EXTRAORDINARY BALLOON ASCENT. 583 
to horses, and had known a horse go to rest on a sling every 
day for fourteen years ; but then his legs were not altogether 
taken off the ground. The pony went to the car quietly, 
and did not exhibit any fear or anxiety. It was not at all 
disturbed by the din of music or noise around it. Did not 
perceive any trembling or uneasiness about it. It struggled 
a little when it got in the air, and witness should say, it was 
very uneasy, but could not tell how many seconds it was 
uneasy, because he did not time it. A pony might be beat 
or bruised every day, but still might be in good health. Had 
not examined the horses very carefully, but believed them to 
be in good health. Thought if they were brought to him as 
a veterinary surgeon, notwithstanding the compression of the 
abdominal viscera and the congestion of blood-vessels in the 
hinder extremities, and the extravasation of the peritoneum, 
he should certify that they were in good health. The com¬ 
pression and congestion of the blood-vessels would injure 
only for a time; for as soon as the cause was removed, they 
would resume their normal or pristine form. 
Sergeant Underhill said, he witnessed the descent on Wim¬ 
bledon-common. The horse was excedingly hot when it alighted , 
and perspiration was rolling down its shoulders , but it stood 
quiet. A gentleman jumped on it and galloped away . He knew 
little of the ordinary habit of horses. 
After the hearing of this evidence, Mr. Lewis addressed 
the Court, contending that no cruelty had been proved or 
practised. 
M. Poitevin having been cautioned by the magistrate, that, 
by the law of this country, he was liable to three months’ 
imprisonment if convicted upon this charge, and need not 
answer any question that might criminate himself, said he 
had had one horse three years, and the other four or five. 
That before one of the animals had been taken up, experi¬ 
ments had been made in France before a commission of 
scientific gentlemen, when the horse had been suspended from 
fifteen to twenty hours; that it took its food during the 
time it was suspended; and that he had ascended with 
this identical animal 150 times. He had made altogether 
between 540 and 550 ascents. The horse started quietly 
on the 23d ult., merely moving its legs once or twice, as living 
animals would do. When it came down it always fed heartily. 
The horse was fed when suspended for trial by the authorities, 
at Paris, between fifteen and twenty hours. In his opinion it 
did not suffer any pain by the ascents. Witness had com¬ 
municated to Mr. Simpson that he had the permission of 
foreign powers to ascend, and that the pr6prietors of another 
