1814.] Journal of an Aerial Voyage. 287 



not only cold and chilly to the feelings, but apparently blowing 

 from no one particular point of the compass, as it rushed some- 

 times from one, at another moment from a directly opposite di- 

 rection. This current of air caused the balloon to acquire a 

 rotatory vertical motion, which made the compass traverse as nearly 

 as I could guess, for I did not note it by the watch, once in about 

 20 or 30 seconds. The confusion round the car at the launching 

 was here productive of inconvenience ; for the car did not hang 

 perfectly parallel. I was at the lowest end, and therefore found 

 this vertical motion exceedingly inconvenient. The car was lowest 

 on my right hand ; so that it was not only lowest towards that end, 

 but was lop-sided on my right. The motion of the balloon was 

 from my left towards my right hand. The wind made no noise, 

 and would not have been perceptible but for the freshness of the air 

 on the face, and the singular motion of the balloon. 



Ols. 9. — Mr. Sadler now announced to me that the balloon was 

 passing through the clouds; and almost immediately after the 

 clouds were seen beneath, presenting the appearance of fleecy 

 masses. On throwing some small pieces of silver paper over the 

 side of the car, the rapidity with which they appeared to be preci- 

 pitated downwards convinced us that the balloon was rapidly 

 ascending. The rain still continued, and the air damp and chilly to 

 the feelings. We seemed to be stationary, as far as progress over 

 the country went, but still ascending with rapidity. 



Ol's. 10. — At this time placed a pigeon, No. 3, on the edge of 

 the car : the poor animal seemed excessively alarmed, standing on 

 the edge of the car and looking round. The earth was concealed 

 from the view by the clouds beneath. After some little time I pre- 

 cipitated the pigeon gently from its perch, when it fell like a stone, 

 until lost in the haze, which was almost in an instant. As long as 

 it remained in sight.it did not make any attempt to assist itself with 

 it, rings. The rain still came down heavily, and the fluid conti- 

 nued to pour down as before through the neck of the balloon. 



Obs. 1 1. — Mr. Sadler inquired of me the heat by the thermome- 

 ter, and on his receiving the answer, directed one of the bottles to 

 be emptied of its water, for the purpose of collecting air : Mr. 

 Sadler observing at the same time that he thought we were now at 



rreat an elevation as we should he able to accomplish in the 

 course of the voyage. At this elevation 1 could not divest myself 

 of the idea that I heard sounds as of persons cheering from the 

 earth, though it was not possible that it could arise from any such 

 cause, BS the balloon was still above the clouds, and we could not 

 distinguish any thing but the dense white clouds, which now ap- 

 d precisely like a thick October fog. The air hit damp and 

 chilly, and the rain still continued, though less violently than 

 bcloic. The breath was particularly risible ; and from tin- circum- 

 stance of my having been without a 'hat during the whole of the cx- 

 ion, it i- mo* probable that the sounds I fancied 1 heard was 

 merely a ringing in the cars, the effect of the damp. Tried the ex- 



