SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 527 



When we attained the height of two miles, at Ih. 21m., the temperature had 

 fallen to the freezing-point; we were three miles high at Ih. 28m., with a tem- 

 perature of 18° ; at 39m. we had reached four miles, and the temperature was 

 S*' ; in 10 minutes more we had reached the fifth mile, and the temperature of 

 the air had passed below zero, and there read minus 2° ; and at this point no 

 dew was observed on Regnault's hygrometer when cooled down to minus 30°. 

 Up to this time I had taken the observations with comfort. I had experienced 

 no difficulty in breathing, while Mr. Coxwell, in consequence of the necessary 

 exertion he had to make, had breathed with difficulty for some time. At Ih. 

 51m. the barometer read 11-05 inches, but which requires a subtractive correc- 

 tion of 0-25 inch, as found^by comparison with Lord Wrottesley's standard bar- 

 ometer just before starting, both by his Lordship and myself, which would 

 reduce it to 10-8 inches, or at a height of about 5 J miles. I read the dry bulb as 

 minus five degrees ; in endeavouring to read the wet bulb I could not see the 

 column of mercury. I rubbed my eyes, then took a lens, and also failed. I then 

 tried to read the other instruments, nnd found I could not do so, nor could I see 

 the hands of the watch. I asked Mr. Coxwell to help me, and he said he must 

 go into the ring, and he would when he came down. I endeavoured to reach 

 some brandy_^which was lying on the table at about the distance of a foot from 

 my hand, and found myself unable to do so. My sight became more dim; I 

 looked at the barometer and saw it between 10 and 11 inches, and tried to record 

 it, but I was unable to write. T then saw it at 10 inches, still decreasing fast, 

 and just noted it in my book ; its true reading therefore was at this time about 

 9i inches, implying a height of about 5| miles, as a change of an inch in the 

 reading of the barometer at this elevation takes place on a change of height of 

 about 2500 feet ; I felt I was losing all power, and endeavoured to rouse myself 

 by struggling and shaking. I attempted to speak, and found I had lost the 

 power. I attempted to look at the barometer ; my, head fell on one side. I 

 struggled and got it right, and it fell on the other, and finally fell backwards. 

 My arm, which had been resting on the table, fell down by my side. I saw Mr. 

 Coxwell dimly in the ring. It became more misty, and finally dark, and I sunk 

 unconsciously as in sleep ; this must have been about Ih. 54m.]^ 



I then heard Mr. Coxwell say, " What is the temperature ? Take an observa- 

 tion ; now try" But I couia neuiier see, move, nor speak. I then heard him 

 speak more emphatically, " Take an observation ; now do try." I shortly after- 

 wards opened my eyes, saw the instruments and Mr. Coxwell very dimly, and 

 soon saw clearly [and said to Mr. JCoxwell, "I have been insensible ;" and he 

 replied, " You have, and I nearly." I recovered quickly, and Mr. Coxwell said, 

 " I have lost the use of my hands ; give me some brandy to bathe them." His 

 hands were nearly black. I saw the temperature was still below zero, and the 

 barometer reading 11 inches, but increasing quickly. I resumed my observations 

 at 2h. 7m., recording the barometer reaaing 11-53 inches, and the temperature 

 minus 2. I then Tound that the^^water in the Vessel ^^supplying the wet bulb 

 thermometer, which I had by frequent disturbances kept frcm freezing, was one 

 solid mass of ice.^ Mr. Coxwell then told me that while in the ring he felt it 

 piercingly^ cold, that hoar frost was all round the neck of the balloon, and on 



