Aerojlation. 1 95 



Caplain Sowden's Account. 

 Mr. Editor, 



As numberlefs queftions have been put to me refpe&ing 

 the fenfations I experienced while in the upper regions, I 

 think it a duty incumbent on me to inform the public, and 

 to fct them right as to the erroneous ideas they have of an 

 aeroitatic voyage. On our firft attending, we felt a few drops 

 of rain. After\ve had gained the height of about 3000 feet, 

 I defired M. Garnerin not to afcend any higher till he had 

 parted the metropolis, that the inhabitants might be gratified 

 with a fair view of us. When we had got at a imall diftance 

 from London, we afeended through fome very thick clouds, 

 of which I could perceive three diftincl rows, at the lower 

 one of which we found the quickfilver of the thermometer 

 at 15 5 , and I was obliged to put on my greatcoat; but on 

 afcending (till higher we found the air more temperate, and 

 the quickfilver rife gradually to 5 above fummer heat. We 

 then feemed to be (tationary, and felt no more motion than 

 one would feel in fitting in a chair in a room. I then pro- 

 pofed to M. Garnerin to overhaul our lockers, where we 

 found a ham, a cold fowl, a cake, and two bottles of orgeat, 

 wines or fpirits being dangerous to take, owing to the rarefac- 

 tion of the air. The chill of the clouds having given us an 

 appetite, we made a table on our knees with the Teats of the 

 car, and ate a very hearty meal. The clouds then difperfed 

 from under us, and we had a delightful view of the country. 



Whether it is owing to the rarefaction of the air, or to 

 the ftrong light thrown on the earth, I cannot determine, 

 but I found that my fight, which at all times is rather weak, 

 became fo ftrong, that I could eaflly diftinguifh the minuteft 

 objects on the earth : it appeared like a vaft panorama, or 

 map, of about fifty miles in circumference, where we could 

 not only follow with our eyes the different crofs roads and 

 interfections on it, but even diftinguifh the ruts on them, 

 and the very furrows in the field. The fenfe of hearing was 

 ftrongcr here than on earth ; for, at the height of 15,000 feet, 

 we could diftinctly hear the rattling of the carriages on the 

 roads, the lowing of cattle, and the acclamations of the people 

 who faw us; though, at the fame time, we could hardly hear 

 ourfelves fpeak : and I am perfuaded that a perfon on the 

 earth, with a ftrong voice and a fpeaking trumpet, might 

 make himfelf perfectly underftood by any perfon at that 

 height in the air. I have obferved that aim oft every fenfa- 

 tion I experienced while in the upper regions was exactly the 

 contrary to what is the general opinion of the public. I was 

 afiTured by a number of the moft celebrated literati, who pre- 



Vol. XIII. No. 50. O tended 



