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[[handwritten in ink]]

36. South Audley St.
23d. Sept. 1840.

Dear Sir,
You expressed a wish, that I should commit to writing the Anecdote I mentioned to you of having myself seen the first Balloon ascend which had ever crossed the English Channel.-It was sent up at my Native place, Sandwich; and was made by Mr. Boys, the well known Historian of that Ancient Cinque Port.- The Balloon was a small one - about 4 feet in diameter: - and I well remember seeing it mount from St. Clement's Church Yard, where a large concourse of the Inhabitants of the Town had assembled to witness a spectacle then so unusual, & so interesting from its novelty.- The situation was well selected for such a 
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^[[handwritten in pencil below, on the under page.]]
The date was 22 February 1784; the balloon landed at Lisle.]]