90 



THE APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICAL FORCES. [BOOK i. 



using them to carry travellers and to explore the atmosphere followed 

 afterwards. Indeed, the first aerial voyage took place the same year, 

 1783. On the 21st of November, a young naturalist and physicist, 

 Pilatre de Rozier, accompanied by the Marquis d'Arlandes, after a 

 few trial ascents in a captive balloon, raised themselves in a fire 

 balloon to a height of about a kilometre, and descended safe and sound 

 at two leagues from their starting-point, having travelled over Paris. 

 After this first and victorious trial of the conquest of the aerial regions, 

 the ascents and voyages were repeated, not without some terrible catas- 





m 



u 



| :_ 



13 



FIG. 5. Pilatre de Rozier and Arlandes* first aerostatic ascent, October 21, 1783. 



trophes, amongst which must be mentioned that of the unfortunate and 

 bold Pilatre de Eozier, who was thrown out trying to cross the straits 

 from France to England, in imitation of the aerostatic passage of the 

 Channel accomplished by Blanchard and Jeffries in January, 1785 



We will say a few words presently on the ascents which have 

 been undertaken for the purpose of the scientific exploration of the 

 air ; but first w r e will enter into some details on the construction and 

 filling of balloons, as well as on the different arrangements used by 

 aeronauts in their excursions. 



