undertaken at Pcleislurgh. J 99 



cloth, it put in motion Bennot's electrometer. But as the 

 magnetic needle which I took with me for the purpose of 

 examining the inclination was spoilt, I was desirous of try- 

 ing whether the magnetic power had as much influence over 

 iron as at the earth. With this view I placed a common 

 magnetic needle on a pin, and, to my great astonishment, 

 saw the north pole of it rise considerably, while the south, 

 pole sunk down, making an angle of eight or ten degrees. 

 I repeated this several limes ; and, to be more certain, I 

 gave the needle to Mr. Robertson, that he might make the 

 same experiment. The resiUt, however, was always the 

 same. The magnetic needle, which I have still in my pos- 

 session, stands at present horizontal. Experiments in re- 

 gard to the attraction of the magnetic needle, and some 

 others, 1 was not able to njake. At this height I did not 

 experience the smallest change in regard to myself, except 

 that my ears seemed, as it were, benumbed. My pulse 

 beat as on the earth,' that is, 82 times in a minute; and 

 my breathing was neither accelerated nor impeded, that is 

 to say, I breathed 2-2 times in a minute. In a word, I 

 was exceedingly tranquil and cheerful, and experienced no 

 change or uneasiness. At that time there were white clouds 

 at a great height over us, but the heavens in general were 

 clear and bright; yet though the sky was so clear I could 

 observe no stars. I now proposed to Mr. Robertson to 

 continue our voyage the whole night, in order that we 

 might see the sun rise, and to make some other experiments; 

 but ignorance of the local situation of the country, the al- 

 most total consumption of our ballast, and the continual, 

 though slow, sinking of the balloon, prevented him from 

 acceding to my proposal. While we were flying over se- 

 veral villages and rivers, I took n)v speaking-trumpet, and, 

 directing it towards the earth, called out as loud as I could. 

 Contrary to expectation, I heard, after a considerable in- 

 terval, my words clearly and distinctly repeated by an echo, 

 I then called out again; and each time the echo repealed my 

 words. I observed that the sound was reverberated in ten 

 seconds; but I could not remark the height of the baro- 

 meter, because we had begun to make preparations for de- 

 scending to the earth : and to efl'ect tiiis as slowly as possi- 

 ble, for the sake of security, we tied all our instruments 

 and warm clothing into a bundle and let it down, together 

 with the anchor, bv a rope. 'I"he balloon, which was driven 

 by the wind with considerable lorce, and wich fell with great 

 rapiditv, was so light when the bundle touched the earth, 

 • tjiat it drew up the rope, and endeavoured again to ascend. 

 N4 In 



