2 Aa eR EOE 
ON FIVE BALLOON ASCENTS IN 1863. 427 
strument used by Professor Smyth on the Peak of Teneriffe, but somewhat 
altered by Mr. Simms to adapt it to the limited space in the balloon, 
§ 2. Opservine ARRANGEMENTS 
Were in principle the same as those of the preceding year, the only alterations 
made being those necessitated by the use of new instruments. 
Circumstances of the Ascents, and General Observations. 
The ascents were all made by Mr. Coxwell’s large balloon, as in the preceding 
year,—four from the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, and one from Wolverton. 
Ascent from the Crystal Palace, March 31.—The day was favourable, the 
wind was from the East, in gentle motion, the sky was blue and almost 
cloudless. We left the earth at 4" 16™ p.m., and passed upwards with a very 
nearly even motion to the height of 19,000 feet; continued about this level 
for some little time, and then gradually ascended to a height of 24,000 feet, 
which we attained at 5" 28", or in 1" 12™ after starting. On opening the valve, 
though it seemed to be but momentary, we descended 11 mile in 4 minutes ; 
this rapid descent was checked by parting with sand, and for half an hour we 
kept very nearly upon a level, between 15,000 and 16,000 feet high; after 
this we gradually and almost continually declined, and reached the earth at 
6" 26™, the descent having been accomplished in 58 minutes. 
The temperature of the air was 50° on the ground, and the air was more © 
nearly in a normal state than I had ever before seen it ; almost every successive 
reading of the thermometer was less than the preceding in ascending, and 
greater on descending; the departures from these necessary conditions in a 
normal state were very small on this occasion. The temperature was just 
zero at its highest point, and 42° on the ground. There had, therefore, on 
the earth been a decline of 8° during the 2" 10™ we were away; and if the 
numbers on the same level be compared, it will be seen that all those when 
descending are lower than those ascending, indicating that the whole mass of 
air was declining in temperature as that in immediate contact with the earth, 
though possibly to a less degree. 
Almost free as this day was from disturbing causes, yet there existed both 
warm and cold currents of air. 
The temperature of each layer of air was different according to its direction 
of motion, and there were several different currents met with. Within 2 
miles of the earth the wind was East, between 2 and 3 miles high it was di- 
rectly opposite, viz., West ; about 3 miles it was N.E., higher still it changed 
to the opposite, viz., 8.W., and about 4 miles, including the highest point, it 
was W. 
On descending, at 6" 15™ we fell into a S.E. current, and moved towards 
London. 
When nearly 4 miles high we traced the smoke from a furnace chimney, 
moving towards the West; after a time it turned more towards the East, then 
changed its direction two or three times, and finally followed us on our level. 
At the greatest height the sky was of the deepest Prussian blue, the streets 
of London could be picked out as lines, and the squares could easily be seen, 
having all the appearance of an engineer’s plan. 
The river wound like a serpent ; passing the eye down it, ships looked like 
little boats to beyond the Medway, where they were lost ; the white cliffs of 
Margate were plainly seen; the sea beyond Deal and Dover was visible, but 
not the French coast. The coast-line was seen passing down the northern 
side of the Thames to Harwich and up to Yarmouth, with the sea beyond. 
