Aerostat 1071. 189 



logna. Its further fate is not yet known. Count Zam- 

 hoccari's intention was to make an aerial excursion from 

 Bologna to .Milan. 



Venice, October 14, 



I write this to communicate to you the particulars of a 

 very sinijular and remarkable aerial voyage. Count Zam- 

 bcccari of Bologna, Dr. Grassetti of Rome, and M. Pascal 

 Andreoli of Ancona, had some months ago prepared a 

 large and strong air balloon, which they filled in that 

 city on Friday the 7th. The filling, however, went on 

 very slowlv, and was not completed till midnight. Count 

 Zambeccari and his companions were therefore desirous to 

 put off their ascent till the next day : but the impatience 

 and clamour of the populace; obliged them to step into the 

 car and suflcr the balloon to ascend about three quarters of 

 an hour after twelve, though with a resolution of descend- 

 ing as soon as thev possibly could. The balloon rose with 

 tlie utmost rapidity, and soon reached such a height, that 

 Count Zambeccari and Dr. Grassetti, benumbed with cold 

 and seized with a nausea, fell into a state of insensibility 

 and deep sleep. 



AI. Andreoli, who alone retained the use of his senses, 

 was not able to determine the height by his barometer, as 

 the candle which he had in a lantern had gone out. About 

 half an hour after two in the morning the balloon began to 

 descend, and xVI. Andreoli soon observed distinctly the 

 waves of the Adriatic sea dashing against the coast of Ro- 

 niagna. He therefore waked his companions, and endea- 

 voured to kindle the liohlbv a phosphoric match, but with- 

 out success. At length, however, he obtained a light by a 

 piece of flint and steel, and immediately after the balloon 

 fell into the Adriatic, and with such violence that the water 

 was dashed up to the height of several feet above them. 

 The aerial travellers, drenched with sea water and be- 

 numbed with cold, threw out in great consternation a bag 

 of sand, their instruments, and every thing they had with 

 ihem in the car. By these means the balloon rose again 

 rapidly : they then passed through three strata of clouds lying 

 over each other ; in consequence of which their clothes 

 were covered with a thick rime ; and on account of the 

 rarity of the air in which they now were when raised above 

 the clouds, they could scarcely hear each other speak. The 

 moon illuminated the atmosphere under them, and had a 

 blood-red colour. About three o'clock in the morning the 

 balloon uL^ain descended, but slowly, and a violent gust of 

 uiiid at iuuth-wtsl drove it across the Adriatic towards the 

 3 coast 



