late Professor of Practical Jslronomy in Glasgow. 7 



out evenly upon the ground behind, whilst a third person, 

 holding part of its line tight in his hand, stood at a good dis- 

 tance directly in front. Things being so ordered, the extre- 

 mity of the line belonging to the kite already in the air was 

 hooked to a loop at 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, there- 

 by allowing its companion to soar to an elevation proportion- 

 ally 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 con- 

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

 spectacle which greatly interested every beholder. The pres- 

 sure 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 

 obtain the information they wanted, they contrived that ther- 

 mometers properly secured, and having bushy tossels of paper 

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

 the higher kites ; 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 

 happened always in fine dry weather, no symptoms whatever of 

 an electrical nature came under their observation. The sub- 

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

 atmosphere, lay yet entirely undiscovered, and was reserved two 

 years longer for the sagacity of the celebrated Dr Franklin. 

 In a letter from Mr Melvill to Mr Wilson, dated at Geneva, 



