On the priefent State of Aerojlailon. 339 



fpoml with that of nn equal bulk of the fluid in which it is 

 immcrfed. Although Dr. Black undoubtedly firft fuggefted 

 the propriety of ap|)lying inflammable air to aeroftatic pur- 

 pofes, iVIr. Cavallo had the honour of firfl: putting it into 

 praolice, which we find him to have been engaged in per- 

 forming in the year 1782: but his experiments went no 

 further than a demonflration of the doctor's fuggeflions ; and 

 the afcent of foap-balls filled with inflammable air (as being 

 the firft experiment of the kind) is an original idea, for 

 which we are indebted to liim. 



The firft inHammable-air- balloon was launched on the 

 continent by Meirrs. Roberts and a Mr. Charles in the year 

 1783; and the greater expediency of thefe latter machines 

 over thofe elevated by heated air, foon ralfed them to that 

 pre-eminence they feemed juftlv entitled to : yet even with 

 thcfc there was conjoined the difadvantage of not being able 

 to raife or lower them without a lofs of ballaft in the firit, and 

 of gas in the latter cafe. This fuggeftcd the idea of inclofing 

 a bag of heated air in one of inflammable ai'', whereby, on 

 var\-ing the temperature of this inner balloon, the whole ap- 

 paratus could be railed or lowered art libitum^ without lofs of 

 gas or ballaft. But as the vicinity of fire to hydrogen air and 

 common air endangers a mutual explofion, fo this unfortu- 

 nate plan deprived the world of that moft intrepid philofopher 

 M. Pilatre dc Rozicr, who has the honour to bear the palm 

 of aeroltation, in being the firft man who ever abandoned him- 

 felf to the atmcifphere in a balloon. 



If we confider the natural difpofition of Frfnchmen, ever 

 prompting them to the purfuit of novcltv, we fliall not be 

 furprifed to find them warm advocates for the progrefs of this 

 new art; eccentricity in the choice of their refearchcs and 

 amufements having been ever a prominent trait in their na- 

 tional character. Enlivened by the native foflnefs of their 

 climate, their difpofitions partake of that gaiety which is to 

 be found only in a country like theirs, where a Icfs fluffgifti 

 atmofphere and more uniform temperature tend to preTervc 

 a conftant vivacity of mind. A latitude fo favoured with 

 lerenily of feafon produces an abundance of vegetables and 

 fruits, the want of a greater mixture of which in the diet of 

 Kngliftinien caufes the more prevalent fedatenefs of their 

 manners, fubdues a tendency to volatility, and kee])s them 

 from wandering from one purfuit to another. Hence we 

 are Icfs likely ttTwUnefs among ourfclves that fiuidca enihu- 

 fiafin for the progrefs of any new art, and cl'|)ecially ol this 

 (to loine) rtcniinglv unimportant one : wc have therefore hud 

 very ic.v inltanccs here of balloon cxcurfions undertaken by 

 Y 2 really 



