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[[start left-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 5]] Travelling in Ærial vehicles may soon be expected to be reduced to as great perfection as in our mail coaches. An Author has published a book at Vienna, shewing that eagles may be used in drawing air balloons. He likewise lays down rules for yoking and driving them together, with the whole system of the manege. This certainly is a step beyond building castles in the air! ^[[Feb. 5. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 5 this column]] The Gentleman whose ascension in the English balloon, as announced for to-morrow, is the well known Professor of Natural and Occult Philosophy, and another of a very ingenious and curious work on the sciences of Natural Magic, Alchymy, and Hermetic Philosophy. ^[[Aug. 11. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 3 of 5]] Citizen Hulin, chef d'escadron in the 15th Regiment of dragoons, at a special meeting of the Academic Society of Sciences at Paris, on the 8th inst. read a memoir on the practicability of directing balloons at pleasure. He proposed to adapt to them a reversed parachute, the effect of which will be to retard their ascent and horizontal motion. ^[[Aug. 19. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 4 of 5]] A practice has obtained of letting off Fire-Balloons from different parts of the Town. This is extremely dangerous, and ought to be immediately put a stop to. When some more lives have fallen a sacrifice to idle curiosity, some attempts will perhaps be made to put a stop to the Balloon mania, which seems to have revived in all its former excess, though it is evident that nothing can be made of the invention, of any use to mankind. ^[[Aug. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 5 of 5]] BALLOONS. ^[[Sept. 1802 - handwritten in ink At the Chatean de Meudon, one of the forfeited estates of the Emigrants, not far from Paris, there is an Aerostatic School. One of the Generals who ascended at the battle of Fleurus, to reconnoitre the camp of the Enemy, presides in it; and a Balloon of thirty feet in diameter, is constantly kept inflated. The same inflammable air will serve for about three months, but it slowly, and almost imperceptibly, grows weaker. Many improvements have been made on the fabrication and filling of Balloons; they are made of silk wove at Lyons; and great advantage is found in varnishing them only on the outside; for, when varnished both without and within, they not only are liable to crack and turn mouldy, but the air corrodes, or destroys the varnish with which is comes in contact. At Meudon, the Professor, with a number of his Students, mount in the Balloon, and remain stationary during whatever time they please, being restrained by ropes, which others of the students below keep hold of. By these means experiments are made with great ease, certainty, and deliberation. Hitherto the minutes of these repeated experiments have not been published; but it is expected that they will, on some future day, be made known to the world. Many persons have proposed to regulate the direction of Balloons, but the nature of things seems to have formed an irresistible impediment. From navigating the water, we have learnt, by the experience of some thousands of years, that there must be some great force exerted from within the vessel, such as oars or sails, acted upon by the wind. Now as a Balloon is all immersed in one medium, or fluid, sails cannot be of any avail, because there being nothing to resist, the Balloon, like a body entirely immersed in water, must follow its direction, be the form what it may; and as to any interior force, there is not any animal, nor any machine, the weight of which the Balloon is able to carry, of sufficient force to work wings or oars so as to produce any movement contrary to the impulse of the medium in which it passes. The string by which a flying kite is held, answers the same purpose with the resistance of the water in the case of a ship; and the moment that that force ceases to exist, the kite, or the substance that is carried along, goes as the current directs. This, we believe, will always be the case with Balloons, although we allow that much may be expected from the efforts of ingenious men, for a long period directed to its improvement. [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[start right-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 6]] PEDESTRIAN USE OF BALLOONS. - The pedestrian use of Balloons remains yet untried in Great Britain. On the Continent it has been ingeniously proposed; for every cubic inch of the contents of a Balloon, the weight of a person bearing it on his head is rendered one ounce lighter. A Balloon may be easily carried on the head, which shall take full 50lb. from the weight of a person walking. It is fixed by straps to a leather belt. These straps pass through a wooden support, by which the Balloon rests on the head. Over the whole Balloon is a net-work, which preserves it firm in its position, and in its connection with the wooden support. The leather belt passes round the waist. From it hang two bottles, in which are the materials for a supply of inflammable gas, to be put into the Balloon by a cock when any part escapes of that with which it is filled. The walker is furnished also with two oars, covered at one end with taffety, to assist his progress. The fabric of the Balloon is of gummed taffety. ^[[Sept 15 1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 2 of 6]] To ENGLAND'S BRAVE SAILORS ^[[Oct. 1802 - handwritten in ink]] WHEN the Balloon Mania* has subsided, John Austin, No. 16, Essex-street, Strand, proposes an Abarisian Machine or Parachute to go before the wind, its basis is Reason, Strength, and Utility. There is no doubt by the Air is as navigable as the surface of the Water; no Seaman can doubt the strength and capable parts of the powers of action quoted and courted, and where travelling one mile a minute with ease and safety, and the landing from ship on a lee shore any situation equal to from Blackfriars Bridge to the top of St. Paul's or more lofty, I say, where such is required, it will prove of utility in the three first attempts to descend with a Parachute, which operates only by the pressure and resistance of the Air, there was too much Wind, and the descent itself was more dangerous than useful. I court Boreas's greatest power. Mr. A. will wait on my Nautical Gentleman with his Model, submitting to their understanding, he says, the majority, or seven out of eight, will be advocates for it, who desires an opportunity to volunteer his service for the good of the Royal Navy, Navigation, and Commerce. *Mania, from this reason, the expence exceeds the utility. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 3 of 6]] It is rather surprising that our aerostatic travellers complain so much of want of refreshments during their journey, considering how many castles in the air our late Ministers caused to be erected on the ruins of the French Republic, and how many King's heads and King's arms, and Mitres and Crowns he scattered in the clouds. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 4 of 6]] Some Gentlemen were conversing lately upon an Aerial Traveller, who was supposed to have been so long in the air coming from the Continent, that his strength was nearly exhausted: one of them observed, that it was singular that he did not endeavour to descend sooner. An Irish Gentleman who was present replied, that he suppose he had thrown out all his ballast before. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 5 of 6]] The Balloon mania, it is apprehended, will now subside, till some further discovery entitle the invention to further notice. At present, its ability is confined to an exhibition of personal courage, which even women are anxious to share. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] GARNERIN is accused of committing various trespasses in his late descent; some on the grounds of the illiberal, and many on the feelings of the liberad. [[end clipping]] [[start clipping 6 of 6]] THE ASCENSION OF THE BALLOON HAVING attracted Public Attention for this some time past, and Half-a-Guinea demanded for Front Seats, to see this wonderfulful Phenomenon, TOWNSEND and Co. wish to call the attention of Ladies to the Old Balloon, No. 27, Oxford-street, which they may ascend and descent without the fears attending an Aerial excursion, and have front seas gratis, to inspect the Beauties it contains: which consist of rich India Shawls; from two guineas to 100; elegant Chintz Furnitures, modern patterns, their own printing, 1s. 10d. worth 2s. 10d.; Printed Cambricks, only 23.; Ell-wide ditto, 2s. 10d. generally charged 3s. 10d.; 120 Pieces of yard and half wide Cambric Muslins, delicate colour and quality, 2s. 10d.; Rich Colonade and small-pattern worked India Muslins, some of which are a little soiled, to be sold astonishing bargains; with every other Description of India and British Muslins, equally cheap; a Lot of Stout Dimities at 1s 6d.; Curious Hollands, Irish Linens, and Suffolk Hemps. Ladies who have large purchases to make, will find a few boxes well worth their attention, not being of that flimsy texture so generally sold for some time past, but warranted equal, if not superior, in colour, quality, durability, and cheapness, to any that may have been bough at any former period; India Nankeens, capital colours, 5s. 6d. Table Linen, Russian, Lancashire, and Irish Sheeting, Counterpanes; Silk and Cotton Hose, with many other articles uncommonly cheap, at the (please to observe) Old Balloon, No. 27, Oxford-street, where two-shopmen, accustomed to the town trade, are wanted. ^[[1802 - handwritten in ink]] [[end page]] [[417 handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]]
