ox THREE BALLOON ASCENTS IN 1865 AND 1863. 369 



humidity. Two self-registering minimum thermometers were tied down, one 

 with its bulb resting on cotton-wool, fully exposed to the sky, and the other 

 with its bulb projecting beyond the supporting frame ; their indexes were at 

 the end of theii- columns of spirit on starting, or at 56°. At every examination 

 of each of these instruments a space was found between its index (which re- 

 mained unmoved) and the end of the column of spirit, indicating a temperature 

 higher than before leaving, and it was closely approximate at all times to the 

 temperature of the air. Consequently, notwithstanding the clearness of the 

 sky, the loss of heat by radiation must have been small. No ozone was shown 

 at the Eoyal Observatory, but in the balloon paper tests were coloured to 4, 

 on a scale of greatest intensity being considered 10. 



At the early part of this ascent I was wholly occupied with the instruments, 

 and when at the height of about 1000 feet, the view which suddenly opened 

 far exceeds description. Almost immediately under, but a little to the south- 

 east, was Woolwich ; north was Blackwall ; south, Greenwich and Deptford ; 

 and west, as far as the eye could reach, was London — the whole forming a 

 starry spectacle of such brilliancy as far to exceed anything I ever saw. 

 When I have been at this elevation in the evening, at a distance from Lon- 

 don, it has had the appearance of a vast conflagration, but on this night the 

 au- was so clear and free from haze that each and every light was distinct, 

 and apparently all but touching each other. 



The whole of Woolwich, Blackwall, Deptford, and Greenwich could be 

 traced as a perfect model by the line of lights of their streets and squares. 

 In nine minutes we were opposite Brunswick Pier, Blackwall, crossing the 

 Thames, then passed across the Isle of Dogs, Greenwich Keach, and so up 

 the Eiver Thames. As we advanced towards London, the mass of illumina- 

 tion increased in intensity. At 6'' 42™ the South-Eastern Eailway Terminus 

 at London Bridge was directly under us ; looking southward at this time we 

 saw the Borough stretching far away, and the many streets shooting from it, 

 particularly Southwark Street, with its graceful curve of lamps. In one 

 minute more we were over Southwark Bridge, 1300 feet high, passed Black- 

 friars Bridge at 6^ 45™, and Charing Cross at 6^ 47™. 



On leaving Charing Cross I looked back over London, the model of which 

 could be seen and traced — its squares by their lights, the river, which looked 

 dark and dull, by the double row of curved lights on every bridge spanning it. 

 Looking round, two of the illuminated dials of Westminster clock were like 

 two dull moons. Again, looking eastward, the whole Hues of Commercial and 

 Whitechapel Roads, with their continuations through Holborn to Oxford Street, 

 were visible, and most brilliant and remarkable. We were at such a distance 

 from Commercial Road that it appeared like a line of brilliant fire, assuming a 

 more imposing appearance when the line separated into two, and most impo- 

 sing just under in Oxford Street. Here the two thiclcly studded rows of bril- 

 liant lights were seen on either side of the street, with a narrow dark space 

 between, but which dark space was bounded, as it were, on both sides by a 

 bright fringe like frosted silver. At first I could not account for this appear- 

 ance ; but presently, at one point more brilliant than the rest, persons were 

 seen passing, their shadows being thrown on the pavement, and at once it was 

 evident this rich effect was caused by the bright illumination of the shop 

 lights on the pavements. 



I feel it impossible to convey any adequate idea of the brilUant effect of 

 London, viewed at an elevation of 1300 feet, on a clear night, when the air is 

 free from mist. 



18G6. 2 B 



