140 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



freezing point. Among the articles taken up in the balloon was a 

 quantity of water, and until they reached a height of five miles 

 Mr. Glaisher kept it from freezing by occasionally stirring it with a 

 small ladle. When he recovered his consciousness he found that the 

 water had been frozen into a solid block of ice, and it remained 

 in this condition for more than an hour and a half after he reached 

 the earth. 



In this ascension, six pigeons were taken up. One was thrown out 

 at the height of three miles ; it extended its wings and dropped like 

 a piece of paper ; a second, at four miles, flew vigorously round and 

 round, apparently taking a dip each time ; a third was thrown out 

 between four and five miles, and it fell downwards ; a fourth was 

 thrown out at five miles, and it fell downwards ; a fifth was thrown 

 out at four miles when descending ; it flew in a circle, and shortly 

 alighted on the balloon. The two remaining pigeons were brought 

 down to the ground. One was found dead, and the other, a carrier, 

 had attached to its neck a note. It would not, however, leave, and, 

 when cast off the finger, returned to the hand. After a quarter of 

 an hour it began to peck a piece of ribbon by which its neck was 

 encircled, and it was then jerked off the finger, and it flew with some 



vigor. 



Compared with this aerial voyage, all other balloon ascensions sink 

 into insignificance. Gay-Lussac attained an elevation of about four 

 miles ; Mr. Glaisher on two occasions rose considerably above this 

 elevation, and on the last ascent, as we have already stated, probably 

 attained a height of six miles. Had it not been, moreover, for the 

 presence of mind of Mr. Coxwell the voyagers would have shot up 

 into an atmosphere so thin that respiration could not be sustained, 

 and in the end the expansion of gas would probably have burst the 

 balloon ; or, if the safety-valve had been sufficiently large to allow for 

 that expansion, they might have been carried into space and num- 

 bered among the victims on the altar of science. 



The London Times, in commenting on this ascension, says : " Cour- 

 age is a thing of habit, and sometimes it fails altogether just as soon as 

 it is out of the field of its habit. Your bold rider is one who has begun 

 young ; his whole body, with its muscles and sinews, has accommoda- 

 ted itself to the back of a horse, and acquired an intuitive and uncon- 

 scious balance. But take him off of his horse, and, unless he has the 

 principle of courage within him, he is an ordinary mortal, and no 

 more likes breaking his neck than a quiet humdrum citizen. A sol- 

 dier is accustomed to courage in company, with gallant fellows around 

 him ; but that makes an immense difference. Company is both in- 

 spiriting and relieving ; it divests courage of its horrors and gloom. 

 It is, therefore, much easier to be bold in company. The feats of a 

 man of science give you a better guarantee for real courage, because 

 they are solitary, deliberate, calm and passive. It is true he has his 

 enthusiasm which helps him, and he has his field of courage to which 

 he has accustomed himself. But every new venture, every fresh essay 

 upon this field, is a solitary effort and impulse with him. He has to 

 light alone and by himself against the faintness of nature, without 

 men shouting, or flags flying, or trumpets clanging around him. He 

 faces the invisible forces of nature, the gas that explodes or the poison 



