296 
nected with the pursuits of science or civil 
economy were attained by these aérial 
trips, it would afford some grounds for 
‘their justification: but scarcely any of 
‘the atmospheric phenomena which ad- 
mit of examination or observation in 
the car ofa‘ balloon, that might not 
be’ observed with more accuracy, on 
the side of a mountain. 
The climate of this country is per- 
haps more uncongenial to this pursuit 
“than that of any other country in Eu- 
rope. From our insular situation, and 
other local causes, we are peculiarly 
‘liable not only to contrary currents of 
wind, but the formation of clouds by 
‘these opposing currents of air, at dif- 
‘ferent temperatures, is a natural conse- 
‘quence, by the condensation of aqueous 
vapour : and in passing through a dense 
‘cloud of considerable thickness, the 
aéronaut is not only subject to great 
inconvenience, but he is also disqualified 
from paying attention to any other ob- 
ject but his personal safety. It is also 
well known that dense clouds are 
usually accompanied by a great accu- 
mulation of the electric fluid; and as the 
balloon and its appendages may be con- 
sidered as a conductor between a cloud 
‘and the surface of the earth, there must 
be considerable hazard to the aéronaut 
from this source, and which will ob- 
viously be increased by the metallic 
‘substances adjacent to his person. 
‘There is every reason to believe that 
the late Mr. Harris met his death by a 
discharge of the electric fluid; for the 
‘appeafance of the body, according to 
the evidence adduced on the coroner’s 
inquest, was such as could be only ex- 
nlained by ‘violent concussion on the 
read and neck. The female who ac- 
companied him was also found at the 
bottom of the car when the balloon fell 
near Croydon, in a state of insensibility, 
similar to wliat is observed in persons 
struck down with lightning. But the 
sickness and vertigo always attendant 
con- an aéronaut making an ascent to 
any considerable altitude, and the con- 
tinual liability of the balloon to ex- 
pand by the decreased density of the 
ambient air, as well as by the direct 
rays of the sun on emerging from a 
cloud, must render. it exceedingly. dif, 
ficult to regulate the buoyancy of the 
machine by the valves on one hand, 
and the ballast on the other, 
As to the question of directing a bal- 
loon to any given point, it appears 
absurd; for it should be considered 
that the:-whole machine forms, as it 
were, an atom of ‘the atmosphere, 
in which it floats, and is carried 
Character of the Turkish Government. 
[Nowe l, 
-along with that particular stratum of 
air, whatever may be its motion, or the 
velocity of the wind at the time, Hence 
we may account for the distressing 
whirling motion often complained of 
by aérial travellers, which is produced 
by the eddy wind of two opposing cur- 
rents. The descent of a balloon is 
also attended with great hazard, in even 
the most favourable ‘cases; it is liable 
to come in contact with trees, build- 
ings, or other obstacles, for which there 
seems to be no adequate remedy. The 
grapple will sometimes succeed; to 
this a long rope might also be ap- 
pended, so as to enable an assistant be- 
low to prevent the balloon being dragged 
along the surface, to 'the imminent dan- 
ger of the traveller: or if a small line, 
with a ‘light weight attached, formed 
part of the apparatus of an aéronaut, it 
might perhaps be found useful when ap- 
proaching the earth, both by lessening 
his momentum, and in gaining the assist- 
ance of persons below. Every friend of 
humanity must, however, wish these 
childish amusements to be abolished. 
Brighton, Lam, &e. 
14th Oct. 1814. W. Pi Ps 
, Mee 
For the Monthly Magazine. « 
Cuaracter of the Turkish GovERN+ 
ment, by Aati Errenni, @ celebrated 
Turkish Historian.* 
T is in his chapter of the twenty- 
third event of the reign of Moham- 
med IL that he gives’ this ‘striking sen- 
tence, towhich every one acquainted with 
the history of: the Osmanlis, will readily 
subscribe. He there relates the: unjust 
enterprize of that monarch against the 
prince of Alayé, the last of the dynasty 
of the Seljukides, whose ‘ancestors had 
invested Osman, the founder of the 
Ottoman dynasty, with a castle. And 
after having enumerated the motives of 
gratitude which ought to have restrained 
Mohammed: from: destroying the last 
prince of a house to whom his: owed ‘all 
its greatness, he concludes, ““ It.is a 
proverb well known in the world, that 
the Osmanlis do ’not know the right of 
truth, and that benefits are of no avail to 
him who attaches himself to that house.” 
It is upon this maxim that the above 
affair was founded, viz. the usurpation 
of the country of Alayé. = 
The innate generosity of the Osmanlis ~ 
consists in not récognizing the services 
of their devoted viziers, and im having 
them executed under the slightest pre- 
tence with tyranny and qbeais 
Saree Notte 
vO 
* Furnished by Mr. Von Hammer in the 
Journal Asiatique. 
