JIE ROST AT ION. 
455 
expanded, which took place in a few moments after, the descent be- 
came very gentle, and gradual. A remarkable circumstance was 
observed • namely, that the parachute, with the appendage of cords 
and basket, soon began to vibrate like the pendulum of a clock, and 
the vibrations were so great, that more than once the parachute, and 
the basket with M. Garnerin, seemed to be on the same level, or 
quite horizontal ; however, the extent of the vibrations diminished as 
he descended. On coming to the earth, Mr. Garnerin experienced 
some pretty strong shocks, but he soon recovered his spirits, and 
remained without any material hurt. As soon as the parachute was 
separated from the balloon, the latter ascended with great rapidity, 
and being of an oval form, turned itself with its longer axis in an 
horizontal position. 
The voyages which we have hitherto detailed were undertaken 
merely as matters of curiosity, and little of scientific research had 
yet been attempted by them. Philosophers, however, now became 
anxious to turn them to a more useful purpose, and to determine, by 
the means which they afforded, what circumstances attended the mag- 
netic and electric actions in the upper Tegions of the atmosphere ; as 
also the proportions of the component parts of the air in places remote 
from the surface of the earth. 
The first aerial voyage which can he said to have been made with 
the above views, was undertaken by Mr. Robertson and Lhoest, from 
Hamburgh, about the middle of July, 1803. The ascent having been 
accomplished, the aeronauts hovered for some time over the city ; 
when, after throwing out some ballast, they rose to such a height, 
that the elasticity of the gas distended the balloon so much, that they 
were under the necessity of opening the valve, and suffering some of 
the gas to escape, which issued from its confinement with a loud noise. 
The tension of the balloon being thus considerably lessened, they 
threw out more ballast, and ascended to such a height, that it was 
almost impossible to endure the cold that they experienced. Their 
teeth chattered, and M. Robertson’s veins swelled, and the blood 
issued from his nose. His companion was otherwise affected, his 
head having swelled so much, that he could not keep on his hat ; 
they also both experienced a great numbness, which inclined them to 
sleep. Not being able any longer to endure this temperature, they 
descended slowly for about half an hour, and approached the earth 
over Badenburg, near Winseo on the Luke, where they intended to 
have alighted ; but the inhabitants, taking them for spectres, fled w ith 
the utmost consternation, taking with them their cattle. The aero- 
nauts, fearing that this terror might be attended with serious conse- 
quences to them, after throwing out part of their ballast, again as- 
cended, and continued their voyage, ultimately arriving at Wichtenbeck, 
on the road to Zell. 
Where the balloon first rose, the atmosphere below was very^, serene, 
but it was cloudy above ; they observed, that as they ascended, the 
heat decreased very sensibly, and that they could look at the sun 
without being dazzled. The barometer, which before the ascent stood 
at twenty-seven inches, fell to fouiteen, where it appeared to become sta- 
tionary ; and the thermometer sunk to 4J bdow zero. Having, while thus 
