ON EIGHT BALLOON ASCENTS IN 1862. 381 
mile in height, with a temperature of 48°, and dew-point 46°; the hum of 
London was heard, and there was scarcely a breath of air stirring. 
A descent was gradually made to 1200 feet by 7° 20™; the lamps were being 
lighted over London, the hum of London greatly increasing in depth. At this 
time shouting was heard of people below who saw the balloon; a height of be- 
tween 1500 and 2500 feet was maintained till 7" 40™, the temperature varying 
from 57° to 54° and dew-point about 47°. The river appeared dull, but the 
bridges that spanned it, as well as street after street as lighted up, and the 
miles of lights, sometimes in straight lines, sometimes winding like a serpent, 
or in some places forming a constellation at some place of amusement, 
constituted a truly remarkable scene, associated as this appearance was with 
the deep sound, or rather roar of the traffic of the metropolis. 
For a considerable time Kennington Oval and Milbank Penitentiary were 
in sight, and it seemed as though we could not get away from them. At 
7» 40™ Mr. Coxwell determined to ascend above the clouds. We were then 
about 2500 feet high, and the temperature was 53°, dew-point 46°. At 
72 42™ a height of 3500 feet was attained, the temperature being 51°. At 7" 47™ 
a height of one mile had been reached, and the temperature was 45°, dew- 
point 42°. It was very dark below, but there was a clear sky above, 
and a beautiful gleam of light appeared. We still ascended till the clouds 
were below us, tinged and coloured with a rich red: the temperature had 
now fallen to 43°; we were soon enveloped in a fog again. At 7" 52™ the 
striking of a clock and the tolling of a bell were heard. It was quite dark 
below, but the sun tinged the tops of the clouds. At 8" 5” we were quite 
above the clouds, and it became light again; the hum of London gradually 
died away. By this time the temperature had increased to 55°, the barometer 
reading 23 inches, corresponding to a height of 7400. feet. After this we 
descended, and it became too dark to read the instruments. London again 
was seen, very different indeed in its appearance from when we could pick out 
eyery square, street, bridge, dc. by its lights; now, as seen through the mist, 
it had the appearance of a large conflagration of enormous extent, and the 
sky was lit up for miles around. After a time the lowing of cattle was heard, 
and we seemed to have left London, so Mr. Coxwell determined to pass through 
the clouds and examine the country beneath. We passed from the compara- 
tive light above to the darkness beneath, momentarily becoming darker, and 
found ourselves some little distance from London, and shortly afterwards 
touched the ground, so gently that we were scarcely aware of the contact, in 
the centre of a field at Mill Hill, about one mile and a half from Hendon, and 
it was resolved to anchor the balloon for the night, with the view of making 
an early morning ascent. 
Ascent from Mill Hill near Hendon, August 21.—By half-past 4 a.m. the 
instruments were replaced, and the earth was again left. It was a dull, 
warm, cloudy morning, still rather dusk, the sky overcast with cirrostratus 
cloud. The temperature was nearly as high as 61°, and dew-point 59°. 
There were in the car, besides Mr. Coxwell and myself, Captain Percival, of 
the Connaught Rangers, Mr. Ingelow, and my son. 
We at first rose very slowly; at 4" 38" we were 1000 feet high, and 
the temperature was 58°, dew-point 56°. At 4" 41™ there was a break 
in the clouds to the east, and a beautiful line of light with gold and 
silver tints. Here and there, the morning mist was sweeping. At 4” 51™ 
the temperature was 50°, and dew-point 42°; scud was below us, and the 
cloud of night was in a transition state into cumulus, or the cloud of day, at 
the same leyel as we were, viz. about 3500 feet; black clouds were above, 
