290 report — 1859. 



Resolved, — That Mr. Green be invited to meet the Committee at the next 



meeting. 

 Resolved,— That Admiral FitzRoy and Mr. Glaisher be added to the 



Committee. 



Burlington House, 15 July, 1859. 



Present, Colonel Sykes in the Chair, Lord Wrottesley, and Admiral FitzRoy. 

 Read a letter from Professor Tyndall, regreting his inability to attend the 

 meeting, but offering his services to ascend in the balloon, and assist in the 

 observations. 



Mr. Green attended, and stated that himself and his balloon were at the 

 disposal of the Committee whenever called for. 



Colonel Sykes reported that the following gentlemen offered their services 

 to ascend with the balloon as observers : Mr. E. B. Russell, and Mr. John 

 Murray, students of medicine in Glasgow University, Mr. Storks Eaton of 

 Dorsetshire. 



Resolved,— That Colonel Sykes apply to the Chairman of the Kew Com- 

 mittee to have the instruments used in the former balloon ascents prepared 

 for immediate use. 

 Resolved,— That Colonel Sykes be authorized to make the necessary arrange- 

 ments with the several parties to be employed, preparatory to ascents 

 which may take place either from Birmingham or Wolverhampton. 

 Consequent upon the above resolution, Colonel Sykes arranged the terms 

 of compensation with Mr. Green for four balloon ascents— the first £30, the 

 second £25, the third £20, and the fourth £15, the Committee paying for 

 gas, and all incidental expenses. Lord Wrottesley was good enough to 

 obtain a supply of gas from the Wolverhampton Gas Company, the use of 

 their yard for the ascents, and the cordial assistance of their people. 

 Monday, the 15th of August, was fixed for the ascent ; and Mr. Storks 

 Eaton, who had previously taken charge of, and made himself familiar with, 

 the instruments, offered his gratuitous services to go up in the balloon. 

 Lord Wrottesley, Admiral FitzRoy, Mr. Glaisher, and the Chairman as- 

 sembled at Wolverhampton, at 1*30 p.m., to superintend the ascent. The 

 weather was fine, but the wind came in gusts ; the inflation, however, com- 

 menced ; but the balloon filled slowly, and when 63,000 cubic feet of gas had 

 been introduced, the evening was fast approaching ; and as doubts were ex- 

 pressed of the ascent being made in safety, in consequence of the wind, the 

 Committee resolved to defer the a«cent until the following clay. 



On Tuesday, the 16th of August, the Committee assembled at 1-20 p.m.; 

 the balloon had been completely inflated; but as the Committee were entering 

 the Gas Company's yard, a gust of wind occasioned the neck of the balloon 

 to flap so violently, that a rent of some yards was produced, and the gas 

 escaped i-apidly. This untoward accident stopped all further proceedings; 

 and as Mr. Green said that the balloon could not be properly repaired within 

 many days, as the balloon had received other injuries, the Committee were 

 compelled to forego any attempt to effect balloon ascents before the ap- 

 proaching meeting of the British Association. 



The Committee having thus reported their proceedings, recommend the 

 reappointment of the Committee to carry out the objects which an accident 

 has frustrated ; and the Committee look to the concurrent opinions of the 

 distinguished men who have expressed themselves favourable to further 

 balloon ascents, having their due weight. 



The Committee cannot close their report without expressing their oblig - 

 tions to the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Mr. John Hartley, and to the Di- 





