CHAPTERLXV.ON THE UTILITY OF BALLOONS:AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.Sect. 332. Art. 1.IT seems a favourite Question, among those who take a Pleasure in objecting to every Thing they neither do nor will understand, to ask, “Of what Use can these Balloons be made?” and without waiting for an Answer, to say—“they pick the Pockets of the Public, risque the Lives of the Incautious, encourage Mobbing and Sharpers, and terrify all the World.” These trite Reasonings are all very true, but little to the Purpose: the Effects above described being merely those arising from Novelty. If, says one in an inferior Station; “they coud convert Balloons into common Stage Waggons; Goods might be carried with the greater Expedition:” or, “into Stage Coaches,” says another: or, “into Mail Coaches” says Palmer; “it woud be certainly very clever, as I have the Patent:”—“or into comfortable Carriages to step in out ofthe window, at a Moment’s Notice; that woud be something,” cries a Nobleman: “it woudsaveone a Couple of Sets of Horses, and woud eat Nothing: one might ride one’s own Balloon Matches, from one’s Window to Newmarket, and from Newmarket totown; dress for Court as wedo, and makeNothingof it.”Such are the different Ideas annexed by different Ranks of Men, to the Wordutilitywhen applied to Balloons.332. 2. For once let the feeble Voice of a French Philosopher be heard, the Abbée Bertholon: who may perhaps assert that all this is not impossible.A Series of Experiments only can determine: and let the following Remarks serve as an Introduction to his Opinions.332. 3. It is certain that the Progress already made in the Improvement of Balloons, since their Invention only three Years ago, is far superior to the Acquirements in every other Art.The Antients knew, that excited Amber attracted Straws, and certain other light Substances: but medical Electricity, and a Preservative from Lightening, were notwithstanding reserved for the Moderns.They likewise attended to some striking Effects of the natural Loadstone: but were totally unacquainted with the artificial Magnet, and the amazing Powers conferrable by it in the Disorders of the Imagination: nor did they know the Polarity of its Needle, or Application of it in the Compass.They had not combined Nitre and Sulphur with Charcoal: much less had they changed the Mode of War into Science, by establishing Founderies for Cannon, and the Study of Tactics. Yet some Nations with a Knowledge of the Moderns, as the Chinese, have not improved, even in the Construction of their Vessels, according to the European Manner; continuing still in practical Ignorance.Nor have other Indians improved in Proportionto the Opportunities of Instruction in several Arts.Those of America, for Example, who continue to hunt, fish, and scalp: neglecting the Plough, and other Arts of Property and Peace.332. 4. And thus it has been with the British Nation on the Subject of Airostation.Cavendish, Priestley, and others, had produced inflammable Air, weighed, and found it lighter than common Air: and all that had seen a bright Fire might conclude, if they reasoned at all, that hot Air was lighter than cold.Yet if Montgolfier had not made,on a large scalethe Application of hot Air, in a Bag open at the Bottom, and properly poised; Charles and Roberts woud probably not have thought of applying the Gass of Cavendish: and Mankind woud notyethave soared into the etherial Regions.332. 5. In this the French are still before the English, and will continue so to be, without a laudable and unlooked-for Emulation in the latter. That the former admire Liberty, Montesquieu’s “Spirit of Laws” may determine; but they are notaddictedto Politics. Their Nobility are endowed with a liberal and enterprizing Spirit. They join and patronize Men of Genius and Talents in the Cultivation of the Arts, and Improvement of every Kind of experimental Knowledge. Their Pleasure consists in a national Ambition to excel.They have Leisure, and are sober.Half that Time which Men of Fortune in France dedicate to Taste, Invention, and Refinement;Britons spend among the Beasts and Birds: the other half, at the Bottle, and in political Cabals.Present Profitis almost the sole Motive for Excellence in Great-Britain: and Experiments[110]not made with that View, are seldom repeated; are overlooked and forgotten.
CHAPTERLXV.
Sect. 332. Art. 1.IT seems a favourite Question, among those who take a Pleasure in objecting to every Thing they neither do nor will understand, to ask, “Of what Use can these Balloons be made?” and without waiting for an Answer, to say—“they pick the Pockets of the Public, risque the Lives of the Incautious, encourage Mobbing and Sharpers, and terrify all the World.” These trite Reasonings are all very true, but little to the Purpose: the Effects above described being merely those arising from Novelty. If, says one in an inferior Station; “they coud convert Balloons into common Stage Waggons; Goods might be carried with the greater Expedition:” or, “into Stage Coaches,” says another: or, “into Mail Coaches” says Palmer; “it woud be certainly very clever, as I have the Patent:”—“or into comfortable Carriages to step in out ofthe window, at a Moment’s Notice; that woud be something,” cries a Nobleman: “it woudsaveone a Couple of Sets of Horses, and woud eat Nothing: one might ride one’s own Balloon Matches, from one’s Window to Newmarket, and from Newmarket totown; dress for Court as wedo, and makeNothingof it.”
Such are the different Ideas annexed by different Ranks of Men, to the Wordutilitywhen applied to Balloons.
332. 2. For once let the feeble Voice of a French Philosopher be heard, the Abbée Bertholon: who may perhaps assert that all this is not impossible.
A Series of Experiments only can determine: and let the following Remarks serve as an Introduction to his Opinions.
332. 3. It is certain that the Progress already made in the Improvement of Balloons, since their Invention only three Years ago, is far superior to the Acquirements in every other Art.
The Antients knew, that excited Amber attracted Straws, and certain other light Substances: but medical Electricity, and a Preservative from Lightening, were notwithstanding reserved for the Moderns.
They likewise attended to some striking Effects of the natural Loadstone: but were totally unacquainted with the artificial Magnet, and the amazing Powers conferrable by it in the Disorders of the Imagination: nor did they know the Polarity of its Needle, or Application of it in the Compass.
They had not combined Nitre and Sulphur with Charcoal: much less had they changed the Mode of War into Science, by establishing Founderies for Cannon, and the Study of Tactics. Yet some Nations with a Knowledge of the Moderns, as the Chinese, have not improved, even in the Construction of their Vessels, according to the European Manner; continuing still in practical Ignorance.
Nor have other Indians improved in Proportionto the Opportunities of Instruction in several Arts.
Those of America, for Example, who continue to hunt, fish, and scalp: neglecting the Plough, and other Arts of Property and Peace.
332. 4. And thus it has been with the British Nation on the Subject of Airostation.
Cavendish, Priestley, and others, had produced inflammable Air, weighed, and found it lighter than common Air: and all that had seen a bright Fire might conclude, if they reasoned at all, that hot Air was lighter than cold.
Yet if Montgolfier had not made,on a large scalethe Application of hot Air, in a Bag open at the Bottom, and properly poised; Charles and Roberts woud probably not have thought of applying the Gass of Cavendish: and Mankind woud notyethave soared into the etherial Regions.
332. 5. In this the French are still before the English, and will continue so to be, without a laudable and unlooked-for Emulation in the latter. That the former admire Liberty, Montesquieu’s “Spirit of Laws” may determine; but they are notaddictedto Politics. Their Nobility are endowed with a liberal and enterprizing Spirit. They join and patronize Men of Genius and Talents in the Cultivation of the Arts, and Improvement of every Kind of experimental Knowledge. Their Pleasure consists in a national Ambition to excel.
They have Leisure, and are sober.
Half that Time which Men of Fortune in France dedicate to Taste, Invention, and Refinement;Britons spend among the Beasts and Birds: the other half, at the Bottle, and in political Cabals.
Present Profitis almost the sole Motive for Excellence in Great-Britain: and Experiments[110]not made with that View, are seldom repeated; are overlooked and forgotten.