Chap. -14,] [ 507 ] 



CHAP. XIV, 



AEROSTATION. 



lliftory cf Aercftation.~Difco<very of Air Balkans ly M. M. Mont got- 

 fier- Firft Balloon exhibited at Annonay. Ealloon filled with /- 

 flammable Air exhibited at Paris, Pilatre de Rozier afcends in a, 

 Balloon. F irft Balloon exhibited in England. Afeent of M. Lu- 

 nar di, Voyage of M. Blanchard and Dr. Jeffries acrofs the Chan- 

 nel. Unfortunate Catajlrophe of M. M. de Rosier and Remain.. 

 Mr. Baldwin' i Defer iption of the Profpeci from a Balloon. Prin- 

 ciples of Aerojiation. Modes of filling Balloons. Ufe to which they 

 ha-ve been applied. 



WHEN the principles of natural philofophy arc 

 confined to theory only, they may amufe and 

 inftruct the inquiring few, without exciting either the 

 curiofity or admiration of the multitude , but when 

 thofe theories are reduced to practice, and illuftrated 

 by experiment, it becomes then more generally in- 

 terefting, and attracts the attention of the moft unin- 

 formed minds. Perhaps the principles upon which the 

 air balloons are conftructed might be among the 

 amnfing fpeculations of a Boyle or of a Newton, but 

 the actual exhibition of thofe aerial machines was re- 

 ferved to awake the curiofity, and excite the aftonifh- 

 ment, of the prefent'age. 



The Hon. Henry Cavendifh, in the year 1766, dif- 

 cqvered that inflammable air was at leaft feven times 

 lighter than common air. - Soon after this it occurred to 

 Dr. Black, that-if a bladder^ futfkiemly light and thin, 



was 



