Mechanical Philosophy, 4% 



6US instances of such hazardous enterprize, only- 

 one is recollected, which was attended with any- 

 fatal accident/ 



The invention of balloons, though far-famed and 

 brilliant, cannot be considered as having hitherto 

 added much to the comfort or utility of man. The 

 only practical purposes which it has been made 

 to subserve, are those of aiding in meteorological- 

 mquiries, and inspecting the fortifications, and 

 reconnoitering the camp of an enemy, which- 

 eould not be approached by other means. It has 

 been applied to this latter purpose in at least one^ 

 if not more instances, by the French engineers, dur- 

 ing the late war.'" But w^ho can undertake to as- 

 sign the limits beyond which the ingenuity and the 

 enterprize of man shall not pass? Though this spe- 

 cies of navigation labours under difficulties which 

 appear at present insurmountable ; though the 

 want of some means to controul and regulate the 

 movements of the aerial vessel is so essential as ta 

 excite a fear that it cannot be supplied^ yet wha 

 can tell what further experience and discoveries, 

 may produce ? Who can tell but another century 

 may give rise to such improvements, that navi- 

 gating the air may be as safe, as easy, and ren- 

 dered subservient to as many practical purposes, as 

 navigating the ocean? It must be acknowledged,, 

 indeed, that this is not very probable; but things 

 more unexpected, and more remote from our habits- 

 of thinking, have doubtless occurred. 



Under this head also properly come the great 

 improvements which have been lately made in 

 Steam Engines, doubtless among the most im- 



/ There is a reference here to the death of M. Pilatre De Rozter and 

 M. RoMAiN, who rose in a balloon, from Boulogne, in the month of June, 

 1785, and after having been a mile high, for about half an hour, the bal- 

 loon took fire, and the two adventurers were dashed to pieces by their 

 /all. 



■.m Gregort's i^conomy of Nature, vol. i, p. $1$^ 



