CHAPTERII.Preparations for the Voyage.Cannon first fired at IX.Section 7.ON Thursday the 8th of September 1785, at IX in the Morning, one of the Cannons (a Six-pounder) was first fired in the Castle-yard, to inform the City and Neighbourhood, that the necessary Preparations were making to inflate the Balloon.Till VIII that Morning, the Air had been hazy: but was then clear, bright and calmbelow, with an upper Tier of light Clouds in the Zenith moving from South-West by West, and dense ones rising in the Horizon.At X, the Inflation began with a small Balloon.8. At X o’Clock, the Process began with the Inflation of an airostatic Globe eighteen Feet in Circumference, of Silk Tiffany, made the latter End of the Year 1783, and decorated with Painting, Mottoes and Devices:in the Performance of which little Work, Mr. Baldwin was (in the modern Phrase) the sole Projector, Architect Workman and Chymist.An airostatic Globe liberated as Pioneer to the great one.9. The Airostat was presently liberated by the Hands of Mr. Lunardi; and continuing to turn gently the same Way round its own Axis, afforded a beautiful Spectacle to the Beholders: remaining in Sight about half an Hour. It was intended to serve as a Sort of Pioneer, to delineate the Track of the great Balloon.Its Fate.10. It fell at some Miles Distance, ’tis said unfortunately on a Hedge, and was presently torn to Pieces by the Eagerness and Avarice of the Pursuers, who expected and undeservedly obtained the Reward promised in the Letter appended to it.Second Cannon at XII.11. At XII the Cannon fired a second Time, to announce that the Process was in a proper Degree of Forwardness.At this Time Mr. Baldwin went, with some Friends, to take an early Dinner: he also recapitulated the Articles, to be certain that Nothing was omitted.Inventory for the Voyage.12. The following Inventory, with which he ascended, may be of Use to future Aironauts; to whomonlyit is addressed.The Cable and Grapple are considered as Part of the Balloon. (SeeSection 13.)12. Article 1. A portable Barometer,[2]with a common Syphon or Bulb, (purchased at Lausanne.)12. 2. Martin’s Thermometer,[3]with Farenheit’s Scale[4]for the Degrees of Temperature.12. 3. Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, to be used when the Sun is intercepted from the View by Clouds, in order to discover whether the Balloon turns round.12. 4. Down, or small Feathers, to be loose in the Pocket, and thrown out, when enshrined in Clouds; or at any other Time, to shew the Rise or Fall of the Balloon.12. 5. An Asses’ Skin Patent Pocket-book; as Wet spoils Paper.12. 6. TworedLead Pencils: each Pencil ready pointed at both Ends, to save Time and Trouble: preferable to Ink, which may be spilt or frozen.The Strokes withredLead are not so easily obliterated, as when made with ablackLead Pencil.12. 7. A small sharp Knife pointed, and ready open, or which will open easily. A Pair of Scissars.12. 8. AwickerBottle of Brandy and Water, only three Parts full, half and half: such Bottles are more secure: and such Mixture will not soon freeze. The cochuc or elastic Bottle is still better. A Cork-screw.12. 9.CompactProvisions, which do not soil the Fingers or Pocket-book, as Confectionaries, Fruit, Biscuit, Bread.12. 10. AboardedMap of the Country over which the Aironaut may be supposed to pass: the Back serving as a Table.12. 11. Two Needles with large Eyes: therawSilk put through, and tyed on a Knot at the Ends to prevent the Needles from being lost: to be ready at the Instant wanted, to sew up any Holes within Reach, in the Balloon; the Holes being first tyed up with Twine.The Needles to be stuck into Parchment, containing a small Hank ofrawSilk: the Needle Silk run round the Parchment, to keep the Hank dry.The whole Hank to be tyed by one End to the Side of the Car; when above all Clouds, to shew, by the Divergency of the Threads, the Electricity of the Air.12. 12. A few Yards of Dutch Twine, loose in the Pocket, to tye the Neck of the Balloon in descending.12. 13. For easy Experiments; 1st, Dutch Twine, half a Mile long, on a Reel, or Pulley, or two Lengths on different Reels: also to eachReel a Flag, made of white Linen, a Yard square; and stretched by a slender Lath; one Side of the Flag being bound and stitched round it: also a Piece of Twine, two Yards long, is to be fastened by its Ends to the Ends of the Lath: a Loop is to be made in the Middle of the Twine: and to the Loop is to be applied round the Middle of the Lath another Piece of Twine, which will prevent the Lath from being bent; and will keep the Flag always stretched.By this Apparatus, Observers from below may be enabled to estimate the Height of the Balloon, as will be shewn in its proper Place.12. 14. 2dly, To try the Density of the Air, at different Heights,abovethe freezing Point with Water;belowit, with Brandy.In a Basket take two Pint-bottles, one full of Water, the other of Brandy; and six or eight empty ones: also a small Metal Tunning-dish.Let one End of a String be tyed round the Neck of each Bottle: and the other End sealed to the Top of a large Cork much tapered, to enter the Mouth easily. Round each Neck, tye a Parchment Label, large enough to contain in abbreviated Characters the Number of the Bottle; Time of Observation, Heights of the Barometer and Thermometer, while on the Ground.When an Experiment is made in the Air; pour off a full Bottle into an empty one: put the Cork into the emptied Bottle, and mark again theTime, Barometer and Thermometer: which are to be compared with an Eudiometer below, to discover the Rarity and Purity of the Atmosphere.12. 15. A third white Linen Flag, made as above, and tyed to the upper Hoop of the Balloon, so as to hang in Sight, will give Notice of a Change in the Wind.12. 16. A Yard of thin Ribbon, two Inches broad, tyed to the lower Hoop, will mark the Rise and Fall Of the Balloon.(12. 17. A Magnet and Iron Filings in a thin Pewter Dish with a Cover; AlsoThe Prism and large Telescope were left, as too heavy.) And the Sextant or Quadrant coud not be procured in Time. They woud, have been of little Use, as no Horizon of the round Earth was seen during the Excursion: and it is presumed, that the circular Horizon is seldom visible, when the Balloon is at any considerable Height; the Accumulation of Vapour between the Eye and Horizon preventing it: tho’ such Vapour remains invisible to Spectators from below.12. 18. Eight Bladders, each above half blown, and differently coloured for Ornament, tyed round theupperPart of the Car, Breast high when the Aironaut stands upright: in Case the Balloon fall into Water.12. 19. Speaking Trumpet: also a live Pigeon, in a small Basket of Matting.12. 20. Pepper, Salt, Ginger; to try the Effects of Tastes, which have been said to become insipid on the Peak of Teneriffe.
CHAPTERII.
Cannon first fired at IX.
Section 7.ON Thursday the 8th of September 1785, at IX in the Morning, one of the Cannons (a Six-pounder) was first fired in the Castle-yard, to inform the City and Neighbourhood, that the necessary Preparations were making to inflate the Balloon.
Till VIII that Morning, the Air had been hazy: but was then clear, bright and calmbelow, with an upper Tier of light Clouds in the Zenith moving from South-West by West, and dense ones rising in the Horizon.
At X, the Inflation began with a small Balloon.
8. At X o’Clock, the Process began with the Inflation of an airostatic Globe eighteen Feet in Circumference, of Silk Tiffany, made the latter End of the Year 1783, and decorated with Painting, Mottoes and Devices:in the Performance of which little Work, Mr. Baldwin was (in the modern Phrase) the sole Projector, Architect Workman and Chymist.
An airostatic Globe liberated as Pioneer to the great one.
9. The Airostat was presently liberated by the Hands of Mr. Lunardi; and continuing to turn gently the same Way round its own Axis, afforded a beautiful Spectacle to the Beholders: remaining in Sight about half an Hour. It was intended to serve as a Sort of Pioneer, to delineate the Track of the great Balloon.
Its Fate.
10. It fell at some Miles Distance, ’tis said unfortunately on a Hedge, and was presently torn to Pieces by the Eagerness and Avarice of the Pursuers, who expected and undeservedly obtained the Reward promised in the Letter appended to it.
Second Cannon at XII.
11. At XII the Cannon fired a second Time, to announce that the Process was in a proper Degree of Forwardness.
At this Time Mr. Baldwin went, with some Friends, to take an early Dinner: he also recapitulated the Articles, to be certain that Nothing was omitted.
Inventory for the Voyage.
12. The following Inventory, with which he ascended, may be of Use to future Aironauts; to whomonlyit is addressed.
The Cable and Grapple are considered as Part of the Balloon. (SeeSection 13.)
12. Article 1. A portable Barometer,[2]with a common Syphon or Bulb, (purchased at Lausanne.)12. 2. Martin’s Thermometer,[3]with Farenheit’s Scale[4]for the Degrees of Temperature.12. 3. Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, to be used when the Sun is intercepted from the View by Clouds, in order to discover whether the Balloon turns round.12. 4. Down, or small Feathers, to be loose in the Pocket, and thrown out, when enshrined in Clouds; or at any other Time, to shew the Rise or Fall of the Balloon.12. 5. An Asses’ Skin Patent Pocket-book; as Wet spoils Paper.12. 6. TworedLead Pencils: each Pencil ready pointed at both Ends, to save Time and Trouble: preferable to Ink, which may be spilt or frozen.The Strokes withredLead are not so easily obliterated, as when made with ablackLead Pencil.12. 7. A small sharp Knife pointed, and ready open, or which will open easily. A Pair of Scissars.12. 8. AwickerBottle of Brandy and Water, only three Parts full, half and half: such Bottles are more secure: and such Mixture will not soon freeze. The cochuc or elastic Bottle is still better. A Cork-screw.12. 9.CompactProvisions, which do not soil the Fingers or Pocket-book, as Confectionaries, Fruit, Biscuit, Bread.12. 10. AboardedMap of the Country over which the Aironaut may be supposed to pass: the Back serving as a Table.12. 11. Two Needles with large Eyes: therawSilk put through, and tyed on a Knot at the Ends to prevent the Needles from being lost: to be ready at the Instant wanted, to sew up any Holes within Reach, in the Balloon; the Holes being first tyed up with Twine.The Needles to be stuck into Parchment, containing a small Hank ofrawSilk: the Needle Silk run round the Parchment, to keep the Hank dry.The whole Hank to be tyed by one End to the Side of the Car; when above all Clouds, to shew, by the Divergency of the Threads, the Electricity of the Air.12. 12. A few Yards of Dutch Twine, loose in the Pocket, to tye the Neck of the Balloon in descending.12. 13. For easy Experiments; 1st, Dutch Twine, half a Mile long, on a Reel, or Pulley, or two Lengths on different Reels: also to eachReel a Flag, made of white Linen, a Yard square; and stretched by a slender Lath; one Side of the Flag being bound and stitched round it: also a Piece of Twine, two Yards long, is to be fastened by its Ends to the Ends of the Lath: a Loop is to be made in the Middle of the Twine: and to the Loop is to be applied round the Middle of the Lath another Piece of Twine, which will prevent the Lath from being bent; and will keep the Flag always stretched.By this Apparatus, Observers from below may be enabled to estimate the Height of the Balloon, as will be shewn in its proper Place.12. 14. 2dly, To try the Density of the Air, at different Heights,abovethe freezing Point with Water;belowit, with Brandy.In a Basket take two Pint-bottles, one full of Water, the other of Brandy; and six or eight empty ones: also a small Metal Tunning-dish.Let one End of a String be tyed round the Neck of each Bottle: and the other End sealed to the Top of a large Cork much tapered, to enter the Mouth easily. Round each Neck, tye a Parchment Label, large enough to contain in abbreviated Characters the Number of the Bottle; Time of Observation, Heights of the Barometer and Thermometer, while on the Ground.When an Experiment is made in the Air; pour off a full Bottle into an empty one: put the Cork into the emptied Bottle, and mark again theTime, Barometer and Thermometer: which are to be compared with an Eudiometer below, to discover the Rarity and Purity of the Atmosphere.12. 15. A third white Linen Flag, made as above, and tyed to the upper Hoop of the Balloon, so as to hang in Sight, will give Notice of a Change in the Wind.12. 16. A Yard of thin Ribbon, two Inches broad, tyed to the lower Hoop, will mark the Rise and Fall Of the Balloon.(12. 17. A Magnet and Iron Filings in a thin Pewter Dish with a Cover; AlsoThe Prism and large Telescope were left, as too heavy.) And the Sextant or Quadrant coud not be procured in Time. They woud, have been of little Use, as no Horizon of the round Earth was seen during the Excursion: and it is presumed, that the circular Horizon is seldom visible, when the Balloon is at any considerable Height; the Accumulation of Vapour between the Eye and Horizon preventing it: tho’ such Vapour remains invisible to Spectators from below.12. 18. Eight Bladders, each above half blown, and differently coloured for Ornament, tyed round theupperPart of the Car, Breast high when the Aironaut stands upright: in Case the Balloon fall into Water.12. 19. Speaking Trumpet: also a live Pigeon, in a small Basket of Matting.12. 20. Pepper, Salt, Ginger; to try the Effects of Tastes, which have been said to become insipid on the Peak of Teneriffe.
12. Article 1. A portable Barometer,[2]with a common Syphon or Bulb, (purchased at Lausanne.)
12. 2. Martin’s Thermometer,[3]with Farenheit’s Scale[4]for the Degrees of Temperature.
12. 3. Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, to be used when the Sun is intercepted from the View by Clouds, in order to discover whether the Balloon turns round.
12. 4. Down, or small Feathers, to be loose in the Pocket, and thrown out, when enshrined in Clouds; or at any other Time, to shew the Rise or Fall of the Balloon.
12. 5. An Asses’ Skin Patent Pocket-book; as Wet spoils Paper.
12. 6. TworedLead Pencils: each Pencil ready pointed at both Ends, to save Time and Trouble: preferable to Ink, which may be spilt or frozen.
The Strokes withredLead are not so easily obliterated, as when made with ablackLead Pencil.
12. 7. A small sharp Knife pointed, and ready open, or which will open easily. A Pair of Scissars.
12. 8. AwickerBottle of Brandy and Water, only three Parts full, half and half: such Bottles are more secure: and such Mixture will not soon freeze. The cochuc or elastic Bottle is still better. A Cork-screw.
12. 9.CompactProvisions, which do not soil the Fingers or Pocket-book, as Confectionaries, Fruit, Biscuit, Bread.
12. 10. AboardedMap of the Country over which the Aironaut may be supposed to pass: the Back serving as a Table.
12. 11. Two Needles with large Eyes: therawSilk put through, and tyed on a Knot at the Ends to prevent the Needles from being lost: to be ready at the Instant wanted, to sew up any Holes within Reach, in the Balloon; the Holes being first tyed up with Twine.
The Needles to be stuck into Parchment, containing a small Hank ofrawSilk: the Needle Silk run round the Parchment, to keep the Hank dry.
The whole Hank to be tyed by one End to the Side of the Car; when above all Clouds, to shew, by the Divergency of the Threads, the Electricity of the Air.
12. 12. A few Yards of Dutch Twine, loose in the Pocket, to tye the Neck of the Balloon in descending.
12. 13. For easy Experiments; 1st, Dutch Twine, half a Mile long, on a Reel, or Pulley, or two Lengths on different Reels: also to eachReel a Flag, made of white Linen, a Yard square; and stretched by a slender Lath; one Side of the Flag being bound and stitched round it: also a Piece of Twine, two Yards long, is to be fastened by its Ends to the Ends of the Lath: a Loop is to be made in the Middle of the Twine: and to the Loop is to be applied round the Middle of the Lath another Piece of Twine, which will prevent the Lath from being bent; and will keep the Flag always stretched.
By this Apparatus, Observers from below may be enabled to estimate the Height of the Balloon, as will be shewn in its proper Place.
12. 14. 2dly, To try the Density of the Air, at different Heights,abovethe freezing Point with Water;belowit, with Brandy.
In a Basket take two Pint-bottles, one full of Water, the other of Brandy; and six or eight empty ones: also a small Metal Tunning-dish.
Let one End of a String be tyed round the Neck of each Bottle: and the other End sealed to the Top of a large Cork much tapered, to enter the Mouth easily. Round each Neck, tye a Parchment Label, large enough to contain in abbreviated Characters the Number of the Bottle; Time of Observation, Heights of the Barometer and Thermometer, while on the Ground.
When an Experiment is made in the Air; pour off a full Bottle into an empty one: put the Cork into the emptied Bottle, and mark again theTime, Barometer and Thermometer: which are to be compared with an Eudiometer below, to discover the Rarity and Purity of the Atmosphere.
12. 15. A third white Linen Flag, made as above, and tyed to the upper Hoop of the Balloon, so as to hang in Sight, will give Notice of a Change in the Wind.
12. 16. A Yard of thin Ribbon, two Inches broad, tyed to the lower Hoop, will mark the Rise and Fall Of the Balloon.
(12. 17. A Magnet and Iron Filings in a thin Pewter Dish with a Cover; Also
The Prism and large Telescope were left, as too heavy.) And the Sextant or Quadrant coud not be procured in Time. They woud, have been of little Use, as no Horizon of the round Earth was seen during the Excursion: and it is presumed, that the circular Horizon is seldom visible, when the Balloon is at any considerable Height; the Accumulation of Vapour between the Eye and Horizon preventing it: tho’ such Vapour remains invisible to Spectators from below.
12. 18. Eight Bladders, each above half blown, and differently coloured for Ornament, tyed round theupperPart of the Car, Breast high when the Aironaut stands upright: in Case the Balloon fall into Water.
12. 19. Speaking Trumpet: also a live Pigeon, in a small Basket of Matting.
12. 20. Pepper, Salt, Ginger; to try the Effects of Tastes, which have been said to become insipid on the Peak of Teneriffe.