CHAPTERIV.PREPARATIONS FOR ASCENT.Preparations for Ascent.Section 22.BEFORE half past I, Mr. Lunardi had inflated his Balloon in the finest Manner; and having, with the most obliging and spirited Attention, madesuch Preparations, and taken such Precautions, as he thought were necessary to ensure the Success of the Expedition; sent to inform Mr. Baldwin (who continued purposely absent, that he might not disturb or precipitate the Process; but that every Circumstance shoud be conducted with Deliberation and without Hurry) that all Things were ready for his Departure.The Public reminded of the Necessity of preserving order during the Inflation of Balloons.23. And Mr. Baldwin takes this Opportunity of returning his best Thanks to his Friends and the Public, on the Day of Ascent, for keepingthe small Circle clear, by strictly adhering to the Words of the Advertisement, which declared, “that in order to prevent an interruption of the Process in the Inflation of the Balloon, no Personswereto be admittedwithin the circle, except those Gentlemen who politely undertookin turnto hold the Lines which detained the Balloon.”Lead Weights placed at first in the Car, to prevent any Fatigue in holding the Lines, and the Necessity of weighing, unless at the Time of Ascent, to determine the Power of Levity.24. It may be proper to mention that Mr. Baldwin being resolved to prevent the disagreeable Circumstances of beingweighedin the Presence of Thousand spectators, at a Time when it is uncertain whether the Balloon hasacquireda sufficient Degree of Levity to raise his own Weight, together with the Instruments, Provisions, Ballast, and other Articles, all which are known or easily calculated; finding some Days before, his own Weight, and having calculated the rest as under[7]; he ordered his Servant, on the Day of the Excursion, to bring Lead Weights equal to theSum total, with an overplus Weight of 10lb. for Levity of Ascent, and place themgraduallyin the Car, attached for thatPurpose to the Balloon, soon after the Inflation began. By which Means the Gentlemen who held the Cords were quite at Ease: nor was there Occasion to tye the Lines during the Inflation, to Posts fixed in the Circumference of the Circle; nor consequently tocut themafterwards.But it will be seen that Mr. Lunardi inflated the Balloon in a superior Manner.25. All Things being thus prepared, Mr. Baldwin stepped into the Car: and finding, that, besides his own Weight, the Provisions, Articles, Ballast, &c. the Balloon woud support an additional Weight, andstillrise with superior Levity; Mr. Lunardi put in 12lb. of additional Ballast, andguessedthe encreased Levity at 10lb. more.Additional{Ballast12Levity10——22Added to the234——Make the Sum256lb.All which added to the Weight of the Balloon,by Information only, as follows:Balloon varnished113Netting and Cords18Car and Hoops24Mended and added Parts5Grapple and Cable4——164With the256Make the total Levity of the Gass to produce an Equilibrium, equal to420lb.The Weight of a Quantity of Air equal in Bulk to the Balloon, being secluded; and the Gass substituted in its Room.Weight of Articles.26. The Calculation of the Weight of Articles was, as follows:Articles.PoundsAverd.Ounces.1.Eight coloured Bladders[8](Section 13, Art. 18)1–02.Preparations against extreme Cold.A Winter Dress.Flannel or woollen Socks}0–14CapGlovesDrawersUnder Stockings——— Waistcoat3.Brandy, Water, Flask, and Refreshments1–84.Barometer (portable)0–121⁄25.Thermometer0–36.Dial-Compass (a Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, will traverse better)0–31⁄27.Two white Flags, with Dutch Twine on two Reels furnished with Swivels0–48.Asses Skin Pocket Book, Blank Cards, Pencils, Knife and Scissars0–41⁄29.Map of Cheshire boarded, the superfluous Parts cut away0–310.Speaking Trumpet0–81⁄211.Mr. Lunardi’s Flag3–812.Basket and eight Pint Bottles labelled, one full of Brandy, another of Water8–3—————20–0Weight of Ballast.27. The Ballast consisted of three Bags of dry Sand, and two red grit Stones, taken while in the Car,additional.1st Bag tyed up weighed12lb.2d Ditto123d untyed Ditto201st red Grit72d red Grit5——In all56lb.
CHAPTERIV.
Preparations for Ascent.
Section 22.BEFORE half past I, Mr. Lunardi had inflated his Balloon in the finest Manner; and having, with the most obliging and spirited Attention, madesuch Preparations, and taken such Precautions, as he thought were necessary to ensure the Success of the Expedition; sent to inform Mr. Baldwin (who continued purposely absent, that he might not disturb or precipitate the Process; but that every Circumstance shoud be conducted with Deliberation and without Hurry) that all Things were ready for his Departure.
The Public reminded of the Necessity of preserving order during the Inflation of Balloons.
23. And Mr. Baldwin takes this Opportunity of returning his best Thanks to his Friends and the Public, on the Day of Ascent, for keepingthe small Circle clear, by strictly adhering to the Words of the Advertisement, which declared, “that in order to prevent an interruption of the Process in the Inflation of the Balloon, no Personswereto be admittedwithin the circle, except those Gentlemen who politely undertookin turnto hold the Lines which detained the Balloon.”
Lead Weights placed at first in the Car, to prevent any Fatigue in holding the Lines, and the Necessity of weighing, unless at the Time of Ascent, to determine the Power of Levity.
24. It may be proper to mention that Mr. Baldwin being resolved to prevent the disagreeable Circumstances of beingweighedin the Presence of Thousand spectators, at a Time when it is uncertain whether the Balloon hasacquireda sufficient Degree of Levity to raise his own Weight, together with the Instruments, Provisions, Ballast, and other Articles, all which are known or easily calculated; finding some Days before, his own Weight, and having calculated the rest as under[7]; he ordered his Servant, on the Day of the Excursion, to bring Lead Weights equal to theSum total, with an overplus Weight of 10lb. for Levity of Ascent, and place themgraduallyin the Car, attached for thatPurpose to the Balloon, soon after the Inflation began. By which Means the Gentlemen who held the Cords were quite at Ease: nor was there Occasion to tye the Lines during the Inflation, to Posts fixed in the Circumference of the Circle; nor consequently tocut themafterwards.
But it will be seen that Mr. Lunardi inflated the Balloon in a superior Manner.
25. All Things being thus prepared, Mr. Baldwin stepped into the Car: and finding, that, besides his own Weight, the Provisions, Articles, Ballast, &c. the Balloon woud support an additional Weight, andstillrise with superior Levity; Mr. Lunardi put in 12lb. of additional Ballast, andguessedthe encreased Levity at 10lb. more.
12
10
——
22
234
——
256lb.
All which added to the Weight of the Balloon,by Information only, as follows:
All which added to the Weight of the Balloon,by Information only, as follows:
113
18
24
5
4
——
164
With the
256
420lb.
The Weight of a Quantity of Air equal in Bulk to the Balloon, being secluded; and the Gass substituted in its Room.
Weight of Articles.
26. The Calculation of the Weight of Articles was, as follows:
1
–
0
0
–
14
1
–
8
0
–
121⁄2
0
–
3
0
–
31⁄2
0
–
4
0
–
41⁄2
0
–
3
0
–
81⁄2
3
–
8
8
–
3
—————
20
–
0
Weight of Ballast.
27. The Ballast consisted of three Bags of dry Sand, and two red grit Stones, taken while in the Car,additional.
12lb.
12
20
7
5
——
In all
56lb.