1824.] Capt. Beaufoy's Aerial Excursion. 209 



Article IX. 



An Account of some Observations made during a late Aerial 

 Excursion. By Capt. Beaufoy, Coldstream Guards. 



(To the Editors of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



GENTLEMEN, London, July 31 , 1824. 



I do myself the pleasure of forwarding you an account of 

 some observations which I made during a late aerial excursion ; 

 and if you should think it worthy of insertion in the Annals of 

 Philosophy, I cannot but feel much flattered at such a circum- 

 stance. 1 have the honour to be, your obedient servant, 



Mark Beaufoy. 



On Thursday, the 1 7th of last June, at five minutes past six 

 in the evening, the balloon rose from the gardens of White 

 Conduit House, Islington ; the barometer being then 29*8 inches, 

 the thermometer 06°, and the hygrometer 1 7° dry. Wind very 

 high from the north. 



I felt no motion whatever ! All objects seemed to sink from 

 the car; and in a short time quite lost their altitude. 



At eight minutes past six, the barometer was 27 - 4 inches, or 

 2257 feet, thermometer 46°, hygrometer 15° dry, when every 

 thing was perfectly distinct, but flat like a military map ; and 

 at twelve minutes past six, barometer 25*5 inches, or 4235 feet, 

 thermometer 45°, we passed through some thin mist. The 

 balloon soon after entered a different current of air, which 

 caused it to make about half a revolution, slowly ; occasioning 

 a slight sensation of sickness, that went offin one or two seconds, 

 when the machine became steady. 



At sixteen minutes past six, barometer was 23*3 inches, or 

 6605 feet, thermometer 39°, hygrometer 20° dry, when the 

 machine became enveloped in clouds ; which were by no means 

 dark, nor had the approach to them been gratifying. Soon after 

 a disagreeable sensation of singing in the ears was felt by Mr. 

 Graham and myself, and continued the whole voyage ; the 

 application of cotton not removing it. 



Until this moment, every thing had been distinctly visible 

 from the balloon ; trees, houses, ships, &c. had length and 

 breadth, but no height. Roads seemed like footpaths of an 

 orange-colour, fields of corn as if ruled with lines of vivid green; 

 the hedges looked thicker and darker. 



On rising above the clouds, a most magnificent sight met (he 

 eye ! One vast expanse of frozen snow, with enormous masses 

 towering above the rest like mountains, having every summit 



New Series, vol. viii. p 



