884: REPORT—1 862. 
— 2°, and at this point no dew was observed on Regnault’s hygrometer 
when cooled down to — 30°; but a dew-point obtained from the readings 
of dry and wet gave —36°. Up to this time I had taken observations with 
comfort, I had experienced no difficulty in breathing, whilst Mr. Coxwell, 
in consequence of the necessary exertions he had to make, had breathed with 
difficulty for some time. At 1"51™ the barometer reading was 11-05 inches, 
but which requires a subtractive correction of 0-25 inch, as found by com- 
parison with Lord Wrottesley’s standard barometer just before starting. I 
afterwards read the dry thermometer as —5°; this must have been about 
1" 52™ or later; I could not see the column of mereury in the wet-bulb 
thermometer ; nor afterwards the hands of the watch, nor the fine divisions 
on any instrument. I asked Mr. Coxwell to help me to read the instruments, 
as I experienced a difficulty in seeing. In consequence, however, of the 
rotatory motion of the balloon, which had continued without ceasing since 
the earth had been left, the valve-line had become twisted, and he had to 
leave the car and mount into the ring above to adjust it. At this time I 
looked at the barometer, and found it. to be 10 inches, still decreasing fast ; 
its true reading therefore was 9? inches, implying a height of 29,000 feet, 
Shortly afterwards I laid my « arm. upon the table, possessed of its full vigour, 
and on being desirous of using it, [ found it powerless—it must have lost its 
power momentarily. I tried to move the other arm, and found it powerless 
also. I then tried to shake myself, and succeeded in shaking my body. I 
seemed to have no limbs. I then looked at the barometer, and whilst 
doing so my head fell on my left shoulder. I struggled and shook my 
body again, but could not move my arms. I got my head upright, but 
for an instant only, when it fell on my right shoulder, and then I fell 
backwards, my back resting against the side of the car, and my head on 
its edge; in this position my eyes were directed towards Mr. Coxwell in 
the ring. When I shook my body I seemed to have full power over the 
muscles of the back, and considerable power over those of the neck, but none 
over either my arms or my legs; in fact I seemed to haye none. As in the 
case of the arms, all muscular power was lost in an instant from my back and 
neck. I dimly saw Mr. Coxwell in the ring, and endeavoured to speak, but 
could not; when in an instant intense black darkness came, the optic nerve 
finally lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, with as active a brain as at 
the present moment whilst writing this. [ thought I had been seized with 
asphyxia, and that I should experience no more, as death would come, unless 
we speedily descended: other thoughts were actively entering my mind, 
when I suddenly became unconscious as on going tosleep. I cannot tell any- 
thing of the sense of hearing; the perfect stillness and silence of the regions 
6 miles from the earth (and at this time we were between 6 and 7 miles high) 
is such that no sound reaches the ear, 
My last observation was made at 1" 54™ at 29,000 feet. I suppose two 
or three minutes fully were occupied between my eyes becoming insensible 
to seeing fine divisions and 1" 54”, and then that two or three minutes more 
passed till I was insensible, therefore I think this took place at about 1" 56™ 
or 1" 57™, Whilst powerless I heard the words “‘ Temperature ” and “ Ob- 
servation,” and I knew Mr. Coxwell was in the car speaking to me, and 
endeavouring to arouse me, therefore consciousness and hearing had returred. 
I then heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not see, speak, or 
move. I heard him again say, ‘Do rry—now po.” Then I saw the 
instruments dimly, then Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly saw clearly. I rose 
in my seat and looked round, as though waking from sleep, though not refreshed 
