AN ACCOUNT OF 
Captain Wilson kept him from going abroad, except to 
vifit friends, for the reafon already affigned, as alfo from 
another prudential conlideration, that his mind might be tran¬ 
quil, nor too much drawn off from the great objedt in view, 
the attaining the language, which would enable him to com¬ 
prehend fully every purpofed information, and to enjoy 
better whatever he ffiould then be fhewn. The river, the 
fhipping, and the bridges he was forcibly itruck with; and 
he was feveral times taken to fee the guards exercifed and 
march in St. James’s park, a fight which gratified him much, 
every thing that was military greatly engaging his attention. 
To a young creature, fituated as he was, and whofe eye and 
mind were ever in queft of information, circumftances per¬ 
petually occurred, that at the time interefted thofe who were 
about him, but which at prefent would be trefpafiing too 
much on the reader to mention. 
I went to fee him the morning after Lunardi’s firft af~ 
cent in the balloon, not doubting but that I fhould have 
' found him to the greatefi: degree aftonifhed at an exhibition 
which had excited fo much curiofity even amongft ourfelves; 
but, to my great furprize, it did not appear to have engaged 
him in the leaft. He faid, he thought it a very foolijh thing 
to ride in the air like a bird , when a man could travel fo 
much more pleafantly on horfeback or in a coach .—He was 
either not aware of the difficulty or hazard of the enterprize, 
or it is not improbable that a man flying up through the 
clouds fufpended at a balloon, might have been ranked by 
him 
