318 Mr, Sadler's Aerial Voyage. 



MR. Sadler's aerial voyage. 



Mr. Sadler ascended from Belvidere-house, near Dubliny 

 October 1, at 1 P. M. with the wind at south-west, and in 

 35 minutes had sight of the mountains in Wales : he con- 

 tinued in the same direction till three o'clock, when being 

 nearly over the Isle of Man, the wind blowing fresh, he 

 found himself fast approaching the Welch coast, and at 

 four o'clock he had a distinct view of the Skerry Light- 

 house, and the prospect of consunmialing his ardent hopes 

 of a speedy arrival in Liverpool. The wind now shifting, 

 he was again taken off, and lost sight of land ; when, after 

 hovering about for a long time, he discovered five vessels 

 beating down Channel ; and in hopes of their assistance, 

 he determined on descending with all possible expedition, 

 and precipitated himself into the sea. In this most critical 

 situation, he had the mortification to find the vessels took 

 no notice of him : obliged, therefore, to re-ascend, he now 

 threw out a quantity of ballast, and quickly regained his 

 situation in the air, to look out for more friendly aid. It 

 was a length of time before he had the satisfaction of dis- 

 covering any, and then observed a vessel, which gave him 

 to understand, by signal, that she intended to assist him, 

 but could not reach him. Two others also now appeared in 

 sight, and one of them tacking about, hoisted the Manx 

 colouts. Nioht now comina; on, he was determined to 

 avail himself of their friendly aid, and once more descended 

 into the sea; but here the wind acting upon the balloon as it 

 lay upon the water, drew the car with so much velocity that 

 the vessel could not overtake it ; and notwithstanding he 

 used his utmost efforts, and latterly tied his clothes to the 

 grappling iron, and sunk them to keep him steady, still the 

 balloon was carried away so fast, that he was under the 

 necessity of expelling the gas : upon that escaping, the car 

 actually sunk, and he had now nothing but the netting to 

 cling to. His perilous situation, and the fear of getting 

 entangled, deterred the men from coming near him; until, 

 being in danger of drowning, Mr. Sadler begged they would 

 run their bowsprit through the balloon, and expel the re- 

 maining gas. Having done this, they threw out a line, 

 which he wound round his arm, and was then dragged a 

 considerable way before they could get him on board, quite 

 exhausted. 



The ship was a herring fisher, from Douglas, in the Isle 

 of Man, called the Victory, commanded by John Lee. 



in this situation he was conveyed to Liverpool, where 



finding 



