186 On Aérostation. 
Bresse. He said that it was. *'Then,” said my friend, that 
letter was written by Mr. Edgeworth, for [ saw it when it was 
dispatched.” 
Montgolfier was extremely pleased; took the trouble of ex- 
plaining to me many of his ingenious contrivances, particularly 
his Lelier hydr aulique. 
I cannot omit to mention an instance of M. Montgolfier’s 
candour and generosity. After having taken considerable pains 
to obviate objections which had been made to his parachute, 
I communicated to him the means of rendering the descent of 
the parachute perfectly safe and equable. 
When we were going away, we passed through the magnifi- 
eent staircase of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, Rue 
St. Martin. ‘ There,” said he, pointing to the dome, ‘is 
an instance of national gratitude; you see the remains of my 
original balloon suspended from the roof, arid my parachute 
annexed toit. I will have my parachute taken down, and yours 
substituted in its place.”’ 
These, however, are relations resting merely on assertion,— 
but in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. vi. 
page 101, there is in an Essay of mine the following . note: 
eh! balloon may be carried forward with certainty and celerity 
in any direction where there is no perceptible wind, if it is al- 
ternately lowered and elevated by altering from time to time its 
specific gravity, which may be done by various means, without 
losing much hydrogen gas; and if it be furnished with fins or 
small sails, and be set to a proper angle, with its line of ascent 
and descent, their vertical pressure against the air will impel the 
balloon forward.” 
*¢ Swift manoeuvres his Laputa in this manner : 
re | tried this invention on a small balloon in the house of the 
late ingenious Dr. Usher, (Professor of Astronomy in the Univer- 
sity of DufNin), the friend of science, and of those who wished 
to improve it.” 
I do not mean to insinuate in the most remote manner, that 
Sir George Cayley or Mr. Evans knew any thing of my inven- 
tion; probably they never heard my name; and far from wishing 
to derogate from their merit, | shall with pleasure contribute to 
a subscription for carrying on any practicable plan for the ad- 
vancement of aérostation. Earnestly hoping that it may be ap- 
plied to better purposes than those to whieh it has been hitherto 
unworthily confined, 
I am, sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
Edgeworthstown, Ireland, Ricup LovELL EpGEwonrrnH. 
March 6, 1816. 
¢} S.—One 
