382 REPORT—1862. 
and mist was creeping along the ground. At 4" 55™ we were above a mile 
high ; the temperature was 43°, dew-point 42°; we were just entering cloud. 
At 4° 57™ we were in cloud, surrounded by white mist; the temperatures of 
the air and the dew-point were alike, viz. 393°. The light rapidly increased, 
and gradually we emerged from the dense cloud into a basin surrounded by 
immense black mountains of cloud rising far above us; shortly afterwards we 
were looking into deep ravines of grand proportion, bounded with beautiful 
curved lines. The sky immediately overhead was blue, dotted with cirrus 
clouds. 
As we ascended, the tops of the mountain-like clouds became silvery and 
golden. At 5" 1™ we were level with them, and the sun appeared, flooding 
with golden light all the space we could see for many degrees both right and 
left, tinting with orange and silver all the remaining space around us. It 
was a glorious sight. At 5" 10" a height of 8000 feet had been attained, 
and the temperature had increased from 384° in the cloud to 41°. We still 
ascended, rather more quickly as the sun’s rays fell upon the balloon, each 
instant opening to us rayines of wonderful extent, and presenting to our view 
a mighty sea of clouds. Here arose shining masses of cloud in mountain 
chains, some rising perpendicularly from the plain, dark on one side, and 
silvery and bright on the other, with summits of dazzling whiteness ; some 
were of a pyramidal form, and a large portion undulatory or wavy, in 
some places subsiding into hollows, and in one place having the appearance 
of a huge lake; on the extremity of the horizon snowy peaks bounded the 
view, resembling Alpine ranges. Nor was the scene wanting in light and 
shade: each large mass of cloud cast a shadow, and this circumstance, added 
to the very many tints, formed a beautiful scene. At 5" 16™ we were nearly two 
miles high, the temperature was 32°, and dew-point 13°; the air was there- 
fore dry. At 5" 18™ we were above two miles in height; the temperature 
was 31°, and dew-point 10°. By 5"31™ we were something less than three miles 
high ; the temperature was 23°, and dew-point —15°, and it decreased to 19° by 
5° 34™. This elevation was maintained for half an hour, during which time 
the temperature increased 5° or 6° as the sun’s altitude increased. Shortly 
after 6 o’clock it was determined to descend; the temperature, which 
had been as high as 27°, had fallen to 23°. At 6" 13™, at the height of 
23 miles, we heard a train. At 6" 20" we were two miles high, and the 
temperature had increased to 39°, and dew-point to 19°: at this time 
I noticed the loud ticking of a watch; Captain Percival said he could not 
hear it; he was seated, and I was standing; and some experiments were 
made, when it was found that when the ear was at the same level as the 
watch, no sound was heard, but it was remarkably distinct on the ear being 
situated above it. ; 
At the height of two miles the barking of a dog was heard; the tempera- 
ture at this time (6" 24") was 43°, and dew-point 10° lower. The shadow of 
the balloon, with an encircling oval of prismatic colours, was here very 
remarkable, and it increased in dimensions and vividness of colour till we 
entered a cloud at 6" 29"; the increase of temperature, which had been in 
progress during the descent, was immediately checked, and on emerging from 
the cloud at 6" 33™ the temperature was 43°, dew-point 38°. The earth was 
now in sight, without a ray of sunlight falling upon it. The temperature 
gradually increased to 56°, and dew-point to 50° at 1000 feet in height, and 
62° on reaching the grouad, as gently as on the preceding evening, at Dunton 
Lodge near Biggleswade, on the estate of Lord Brownlow, where we received 
every attention and assistance from his agent, Mr. Paulger. 
+ Lien be 
