232 Aerostation. 



ma)cstic manner, almost in a perpendicular line, to a height 

 of about 300 yards ; it then took an easterly direction. 



At three o'clock, the halloou still continuing to ascend, 

 the aerial travellers observed beneath them what appeared to 

 be two large cisterns of water, but which subsequent ob- 

 servation proved to them were the East India docks. The 

 thermometer now stood at 52-^, but from some accident 

 which happened to the barometer, no observations on that 

 could be made during the continuance of the voyage. The 

 balloon being quite distended, it became necessary to let out 

 some of the gas ; and this was done at intervals till the bal- 

 loon descended. Ballast, however, was thrown out : the 

 ascent of the balloon now became very rapid, and the tra- 

 vellers were soon at an immense height. At ten minutes 

 past three they crossed the Thames at Galeons-rcach, and 

 the sound of a piece of ordnance from Woolwich was di- 

 stinctly heard bv Mr. Sadler and his companion : they ob- 

 served the smoke, which apparently arose from the earth. 

 Mr. Sadler upon this waved his flag, and another piece of 

 ordnance was discharged, as if to return the compliment 

 as they passed. The city of London, the bridges, the 

 Thames, and the German Ocean, were then distinguish- 

 able to the aeronauts; and at this period captain Paget 

 drew the cork of k bottle of Madeira, and the health of 

 the prince regent was drunk in a bumper. The prospect, 

 which at this period for the first time presented itself to cap- 

 tain Paget, was beyond the power of description: the capital 

 was at that time pronounced by him to be a small village ; 

 nor could he be persuaded to the contrary, till the four 

 bridges, namely, London, Blackfriars, Westminster, and 

 Battersea, which from their intercepting the river were ren- 

 dered more conspicuous than other objects, were pointed out 

 to him by Mr. Sadler. As the aeronauts continued their 

 course down the river, they were saluted by the discharge of 

 several more pieces of artillery ; and at half past three they 

 drank the health of all their friends at Hackney. About this 

 time Mr. Sadler, perceiving that the balloon was approaching 

 the sea, felt it prudent to look out for a spot on which to 

 effect a landing. They then descended till the ships in the 

 river, from Woolwich to the Nore, became perfectly distin- 

 guishable. 



On crossing the river at St. Clement's reach, the balloon 

 descended so low, that the travellers distinctly heard persons 

 conversing in the Gravesend boats, which were passing 

 down the river, some of whom cried out — "Where are you 

 going?" Mr. Paget threw out a loaf, which fell to leeward 



of 



