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MRS. GRAHAM. - We are glad to learn that the state of Mrs. Graham's health has so much improved within the last two days that no doubt is now entertained of her ultimate recovery; and if she continues to go on the rest of the week as well as she has done since Tuesday she will be removed to town about Monday next. All the alarming symptoms which for so many days presented themselves have now disappeared, and her convalescence may shortly be expected. 
BALLOON ASCENT FROM CHELTENHAM. - Wednesday last Mr. Graham ascended from the Montpelier Gardens at Cheltenham, accompanied by [[underlined]] Mr. Carter [[/underlined]], of Montpelier Villa. The process of inflation commenced at twelve o'clock, and was completed at half-past four, when the gentlemen stepped into the car. The balloon was loosened from its mooring a little before five, when the vast machine arose majestically, amidst the cheers of the thousands who had assembled in the gardens. It took a steady course to the north-east, and the day being exceedingly favourable it had a magnificent appearance. At a quarter before six it was seen fast approaching the town of Stratford-on-Avon, and soon after the intrepid aeronauts were landed in safety at the village of Clifford, within a mile of Stratford. For some time afterwards the splendid machine was exhibited in an inflated state to the admiration of hundreds of persons who were attracted to the spot. 
^[[Aug. 31, 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
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^[[3 Sept 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
MR. GRAHAM'S RECENT ASCENT. - On Tuesday afternoon the town of Hinckley, Leicestershire, was the scene of considerable animation, in consequence of it having been announced that Mr. Graham would make an ascent. The whole of the day was extremely boisterous; notwithstanding which, however, some hours before six o'clock, the time appointed for the ascent, several thousands of spectators assembled, amongst whom were the greater proportion of the respectable inhabitants. About four o'clock in the afternoon the town was visited by a tremendous thunder storm, and it was greatly feared that it would prevent the ascent, owing to the great difficulty which attended the inflation of the balloon. The tempestuous weather continuing, the friends of Mr. Graham strongly advised him to postpone his aerial voyage, but he resolutely refused, expressing his determination not to disappoint the public, even if it blew a hurricane, at the same time Mr. G. expressing his full confidence that he could manage the balloon with equal safety in boisterous as in fine weather. At six o'clock, the balloon being sufficiently inflated, Mr. Graham entered the car, amidst the most enthusiastic cheers of those assembled; it was generally supposed that he would be accompanied by some gentleman, but that was not the case, possibly arising from the tempestuous state of the weather. Everything being completed, the cords were loosed and the ponderous machine rose rapidly, at the time blowing and raining hard. Owing to the thickness of the atmosphere, the balloon was soon out of sight. Much astonishment and admiration were manifested by all present at the intrepidity of Mr. Graham in ascending in such weather. During the time the balloon was up it thundered and lightened, and some anxiety was felt by Mr. Graham's friends at the possibility of the balloon being struck by the electric fluid. At ten minutes past seven o'clock the balloon descended safely in a field, about 13 miles distant from the place of ascent, and Mr. Graham arrived at Hinckley with the balloon shortly after nine. Mr. Graham describes his trip as very grand, from the extraordinary appearance of the clouds and the flashes of vivid lightning which were visible considerably beneath him. Whilst up, Mr. Graham was necessitated to bale the water out of the car, owing to the torrents of rain that fell. He describes the cold as very intense when up to the utmost altitude, which was more than three miles. 
^[[Herald - handwritten in ink]]
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BALLOONING.^[[ 8 Sept. 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
On Friday Mr. Graham ascended in a balloon from Warwick Racecourse, accompanied by a Mr. [[underlined]] Steel [[/underlined]], and descended in the parish of Fawsley, Northamptonshire, having travelled about twenty-one miles in an hour and ten minutes. - Leamington Spa Courier. 
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BALLOON ASCENT FROM WARWICK. 
^[[8 Sept. 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
Mr. Graham ascended in his balloon from the race course on Friday.^ Soon after twelve o'clock the inflation commenced at the gas house in the Saltisford, and about three the balloon was conveyed to the course whence it was to ascend. There was a great number of people assembled on the course, in their carriages, and several ladies and gentlemen were on the stand, and a considerable quantity of foot people attended the ascent. At twenty minutes past three o'clock Mr. Graham, accompanied by Mr. T. Steel, of the Butts, Warwick, entered the car, and everything being in a secure state, he made a most beautiful ascent, amidst the applause and cheers of all assembled. Having reached a proper altitude the balloon passed over the Earl of Warwick's pleasure-grounds, and proceeded on, leaving the Castle, Leamington, and Southam to the right. "Here," says our informant, "the people looked like crows, and the sheep like mice." They next crossed over Priors Marston village, and here Mr. Steel expressed a wish to enter a black cloud and lose sight of the earth. Having thrown out a sufficient quantity of ballast, they ascended very quickly, and entered the cloud, but found it so cold that they were soon glad to return. At this time they prepared for a descent, which, with little trouble, they effected in a grass field, called Rough Field, in the parish of Fawsley, Northamptonshire, in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Key, and a short distance from Sir Charles Knightley's Park. They were assisted by those who resided near, and quitted the car in perfect safety in the presence of Lady Knightly, her son, daughter, and nephew. They had now travelled about twenty-one miles in an hour and ten minutes, having alighted at half-past four, and Mr. Graham supposes that the greatest altitude he attained to be about three miles and a half. The parish where they settled is about five miles from Daventry, and having procured a post-chaise and assistance, they immediately set out for Warwick, the inhabitants of which place were extremely anxious as to the result of the ascent. Soon after ten they entered the town in a chaise and four, preceded by a band of music playing "See the conquering Hero comes," amidst the loud acclamations of the multitude assembled at the Warwick Arms to receive them, and the welcome greetings of their friends. This is the 182d ascent made by Mr. Graham. - Leamington Courier. 
^[[Sept. 16, 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
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MANCHESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL. 
FIRST DAY - MONDAY. 
^[[Sept 12 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
The Collegiate Church was prepared for this occasion with good taste. The fronts of the galleries were covered with crimson paper, divided in Gothic panels, to correspond with the architectural style of the church. The seats were covered with crimson cloth, and the temporary supports partook of the warm, red tone of the crimson hangings, while all the ornaments were massive gold to the eye. The galleries could contain each 800 persons, and that of the patrons was eighty-one feet high, gracefully sweeping downward to the orchestra. The whole church was calculated to hold an auditory of 3,000 persons. 
The theatre was prepared for the concert by making one grand apartment of the stage, within which the orchestra was placed, the audience part of the theatre remaining unaltered. But for the grand ball, draperies of crimson and white were attached to the roof, and floated away to the walls where they were attached at mid-height, converting the whole theatre into one splendid pavilion, from the centre of which hung the chandelier which was so admired at the Wellington dinner. A temporary saloon or gallery for a refreshment-room, 200 feet long and thirty feet wide, was thrown over Charlotte-street to connect the theatre or pavilion with the assembly rooms, and the whole formed one grand suite of apartments, superbly decorated, and capable of accommodating eight thousand persons. 
The people of Lancashire are musical, especially those of Manchester, where many Germans and other foreigners have naturalized a taste for the science; and the enthusiasm and expectation was at its height on Monday, at which time the hotels and lodging houses were crowded, and a spare bed was a rare thing. In the morning the shops were gaily decked with attractive "festival articles," and were thronged with country visitors. At noon the merchants and manufacturers let their servants and work people at liberty, and the poor shared with the rich the enjoyment of the day. 
At noon there was an exhibition of fruit and flowers in the Town Hall, the walls of which were painted in gay landscapes, and formed an admirable background to the plants. Tables divided the room into three promenades, two being covered with melting fruit and the rest with flowers. There was a pavilion of stained glass containing the charity-box, which was not unattended to. The prizes were distributed, and the display of the fire-police, of which Manchester is justly proud, attracted the observers to the streets, where the agile firemen went through a mock-battle with the element, and paraded their activity, to the satisfaction of the crowd. We can hardly conceive a more useful display.
At four o'clock Mr. Graham was to have ascended in a balloon from the gardens called Vauxhall, but the weight of a bailiff with his writ, (who seized the balloon as security for some debt, of which, he said, he suspected Mr. Wild, the proprietor,) proved too great for all the gas that could be obtained, and the disappointed crowd dealt rather roughly with Mr. Wild, and Mr. Graham's eloquence was necessary to appease their resentment. 
At eight o'clock the ball commenced, and was kept up with great spirit till eleven. The Duke of Brunswick and other foreigners, several noblemen, members of Parliament, and gentry were present. Supper followed; and the dance being renewed at midnight, was continued with unabated spirit till cock-crowing, when the Lancashire witches vanished, with all their spells. 
SECOND DAY - TUESDAY. ^[[Sept. 13 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
The first grand performance of sacred music began at eleven o'clock; the galleries, filled with ladies and gentlemen, of whom the former were in number as six to one, spanned the lofty arches and received the light from the windows of stained glass in many gorgeous tints. Sir George Smart's arrangements were made, his rehearsals over, and the performers took their places. The band was led by Mr. F. Cramer, accompanied by Mr. Mori; principal second, Mr. Wagstaff. It numbered in all 160 performers of high talent. The choral singers amounted to 134, and were under the superintendence of Mr. W. Wilkinson and Mr. George Holden of Liverpool. Among the band were about 40 individuals of the Philharmonic Society. The audience were nearly 3,000 in number, the patrons' gallery alone yielding 840£.
The theatre in the evening was gaily crowded for the concert, the ladies still predominating in numbers. 
In the mean while the out-of-door people were amused with the [[underlined]] ascent of the balloon [[/underlined]], which rose pleasantly, and hovered over the town as if to make amends for the disappointment of the previous day. 
[[underlined]] Mr. Graham, after half an hour's trip in the air, [[/underlined]] descended at Carrington Moss, Cheshire, about eleven miles from Manchester, and returned to town within two hours. 
THIRD DAY - WEDNESDAY. 
The Collegiate Church was again full without a crowd. Selections from Handel, Mozart, Neukomm, Marcello, and Spohr, were performed. 
The concert in the evening attracted crowds to the theatre, which was very gaily and completely thronged. 
We regret to learn that in the midst of the entertainments Malibran was taken ill. She sang in the quartett from Fidelio, and acquiesced in the encore for the duet with Caradori Allan. In this last piece her exertions were prodigious, taking a fearful shake at the top of her voice with her customary daring enthusiasm. The storm of cheering which followed the stupendous essay was still unabated, when the unfortunate idol of an enraptured audience, who but a moment before was lighted up with fire and animation, sank in an exhausted state under the effect of her excitement. Medical aid was resorted to, and she was bled in the green room, and, after the performance was over, was removed in a chair to the Moseley Arms-hotel, where she is staying. Mr. Willert, one of the members of the musical committee, came forward and addressed the company, announcing the indisposition of Malibran, and requesting their indulgence to allow Caradori Allan to take her part in the quintett from Cosi fan Tutte, and to permit De Beriot to play a piece, instead of the duet between him and his wife. The speech of Mr. Willert was well received, but there was a strong expression of sympathy for the unfortunate condition of the prima donna. Towards evening she grew better. Her attack was spasmodic, and doubts of her being able to sing again during the festival threw a damp over the audience. 
FOURTH DAY - THURSDAY. 
The receipts for the festival by the sale of tickets and books amounted before the festival commenced to 10,592l. 15s.6d.; and by Wednesday night, 12,500l. had been received. 
The church in the morning was again crowded, notwithstanding the unavoidable absence of the chief attraction, Malibran, Madame Caradori Allan, Miss C. Novello, and Mrs. H.R. Bishop, sang her music. The audience applauded the favourite performers as they entered the orchestra: Dragonetti and Lindley were particularly distinguished. The concert in the evening went off extremely well. 
Four "gentlemen" from London, visitors to the ball on Monday, were taken up to-day for picking pockets, and remanded till Saturday.
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Mr. Graham, accompanied by Mr. T. Street, of Warwick, ascended in his balloon from the Race Course, near that town, on the afternoon of Thursday. The balloon on rising took a south-easterly direction, and remained visible nearly an hour. The descent was about five miles from Daventry, at a quarter past four o'clock, after travelling twenty-six miles in an hour and ten minutes. Mr. Graham and his companion returned to Warwick at ten at night. 
^[[Sept 19 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
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^[[Mo Chro {Morning Chronicle} 24 Sep 1836 - handwritten in red ink]]
Mr. Graham ascended in his [[underlined in red ink]] balloon [[/underlined]] from the Montpelier Gardens, Cheltenham, on Thursday last, accompanied by two gentlemen named Warburton and Forte. 
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Mr. Graham made a trip from the Montpelier Gardens, Cheltenham, to Broadway, on Thursday week. A dark cloud enveloped the balloon a few moments after it quitted the earth.
[The gardens are still occasionally opened for the ascent of the balloon; but the entertainments, the fire-works, imitations, and other accustomed displays, ought of themselves to be sufficiently attractive. In fact, they are so much so that the balloon may be said to be seen for nothing, the other entertainments being well worth the price of admission.] 
^[[Sept 27 1836]]
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AEROSTATION.--Mr. Graham gives the following account of the balloon voyage on Tuesday, from Manchester: - "The greatest altitude he attained was from two and a half to three miles, and, after having been in the air upwards of half an hour, he found himself over a place the appearance of which not a little perplexed him. At his extreme altitude it looked like a large wood, but, on descending a little way, he found it to bear the appearance of a marsh or bog, and he was in no little perplexity as to effecting a safe descent, as on the one hand was this unknown charybdis, while, on the other, was a scylla in the shape of a piece of water, which proved to be the winding of the Mersey. At length, finding himself midway between these two, with the whole weight of his person, he pulled open the valves as wide as possible, so as to make a rapid and nearly perpendicular descent. He came with perfect safety to the earth, the grappling irons having taken effect within fifty yards of the edge of Carrington Moss, Cheshire, the place the appearance of which had so much perplexed him, and at a short distance from the bank of the river Mersey. Carrington Moss covers a space of about 755 statute acres, and that part of its boundary where Mr. Graham alighted is about eleven miles from Manchester. His descent was accomplished at exactly a quarter past five o'clock, so that he was just three quarters of an hour in the air. The descent having been observed by some persons in the neighbourhood, immediate assistance was afforded to Mr. Graham, amongst others particularly by Robt. Williams, Esq., of Sale Lodge, who succeeded in procuring for him the only suitable vehicle in the neighbourhood, in which Mr. Graham returned to Manchester, accompanied by two gentlemen of Carrington, and bringing with him the balloon, which did not sustain the slightest injury. He arrived at the Vauxhall Gardens at a quarter before ten o'clock the same night. The great delay, and, in fact, the total stoppage, in the process of inflation which took place on Monday, arose in the first place from the gas being conveyed to the balloon through a tube only three inches in diameter; and the descent of the tube to the balloon was another disadvantageous circumstance; but probably the main cause of the disappointment was a fact which was not discovered till the gas pipe was taken up, when it was ascertained that in that part of the tube which was imbedded in the earth there was a large hole through the pipe, apparently corroded, and into which some earth had dropped and almost choked up the pipe." ^[[1836]]
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^[[Sept 1836 - handwritten in ink]]
Mr. Graham made a second ascent from the Montpellier-gardens, at Cheltenham, on Thursday last. After attaining a considerable height, the balloon took a north-easterly direction, and in a few minutes entered a dense cloud, after which it was lost sight of by the multitude. We understand the adventurers made a safe landing in the vicinity of Broadway. - Glocester Journal.
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