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AERIAL NAVIGATION. ^[[Sept. 1797 - handwritten in ink]]
[This curious Article is taken from the Republicain Francois.]
   Citizen Campenas, Hydraulic Engineer, wrote, some months ago the following letter to General Buonaparte.  The Author desires us to publish it; and we are of opinion that it will certainly excite much curiosity:
   To Citizen BUONAPARTE, General in Chief of the army of Italy.

"Citizen General, 
     "Your glorious campaigns, directed by the new Government of the French Republic, have at length spread the dawn of a general Peace over the continent.
     "The only enemy which remains for you to combat, is separated from us by the sea. Finish, in the wise manner in which you have begun, the work of a Continental Peace; and then come and repose yourself awhile among us under your laurels.  You will behold with pleasure the flourishing state of the arts, which you have cherished from your infancy, and of which you are a well beloved pupil. Your multiplied conquests have recovered them from that abyss into which destructive War had plunged them. The Artist who addresses you, filled with the most lively gratitude, will erect, if the means of execution be afforded him, a vast edifice, whence, at the conclusion of his labours, there will issue an aerial vessel, capable of carrying up with you more than two hundred persons, and which may be directed to any point of the compass. I myself will be your pilot.
     "You can thus, without any danger, hover above the Fleets of Enemies jealous of our happiness, and thunder against them like a new Jupiter, merely by throwing perpendicularly downwards fire-brands made of a substance which will kindle only by the contact and percussion at the end of its fall, but which it will be impossible to extinguish: or perhaps you may think it more prudent to begin at once, by forcing the British Cabinet to capitulate, which you may easily do, as you will have it in your power to set fire to the City of London, or to any of the maritime towns of England. From the calculations I have made, I am convinced, that, with this machine, you may go from Paris to London, and return back again to Paris, in twenty-four hours, without descending.
     "The period of this enterprise, if my humble voice can be heard, is not far distant. A single campaign would be sufficient to realise the whole of my plan. Deign, then, to promote its execution, by your correspondence with the Executive Directory of the French Republic. I have not yet made any proposal to the Government, because it would require one million to carry through this project effectually, and the expenses of the War have hitherto absorbed the whole of the revenues of France.  
     "The object I propose is, to establish, in the great Ocean of the Atmosphere, a General Navigation, infinitely more certain and more advantageous than Maritime Navigation, which has ever disturbed the tranquillity of mankind; to restore the perfect liberty of Commerce, and to give peace and happiness to all the Nations of the Universe, and unite them as one family. By great labour I have surmounted the multiplied obstacles which presented themselves before me; and my progressive discoveries are developed in a work which I have prepared, consisting of about 400 pages, and divided into five parts.
     "I have shewn my work to several learned men of this capital. The Commissioners appointed to take my plan into consideration (two of whom are Members of the National Institute, and formerly were Members of the Academy) have long meditated upon my data, which they have frequently examined with the greatest attention:  at last, after a long series of conversations with me, they have testified their approbation in the most unanimous and most earnest manner.
     "Every moment of your time, brave General, is occupied by your attention to objects that are conducive to our happiness. I cannot then, and ought not, considering the distance between us, and fearing lest my letter should fall into perfidious hands, transcribe the whole of the long Report that has been made upon this subject. I shall simply present you with an extract from the last part of it.

EXTRACT FROM THE CONCLUSION OF THE REPORT.

     "In the fifth and last part of the work we find details which the Author had preserved of his first experiments on Aerostation; and we learn that this Artist had hitherto experienced only disappointment; but it is obvious that his combinations and his data carry with them all the characteristics of reason and truth.
     "We lastly proceeded to consider the experiments which the Engineer Campenas has lately made, with a view to the construction of Aerostatic Machines, and directing them to useful purposes.  We are convinced with him, as we have already observed, that the larger the Aerostatic Machines are made, the more easy will it be to direct them - because they will present in the air less relative resistance in proportion to the number of men they may carry, and consequently insure the progress of the direction. Indeed, if we consider the united strength of 200 men against the wind, and submit the power of both to calculation, it will be seen that the force of the men will be seldom inferior to that of the wind. We are therefore convinced, that it would be highly advantageous to give Citizen Campenas zealous and faithful co-operators to assist him in the construction of this Machine. - If we consider attentively the immense treasures which Maritime Navigation absorbs, there is nothing extravagant in suggesting that three or four millions might be laid out, if necessary, to realize an attempt, the success of which must add to the happiness of all the Nations of the Globe.
    "Besides, such an enterprize, if completely successful, would afford a double advantage to the Country.  The building which Citizen Campenas proposes to establish, and which may be constructed in the Champs Elysees, would always present a monument worthy of the Republic. In it all the civic festivals might be celebrated, and all ceremonies performed which require great space, and of course cannot be exhibited in bad weather.  This building is the Aerostatic Dock; and Ports and Wharfs may be multiplied in proportion as new vessels are constructed. The advantages which a Navigation of this kind would infallibly produce, are so amply demonstrated in the work of Citizen Campenas, that we do not hesitate to recommend the prompt execution of his plans"
     "P.S. In my treatise on Aerostation, I promise that the capital city of each country shall
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have a Dock for building Aerial vessels; and an Aerostatic Port, having a number of wharfs, on which foreign vessels may at all times descend, and remain without danger a sufficient time to unload, make commercial exchanges, take in fresh cargoes, refit, &c.  But, while these vessels are under sail, the smallest of which will carry more than two hundred persons, they will have no occasion to descend for the purpose of exchanging or purchasing commodities.  Their powers of direction, by which they are enabled to make way against the strongest winds, will serve to make them ascend or descend, or remain stationary at any height required. Two atmospheric buoys, each surmounted with a parachute, to be used in case of any accident, must be placed in the two pavilions with which the two extremities of the gallery of the vessel ought to terminate, and may be let down or taken up at the pleasure of the crew, with men, provisions, or articles of any kind necessary for manoeuvring the vessel.
     "Finally, another small cylindrical buoy may be let down from the centre pavilion (for the gallery ought to have three pavilions), which would serve to receive, until a general Peace, the capitulations of the Fortresses, &c. belonging to our remaining enemies. During Peace this buoy might serve to give and receive intelligence, either by day or night (for it can be illuminated), upon a plan previously concerted.
     "My work, besides, contains all the details necessary to this kind of sailing, and an Atmospheric Code, the regulations of which have for ther sole object the Peace and the Happiness of all the People of the Earth.

(Signed)
"CAMPENAS, Hydraulic Engineer."
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AIR BALLOON.  ^[[Oct. 16. 1797 - handwritten in ink]]

The following is extracted from the last Paris Papers.

     The AErostatic experience of Citizen GARNERIN, who on the 22nd of August failed, owing to the cord breaking, compleatly succeeded the day before yesterday, in the Garden of Mousseax. The Balloon was of taffety, and 18 feet high; it was filled at half after five. Citizen LALAND took it to the midst of the Inclosure, and the young Physician said with a loud voice, "If I repair this day the misfortune with which they have so much reproached me I shall owe it to the protecting genius which has covered me with his aegis," but Citizen LALAND said, he had no other merit than that of having defended Citizen GARNERIN against calumny. The latter rose amidst the applauses of an immense assembly, who followed them with their eyes.  The AErostat took a Westward direction.  The Car was filled with little bags of earth, which the Physician threw from time to time to diminish the weight and rise with more ease.  He was often seen in the highest region of the atmosphere, waving his flag towards the place where the Public were assembled. In a few moments after he was out of sight. Citizen LALAND assured us that his plan was to descend in Champaign, The air, which was very calm, and the little that remained of day prevented him from pursuing his voyage so far. He descended in the plan of St. Denis, at eight o'clock.  It was on his return to the Garden that he received the compliments of all who were assembled to see the exhibition of fireworks of Citizen BERNARD, and a fine illumination.  The Globe was still nearly full, but Citizen GARNERIN was in want of repose, and the Public would not abuse his good nature.
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M. GARNERIN.
ANY particulars concerning this adventurous person must be amusing to the Publick:-
     He is a native of Paris, and the son of a Pewterer in that capital.  His father, though very far from being in opulent circumstances, sent him to the University at an early age, but it cannot be said that he went through any thing like a regular course of studies, as he only remained three years at College, and never entered the class of Natural Philosophy.
     It was at the period that the noted Montgolfier first invented and exhibited his Balloon, when young Garnerin, more captivated by the new discovery, than in love with classical learning, soon conceived the idea of making little Balloons for himself, and of letting them out from his chamber windows.  The Principal of the College, however, seeing that he totally neglected his studies for the pursuit of such baubles, told him, in the most peremptory manner, that he should either abjure his Balloon, or quit the Seminary.  Garnerin preferred the latter, and went home to his father, who was far from being satisfied with his conduct.
     When the Revolution broke out, which was soon after his leaving college, he became a volunteer in the Parisian National Guard; and though he proved very attentive to his military avocations, he did not lose sight of his favourite amusement.  Not having money sufficient to purchase a balloon himself, he applied to a rich and avaricious person, who bought one for him, and gave him a mere trifle for ascending in it, on condition that he should receive the cash which the Publick were to pay for admission.  Even this proposal was acceded to by Garnerin. His parents, however, learning that he was on the eve of going up in a balloon, applied to the Mayor of Paris, and conjured him to prevent their son from exposing himself to such imminent danger.  But the Magistrate -(it was the unfortunate Bailli)- refused to interfere, saying that the business was not within the sphere of his jurisdiction.  The distracted father and mother then waited on Gen. La Fayette, who was Commander in Chief of the Parisian Guard, and begged he would interpose his military authority, and not suffer the giddy youth to ascend. M. La Fayette, in compliance with their request, sent a file of soldiers to put the young adventurer in confinement; but Garnerin seeing the men
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approach, and guessing their intention, immediately drew his sabre, threatened to run the first person through who should interrupt him, cut the cords which kept the balloon to the ground, and ascended with the utmost velocity, amidst the acclammations of thousands.
     When the monster Robespierre filled France with widows and orphans, the Revolutionary Committee of Publick Safety deputed Garnerin to the Army of the North, then commanded by General Ransonnet.  He appeared there in the capacity of Commissioner, and was invested with extraordinary powers.
     His functions called him to Marchiennes, in Flanders, a few days before the Austrians attacked that place and carried it. The Austrian division was under the immediate command of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and Garnerin became a prisoner to the British; he was sent with the others, about 1600, to Oudenard, whence he escaped about two months after, but was retaken almost immediately.  He passed into the hands of the Austrians, was conveyed up the Danube, into Hungary, where he remained till he was exchanged.  He complains highly of the French Government, and certainly not without just cause, for having refused to pay him his arrears during the period of his captivity!
     Garnerin is of a very diminutive size, and is in his thirty third year.
     He is married to a lady of similar dispositions to his own, who sometimes accompanies him in his aereal excursions; she however, with laudable deference, gives up the whole honour of adventuring in our boisterous regions to her husband. 
^[[July 1802 - handwritten in ink]]
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M. GARNERIN,
Whose bold aerial excursion has, within these two or three days, been the almost universal topic of conversation, is a native of Paris, and the son of a Pewterer in that capital.  His father, though very far from being in opulent circumstances, sent him to the University at an early age, but it cannot be said that he went through any thing like a regular course of studies, as he only remained three years at college, and never entered the class of Natural Philosophy.  It was at the period that the noted MONTGOLFIER first invented and exhibited his Ballooin, young GARNERIN, more captivated by the new doscovery than in love with classical learning, soon conceived the idea of making little Balloons for himself, and of letting them out from his chamber windows.  The Principal of the College, however, seeing that he totally neglected his studies for the pursuit of such baubles, told him, in the most peremptory manner, that he should either abjure his Balloon mania, or quit the Seminary. GARNERIN preferred the latter, and went home to his father, who was far from being satisfied with his conduct.
     When the Revolution broke out, which was soon
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after his leaving College, he became a Volunteer in the Parisian National Guard; and though he proved very attentive to his military avocations, he did not loose sight of his favourite amusement.  Not having money sufficient to purchase a Balloon himself, he applied to a rich and avaricious person, who bought one for him, and gave him a mere trifle for ascending in it, on condition that he should receive the cash which the public were to pay for admission.  Even this proposal was acceded to by GARNERIN.  His parents, however, learning that he was on the eve of going up in a Balloon, applied to the Mayor of Paris, and conjured him to prevent their son from exposing himself to such imminent danger.  But the Magistrate -(it was the unfortunate BAILLI) refused to interfere, saying that the business was not within the sphere of his jurisdiction - the distracted father and mother then waited on General LA FAYETTE, who was Commander in Chief of the Parisian Guard, and begged he would interpose his military authority, and not suffer the giddy youth to ascend. - LA FAYETTE acquiesced in the favour they solicited, and sent a file of soldiers to put the young adventurer in confinement; but GARNERIN saw the men approach, and guessing what had been their orders, immediately drew his sabre, threatened to run the first person through who should interrupt him, cut the cords which kept the Balloon to the ground, and ascended with the utmost velocity, amidst the acclamations of thousands.
     When the monster ROBESPIERRE filled France with widows and orphans, the Revolutionary Committee of Public Safety deputed GARNERIN to the Army of the North, then commanded by General RANSONNET.  He appeared there in the capacity of Commissioner, and, as he was known to possess a considerable portion of inflammable matter, he was invested with extraordinary powers.
     His functions called him to Marchiennes, in Flanders, a few days before the Austrians attacked that place and carried it.  The Austrian division was under the immediate command of his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK, and GARNERIN became a prisoner to the British; he was sent, with the others, about 1600, to Oudenard, whence he deserted about two months after, but was retaken almost immediately. He passed into the hands of the Austrians, was conveyed up the Danube, into Hungary, where he remained till he was exchanged.  He complains highly of the French Government, and certainly not without just cause, for having refused to pay him his arrears during the period of his captivity!
     GARNERIN is of a small size, and is in his thirty third year. He was bearer of recommendatory letters from Mr. L. GOLDSMITH to Lord STANHOPE, &c.
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