On the prefent State of Aerojlatton. 341 



rations of the combined armies. Various reports have at 

 times reached us concerning the pretended flourifhing Itate 

 of this aeroftatic fchool ; but during the few years of its efta- 

 bliftiment no improvements appear to have been made further 

 than the compofitioti of the varnilh, which is brought to the 

 greateft perfeftion ; and Mr. Garnerin informed me the efta- 

 bhfhment itfelf is now given up. 



We find then that the apparatus itfelf has undergone no 

 confirmed improvement ; perhaps from the purfuit being ge- 

 nerally attended to by enthufiaRs in novflty, llrangers to ge- 

 nuine fcience natural or mechanical. Thus an aeronaut in 

 the prefent day is compelled to go in the direftion of the 

 wind ; and in defccndino-, calmly fits in his car to be knocked 

 againft every tree, houfe, or hedge, that may cnme in his 

 way. So long, therefore, as aerial adventurers are liable to 

 fuch dangerous dilemmas, it is no wonder we find fo few in- 

 clined to repeat their voyages ; as the tranfitory enjoyment of 

 a view above the clouds, is fcldom fufiicient to incite a fecond 

 attempt under fuch threatening circumftances. 



The redoration of peace affording to foreigners an oppor- 

 tunity of vifiting this coimtry, whether prompted bv curiofity 

 or to exhibit the productions of their inventive genius, this 

 crifis proved a means of again exciiing the attention of the 

 Englifh public to the almolt forgotten i'ubjeft of ae'rollation, 

 as revived by the advertifemcnts of Mr. Garnerin ; a man of 

 an ingenious turn of mind, without that collateral acquaint- 

 ance with the feveral fciences on which rells the only fure 

 foundation for improving the arts, and efpecially this pecu- 

 liar branch of philofophy, whicli feems to be hisnativeybr/r. 



Having made a number of aerial voyages, his mechanical 

 acquaintance with the req\iifites for iniuringfuccels was con- 

 firmed by frequent experience ; but further than this wo do 

 not find him to have atlainci. He is alfo the tirlt aeronaut 

 that has fucceeded in a fafe delcent by the narachule — an ex- 

 periment which is of the firll confe(|uence to the progrei's of 

 aeroftation. The late voyages made in this country hy ihis 

 latter gentleman are frefii in the memory of every one, and 

 we have only to regret that fo experienced an adventurer 

 fhould jioflefs fo fmall a (hare of the knowledge rcqiiifile to 

 raife aerial navigation to the pcrfedlion it might perhaps 

 othcrwife foon aiiain. 



As an advocate for afccrlaining the iffne of whatever may 

 be dubious in the prefent (tate ot our knowleilge, I ftlt aux- 

 inuH to fei/f fo happy an opiiortuuity of inveliigaiiiig" what 

 dogrcc of diminilhcd prelfure the human conftitntioii could 

 fgpporl, as prcfcntcd in the inteuiled experiment with ilie pa- 

 y3 raehulej 



