286 Biographical Account of DR WILSON, 



the back of the second, which being now let go, mounted very 

 superbly, and in a little time also took up as much line as could 

 be supported with advantage ; thereby allowing its companion to 

 soar to an elevation proportionally higher. 



Upon launching these kites according to the method which 

 had been projected, and affording them abundance of proper 

 line, the uppermost one ascended to an amazing height, dis- 

 appearing at times among the white summer clouds, whilst 

 all the rest, in a series, formed with it, in the air below, 

 such a lofty scale, and that, too, affected by such regular and 

 conspiring motions, as at once changed a boyish pastime into a 

 spectacle which greatly interested every beholder. The pressure 

 of the breeze upon so many surfaces communicating with one 

 another, was found too powerful for a single person to withstand, 

 when contending with the undermost strong line, and it became 

 therefore necessary to keep the mastery over the kites by other 

 means. 



This species of aerial machinery answering so well, Mr WIL- 

 SON and Mr MELVILL employed it several times during that and 

 the following summer, in pursuing those atmospherical experi- 

 ments for which the kites had been originally intended. To ob- 

 tain the information they wanted, they contrived that thermo- 

 meters, properly secured, and having bushy tossels of paper tied 

 to them, should be let fall at stated periods from some of the 

 higher kites j which was accomplished by the gradual singeing of 

 a match-line. 



When engaged in these experiments, though now and then 

 they communicated immediately with the clouds, yet, as this hap- 

 pened always in fine dry weather, no symptoms whatever of an 

 electrical nature came under their observation. The sublime 

 analysis of the thunder-bolt, and of the electricity of the atmo- 

 sphere, lay yet entirely undiscovered, and was reserved two years 

 longer for the sagacity of the celebrated Dr FRANKLIN. In a 



