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^[[July 10, 1824 - handwritten in ink]]
Mr. Graham ascended in his balloon from Vauxhall Gardens, Bath, on Friday. He was accompanied by a Mr. Adams. The balloon remained in sight about forty minutes, and descended at Ramsbury, Wilts, about 46 miles from Bath. They were up one hour and a quarter.
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^[[1824 - handwritten in ink]]
MR. GRAHAM'S ASCENT FROM BATH.
BATH, JULY 19. - Thunder-storms, racing, and ballooning have this week been almost frightening Bath from her propriety. Our races commenced on Wednesday last, but unfortunately a dreadful storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, commenced before them. So early as nine o'clock the rain began to pour, but notwithstanding the good citizens of Bath plodded their weary way to Lansdown, the place where the races are held. - Arrived there, a most extraordinary phenomenon met their sight - A dense cloud seemed to rise from the earth towards the west, and collecting into round ball, drove over the plain, scattering the rain with which it was charged in its progress. - The darkness caused by it was so great that the spectators could not see other two yards apart. Some of course thought that the earth had numbered its days; and it was really amusing to see black legs and amateurs, gentlemen, and apple-women, hastening from the Downs with terror in their looks, and clothes drenched in the rain. The sport was of course rather indifferent - the Somersetshire Stakes of 25 sovereigns each, with 100 sovereigns added, were won by the Honourable Mr. Fellowes's Eclipse.
On the evening of Friday Mr. Graham made his promised ascent with his balloon from the gardens. The evening was beautiful, and the crowds collected on the adjacent hills were immense. The company within the gardens was but small, which is much to be regretted, as Mr. Graham generously ascended for the benefit of the Bath General Hospital.
The ascent was announced to take place at five o'clock; but it was half-past six before it took place. At that time both aeronauts (Mr. Graham, and a Mr. Adams from London) took their seats in the car, and the balloon immediately rose with them, clearing the surrounding trees in gallant style, and soaring aloft in a manner at once stately and majestic. After attaining an immense height, the setting sun threw its golden lustre upon the machine, and made it appear quite transparent. It remained in sight about 40 minutes. At first its direction was north-east, but it afterwards veered round to the east, in which quarter it disappeared.
Mr. Graham has given the following account of the excursion:-
At half-past six we rose with considerable rapidity from the earth, and when we had attained a good elevation the view was magnificent and striking beyond all description. The sun was just setting, and the splendour of its appearance, combined with the harmony of every thing around, strongly tempted me to exclaim with the immortal Milton -
"These are thy glorious works, Parent of good!"
One object on the earth attracted our attention soon afterwards. This object presented the appearance of a crawling animal, something like a crab, and afforded considerable merriment both to Mr. Adams and myself. This extraordinary phenomenon I have since ascertained to have been nothing less than a horse with a man on its back! We floated on an equilibrium for some time, and then began to ascend. Our highest altitude was about three miles; but the barometer having received some injury, I cannot, without further examination, determine the exact state of the atmosphere. The gas did not expand a great deal. After remaining in the air almost an hour and a half, we began to think of descending, and I opened the valve for that purpose. As we approached terra firma, however, it appeared very woody, therefore we threw out ballast, (60lbs. of which we took out with us) and continued to float along at a moderate height. After doing so, for twenty minutes, we descended at a quarter before eight between two woods, near Bambury, Berks, 46 miles Bath, in perfect safety. The place of descent was quite private, and consequently we had considerable difficulty in finding our way. Having packed up the machine, and procured a conveyance, we set off and arrived a Sydney Hotel, Bath, at eight o'clock next morning.
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MR. GRAHAM'S ELEVENTH ASCENT.
(From the Taunton Courier, Aug. 25.) ^[[1824 - handwritten in ink]]
The failure in Mr. Graham's attempt to ascend from this town on the 16th instant, incited him to the most anxious exertions to compensate for the disappointment he had occasioned. Arrangements were accordingly made for his ascension with his balloon yesterday, and a large elevated field, opposite the gas-works in Holway-lane, was selected for the purpose. On this spot the tanks, and other works for generating the hydrogen gas, were erected. Mr. Graham having announced that the field should be thrown open, gratis, to the public, and that he should rely on the voluntary contributions of those assembled, published a particular statement of his expenses, by which it appears that his disbursements amounted to upwards of 300l. The free admission to the field occasioned it to be filled at an early period of the day by a vast multitude of spectators, many of whom had arrived from distant parts of the country. Carriages of every description surrounded the ground, many of them filled with a display of female grace and beauty. Stands were erected for the accommodation of spectators, and booths, in which supplied were served out for refreshing the thirsty pedestrian, appeared in various parts of the ground. A party of cudgel-players from Wedmore displayed their science in an adjoining meadow, on an elevated stage; and various homely amusements enlivened the scene. The day was calm, clear, and of uncommon loveliness - the sun having shone, without intermission, from the earliest dawn; the sky was in consequence delightfully blue and cloudless. At 12 o'clock the process of inflation commenced, and, as the hour advanced at which the ascent was expected, the anxiety of the multitude became painfully intense, from the apprehension that some mischance might again frustrate the attempt. Mr. Graham had, however, very discreetly availed himself of the voluntary services of some highly scientific gentlemen, to whose honourable efforts no inconsiderable praise is due for the admirable arrangement of the process. As we stated last week, this was Mr. Graham's first experiment with pure hydrogen gas, his balloon having on all former occasions been inflated with carburetted hydrogen from the gas works; but as oil-gas is too heavy for the purpose of aerostation, that obtained from the establishment in this town was inapplicable to the purpose. His materials of iron and vitriol were therefore brought from Bristol at a considerable cost, and Mr. Graham is indeed entitled to the greatest credit of having spared neither pains not expense in redeeming his reputation from the disadvantage occasioned by his recent failure. The process of inflation commenced at 12 o'clock, and the balloon became rapidly distended; so rapidly, indeed, that the net work not having been thrown over in sufficient time, it was near escaping from the grasp of the assistants - the consequence was, that upwards of 5,000 cubic feet of gas escaped through the valve; and soon after four o'clock it was ascertained that no more gas could be generated than was sufficient for the ascent of one person. Mrs. Graham, and one or two other aspirants for the honour of accompanying the aerial voyager, were therefore compelled to forego their intentions. At 20 minutes before five o'clock, Mr. Graham took his station in the car, and the cords having been simultaneously loosened, the balloon majestically rose to the infinite delight of the immense concourse of persons assembled, who hailed the intrepid aeronaut with continued shouts of applause. The balloon took a south-eastern direction, and moved calmly through the air onwards, and the sky being delightfully clear and serene, the spectacle was perhaps as interesting as any of the kind ever witnessed. A few minutes after Mr. Graham ascended he threw out his travelling cap, and soon after a roll of paper, for the purpose of affording increased levity to the balloon. After sailing steadily through the air for about 20 minutes, the balloon, when about a mile in height, was gently impelled in a south-westerly direction, in which it continued until a few minutes past six o'clock, when Mr. Graham prepared for his descent, which was safely effected about 20 minutes after six, in an oat-field occupied by Mr. R. Broomfield, about a quarter of a mile south-east of the village of Upottery, Devon, distant from this town about 12 miles. From the clearness of the sky the balloon was in sight the whole time, from the moment of its ascending to that of its descent below the horizon.
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MR. GRAHAM'S BALLOON.
BRIDGEWATER, SEPT. 8. - About five o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 7th, the inhabitants of Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, about 42 miles north-east of Exeter, were surprised by the appearance of Mr. Graham's Balloon, which had ascended from Exeter at four o'clock, and was seen rapidly descending, with two persons in the car, at the apparent distance of about two miles southward of that town. A great number of persons immediately hastened towards the spot, and soon discovered that Mr. Graham, with Mr. Cullum, a young gentlemen of Exeter, had safely alighted in a large field belonging to Henry Coles, Esq., of Park, near the village of North Petherton. The young gentlemen of Mr. Crosswell's school having discovered the balloon, followed its course for some distance, and on its descent, assisted some labourers in securing it, which was easily effected, the weather being fine, with but little wind. The Balloon was taken without injury to Mr. Coles's house, where Mr. Graham and his adventurous young companion received the most polite attentions. Mr. Graham stated, that he had not been more than an hour on his aerial voyage from Exeter, although soon after he ascended he met with a current, which drove the Balloon rapidly towards the English Channel; but upon ascending higher it took a different course towards the north east. He supposed they must have attained an elevation of nearly three miles, from whence they entertained a distinct and beautiful view of the English and Bristol Channels, with the intervening country, (one of the finest in England), to an immense extent, including the city of Bristol, which was plainly perceptible. - The voyagers were in high spirits, and after partaking of Mr. Coles's hospitality, proceeded about seven o'clock in a post chaise for Exeter, leaving their balloon under Mr. Coles's care.
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Mr. Graham, accompanied by a gentlemen named Hobro, ascended in his [[underlined]] balloon [[/underlined]] on Monday, at Worcester. The aeronauts had not proceeded far before they came down again; but by taking off their coats and hats, and putting every thing out of the car except the grappling irons, they re-ascended; a current of air then carried them against a house, and several bricks fell into the car, which they carefully discharged, and leaving the grappling irons in the gutter, once more ascended gradually. After having reached an altitude of two miles and a half, they began to descend, and alighted safely in a field about five miles from Evesham. ^[[Sep 1824 - handwritten in ink]]
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After two successive days of disappointment, Mr. Graham ascended in his balloon from the new cricket-ground at Brighton, on Wednesday, at three o'clock. Before the ascent, it was submitted to the company whether a lengthened voyage or a descent, within sight of Brighton, would be preferred, when the general opinion appeared much in favour of the latter arrangement. The day was favourable and the ascent magnificent, but the breeze was so light that the balloon was propelled at a rate not exceeding that of the horsemen who followed its course over the Downs. Mr. Graham descended not far distant from Lord Chichester's lodges on the Lewes road, a distance of three miles, in perfect safety, within sight of the heights near the cricket-ground. He was accompanied by a Mr. Slee, and remained in the air about half an hour. ^[[Oct. 1824 - handwritten in ink]]
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[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
MR. GRAHAM'S BALLOON.
Brighton, Friday, Oct. 8, 1824.
MR. EDITOR, - That justly celebrated aeronaut, Mr. Graham, arrived here the early part of the last week, and announced his intention of making another aerial ascent. Public advertisements to this effect appeared in all the Papers, and placards were posted up in every direction, and as generally circulated through all the towns and villages adjacent; and Tuesday, the 5th, at 2 o'clock, (wind and weather permitting,) was the time he proposed for this magnificent spectacle. The spot selected for the exhibition and the ascent, was Ireland's Pleasure Grounds, which are patronized by his Majesty, and numerous nobility. Workmen were actively employed in the erection of a platform, and laying down pipes from the Hanover Arms Inn, for the purpose of inflation. A very considerable space of the lawn was enclosed by poles and tarpauling, immediately in front of the Banquetting-room, from the windows of which many hundreds of persons were accommodated with an uninterrupted view of the whole of the proceedings below. Mr. Graham's arrival with his splendid balloon and car, was no sooner announced than numbers of persons repaired to the Gardens to inspect it, and the various interesting apparatus connected with this truly beautiful aerial machine; and the general interest it excited to the moment of its ascent, can be fairly judged, from the eagerness of all classes to get a sight, prior to its departure to higher regions;
"Where gods on thrones celestial seated,
"By Jove with bowls of nectar treated."
The balloon is composed of 1117 yards of silk in alternate stripes of white and crimson; it is the largest silk balloon that ever ascended, and was manufactured by Mr. Graham, Artillery-lane, Spitalfields. There are 76 gores, and it is encircled in the centre by a zone of green silk of 40 yards. It is capable of holding 50,000 cubic feet of hydrogen. Its transverse diameter is 37 feet 6 inches, and longitudinal is fifty-nine. The cost of the balloon alone, independent of the car, &c. was £765. Mr. G. has made 9 ascents in it, the one prior to his last here, was at Worcester. The extraordinary beauty of the car attracted more than ordinary attention; and being suspended from the ceiling of the Banquetting-room, three or four feet from the floor, it could be viewed more minutely, and with considerable effect. It is of an elliptical form, of about 6 feet in length, and little less than half in width. The design of the whole is very handsome, and its beautiful decorations are so suitable conceived, that it cannot have been a work of any common genius. The signs of the zodiac are painted around the canopy, and crimson festooned curtains, trimmed with gold lace, and long bullion tassels, are below. In the lower part of the the car are two cane seats of open work; and side-pockets are formed in the interior lining for provisions, and instruments for scientific purposes; the whole is attached to the canopy by gilt columns, which are perforated for ropes to pass through. The inside is covered with purple velvet, and the exterior is decorated with allegorical devices from the heathen mythology; and the aeronaut is represented as soaring in his balloon over their godships' heads. At each end is a female gilt figure, one holding a wreath, and the other blowing a trumpet.
The immense quantity of rain that fell during the night previous, and up to one o'clock on Tuesday, rendered the day exceedingly unfavourable, not only for aerostation, but for those to whom such a sight is ever interesting. The Royal Gardens appear to me to have been mostly admirably adapted for the occasion, from their being so peculiarly situated in a valley, on the Lewes road, surrounded by hills that resemble cones, and which rise to a very considerable elevation.
Though all the preparations and arrangements for ascending on the Tuesday, as advertised, were made, yet the weather would not permit an ascension until Friday. Both on Tuesday and Wednesday Mr. Graham shewed a readiness to venture into the air in spite of wind and weather; but the assembled multitudes would not permit him.
On Thursday morning the weather appeared to be more unsettled than before, and as early as ten o'clock a Mr. Bealby, a friend of the aeronaut, accompanied by the proprietor of the Gardens (Mr. Ireland) gave public notice that it would be impossible to gratify public expectation at so unfavourable a period of wind and rain. These gentlemen had previously consulted the Magistrates, and the principal inhabitants and visitors, who fully concurred in the course they had adopted.
Friday. - This day, from the early part of the morning, was remarkably fine for the ascent, and, therefore, public curiosity was more excited than on the former days, judging from those within the inclosure - the number of vehicles of every denomination that lined all the public roads, in near connection with the Gardens, which were filled with beautiful and elegantly dressed females - together with the solid masses of spectators who had occupied the more elevated grounds: the sight was at once unique and splendidly magnificent.
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Mrs. Fitzherbert was in a part of the Banquetting Room fitted up expressly for her accommodation, and among the company I observed persons of the first rank; to whom Mr. Graham humbly begs to acknowledge his deep sense of gratitude for their distinguished patronage and support.
Precisely at twenty minutes past three o'clock, the aeronaut entered the car, accompanied by Mr. Ireland, who (upon the machine being raised) was much disappointed in finding his weight too great, although three bags of ballast had been thrown out to accommodate him. A Mr. Foard then stepped into the car, who shared the same misfortune from a like cause. The next gentleman for aerostatic fame, was Mr. Slee, jun. wine-merchant, Brighton, who was pronounced by Mr. Graham to be no impediment to the buoyancy of the balloon. Those around, who held the car, were signalled by Mr. G. to loose their hold: when thus deprived of all earthly bonds, she rose in the most steady and majestic manner possible to be conceived, amid the acclamations of upwards of 30,000 spectators. The band at the same interesting moment struck up the national air of "God save the King." The aeronaut had conceived a plan for staying the balloon, when it soared about seventy feet in heigth, in order to afford the surrounding thousands an opportunity of viewing it for the space of 10 minutes. A friend of Mr. G. was desired to carry the grapple iron, which was affixed to a patent cord, of about 70 feet in length, on the other side of the tarpauling enclosure (this was previous to the ascension,) and such was the degree of nicety of its ascending power, that Mr. G.'s friend had the complete command of the aerial voyagers, who were drawn in direct opposition to the current over a considerable portion of the lawn, without the enclosure, to the astonishment and delight of all who beheld so extraordinary and so interesting a feat - unique in the extreme in the annals of aerostation. Mr. Graham dropt a piece of white tissue paper as a signal to his friend to cease his hold of the grapple, for soaring to higher regions. Mr. G. and his companion (the latter, it is but justice to say, appeared calm and collected) waved their hats high in the air, and bade adieu, for a short time, to their friends below. A more beautiful, or a more magnificent ascent, was never, perhaps, seen in this or any other country. Its course, upon rising to about a quarter of a mile in altitude, was N. E. but getting into a lighter current, it took an eastern direction, which it continued to do, until it was hovering about a mile and a half high over the neighbourhood of Bevendean, when Mr. G. finding the balloon was going fast to the coast, very wisely let out a portion of the gas, and descended into an opposite current, which carried them more inland over the village of Falmer, near which they descended precisely at three minutes after four, amid hundreds of pedestrians and horsemen, who had followed them, not only from the place of ascent, but from all parts adjacent.
The Account of the Aeronaut and the Gentleman who accompanied him. - After they had soared in the air about half a mile in height, the balloon was then sailing in a north-easterly direction. The car was then lightened of about four pounds of ballast; it immediately ascended to about three quarters of a mile, from which time till they arrived at the height of one mile and a half, they pursued an eastern direction, hovering over the villages of Bevendean and Ovendean, a distance of about four miles. Finding that the current was fast carrying the balloon to sea, the aeronaut let out a sufficient quantity of gas for a gradual descent, to get into a lower current, which carried them in the direction of Falmer, over which they remained almost stationary for fifteen minutes. At this particular crisis the aeronaut and his companion observed a great number of horsemen, and groups of pedestrians, hastening to a small coppice near Falmer, who very wisely dispersed themselves into two bodies, to render the voyagers assistance in their descent. The grapple iron was cast from the car, which was caught by one of the equestrians, and was immediately secured by the surrounding groups. The aeronauts alighted, the gas suffered to escape, the balloon and apparatus taken into safe custody by Mr. Graham, who, with his friend, was invited by Mr. Woodman, of Mud-house Farm, near Falmer, to partake of some refreshment, until a vehicle could be provided for their return. At five minutes before six o'clock they returned to the Hanover Arms, at the Royal Gardens, amid the acclamations of thousands. The band received them with "See the Conquering Hero comes," and closed with the national air of "God save the King." Mr. Graham has desired me to add, that he was never more liberally dealt with, nor was he ever supplied with gas before that possessed the qualities of performing what the Brighton gas has actually performed; which, in the aeronaut's opinion, is the purest gas for illumination he ever witnessed. To the surprise of Mr. G he was actually supplied by a three-inch main, in a low situation, to the surprising distance of two miles, and to the astonishment of the inhabitants of Brighton. The balloon was suspended four days and four nights, undergoing thirty-seven showers of rain, accompanied by heavy squalls of wind from the sea, which carried the tarpaulin inclosure, several hundred yards in length, to a considerable distance. Mr. G. cannot conclude the above statement, without expressing his deep sense of gratitude to the Gas Company, as a body, and to Mr. Adams, their engineer, whose exertions and ability deserve the highest commendation.

The great and unremitting exertion which was made by Mr. G. to insure the favour of the public, has been crowned with unprecedented success, and it is not saying too much, to assure the public that his gratitude is commensurate with their liberal patronage.
I am authorized to state from Mr. Graham, that it is with deep regret he read, in common with others, of the melancholy accident that befel Mr. Sadler, jun. in his late ascent from Bolton, and whom Mr. Graham acknowledges to have possessed intrepidity and intelligence unequalled in the annals of aerostation.
I am also empowered to say, that Mr. Graham will, with the greatest pleasure, in consideration of Mrs. Sadler's heart-rendering loss, make an ascent from Oxford, for the exclusive benefit of the widow and orphan, provided it meets the approbation of this worthy and ill-fated young aeronaut's relatives.
Mr. Graham will ascend the week after next, at Canterbury, if the weather should be any way favourable for such a voyage.
Yours, &c.        B.
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