1784 END OF THE BALLOON JOURNEY 137 



grand-daughter, which makes my 41st nephew and niece! 

 I have very dutiful nieces, that seem disposed to make me as 

 great an uncle as they can. Mrs. J. White joins in respects. 

 I am with all due affection and regard, 



Y^ loving brother, 



Gil. White. 



Sweet autumnal weather ! we have had no rain since 

 Septemr. 27th not enough to measure. I miss poor Mr. 

 Etty every day: he was a blameless man, without guile. 

 His son Charles is in London making interest for an appoint- 

 ment to India. His escape off Ceylon was wonderful ! 



On the same date a letter describing the balloon 

 journey in identical terms was sent to his niece Molly 

 at South Lambeth. He adds : — 



" We most earnestly hope to see you soon, and shall rejoice 

 more at the sight of your post chaise, than if the balloon had 

 settled on our sheep-down. Your father's letter on balloons 

 is very entertaining and the last quotation finely adapted 

 and happily applied." 



His account must have been published, since in 

 the Naturalist's Journal of this date is pasted a 

 cutting from a newspaper, headed " Extract of a 

 [the above] Letter from a gentleman in a village 

 50 miles S. W. of London, dated Oct. 21." The end 

 of the balloon journey is thus recorded by Henry 

 White of Fyfield in his Journal : — 



" 1784. Oct. 18. Mr. Wellman came. He saw on Satur- 

 day last p.m. half -past 4, at Eumsey Mr. Blanchard in his 

 grand air baloon hovering at a great height over the Church, 

 and soon after saw him descend into a meadow near the 

 town. . . . Mr. Blanchard was only 3 J hours passing from 

 London to Eumsey, 75 miles, and was seen passing over many 

 places particularly from Selborne hill and village." 



