PNEUMATICS. 165 



the machine was filled by the combustion of fifty 

 pounds of straw, made up In small bundles, upon 

 which twelve pounds of chopped wool were thrown 

 at intervals. The usual success attended this ex- 

 hibition; the machine soon swelled, endeavoured 

 to ascend, and sustained itself in the air, together 

 with a weight of between four and five hundred 

 pounds. It was evident that it would have ascended 

 to a very great height, but as it was designed to 

 repeat the experiment before the king and royal 

 family at Versailles, the cords by which it was tied 

 down were not cut. In consequence of a violent 

 wind and rain, which happened at this time, the 

 machine was so far damaged, that it became neces- 

 sary to prepare a new one for the time that it had 

 been determined to honour the experiment with 

 the royal presence; and such expedition was used, 

 that this vast machine, of near 60 feet in height, 

 and forty-three in diameter, was made, painted 

 with water-colours both within and without, and 

 finally decorated, in no more than four days 

 and four nights. 



Along with this machine was sent a wicker cage, 

 containing a sheep, a cock, and a duck, which were 

 the first animals ever sent up in the atmosphere. 

 The complete success of this experiment was pre- 

 vented by a violent gust of wind, which tore the 

 cloth in two places near the top, before it ascended; 

 however, it rose to the height of 1440 feet; and 

 after remaining in the air about eight minutes, fell 

 to the ground, at the distance of 10,200 feet from 

 the place of its setting out. The animals were 

 not in the least hurt. The great power of these 

 aerostatic machines, and their very gradual descent 

 to the ground, had originally shown that they were 

 capable of transporting people through the air with 



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