Viewing page 177 of 323

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[start left-hand column clipping 1 of 6]]
MR GREENS BALLOON ASCENT.
^[[July 18, 1827 - handwritten in ink]]
(From the Maidstone Journal.)

On Wednesday last the admirers of aerostation enjoyed a high treat in witnessing the ascent of Mr. Green, the intrepid aeronaut, accompanied by Colonel Lyster, a resident of this town, whose gallant exertions in the cause of the independence of South America have distinguished him as a soldier and a patriot. About noon the balloon was sufficiently inflated to ascend, and the weather being favourable, the car was attached, and many individuals enjoyed the pleasure of a flight to a considerable distance above the houses, the machine being confined by ropes, and in that manner was allowed to ascend, and hauled down again at pleasure. The sensation is described by all who witnessed it to have been of the most delightful and exhilarating nature. Two military bands, that of the Cavalry Depot and the West Kent Militia, were stationed near the spot; on the roofs of many of the houses in the neighbourhood platforms were erected with awnings, for the accommodation of spectators. On the top of the Town hall accommodations of a superior nature were prepared, where several very respectable families from the neighbourhood were provided with an excellent view of the whole proceeding, by the politeness of the Mayor, and the kindness of the gentleman through whose premises access to the summit of the hall was obtained. At four o'clock the car was detached from the balloon, in order to add a sufficient quantity of gas for the grand ascent. At half-past four, Colonel Lyster and Mr. Green took their seats in the car. About 10 minutes were spent in preliminary preparations, and at 20 minutes to five, the word being given to "let go," the balloon ascended slowly and majestically, the bands playing "God save the King," and the multitude rending the air with their enthusiastic plaudits and acclamations. Having ascended beyond the tops of the houses, Mr. Green cast off the only remaining rope, the balloon rose very rapidly, and the thousands of spectators again renewed their applauding shouts.
  After six minutes' perpendicular ascent, the balloon diverged to the south east, and soon entered a very dense cloud; in which it remained three minutes, when it again appeared in sight. On entering and on leaving the cloud, the spectators uttered a shout of acclamation, which Mr. Green states they distinctly heard, though at an immense height. At this time they had attained an elevation of two miles and three quarters, the greatest altitude ever gained by Mr. Green, and the heat of the sun expanded the gas to such an extent that the balloon was in danger of bursting; indeed, the gas rushed down the tube at the bottom of the balloon into the car. The darkness in which they were enveloped at this time in consequence of the density of the cloud was so extreme, that the voyagers could not see the balloon! Mr. Green, however, managed to get hold of the valve line, opened the valve, and kept it open during their passage through the cloud, three minutes, by which so much gas was emitted, that the balloon collapsed very much, and was plainly seen from the earth, descending very rapidly. Mr. Green commenced discharing the ballast; but the rapidity of the descent was so great, that when the sand was shaken from the bags, it appeared to ascend instead of descending. Mr. Green states that the balloon fell so swiftly, that the car, to which the grappling iron was attached by a line more than 50 feet long, swung round, so that for some minutes, the grapple was level with the car, and once the car bounded up against the balloon. On nearing the earth, however, enough ballast had been discharged to ascend again, but wishing to give the spectators another view of the balloon, and also finding that the spot they were over was more adapted for a descent than any which could have been found perhaps for many miles further, they determined on landing again on terra firma, and descended safely in the Earl of Romney's park, at the Mote, at five o'clock. Colonel Lyster was welcomed on his return by his sister, who, with several officers from the depot, had followed the course of the balloon on horseback, and had arrived at the spot almost immediately after the descent was effected. The cold during the few minutes they remained in the cloud was intense, and on their emerging from it, the view of the surrounding country was superbly grand. Sheerness, the Nore, with the shipping, could be distinctly seen. Mr. Green never ascended with such rapidity before, and is the only aeronaut who has ever ascended to such an immense height in so short a space of time, and descended in the same parish. He is so convinced of the safety of these aerial expeditions that he would at any time prefer a voyage to the upper regions to one on the ocean. It is calculated that nearly 20,000 people were assembled in Maidstone, and as many more in its environs.
[[end clipping]]
^[[the words; 2 3/4 miles highest, horseback, and safety -all written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start clipping 2 of 6]]
^[[1827 -handwritten in ink]]
ROCHESTER, JULY 19.- It having been publicly announced that Mr. [[underlined]]Green [[/underlined]]was to ascend this day in his balloon, from a field near this city, a great concourse of people, from the adjacent parts, assembled to witness the ascension. An inhabitant of Rochester, Mr. Rawlins, had agreed to accompany him in his aerial excursion; but while the preparations were making to fill the balloon, one of the gas pipes burst, which occasioned a delay of nearly two hours. When the pipe was repaired they recommenced their operations. The wind, which had blown fresh from the south-west during the day, now increased to a hurricane: when the balloon was nearly filled, the agitation caused such a pressure to the leeward side, that the ropes or cords made an aperture three feet in length, the gas evaporated, and the balloon sunk almost instantly, and of course became useless, to the great disappointment of the assembled spectators. No blame attaches to the owners of the vehicle. It is expected they will be able to gratify the public with a more successful attempt early in the next week.
[[end clipping]]
^[[H Green - written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start clipping 3 of 6]]
^[[July 23, 1827 - handwritten in ink]]
Balloon. - Mr. Green ascended from Birmingham on Monday, and descended in a corn field near Walsall, the proprietor of which is determined to sue Mr. Green at law for the damage done to his crop.
[[end clipping]]
^[[sued - written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start clipping 4 of 6]]
^[[July 29, 1827- handwritten in ink vertically in margin]]
BALLOON ASCENT. - Yesterday (Friday) afternoon, Mr. Green ascended from Warrington about half-past four o'clock. About half-past five o'clock he passed almost directly over this town. The balloon was then nearing the earth; but upon Mr. Green's throwing out some ballast it again ascended, and went off in the direction of Oldham. Mr. Green arrived in Manchester at nine o'clock, on his return to Warrington, having descended at Greenhead, near Lees, about nine miles from this town. He was accompanied by his son and a ship captain.^ The voyagers expressed themselves highly delighted with their journey. They were between this and Warrington at a height of two miles; and after leaving Manchester they again ascended to the height of about 1 3/4 miles. - Manchester Gazette. 
^[[Captain Leigh - handwritten in ink]]
[[end clipping]]
^[[3 ascents from Warrington - written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start clipping 5 of 6]]
^[[Aug. 5. 1827 - handwritten in ink]]
Mr. Green intended to ascend the skies again in his balloon from Birmingham, on Monday last; but the weather was too boisterous to allow him to ascend with safety. He therefore returned the money to the persons in the enclosure; and was opening the valve to permit the gas to escape, when a sudden gust of wind completely destroyed the balloon, which he valued at 200£.
[[end clipping]]
^[[balloon 200£ - written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start clipping 6 of 6]]
^[[Sept. 4, 1827 -handwritten in ink]]
Mr. Green ascended in his balloon from Canterbury on Tuesday last, and narrowly escaped destruction.  The balloon descended with great violence (the top had burst, and the gas began to escape before it went up) in a hop-ground near that city; and Mr. Green was insensible from the numerous shocks he had received before the irons would take hold.
[[end clipping]]
^[[Henry Green, and Canterbury - written in pencil alongside this clipping]]

[[start right hand column]]
[[start clipping]]
Among the witnesses called on the part of the defendants in the case of King v. the Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company, was a man named Lea, whose cross-examination by Mr. Brougham was productive of considerable mirth.  He was, in person, manner, dress, and appearance, the Beau ideal of Smollett's Tom Pipes. He had stated in his examination in chief, that the Mersey navigation had materially improved within the last forty years, during which he had known it.  Vessels of a greater burden could now get up than could formerly.
^[[Sept. 1827. - handwritten in ink]]
Cross-examined by Mr. Brougham - Well, Mr. Lea, you are a pilot?
Lea(with a voice of a Stentor) - No; I am not (laughter.)
Mr. Brougham - Speak out, my good friend; the Jury must hear, you know (loud laughter.)
Lea(in a similar tone) - I know they must, and I'll take care they do (laughter.)
Mr. Brougham (lowering his voice so as scarcely to be audible): I am sorry to distress you, my poor man; but if you think it won't injure your lungs, I would request you to speak a little louder. (Loud laughter).
Lea (imitating the manner of Mr. Brougham, and in a stage whisper) - I dare say they'll be able to hear me. (Continued laughter).
Mr. Brougham - Pray what are you, Mr. Lea, if you are not a pilot - you navigate vessels, you know?
Lea - I do that for my own pleasure.
Mr. Brougham--Is that all your business, then, Mr. Lea?
Lea - It is.
Mr. Brougham--Then you are a man of pleasure?
Lea - I am, Sir. (Loud laughter).
Mr. Brougham - I am glad to hear that. Such an animal is a very refreshing sight to us men of business.  And what makes you thus take your pleasure in navigating vessels?
Lea - To serve a poor man. 
Mr. Brougham - That's very good of you, I am sure; and pray how often do you serve a poor man?
Lea - As often as wind and tide serve. (Laughter.)
Mr. Brougham - Hum! besides these long vessels, they tell me you navigate some round ones, that go into the air?
Lea - I wish I was in one now. (Loud and continued laughter.)
Mr. Brougham - Then you mean to say, that during the last forty years the state of the river has improved?
Lea - I do, Sir.
Re-examined by the Attorney-General - You are a man of property, residing at Warrington?
Lea - I am, Sir.
Attorney General - You, I believe, gave Mr. Green 10l.to allow you to ascend with him in his balloon?
Lea - Fifteen pounds (Laughter.)
Attorney-General - Had you a pleasant voyage?
Lea - As pleasant a voyage as ever I had in my life. (Long continued laughter.)
[[end clipping]]

[[start poster]]
[[Image - royal crest]]

Royal Balloon.
Under The Right Worshipful Patronage of the
The Mayor and Magistrates.

[[Image - small balloon in flight with the word CORONATION emblazoned across the top half and two passengers with flags in the basket.]]

MR. GREEN,
Who had the honour to make his first ascent by order of Government, at His MAJESTY'S CORONATION, respectfully announces to the Gentry and Public of Hull and its Vicinity, that he purposes making his Eighty-fourth Aerial Voyage, with his improved Balloon,
FROM A CLOSE ADJOINING THE 
British Gas-Light
COMPANY'S SPACIOUS WORKS,
BANK-SIDE, SCULCOATES,
HULL,
On Monday, Sept. 24, 1827,
AT FOUR O'CLOCK, P.M.
On which occasion he will accompanied by a Gentleman of Hull.

Mr. Green is the only English Aeronaut that ever ascended at Night - the first that succeeded in conveying Persons to a given height during the confinement of the Balloon by ropes - and the first to prove the practicability of ascending with Carburetted-Hydrogen, or Coal Gas, the decided superiority of which he has satisfactorily proved, and which has been acknowledged by all who have witnessed the inflation of his Balloon, and which will be used,
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HULL, ON THE PRESENT OCCASION.

[[Image - hand]] The inflation will commence at Half-past Two o'Clock precisely, by which time the attendance of such Ladies and Gentlemen, as are desirous of witnessing it, is requested, as the process will occupy little more than ONE HOUR.

A BAND OF MUSIC WILL PERFORM DURING THE INFLATION.

For the accommodation of all parties, the Ground, which is very extensive, (contiguous to which is a Shed, capable of sheltering 3 or 4000 Persons,) will be divided into two parts.
Admission, 1s. or 2s. each;
And to the FIELD adjoining, which commands an eligible view of the inflation and launch of the Balloon, 6d. each. - Children, half price.

Tickets to be had of REES DAVIES, BOOKSELLER.

The Balloon, with which Mr. G. purposes ascending, is the same magnificent one that he has used during his nocturnal ascents from the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall.  It measures 110 feet in circumference, contains 149,480 gallons, and with the Car attached, is 60 feet high.

[PRINTED FOR REES DAVIES, HULL.
[[end poster]]

[[start clipping]]
^[[Oct. 8. 1827 - handwritten alongside in ink]]
[[underlined]] Mr. Green ascended [[/underlined]] Friday in his balloon from Ipswich, amid an immense concourse of spectators - the descent at Sutton, ten miles distant. - Violets
[[end clipping]] 
[[end page]]