JOURNAL 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, GHEMISTIIY, 



THE ARTS. 



FEBRUARY, 1810. 



ARTICLE I. 



On Aerial Navigation. By Sir Georse Cayley, BurL^ 



JTiLAVING, in iny former communication*, described the 

 general principle of support in aerial navigation, 1 shall 

 proceed to siiow how tli^s principle must be applied, so as to 

 be steady and managfable. 



Several persons have ventured to descend from balloons Descent by a 

 in what is termed a parachute, which exactly resembles j^P^'^^iue. 

 large umbrella, with a light car suspended by cords under- 

 neath it. Mr. Garnerin's descent in one of these macliines 

 will be in the recollection of many ; and I inalie the remark 

 for the purpose of alluding to the coytinued oscillatioo, or 

 want of steadiness, which is said to have endangered that 

 bold aeronaut. It is very remarkable, that the only nia- ^^''^lie ""^"'■^^ 

 chines of this sort, which have been coTibtructed, are nearly foj- a steady de- 

 of the worst posbibie form for producing a steady descent, scent, 

 the purpose for which they are intended. To render this 



* See Journal, vol. XXIV, p. 1G4. 

 Vol. XXV. No. 112— Feb. ISIO. G subject 



