Aerostation. 293 



as a sailing boat. He was at length overtaken by some vessels 

 who were crowding sail after him, and conveyed to Dunleary with 

 the balloon. On the 22d of July, Major Money, who ascended 

 at Norwich, was driven out to sea, and after having been blown 

 about for nearly two hours, he dropped into the water. After 

 much exertion for preserving his life, and when he was almost de- 

 spairing of relief, he was taken up by a revenue cutter in a state 

 of extreme weakness ; having been struggling to keep himself 

 above water for about seven hours. 



The longest voyage that had been hitherto made was performed 

 by Mr. Blanchard, towards the end of August, 1785. He as- 

 cended at Lisle, accompanied by the Chevalier de I'Epinard, and 

 traversed a distance of three hundred miles before they descend- 

 ed. On this, as well as on other occasions, Mr. Blanchard made 

 trial of a parachute, in the form of a large umbrella, which he con- 

 trived for breaking his fall in case of any accident. With this 

 machine he let down a dog, which came to the ground gently and 

 unhurt. On the 8th of September, Mr. Baldwin ascended from 

 the city of Chester, and performed an aerial voyage of twenty-five 

 miles in two hours and a quarter. His greatest elevatioq was about 

 a mile and a half, and he supposed that the velocity of his motion 

 was sometimes at the rate of twenty miles an hour. He has pub- 

 lished a circumstantial account of his voyage ; described the ap- 

 pearances of the clouds as he passed through them ; and annexed 

 a variety of observations relating to aerostation. The science of 

 aerostation is much indebted to the skill and intrepidity of this 

 celebrated aeronaut. 



The singular experiment of ascending into the atmosphere with 

 a balloon, and of descending with a machine called a parachute, 

 was performed by Mr. Garnerin, on the 21st of September, 1802.. 

 He ascended from St. George's parade. North Audley Street, and 

 descended safe into a field near the small pox hospital, at Pan- 

 eras. The balloon began to be filled about two o'clock. At six, 

 the balloon being quite full of gas, and the parachute, «^c. being 

 attached to it, Mr. Garnerin placed himself in the basket, and as- 

 cended majestically amidst the acclamations of innumerable spec- 

 tators. The weather was the clearest and pleasantest imaginable ; 

 the wind was gentle, and about west by south ; in consequence of 

 which Mr. Garnerin went into the direction of nearly east by north. 

 In about eight minutes, the balloon and parachute had ascended to 

 an immense height, and Mr. Garnerin, in the basket, could scarce- 

 ly be perceived. While every spectator was contemplating the 

 grand sight before them, Mr. Garnerin cut the rope, and in an 

 instant he was separated from the balloon, trusting his safety to 



