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GARNERIN's BALLOON.
^[[July 5. 1802 - handwritten in ink]]
THE uncommon success which attended the first ascent of M. Garnerin, under circumstances of such peculiar danger and difficulty, had excited in the mind of the Public the utmost anxiety to witness his second experiment. He had announced his intention of ascending on Saturday, to the height of 10,000 feet, and of letting himself down by means of a parachute. - The novelty of such a scene in this country, rendered every one desirous of being present. - The celebrated Aeronaut had advertised, that if the weather should prove unfavourable, he would postpone his exhibition; and in point of fact, the stormy and boisterous night of Friday determined him not to risk his own life, and deprive the Public of that gratification, which could only be derived from a serene atmosphere. The balloon and parachute were affixed at Lord's Cricket-ground, Marybone, and every preparation made for inflating the former. On Saturday morning, the idea of an ascension was revived, in consequence of the wind having subsided, and the Public, whose anxiety nothing could exceed, crowded for admission into the place from whence the balloon was to be launched.
The intrepid Adventurer had used every exertion to repair the damage the Balloon had received by some atrocious miscreant having cut the oil-skin, of which it was composed. Every thing would have been ready, had the weather continued favourable; about two o'clock on Saturday, a tremendous shower of rain  precluded the possibility of ascending with the Balloon, and hand-bills were distributed, and placards affixed, informing the Public the experiment was put off till this day, at four o'clock. The Balloon was sent away to the Pantheon, in a cart, followed by a vast concourse of people. The populace, by the time it arrived near the Pantheon, became irritated at their disappointment, and it was found necessary to convey the Balloon to Marlborough-street, where it was placed, by order of the Magistrates, under the care of the Police Officers. Thousands of persons continued flocking to Marybone, long after the Balloon had been sent back to the Pantheon.
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Mr. GARNERIN. ^[[July 6. 1802 - handwritten in ink ]]
IN consequence of the loss Mr. GARNERIN must have sustained from the unfavourableness of the weather, and the situation of Lord's Ground being so much overlooked that few persons contributed towards his expences, it is proposed by persons totally unacquainted with Mr. Garnerin, to open a Subscription, with the hope that a remuneration may be made to him for his courage and intrepidity.
Subscriptions received at Messrs. Hookhams and Ebers, No. 15, Old Bond-street.
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^[[July 6 1802 - handwritten in ink]] ^[[M. Post?]]
GARNERIN's ASCENT
FROM LORD's CRICKET GROUND.
Mr. Garnerin having, in order to prevent a repetition of the disappointment of Saturday, pledged himself to go up inevitably yesterday, the balloon was accordingly prepared, but the experiment of the parachute was impossible. Notwithstanding the unfavourable appearance of the day, more than one person offered himself as a companion. Captain Sowden having thought it prudent to remain content with the fame which he had already acquired, and to decline his engagement for this day, Mr. Peck, of Oxford-street, was first mentioned, and actually determined to go, but, from some reasons with which we are unacquainted, the place was given to another gentleman, whose name we understand is Brown. Mr. Carbery, son of Mr. Carbery, of Conduit-street, a boy of light weight, was also to have gone up in case more favourable weather had permitted Mr. Garnerin to take a second companion. The balloon was filled about four; but the additional preparations of tying on the car, which from the boisterousness of the wind, it was necessary to render more secure by one or two rounds of circular cordage through the ropes by which it was suspended to the balloon, took up a considerable time, so that it was near five when the aeronaut was called away to meet His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who having been detained by the press of carriages, now entered the ground, with her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire, Lady Bessborough, Lord and Lady Morpeth, Lady Harriot Cavendish, Lady Duncannon, &c. &c. Garnerin now exerted himself in getting through every remaining preparation; he was dressed in a tight seaman's jacket, and pantaloons, which, from the length of time he had been on the ground, in a state of continued exertion, wishing to do every thing himself, notwithstanding the most perfect diligence and attention in his attendants, were wet through long before he entered the car. Every thing being prepared, a few minutes before five, Garnerin had a long conversation with the Prince of Wales, in which his Royal Highness gave many marks of his most gracious attention: After receiving the good wishes of his Royal Highness and his fair and noble companions, the hardy Frenchman approached his aerial vehicle; there was yet some difficulty with respect to the management of the ballast, and the Gentleman who was to accompany Mr. Garnerin rose up to assist in settling it; but Garnerin, who at this moment took his seat, said to him, ne vous derangez pas Monsieur, and at the same time adjusted every thing himself. The wind having beat with some violence with a most piercing rain now for some hours, the majority of the spectators, as well as the adventurers themselves, were wet through, and there being no shelter to afford the same facility of taking the balloon about the ground which the inclosure of Ranelagh afforded, Garnerin ordered the only rope that now held it to be cut, and, without waiting for any of those interesting forms which more favourable weather would permit, he was launched at once into the clouds.
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The balloon was not the same that went up from Ranelagh; it was of an oblong form, and, from the prevalence of a strong and uniform wind during about three hours, which the inflation occupied, its position in the netting was considerably deranged, so that when it got into the air, its appearance was different from the steady majesty and elegant proportion of the balloon of Ranelagh; being extremely irregular and aukward, the car seemed not rightly balanced, and the balloon, while it remained in sight (which was not above three minutes) swung continually round in consequence. But all these disadvantages served only to display the superior courage and determination of Garnerin and his companion, who continued flourishing the united flags of Great Britain and France as long as they remained in sight. A thick cloud, however, intervened between the anxious eyes of the immense assemblage, and the interesting object which they pursued, while it was yet near and perfectly distinguishable. The wind was nearly in the same direction as on the day of the ascent from Ranelagh, but from the change of place added to the thickness of the atmosphere, we fear the general view from the various parts of the city was not near so good. Within the ground, the number of persons, chiefly of the first distinction, may be estimated at about one thousand; many more were prevented by the press from coming up in time; a considerable number remained in their carriages in Baker-street and on the New Road, and some who had got out to make the best of their way were coming in when the ascent took place. Besides the Prince and his party, there were present on the ground Ladies Hunloke and Warren; Lords Stanhope, Holland, and Cathcart; Colonel Greville, Captain Sowden, Mr. Wynne, &c. The display of female charms was greater than we have ever witnessed, and wanted but the accession of more favourable weather to render it irresistable; as it was, it afforded a considerable alleviation of the vexations of the rain and wind. There were two large tents and a permanent wooden building, which afforded shelter to the greater part of the spectators. The Prince of Wales and his fair companions, after having braved the weather, from the time of their entrance into the ground, till near a quarter of an hour after the ascent, retired to the wooden building, where the rest of the company enjoyed the most grateful prospect of the day in beholding His Royal Highness in the most perfect enjoyment of health, and in the most unrestrained display of his fascinating gaiety and good humour. The charms of the gaze seemed to have fascinated the assembly, and if some who had engagements to dine with persons not in the grounds had not thinned the crowd, and admonished those who were to dine at home that it was time to go away, the meeting would, perhaps, never have separated; and when compelled to depart, the company had the evident appearance of making a sacrifice.
  The scene without the gardens remains yet to be described; and it was of such a nature, as has not only never been described, but we will venture to say, never witnessed. The entire space of Baker-street from Portman-square, and above a mile of the New Road, was crowded with coaches and carriages
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of various descriptions, the passengers in which consoled themselves for the want of a nearer view, in being perfectly secure from the rain. The owners of the nurseries adjoining the Cricket-ground, determined on sharing Mr. Garnerin's profits, without participating in his expences, had let their scaffolding for half-price, or for any price they could get, while the proprietors of the adjacent fields had their grass trampled to destruction without thinking of demanding any recompence. The vast number of females in the windows, and even on the roofs of all the houses within sight of the ground was extremely interesting; but the most novel and striking scene of all was the vast multitude in the fields and other open spaces, who presented but one prospect of umbrellas, united so as to present a tolerably just idea of the locked shields of the Romans in an assault. We cannot attempt to give an idea of the number of persons collected on this very interesting occasion; but there certainly appeared to be more than even at the ascent at Ranelagh. We are extremely concerned that the gratifications were in any respect inferior, and we must do Mr. Garnerin and the gentleman who went with him the justice to say, that, at the most imminent hazard of their lives, they shewed their determination to contribute, as much as was in their power, to the pleasures, as well of the more limited number who contributed to the expence of the day, as of the unnumbered multitude, from whom they could expect to derive nothing but praises or maledictions.
  The whole assemblage separated with no other idea on the minds of those who composed it, but admiration for Mr. Garnerin, and the most earnest wishes for his safety and that of his companion; a safety which it might, perhaps, be some reproach on the inhabitants of the most enlightened city in the world, to have suffered to be exposed for a momentary gratification.
  Previous to his departure, M. Garnerin took the precaution to obtain a certificate, signed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire, and several other noble personages, and also by Sir Richard Ford, recommending him to the friendly attentions of all country gentlemen and farmers, among whom he may happen to land; and we have no doubt, as it is now known, that he does not come on electioneering business, that wherever he shall descend, he will be treated with truly British hospitality.
  The mischief that had been done to the balloon on the early part of Saturday by some malicious person, was entirely repaired on that day, so that no danger could be apprehended from it. We are sorry to state, that an unhappy accident occurred: a man fell from a scaffolding, and was taken to an adjacent hospital, under the most dangerous appearance.
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