on nine balloon ascents in 1863 and 1864. 195 



§ 1. Insteuminxs and Apparatus. 



The instruments used were for the most part the same in construction with 

 those of the two preceding years, consisting of mercurial and aneroid baro- 

 meters ; Daniell's and Eegnaidt's hygrometers ; maximum and minimum ther- 

 mometers, blackened bulb thermometers,, both fi-ee and enclosed in vacuum 

 tubes ; Herschel's actinomcter ; — all these instruments have been frequently 

 in the hands of Mr. Zambra, who superintended their replacement when 

 broken, and their perfect order at all times ; two spectroscopes, one lent by 

 the Astronomer Eoyal, the other by Mr. Simms ; a magnet for horizontal 

 vibration ; large caoutchouc bags, furnished by Professor Tyndall, for collect- 

 ing air at high elevations, ozone-papers, &c. 



In all the highest ascents both a mercurial and an aneroid barometer (the 

 one which was used on the ascent of September 5, 1862), and which was 

 found to read in close accordance with the merciu'ial barometer to very low 

 readings, were used; in the ascents to moderate elevatioiLs, the same aneroid 

 was used alone, it being examined both before and after the ascents, with 

 the mercurial barometer, and occasionally with the mercurial barometer when 

 placed ia an exhausted receiver under an aii--pump. 



§ 2. Observing Aeeangements 



Were precisely similar to those in previous years ; viz. in the high ascents, 

 a board was placed across the car which carried the several instruments, so 

 placed as to be readily read by myself, seated at one end of the ear, with my 

 face towards Mr. Coxwcll ; in the other ascents, when a smaller number of 

 iiistruments were used, they were placed upon a board projecting beyond the 

 car, casUy read by myself standing at one end, with my back to Mr. Coxwell. 



Circumstances of the Ascents, and General Observations, 



The ascents to April 6 were made by the same balloon as all the preceding 

 ascents ; those on June 13, 20, and 27 by a new and larger balloon, and that 

 on August 29 by the old balloon. 



Ascent from NeivcastJe, Aur/ust 31, 1863. — The situation of Newcastle, as 

 regards the Tyne and the sea, is such as to cause anxiety in respect to any 

 balloon ascent from there. 



The balloon left the earth at 6'' 12" p.m. ; the wind was North ; in 4 

 minutes we were over the High-Level Bridge, at an elevation of 1800 feet ; 

 we passed over Gateshead at 6^ 21"', being ] mile from the earth, and in 

 10 minutes afterwards the height of If mile was reached. 



"We continued nearly at this level for some little time, and then began our 

 downward journey ; passed into cloud at 6^ 54" at the height of 1600 feet, 

 out of it at 1800 feet, in cloud again at 2000 feet, then turned to descend, 

 passing again through clouds at 1900 feet. At 6'' 57"" we saw Durham 

 Cathedral, and reached the ground at 5 minutes past seven at Pittingtou, 

 near Durham. 



The colours of the clouds observed in this ascent are very remarkable : — 

 _ At 6'^ 32" 30", at 7912 feet high, the colours of the clouds in the east oppo- 

 site to the sun were as foUows : — the upper layer brown ; next below bluish 

 black, then a darker bluish black ; lower stUl, a thin layer of white cumulo- 

 stratus, next a greenish brown resting on uniform white rocky clouds. 



At 6" 35" 30", at 7329 feet, the colours of the clouds in the west, or under 

 the sun, were as foUows : — the upper layer was brown, the second dark blue, 



o 2 



