80 CONSTRUCTION OP BALLOONS/ 



dual. 1 11 this descent a remarkable circumstance\vas observed, namely, 

 that the parachute with the appendage of cords and In^ket, soon 

 ^>e^;^l) to \ibr.iU 1 l.ke the pendulum of a clock, and the vibrations 

 fat, that more than once the parachute, and the basket 

 with M. Gariieriii, seemed to be on the same level, or quite hori- 

 zontal, which appeared extremely dangerous : however, the extent 

 of the vibrations diminished as he came pretty near tin? ground. 

 On coming to the earth, M. Garnerin experienced some pretty 

 strong shocks, and when he came out of the basket, he was much 

 discomposed; but he soon recovered his spirits, and remained with 

 vut any material hurt. 



SECTION III. 



Construction of Balloons. 



THE shape of the balloon is one of the first objects of considera- 

 tion in the construction of this machine. As a sphere admits the 

 greatest capacity under the least surface, the spherical figure or that 

 which approaches nearest to ic, has been generally preferred. How- 

 ever, since bodies of this form oppose a great surface to the air, and 

 consequently a greater obstruction to the action of the oar or wings 

 than those of some other form ; it has been proposed to construct 

 balloons of a conical or oblong figure, and to make them proceed 

 with their narrow end forward. Some have suggested the shape of 

 a fish ; others, that of a bird ; but either the globular, or the e2[ 

 like shape, is, all things considered, certainly the best which can be 

 adopted. The bag or cover of an inflammable-air balloon is best 

 made of the silk stuff called lustring, varnished orer. But for a 

 Moutgolfier, or heated. air balloon, on account of its great size, 

 linen cloth has been used, lined within or without with paper, and 

 varnished. Small balloons are made either of varnished paper, or 

 simply of paper unvarnished, or of gold beater's skin, or such-like 

 light substances. The best way to make up the whole coating of 

 the balloon, is by different pieces or slips joined lengthways from end 

 to end, like the pieces composing the surface of a geographical 

 'e, and contained between one meridian and another, or like 

 the slices into which a melon is usually cut, and supposed to be 

 spread flat out. Now the edges of such pieces cannot be exactly 

 described by a pair of compasses, not being circular, but flatter or 

 less rounder than circular arches; but if the slips are sufficiently 

 arrow, or numerous, they will differ the less from circles, and may 



