quicksilver rise gradually to 5 degrees above summer heat. We then seemed to be stationary, and felt no more motion than one would feel in sitting in a chair in a room. I then proposed to Mr. GARNERIN to overhaul our lockers, where we found a ham, a cold fowl, a cake, and two bottle of orgeat, wines or spirits being dangerous to take, owing to the rarefication of the air. The chill of the clouds having given us an appetite, we made a table on our knees with the seats of the car, and ate a very hearty meal. The clouds then dispersed from under us, and we had a delightful view of the country. Whether it is owing to the rarefication of the air, or to the strong light thrown on the earth, I cannot determine, but I found that my sight, which at all times is rather weak, become so strong, that I could easily distinguish the minutest objects on the earth: it appeared like a vast panorama, or [[page spliced]] map, of about fifty miles in circumference, where we could not only follow with our eyes the different cross roads and intersections on it, but even distinguish the ruts on them, and the very furrows in the field. The sense of hearing was stronger here than on earth; for, at the height of 15,000 feet, we could distinctly hear the rattling of the carriages on the roads, the lowing of cattle, and the acclamations of the people who saw us; though at the same time we could hardly hear ourselves speak; and I am persuaded, that a person on the earth, with a strong voice and a speaking trumpet, might make himself perfectly understood by any person at that height in the air. I have observed, that almost very sensation I experienced while in the upper regions, was exactly the contrary to what is the general opinion of the Public. I was assured by a number of the most celebrated literati, who pretended to be very learned on that subject, that I should find the cold increase, the higher I ascended; instead of which, I found the heat increase to that degree, that I was obliged to take both my great coat and jacket off. It is also the general opinion, that looking down from so stupendous a height renders a person so giddy as not to be able to keep his seat; on the contrary, I found that I could look down with a vast deal of pleasure, and without experiencing that inconvenience; whereas looking round on the vast expanse that surrounded us, rendered my eyes so dim that I was sometimes a few minutes before I could perfectly recover my sight. I experienced no difficulty of breathing, or inconvenience from the motion of the Balloon; for though we moved with immense velocity, we felt not the least wind or pressure of air, it being so perfectly calm, that the flags in our hands, and those with which the Balloon was decorated, hung supine, nor did they stir. I observed, that between every row of clouds, not only the atmosphere, but the wind, varied several degrees; for on our passing through the first cloud after leaving London, the wind, which had before been nearly South-West, changed to South South-East, by which means we found ourselves over St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire. - On ascending still higher, the wind became nearly West, which drove us over Epping Forest, which I distinguished very plainly: it appeared like a gooseberry-bush. I then pointed out our course to Mr. GARNERIN on the map, and observed to him that we should soon perceive the sea, which in a short time we saw very plainly. Mr. GARNERIN then told me we had not a moment to lose, and must descend with all possible speed; at the same time pointing out a very heavy cloud to me, nearly under us; and said - "Il faut que nous passions a travers de ce drole la accrochez vous ferme car nous allons nous casser le col." I answered, "De tout mon coeur." We then opened the valve, and we descended with rapidity. On rushing into the cloud, I found, as he had conjectured, it contained as violent a squall of wind and rain as I ever experienced. The attraction of the water, the force of the wind, and the constant emission of gas from the valve, hurled us with such velocity towards the earth, that I expected to see his prediction verified, though I can assure you, my ideas at that time did not coincide with the answer I made him. Mr GARNERIN still retained all his coolness and presence of mind; and while we were descending with that extreme swiftness, desired me, the moment I should find the car about to touch the earth, to catch hold of the hoop which was fastened to the bottom of the net, to which the car was suspended, and lift myself up into the net, by which means we saved ourselves from being dashed to pieces. The Balloon did not re-ascend immediately, but dragged us along the ground, with astonishing swiftness, for the length of nearly three fields, before the grappling iron took good hold, and then [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[start centre column]] [[start clipping 1 of 1]] we thought ourselves safe, being close to a farmhouse, from which several persons came out to see us; but though we threw our ropes to them, and called for help, they were so consternated, that neither threats nor entreaties could prevail on them to come to our assistance; for, as I afterwards heard, they took us to be two sorcerers, it being rather an unusual thing to see two men coming down post-haste from the clouds. We were for about three minutes in that situation, till another gust of wind broke our cable, and we ascended again nearly 600 feet. In the bustle of preparing the ropes for the far [[page spliced]] mers, Mr. GARNERIN had let the rope belonging to the valve slip out of his hand, by which means the bottom of the Balloon was pressed upwards by the wind. Mr. GARNERIN desired me to try to regain it, which I at last effected by climbing up into the net, though the force of the wind struck the tin tubes fastened at the bottom of the Balloon, and through which the rope led, which such violence against my face, that it had nearly stunned me. Having recovered, we re-descended, but were borne with such violence across the country, sometimes along the ground, sometimes in the air, that I several times proposed to Mr. GARNERIN to abandon the Balloon, and to save ourselves; but he continually objected to it, and reminded me of my promise not to quit him. In the mean time, we were dashed against several trees, one of which had nearly destroyed us. Being with my back towards it, I received a blow on the head, which threw me at full length at the bottom of the car. Mr. GARNERIN, in attempting to assist me, was nearly thrown overboard; two of the cords that held the car broke, and at the same time some of the branches tore the Balloon: upon which Mr. GARNERIN cried out, "The Balloon is torn, and we are saved." - Another gust of wind disengaged us from the tree, and we touched the ground once more, with a less violent shock than before. We then both got out, but so exhausted with our numerous exertions, that we had hardly strength to follow the Balloon, which fell again about 200 paces further, when we completely mastered it, by throwing ourselves upon it, and by that means pressing out the remainder of the gas. It rained so very hard, that I proposed to Mr. GARNERIN to leave the Balloon in the field, and go in search of some house for shelter and refreshment. We accordingly made the best of our way to a house, which we espied about half a mile off, belonging to a Mr. KINGSBERY; and here a very curious mistake took place. When we inquired for the Master of the house, Mr. KINGSBERY appeared, but seeing two persons of so strange an appearance, (Mr. GARNERIN having a French hat on, with the National Cockade, bearing the Tri-coloured Flag, and myself being in a Sailor's dress, with the Union Jack in my hand), he imagined we came on account of the Election; and before we could address him, said, "Gentlemen, though I am a Freeholder, I have made a determination not to vote for one side or the other." So much was he impressed with this idea, that it was some time before we could make him sensible that we had nothing to do with the Election, but that we came in a Balloon in three quarters of an hour from London; - that we were very much bruised and tired, and that we required his assistance and shelter. He then received us in the most hospitable manner, not only providing us with refreshments and dry clothes; but even offered us beds, the use of his house and horses, and sent immediately some farmers with a cart, to carry the Balloon from the field, and convey it to a place of safety; and as we expressed a wish to get to Colchester that night, he sent for a post-chaise to convey us thither, where we were received with loud acclamations by the Inhabitants. The next day we returned to Fingoring Hoe, where we had left the Balloon, and after drying it on the grass, packed it up, and made the best of our way to town, where we arrived about four o'clock the next morning. I cannot help admiring the coolness and presence of mind Mr. GARNERIN preserved, even in the most imminent danger; and I am so confident of his great talents and skill in conducting a Balloon, that I would venture to go to the end of the world with him. This is as near a statement as I can recollect; and I should take it as a favour if you would insert it in your Paper, as you would thereby save me a great deal of trouble, having hardly breath enough to answer the numerous inquiries concerning our aerial excursion. R. C. SOWDEN. [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[start right-hand column]] [[start clipping 1 of 6]] ^[[July 6. 1802. - handwritten in ink]] On the day of the last ascension of Garnerin's balloon, an order was given by Willan, the farmer, to his men, to impound all the horsemen they found trespassing on his fields. A great number rushing on, his grass and inclosures sustained considerable injury. The first thing the men did was to rail up all the gates, and other avenues leading out of the fields; and they actually impounded not only the horses but the riders, to the amount of about sixty, affording great amusement to the mob collected to see this extraordinary levy carried into execution. The horsemen were released, but the horses detained. On Tuesday, at the Publick Office, Hatton-Garden, several gentlemen appeared before the Magistrates, at the instance of Mr. Willan, farmer, on a charge of trespass, in having, together with nearly 500 persons on horseback, and a great number on foot, broke down his palings, and covered a large field of grass, which was entirely destroyed, in consequence of their eagerness to see M. Garnerin's balloon go off. The complaint being more adapted to another place, the parties gave their address at the office, and they departed. We are sorry to learn, that a person who was carried to the Hospital, in consequence of the fall of a scaffold at the time of the ascension of Garnerin, died yesterday morning. A great number of pick-pockets apprehended when the Balloon ascended on Monday, were yesterday examined at Bow-Street, when three were committed for trial for robbery, and fifteen to hard labour as reputed thieves. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 6]] The following faithful copy of an advertisement, wrote by Captain Sowden himself, the original of which is in Mr. Garnerin's hands, fully justifies this last gentleman, and gives a flat contradiction to some extraordinary paragraphs which seem to discredit Mr. Garnerin's authority for publishing Mr. Sowden's second ascension with him: "Mr. Garnerin not having been able to descend in the parachute on the third of July, on account of the violence of the wind, respectfully informs the Nobility and Gentry, and the public in general, that, if on Monday the weather will not permit him to ascend in parachute, he will ascend with the car, in which Captain Sowden means to accompany him." ^[[July 7. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 3 of 6]] Captain SOWDEN is not the first whose organs of vision shewed the precariousness of the common laws of perspective. An illustrious SPECTATOR before him declared, that in his view Austria was strong in resources, while France was exhausted. Why should we then wonder at the narrative of an Aeronaut who merely says, that the cart ruts were distinctly visible, while Epping-Forest appeared like a gooseberry bush. The company at Tunbridge are all of the courtly kind, and the etiquette of St. James's is preserved with exactness; every thing is as shining and japanned as the wares of that celebrated watering place. The number of Black-legs at the Races has probably been over-rated; that there are many of the description we cannot doubt, but still all calculation must be mere conjecture, unless some distinction be established between the professional Black-legs, and the amateurs. ^[[Aug. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 4 of 6]] Various paragraphs have appeared in the daily prints, ascribing to Captain SOWDEN a novelty of invention, in the Narrative he has given to the world of his Aerial Excursion with Monsieur GARNERIN. That M. G.'s countryman, VOLNEY, furnished Captain S. with the several ideas, cannot be doubted, if we refer to his Survey of the Revolutions of Empires, where, speaking of himself, as having been lifted into the uppermost region by the wing of Genius, he says, "that although he had eyes more piercing than those of the eagle, the rivers below appeared to me no more than meandering ribbons, ridges of mountains irregular furrows, and great cities a nest of boxes, varied among themselves like the squares in a chess-board." ^[[Oct. 11. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 5 of 6]] ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] There was much propriety in Captain SOWDEN's going up in a balloon with a miniature painter. He seems no inconsiderable proficient in that art himself. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 6 of 6]] The distance to which the gallant Captain SOWDEN ascended was no doubt very high, but the Pic Nics ought not to have advanced the expence of the journey in proportion. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end column]] [[end page]] ^[[105 - handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]]
