290 Aerostation. 



smoke and clouds in the atmosphere, those artists were led to sup- 

 pose that heated air, if inclosed in a suitable covering, would al- 

 so prove buoyant. Accordingly, after several smaller experiments, 

 by which this idea was fully confirmed, they inflated a large balloon 

 with rarefied air, on the«fifth of June, 1783, which immediately 

 and rapidly rose to the height of six thousand feet, and answered 

 their most sanguine expectations. 



It was soon found that machines of this kind might be so con- 

 trived as to convey small animals and even human beings, through 

 the air with ease. The first human adventurer in this aerial nav- 

 igation was M. Pilatre de Rozier, a daring Frenchman, who rose 

 in a large balloon, from a garden in the city of Paris, on the 15th 

 of October, 1783, and remained a considerable time suspended 

 in the air. He made several aerial voyages of greater extent af- 

 terwards, and in two of them was attended by other persons. In 

 a short time, however, the use of rarefied air in aerostation was, 

 for the most part, laid aside, as inconvenient and unsafe. On re- 

 curring once more to the discovery of Mr. Cavendish, the phi- 

 losophers of Paris concluded that a balloon inflated with inflam- 

 mable air would answer all the purposes of that contrived by the 

 Montgolfiers, and would also possess several additional advantages. 

 They made their first experiment on the 23d of August, 1783, 

 which was attended with complete success. The first human be- 

 ings who ventured to ascend in a balloon raised upon this plan 

 were Messrs. Charles and Roberts, who rose from Paris, on the 

 1st day of December in the same year. The inflammable air 

 balloons have been generally used since that time. 



The first aerial voyage in England was performed in London, 

 on the 15th of September, 1784, by Vincent Lunardi, a native of 

 Italy. His balloon was made of oiled silk, painted in alternate 

 stripes of blue and red. Its diameter was thirty-three feet. From 

 a net which went over two-thirds of the balloon, descended forty- 

 five cords to a hoop hanging below the balloon, and to which the 

 gallery was attached. . The balloon had no valve ; and its neck 

 which terminated in the form of a pear, was the aperture through 

 which the inflammable air was introduced, and through which it 

 might be let out. The air for filling the balloon was produced 

 from zinc by means of vitriolic acid. M. Lvunardi departed from 

 the artillery ground at two o'clock; and with him were a dog, a 

 cat, and a pigeon. After throwing out some sand, to clear the 

 houses, he ascended to a great height. The direction of his mo- 

 tion was at first north west by west ; but as the balloon rose high- 

 er, it feirinto another current of air, which carried it nearly north. 

 About half after three he descended very near the ground, and 



