Aerial Navigal'ion, 53 



of the earth to the greatest heights to which it is possible 

 to ascend: 2;1. That ia this interval the constitution of the 

 atmosphere is entirely the same. M. Gay-Lussac observed, 

 that the heat decreased nearly in arithmetical progression in 

 proportion as he rose into the atmosphere, and that each 

 degree of the depression of his centigrade thermometer 

 corresponded to an elevation of about Qb toises 5 feet. 



Ihj Count Zamhcccari. 



Venice, Oftober z. 



Count Zambeccari has published a long account of 

 his last aerial voyage, the principal particulars of which 

 are contained in the following extract: 



Near Rouanzo the two aeronauts, he and Dr. Andreoli, 

 descended to about within five hundred feet of the earth, 

 after which they re-ascended. The machine trax'erscd a 

 cloud, but without experiencing the effects of elcctricitv. 

 About one o'clock they found themselves above Capo 

 d'Argine, six Italian miles from Bologna. The Count here 

 wished to descend; and having got within a short distance 

 of the earth, he made his anchor fast to a tree. The bal- 

 loon having by this moveijient acquired an oblique direc- 

 tion, the lamp v.as overturned, and the spirit of wine it 

 (Contained fell to the bottom of the car and took fire. The 

 flames soon reached a vessel ccmtaining thirty pounds of 

 spirit of wine. The vessel burst, and the flames spread 

 more and more. At length they extended to the clothes 

 of the aeronauts, and even threatened the netting and the 

 ropes by which the car was suspended. Zambeccari laid 

 hold of a bottle of water and extinguished the fire in his 

 clothes. Andreoli, who only thought of escaping, glided 

 down by the anchor-rope to the tree, and fell liience to the 

 ground without sustaining much hurt. The bailo.on being 

 freed from the weight of about a quintal and a half, rose 

 rapidly with Comit Zambeccari, and in a moment disap- 

 peared above the clouds. The Count, however, did not 

 lose his presence of nhnd, but continued to extinguish the 

 fire both in his clothes and in the car. 



The balloon was then carried by a strong current of air 

 towards the Adriatic, and at three o'clock the. Count per- 

 ceived the coast of Cwmachio, butfrom suchan elevation that 

 he could hardly distinguish it. Soon after he fell into the 

 sea at about the distance of 25 Italian n:iiles from the coast. 

 The car, which was half burnt, sunk, and Count Zambec- 

 cari, who held fast by the ropes of the balloon, had the 

 water often uptohis neck. Apprehensive that lassiludewould 

 F 3 oblicre 



