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[[start left-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 2]] Copy of a letter from Mr. Alexander Gordon, from on board the Otter sloop, dated Yarmouth-Roads, October 31. ^[[1784 - handwritten in ink]] "At a time when the attention of the public is so much engaged in Aerial Navigation, I hope it will not be thought unseasonable to call their attention to the utility of a machine for that purpose, much older than the late celebrated invention of Montgolfier, viz. the Flying Kite; which, if used in the manner I am to describe, will be found a great acquisition to Nautical Navigation, and the means of preserving lives in cases of shipwreck. "On the 1st instant his Majesty's sloop the Otter came to Yarmouth Roads on purpose to victual; but it blew so hard for the space of ten days, that no boats could come off with provisions, and ours were then on shore, and our water out; we were therefore under the necessity of quitting Yarmouth Roads to go to Harwich. The only thing that puzzled us was the method of notifying our intentions to the Captain, who was on shore, as no boat could possibly land. At last we thought of making a Flying Kite, to which we put wings and a tail, and then launched it into the air. We gave it a long range of twine, and about eight feet from the end we tied a bottle, in which was a letter for the Captain, and to the end we fastened a piece of wood, so heavy that it could not be lifted by the Kite, but light enough to be easily drawn along in the water. We were about a mile from the beach, and the Kite was five minutes in going ashore. The thing that chiefly engaged the attention of the people on the beach, was the bottle eight feet above the surface of the water, moving towards the shore, for they did not observe that it was connected with the Kite. A crowd of people assembled to look at so singular a phenomenon, who laid hold of the bottle the moment it came ashore, and on seeing a letter in it directed to the Captain of the Otter, they went immediately and delivered it; and he soon after, by signal, acknowledged the receipt of it. Now, were all ships provided with a machine of this kind, it would be a resource when the sheet-anchor falls, and in cases where it could no be used. For by means of it a hawser might be drawn ashore, so that the people could be saved, either by veering and hauling a boat on shore or, where that is impracticable, by keeping fast to the hawser and hauling themselves ashore by it. I am, SIR, &c. A L. GORDON. [[end clipping]] [[clipping 2 of 2]] A Kite Carriage. - A curious experiment was made on Hounslow Heath a few days since, with a carriage drawn by kites, invented by Mr. Pocock of Bristol. Unfortunately for the trial, there was very little wind, but even under this disadvantage, the carriage, with six persons, was, it is stated to us, drawn by the kites at the rate of eight to nine miles an hour. Though their course was only within six points of the wind, they dashed gallantly through Hounslow; but were obliged to pull up at Brentford, on account of the contrary air and the narrowness of the street. The crowd collected to witness the phenomenon was immense; the stages stopped, and one John expressed his delight that the kite carriage headed him for above a mile. It was a very warm day, and the party stopped at a public-house to take a draught of porter, - when one of them called the ostler,- "I be a coming, sir." - "Give our steeds a feed." - "Where be they, sir?" - "Why up there." - "Ah, you be selling it me now." - They let the carriage move on a few yards. - "Why, sure enough, it be so; Missis! missis! come out and see how them there kites draws this here carriage." The old lady came out; she looked a person rather inclined to give an opinion than take one. - She cast her eyes on the carriage, then on the kites, and then on the carriage again, and, clapping her hands to her sides, exclaimed, with a hearty laugh, "What a goose you are Tom! it is not the kites that draw the carriage, there are men up behind them that pull it along!" We understand that Mr. Pocock has been twenty years in perfecting his ingenious invention. He harnesses the winds, and makes them obedient to his command; - all he asks is for them to blow. In a strong breeze he travels at the rate of 20 to 25 miles per hour. He can turn as he pleases, and stop the carriage in an instant, though going down hill at the rate of 20 miles an hour. He can hand, reef, and steer, and manage his kites and Cab with almost as much facility as the seaman manages his sails and rudder. He can tack and shape his course as he pleases, if the wind be abaft the beam; that is, less than eight points, or ninety degrees. This invention is only an elegant amusement on land, but we think it susceptible of being usefully employed at sea. The deserts of Africa might be traversed by its aid, at a rate far exceeding the boasted speed of the dromedary. All that is necessary for its success is for "The stormy winds to blow-ow-ow." - Lit. Gaz. ^[[Sept. 1826 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[start centre column]] [[clipping 1 of 2]] (From the Liverpool Mercury.) - The greatest novelty of the day was the exhibition of Mr. Pocock's kites, by which a boat was drawn forward at considerable speed, under circumstances which demonstrated the great utility of an apparatus, which, before Mr. Pocock took it in hand, was a mere child's toy. The experiment was made a little before one o'clock in the afternoon, from the Floating Bath, with the most perfect success. The wind was blowing from the south, and the tide coming in rapidly, when we, in company with Mr. Alfred Pocock and eight others, got on board the boat. Many persons cannot conceive how a kite can possibly draw a carriage or a boat in any but the direction of the wind; the experiment of Friday must have convinced them that a car or boat may easily be drawn by kites at right angles with the wind. On quitting the Bath, with the wind directly south, we made straight for the Cheshire shore, or due west, and returned due east to the precise spot from which we set out, having been about twenty minutes in performing the trip. We then set out again due west; and after proceeding about half way to Cheshire we returned; and before reaching the Bath we proceeded a few hundred yards beyond it, to the south, - thus beating up to windward, - a manoeuvre which we have heard several nautical men pronounce to be utterly impossible by the agency of kites. It was amusing to witness the surprise of the boatmen at seeing a boat urged forward without sails, oars, or steam. The experiment has fully convinced us that, with a strong wind blowing from the north or south, a boat furnished with one of the largest pair of the kites could cross from Liverpool to Cheshire, and return, without making much lee way, whatever might be the state or strength of the tide. We ought to have stated that the boat in which the experiment was made was a heavy two-masted one, - not at all adapted to the purpose. Since the regatta-day we have been several times with Mr. Pocock, jun. on the river, witnessing his surprising and most interesting mode of manoeuvring his kites. On one occasion, with the wind at N.W. we ran from the Floating Bath to the Rock Ferry; and the boatmen assured us that our course during the trip was frequently less than five points from the wind. ^[[July 28 1828 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[clipping 2 of 2]] AEROPLEUSTICS, or NAVIGATION in the AIR. It may be recollected, that about three or four months since, we copied several paragraphs from the Berkshire papers, describing the strange phenomenon of a carriage drawn by kites having been seen making its way rapidly along the western road, if we recollect right, between Reading and Windsor. The statement made was, that the vehicle in question was seen running with several persons in it, at the rate of near 20 miles an hour; and that it passed the carriage of the Duke of Goucester on the road, the horses of his Highness being unable to keep pace even at a gallop. This story, which many persons at the time took for a hoax, extraordinary as it seems, was nevertheless, we believe, in most of its material circumstances, true; and the contriver of the very novel machine in question (for which patents are said to be taken out in London and Paris) has just published a book descriptive of his invention, scarcely less strange and eccentric than the discovery itself. The account which this gentleman, however (Mr. Pocock, a schoolmaster of Bristol), gives of the origin and course of his "aëropleustic" efforts is curious; and, whether the invention may ever be applied to any purpose of practical utility or not, will be interesting to a great many readers. There are some circumstances set forth in it, which, as Mr. Pocock himself confesses, have a little staggered ordinary people's belief; and this is a result which does not very much surprise us. We shall give the facts, however, as we find them, as generally as possible in the words of the author. After describing the circumstances which first suggested to him the idea of applying the propelling power of kites to ordinary purposes, Mr. Pocock says - desiring naturally to increase the force of the machine in the first instance, as commonly applied and constructed, as much as possible, "I conceived an entirely new plan." "I procured a second paper kite, and flying up the first till it would carry no more string, I tied the end of the first kite string to the back of the second kite, and letting that up with its own length of cordage, my uppermost kite triumphed over all competition. At length it was discovered, that by attaching several kites, one after the other, each having a considerable length of twine, that the kites might be elevated above the clouds; and the power of their draught increased to almost any extent." Upon this, after going through a variety of labours, during which a variety of improvements suggested themselves, - such as making the kites jointed, in order that they should be more portable when of a large size, covering them with linen instead of paper, that they might be proof against the weather; and furnishing each with a secondary string called a brace line, the effect of which was to regulate the draught of the machine by changing the position from horizontal to vertical, or vice versa, in the air, Mr. Pocock at length succeeded completely in ascertaining that his kites might be made applicable to the purposes of draught; and in the course of his practice some of the accidents already alluded to occurred, which probably will surprise most readers as much as they did the very active projector himself. "On one occasion the kite's string was attached to the end of a board about six feet long and six inches wide; on this quickly-made sledge one of my sons seated himself. On letting go the string the sledge was instantly hurried away so unexpectedly, and with a velocity so great, that all attempts to overtake it were fruitless. Mazeppa's wild horse was as easy of control. The young solitary Laplander courageously kept his seat, the kites dragging him and his novel vehicle over hillocks and ruts, and bed of furze, till he arrived at the opposite extremity of the Downs, and descended upon his well-poised sledge into a stone-quarry. By which first perilous journey it was learned that no horse or rein-deer, in car or sledge, could successfully compete with kites in speed, but also that no mode of travelling could be more dangerous, unless the kites could be controlled, and the vehicle directed or stopped." On another occasion a sailing trial was made - "On Charleton-pond, an extensive sheet of water belonging to the Earl of Suffolk, the use of that nobleman's pleasure-boat being kindly granted for the purpose; when it was proved beyond doubt that the kites might be applied with certain success. As in making the first trial by land, an unexpected occurrence took place, so did something of a similar nature happen on this occasion. While scudding along under our buoyant sails, an oar had dropped overboard, and having no means of stopping the boat, we traversed to the nearest shore; there the kites were given in charge to three country boys, while we rowed back to pick up the oar. When returning, we heard a great cry from the lads on shore; they had been dragged by the kites close to the water, into which, but for the interposition of some young trees, they must inevitably have been drawn." In the end, an experiment with the author's family car, which was drawn "with a full party upon turf," settled the question in the writer's mind completely that carriages might be put into motion with kites; and he then proceeded, first by increasing the power of his engines, and then by inventing a particular description of car, more convenient than a common chaise, to be drawn by them, until at length he arrived at sufficient maturity to beat the Duke of Glocester's carriage in a trial of speed - an operation which he describes - on the road near Windsor. We have already noticed the brace line by which Mr. Pocock's kites are made operative or inoperative in the air at pleasure. Another invention affords the means to the traveller of directing his course with these machines, instead of running directly whichever way the wind may be disposed to carry him. "This branch of the system consists in the application of two side lines; one attached to the right hand extremity of the kite, the other to the left. These act upon the kite much as the reins do upon a gig horse; by pulling the right hand line, an obliquity is given to the kite's surface, on which obliquity the wind acting, the kite veers instantly to the right hand: straining in the left hand brace, the motion is directly vice versa. By this movement, trees and other obstacles are avoided, and many advantages obtained." The power of a kite 12 feet high, with a wind blowing at the rate of 20 miles an hour, is described to be as much as a [[??]] of moderate strength can stand against. With a rather boisterous wind, such a kite has been known to break a line capable of sustaining a weight of 200. These may serve as standing ratios, from which the power of larger kites may be deduced. The purposes to which Mr. Pocock expects his kites to be applicable are various. He uses them to draw carriages - to propel ships - to carry a rope to land from a stranded vessel - and particularly to carry persons up into the air, for the purpose of crossing rivers, scaling walls, making observations, &c. &c. [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[start right-hand column]] [[clipping 1 of 2]] Upon the first of these points, recent experiments are said to prove, that in a perfectly dead calm at sea - taken with reference to the state of things existing on the level of the earth's surface or of the water - at the height of 150 yards in the air, a current of wind at the rate of 16 miles an hour is frequently floating; a kite elevated into that current, would propel a vessel when her sails below were utterly useless. In cases of shipwreck, the author's kites are to be found particularly advantageous; inasmuch as a rope, or a grappling iron, may not only be conveyed to shore by them, but - "Should it be deemed more expedient at once to send a person on shore, he may be borne above the bursting billows, and alight like a bird or messenger of good from the flood, on the cliff or beach, according to the position of the wreck." Again, as it might so chance that female passengers or children were in such vessel, in that case - "What mode so desirable, as to swing them securely in a hammock or cot, and thus transport them, as an ark of safety, above the foaming billows, and land them above the spray, dry shod upon the shore!" In the same way, "These kites having power to elevate one in the air, will serve for observatories, scalades for passing over rivers, for telegraphic information, and for signals by night and day. Elevated in the air, an observer could view all that was passing in a circumference of many miles, overlooking hedges, houses, and the minor irregularities of the earth's surface. In the pursuit and retreat of armies, from this flying observatory, all the movements and manoeuvres of the enemy might be distinctly marked." And to remove all doubt not merely as to the feasibility but as to the perfect convenience of all these ceremonies, it is stated that the ascension described has been actually made. The assertion is put rather obscurely, and with no detail as to the manner in which the experiment was conducted; but it is distinctly stated, and in terms, that the thing was effected; and that "The author's daughter, who earnestly claimed from him the daring honour, was the first aëropleust." The remainder of the book - overlooking some poetical notices of the author's invention - is chiefly occupied by descriptions of the manner in which his patent kites are made to work with a side wind; and with the accounts of different trials, in which the char volant, or kite carriage, has been used. "The author does not commit himself, by asserting that this mode of travelling is the most safe and expeditious ever discovered. Mile after mile has been performed at the rate of twenty miles an hour, timing it with chronometer in hand. "On Tuesday, January 8, 1827, a mile was performed over a very heavy road in two minutes and three-quarters; and on the same day, several other miles in three minutes each. This was between Bristol and Marlborough; and the wind was not furious, neither were the kites sufficiently powerful for the state of the roads." On another occasion, we learn that the char volant beat a London stage-coach, by a difference of twenty-five minutes in a distance of 10 miles. The construction of the char volant is described; but without the plate annexed, it would be impossible for us to make an extract intelligible. As the inventor wishes to obviate every objection, however, and as it will be evident that a person could not make a journey in a kite carriage, and return with the same wind by which he went, to make everything complete, a platform has lately been added to the back of the kite vehicle, upon which the traveller may carry his return horses along with him. "This accommodation consists of a low platform, with two wheels attached, behind the char volant. The whole being drawn by the kites, the cattle are quite fresh to perform their duty, and to return the favour of giving back-carriage to their winged associates, or of helping them forward, should the wind fall. Thus the equipage is rendered complete!" In conclusion, the author suggests particularly, that as his kite carriage bears lighter upon the ground than any other description of vehicle, from this circumstance, as well as its rapidity of conveyance, it would be peculiarly well suited to any expeditions of discovery hereafter to be undertaken in Arabia or Africa; and might lead to results in those regions more favourable than even our most sanguine hopes can have anticipated. ^[[Sept 29 1827 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[clipping 2 of 2]] ELECTRICAL KITE. - Mr. Sturgeon says on Friday last, about half-past two in the afternoon, clouds began to form in various quarters of the heavens in rapid succession, from mere specks or streaks to immense groups, with every appearance of being highly electrical. I repaired to the Artillery Barrack grounds with an electric kite, and in a very short time got it afloat, letting out string through the hands from a coil or clue which was thrown on the ground. When about a hundred yards of the string had been let out, a tremendous discharge took place, which gave me such a blow in the chest and legs that I became completely stunned, let go the string, and consequently the kite soon fell. The accident was owing entirely to my own neglect, and could not possibly have happened had I taken the following precaution. Let all the string intended to be employed be first taken off the reel or coil, and stretched on the ground. Let now the insulating cord, riband, glass, or whatever is used for this purpose, be attached to the kite string and fastened to a peg, tree, or anything intended to hold the kite during the time it is up. Next fasten the kite to the other end of the string, and let it ascend from the hand. ^[[1836 - handwritten in ink]] [[end clipping]] [[end column]] [[end page]] ^[[399 - handwritten in pencil at bottom of page]]
