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[[image: lithograph. Copy below is printed within image]] AEROSTATION. [[italic]] Plate 2. [[/italic]] [[image: striped balloon ascending/descending above church. Many people observing.]] [[italic]] Mr. Sadlers Ascent from Merton Fields, Oxford. [[/italic]] [[image: 4 illustrations of apparatus related to balloon inflation ?, elements are lettered, A., B., C., etc.]] [[italic]] Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. [[/italic]] [[italic]] London Published by T. Kelly, 17, Paternoster Row. 1822 [[end printed image, Plate 2 [[begin clipping 1 of 3]] ^[[24 June 1785]] ALFRED BALLOON, OXFORD. Early on Friday morning, [[^]] and during the whole of the forenoon, company were incessantly pouring into Oxford, Mr. Sadler having announced his intention on that day of once more ascending in his balloon.--Pursuant to this promise, the necessary preparations were made behind Corpus Christi college, where the ground had been previously fenced off; and about half past one o'clock the balloon was judged sufficiently inflated, and the car for accommodating two passengers began to be attached by fixing it to the cords of the netting. This operation was greatly impeded by the pressure of the crowd. At two o'clock, however, every thing having been adjusted, Colonel Fitzpatrick and Mr. Sadler seated themselves in the car, when the balloon was found incapable of ascending with both the passengers, and the Colonel being resolved not to quit his seat, a due proportion of ballast was added, and after receiving the flag and proper instructions from Mr. Sadler, he ascended alone. The day being perfectly serene, the balloon rose with slow majestic grandear, bearing to the South-West, and continued perceptible, though at a great distance, for about 47 minutes, at which time it seemed to sink gradually into the horizon. The Colonel manifested a cool intrepidity, both before, and after the balloon had been launched, and continued waving his flag as long as he could possibly retain sight of the spectators below. In his passage the Colonel had not expended any of his ballast, but descended in consequence of a rent near the bottom of the balloon, occasioned by the expansion of the internal air, which was not discovered by Mr. Fitzpatrick till after he had reached the ground. He descended near Kingston Lisle, opposite the White Horse hills, Berks, without the least injury; where he was assisted by the country people in securing the balloon. Mr. Sadler, who had followed from Oxford in a post-chaise, came up with the Colonel at this place, from whence they both returned to Wantage; and, after taking some refreshment, Mr. Fitzpatrick set out for London, and Mr. Sadler reached Oxford, with the balloon, a little before twelve o'clock. ____________________ [[end clipping 1]] [[begin clipping 2 of 3]] PROVINCIALS. ^[[1810]]----- THE BALLOON. OXFORD, JULY 3.--The ascent of Messrs. Sadler in their balloon, took place about two oclock, P.M. The course taken by the balloon was almost due N.E. The greatest height that it ever ascended from the earth, was not more than two miles and an half; and at the time the parachute was disengaged, the altitude was not so great as we imagined from our observation by the quadrant, and, indeed, only about half that distance. The direction taken by the balloon was to the left of Aylesbury, between that town and Bicester. It floated directly over Winslow, in Bucks, having before swept off Moor Brill, &c. &c. The canal was visible to The aeronauts, for a length of time; and above Wooton they met with a contrary current of air, which detained them for a length of time, and compelled them to make a complete circle in the air. they then resumed their original course, and, after a transit of two hours and 29 minutes, alighted about five miles north-west of Newport Pagnell, by Ampthill, having left Woburn on their right, and Stoney Stratford on their left. Their descent was beautiful and gradual for about three quarters of an hour. At first they approached the earth where a number of hay-makers were at work; but they, though repeatedly hailed to take hold of the ropes thrown out, were too much terrified by the new phenomenon to tend our adventurous traveller any assistance.--From this they skimmed a wheat-field, in which the car took the ground, and they rebounded about forty feet, and cleared the adjoining hedge. The voyagers then threw out the grappling-iron with which they were provided, and after dragging along the field, which was of barley, for some seconds, it brought them to anchor in a high quick-set fence, on this side of which the car rested in Buckinghamshire, while the balloon itself swung over into the other side of the hedge, in Bedfordshire. In this situration assistance was gradually procured, the more adventurous and bold of the parishioners advancing firs, when the balloon, car, &c. were properly secured. A neighbouring farmer volunteered a cart, and the aeronauts, with their equipage, arrived safely at Newport Pagnell, and from thence to Buckingham, where they slept a few hours, and then proceeded terrestrially to Oxford.--It would be a ludicrous description could we detail the remarks of the gentes [[rusticate ?]], at the time of this ascent, or the strange reports we heard from the country, over which the wondrous machine floated. One party were expressing their surprise, how the aeronauts could get into the balloon, after filling it so full. Another more learned expected to see them mount the distended sphere. In its progress it scattered terror unutterably, and those ill-informed of what was going on about them, took it, at least, for an angelic visitation, if not for the approach of the [[very ?]] last day. The dismay spread for thirty miles, and was beyond description. In some places, where the exhibition had been heard of, the villagers hailed the travellers as they passed over them, and, at the distance of a couple of miles from the earth theses shouts were distantly heard. [[end clipping]] [[begin clipping 3 of 3]] On Friday Mr. Sadler prepared to ascend in his balloon. Every thing having been adjusted, Colonel Fitzpatrick and Mr. Sadler seated themselves in the car, when the balloon was found incapable of ascending with both the passengers, and the Colonel being resolved not to quit his seat, a due proportion of ballast was added, and after receiving the flag and proper instructions from Mr. Sadler, he ascended alone. The day being perfectly serene, the balloon rose with slow majestic grandeur, bearing to the south west, and continued perceptible, though at a great distance, for about 47 minutes, at which time it seemed to sink gradually into the horizon; and last night a person from Kingston-Lisle, near Farringdon, Berks, reports that the Colonel descended there without having expended any of his ballast; and it was rumoured that he had ascended again. ^[[Oxford. June 15. 1785]] [[end clipping]] [[end page]]
