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To Commemorate
Mr. C. Green's
Third Ascent
From The
City of Norwich,
October 14th 1839,
Being the 274th Ascent
Since the Coronation of George the Fourth,
July 19th 1821,
On which occasion he proved the practicability of ascending with
Carburetted Hydrogen, or Coal Gas.
[[line]]
This Memorandum was dropped from the Coronation Balloon, Oct. 14th 1839,
By His Friend and Companion,
Richard Crawshay.
[[line]]
John Stacy, Printer, Old Haymarket, Norwich.

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Balloon.
Ascent of Mr. Green $ Mr. Crawshay
Til lately, the displays of aerostation in this city had "like angels visits" been "few and far between." But within the last month, as if to make amends, one balloon ascent has followed another in rapid succession; and to judge from the manifestations of popular excitement and satisfaction, the last aerial expedition has been as welcome here as the first.
On Tuesday, the 8th inst, that justly-celebrated aeronant, Mr. Green, arrived in this neighbourhood on a visit to R. Crawshay, Esq. of Honingham, bringing with him his Coronation balloon, for the purpose of taking a flight in it with that gentleman, who, we understand, had already accompanied him no less than five different times, in excursions of the same description. To avoid the least interference with Mr. Hampton's arrangements and interests, no preparation was made to carry this intention into effect till after Thursday last-from which period Mr. Green's balloon was at the Gas-works ready for filling, and the only thing wanted was a change in the wind. The direction preferred by the scientific, skilful, and experienced artist on this occasion was a southwesterly one--it being the object of himself and companion to reach Birmingham or some other midland spot, instead of following the northeasterly course to which the two preceding flights had both been subjected. The weathercocks, however, remained inflexible nailed to the old point. And after waiting over Tuesday, the scent was determined up of the following afternoon (Wednesday). It took place about 35 minutes past three o'clock. The balloon, containing 25,000 feet of gas, was in admirable order, perfectly symmetrical, of a pear-shaped form, and thoroughly inflated--the gas once infused appearing to be hermetically sealed within it. From amidst a surrounding crowd of friends and other spectators assembled in the area of the works, the aeronaut rose in the finest style imaginable, clearing the hollow basin of encompassing heights, with a buoyant yet steady movement of perpendicularity which augured most favourably of their vehicle's capability for a lofty and extended voyage. The balloon mounted nobly from the very first, and must have been almost instantly seen, not only by the nearest spectators, but also by those who were watching for its appearance, in the most distant quarters of the city and neighbourhood. Whilst passing over the arena from which they had started, Mr. Green and Mr. Crawshay waved two handsome flags, one of which was richly embroidered with Her Majesty's arms; and amidst the responding shouts of the people, the latter gentleman flung down showers of small hand-bills, on pink paper, printed as follows:-
To Commemorate
Mr. C. Green's
Third Ascent from the City of Norwich,
October 16th 1839,
Being the 274th Ascent
Since the Coronation of George IV,
July 19th 1821,
On which occasion he proved the practicability of ascending with
Carburetted Hydrogen, or Coal Gas.
[[line]]
This Memorandum was dropped from the Coronation Balloon, Oct. 16th 1839,
By His Friend and Companion,
Richard Crawshay.

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Everything calculated to render an aerostatic exhibition imposing, interesting and delightful, combined on this occasion--superb weather--a tranquil atmosphere without a cloud--an elegant balloon--a scientific navigator, and he associated with an equally intrepid and intelligent friend--this was incomparably the finest sight of the kind we have for some time witnessed. Owing to the designed omission of all public notification (it being a private affair), and the uncertainty of its occurrence, the number of persons assembled was not so great as Mr. Hampton's ascents; but those who were fortunate enough to have a good view of this beautifully-managed balloon as it soared aloft, are not likely soon to forget so glorious a spectacle.--
After a short interval, during whic the balloon continued rapidly to ascend, a parachute with a cat in it was thrown out, which came down oscillating and taking its own leisure time to reach the earth, or rather the branches of a tree, where it lodged with poor puss in the basket, at Catton. It was curious to observe, as with other we did, from the high grounds of Monschold, the balloon sometimes descending behind the pine woods, and presently afterwards rising again to view, and resuming a very high altitude. In this prosperous manner, we understand, the aerial voyagers proceeded till they closely approached the coast, when not being provided with either gas or [[italics]] grub [[/italics]] sufficient for Hudson's Bay, their descent was pleasantly accomplished, in the parish of Trunch, near Mundesley, in a clover field on the estate of Mr. Primrose, not far from that gentleman's house, and within a mile of the sea. The greatest elevation attained in this instance was a mile and a half--the distance passed over, about 17 miles--the time occupied about 25 minutes.

[[handwritten]] Octr 19/39 Norfolk Chronicle [[/handwritten]]

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[[handwritten]] Oct. 16 1839 [[/handwritten]]

The Balloon.
On Wednesday, Mr Green made his ascent from the Gas Works, under one of the most serene and cloudless atmospheres that ever shone. R. Crawshay, Esq was his companion; indeed it appears that the voyage was undertaken to gratify that gentleman. From this union there is likely to result a very important measure: namely, the construction of a balloon of experiment capable of almost any purpose to which it can be applied. Aerostation is certainly yet in its infancy, and true philosophy never doubts the possibility of useful improvement.
We understand that Mr. Green has, at the solicitation of a few of his staunch aeronautical and scientific friends, gratuitously consented to construct a powerful and splendid balloon, to be used solely for the purpose of scientific experiment and recreative amusement; and we have his authority to state that [[italics]] he would willingly with such a machine undertake a voyage from New York to Europe,[[/italics]] thus at once putting to the test the duration of the power of a balloon when properly constructed, and furnished with every necessary appendage. We think with Mr. Monk Mason, who accompanied Mr. Green and Mr. Holland on the ever-memorable voyage from London to Wielburg, in Germany, that [[italics]] the earth's whole surface may at some not very distant day be traversed by a balloon.[[/italics]]

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Honingham Hall, Oct. 17th, 1839.
[[italics]]To the Editor of the Norwich Mercury.[[/italics]]
My Dear Sir,
From the commencement of aerostation to the present day, it has been customary either for the Aeronaut himself or one of his companions to give some account of the excursion, and although there is nothing new to relate concerning this short, though delightful trip I took yesterday with our [[italics]]veteran and truly unrivalled Mr. C. Green,[[/italics]] yet I feel inclined to record, through the medium of your widely circulated columns, the trifling facts as they occurred. It has long been my wish to make a distant inland journey from our city of Norwich, and my friend Mt. Green, having kindly accommodated me with the use of his balloon, we commenced operations ten days since, but having been disappointed from time to time by the prevalence of adverse winds, we determined yesterday morning to avail ourselves of the fineness of the day, and abandon our original intention, we therefore commenced the inflation about twelve o'clock, and by the able direction of Mr. Tadman, Engineer of the Norwich Gas Works, this operation was speedily effected. The usual preparations and adjustment of the apparatus being accomplished, and 13 bags of ballast weighing 216 lbs. being taken in, we left the earth at fifteen minutes before four, taking a northeasterly direction until we attained an elevation of 2300 feet, where ([[italics]]in accordance with the custom of the day[[/italics]]) we liberated a small parachute containing a living animal, but as neither Mr. Green nor myself have [[italics]]very great confidence in this mode of descending,[[/italics]] we selected one long notorious for having [[italics]]nine[[/italics]] lives, which we are happy to say arrived in safety on terra firma, two miles from its native city.
The balloon now continuing rapidly to ascend until the barometer, which at starting stood at 30-20, had subsided to 23-5, indicating an elevation of 7598 feet, or one mile and 2318 feet. Our course at this period varied more to the East with increased velocity, and finding that we had already traversed more than half the distance between Norwich and the coast, we considered it prudent to commence our descent, in order to avail ourselves of the tranquil current we had left nearer the earth, and descending into it, we proceeded more northerly, and thus continued our course at an elevation of between five and seven hundred feet, until we approached within half a mile of the German Ocean, where we effected a landing in a clover layer, at ten minutes past five o'clock, on the estate of Wm. Primrose, Esq. in the parish of Trunch, three miles beyond North Walsham and seventeen miles distant from Norwich, after a full short though [[italics]]highly[[/italics]] delightful trip of one hour and twenty minutes. During the ascent the thermometer fluctuated from 58 to 65 deg. Fahrenheit.
Thus ended Mr. Green's [[italics]]two hundred and seventy-fifth[[/italics]] ascent since his first, which took place from the Green Park, at the Coronation fo George the Fourth, July 19, 1821, on which occasion he [[italics]]first[[/italics]] demonstrated the practicability of ascending with [[italics]]carburetted hydrogen, or coal gas.[[/italics]]
I cannot conclude this short narrative without expressing our warmest thanks for the kind assistance and attention shown to Mr. Green and myself by the gentry and peasantry in the neighbourhood of our descent.
I remain, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
Richard Crawshay.

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