CHAPTERX.4th Cannon heard.Section 62.AT 10 Minutes and a half past II. o’Clock, the fourth or last Cannon, a Six-pounder (to announce, by preconcerted Agreement, that the Balloon began to be invisible to Spectators in Castle-Yard, Chester) was distinctlyheard by the Aironaut; but had no Effect on the Balloon: did not agitate it in the least: the contrary of which was expected.For the same Cannon, discharged the third Time at the Distance of 30 Yards from the Balloon, when it had risen a few Feet from the Ground; affected it so strongly, that the Aironaut wasthen onlyobliged to keep himself upright, by holding the Cords with his Hands.Balloon first invisible to the Inhabitants of Chester.63. At 17 Minutes past II. was heard the Sound of a Number of Voices, which it was then imagined came from Chester, as the farewel Salute after the last Cannon: but it was afterwards known that the Balloon did not become wholly invisible, till that Shout.Distance of the Balloon calculated.64. From an Observation made by a Spectator in the Castle-Yard, just half an Hour intervened between the Discharge of the third, and of the last Cannon; as therefore the Report washalf a Minute, or 30 Seconds[21]longer in reaching the Balloon; the Distance of the Balloon at the Time of the Report wasnearlysix Miles and a half.Chester seen as asmallModel.64. The single thin white Cloud of the first or lowest Order in Height that rendered Chester invisible to the Aironaut, was observed several Minutes before,apparentlyto pass under the Balloon, retire from it, to approach, and expected to invelope, theblueCity of Chester: which for a long Time had been kept in View, and seenobliquely, under thecommonPerspective, with a small Degree of Elevation above the Level of the Ground: suggesting to his Mind the curious and complete Model of Paris, exhibitedsome Years agoon a small Table, in many Towns of Europe.The Sightdoublydeceived in the Distance.The Cloud appeared, four Miles Distance at least from the Aironaut; below; and as if touching the City. The contrary Supposition, it seems, took Place, among the Inhabitants there: who thought, a Cloud, a Mile above them, had surrounded and inveloped the Balloon.Condiments tasted as usual.65. The Pepper Salt and Ginger were tasted, and found to retain their usual Pungency: contrary to what Travellers have reported to happen on the Peak of Teneriffe.Silk electric.The small Hank of yellow raw Silk tyed to the upper Hoop, and hanging down from it, appearedrough, as if electric: and, tho’ drawn thro’ the Hand, continuedfurredas before.WhiteFlag wholly hung out from the Car.66. It was now thought a proper Time to finish the original Work of unwinding the remaining Part of the half Mile of Twine: which proved equally tedious, as at the first; andtook up a considerable Time. When completed, thewhiteFlag was extended exactly half a Mile from the Car.Cattle discovered from the Balloon.67. Perceiving that the Balloon was descending verybriskly, by the Appearance of Cattle in the Corner of a Field;Ballast thrown out,first,oneof the two solid Weights was cast down: then theother.Time in falling estimated.A Return of Sound to the Balloon, from the lighter which weighed five Pounds, was heard in 130 Countings of a Watch, which made 120 of the same full Beats in a Minute.Before the Weight became invisible; itappearedto move a good Deal out of the Perpendicular: owing either to an under Current; or to a Deception of Sight, respecting the horizontal Motion of the Balloon in a different Direction, during the Descent of the Stone.The other must have fallen in soft Grass, or otherwise: as it was not heard.
CHAPTERX.
4th Cannon heard.
Section 62.AT 10 Minutes and a half past II. o’Clock, the fourth or last Cannon, a Six-pounder (to announce, by preconcerted Agreement, that the Balloon began to be invisible to Spectators in Castle-Yard, Chester) was distinctlyheard by the Aironaut; but had no Effect on the Balloon: did not agitate it in the least: the contrary of which was expected.
For the same Cannon, discharged the third Time at the Distance of 30 Yards from the Balloon, when it had risen a few Feet from the Ground; affected it so strongly, that the Aironaut wasthen onlyobliged to keep himself upright, by holding the Cords with his Hands.
Balloon first invisible to the Inhabitants of Chester.
63. At 17 Minutes past II. was heard the Sound of a Number of Voices, which it was then imagined came from Chester, as the farewel Salute after the last Cannon: but it was afterwards known that the Balloon did not become wholly invisible, till that Shout.
Distance of the Balloon calculated.
64. From an Observation made by a Spectator in the Castle-Yard, just half an Hour intervened between the Discharge of the third, and of the last Cannon; as therefore the Report washalf a Minute, or 30 Seconds[21]longer in reaching the Balloon; the Distance of the Balloon at the Time of the Report wasnearlysix Miles and a half.
Chester seen as asmallModel.
64. The single thin white Cloud of the first or lowest Order in Height that rendered Chester invisible to the Aironaut, was observed several Minutes before,apparentlyto pass under the Balloon, retire from it, to approach, and expected to invelope, theblueCity of Chester: which for a long Time had been kept in View, and seenobliquely, under thecommonPerspective, with a small Degree of Elevation above the Level of the Ground: suggesting to his Mind the curious and complete Model of Paris, exhibitedsome Years agoon a small Table, in many Towns of Europe.
The Sightdoublydeceived in the Distance.
The Cloud appeared, four Miles Distance at least from the Aironaut; below; and as if touching the City. The contrary Supposition, it seems, took Place, among the Inhabitants there: who thought, a Cloud, a Mile above them, had surrounded and inveloped the Balloon.
Condiments tasted as usual.
65. The Pepper Salt and Ginger were tasted, and found to retain their usual Pungency: contrary to what Travellers have reported to happen on the Peak of Teneriffe.
Silk electric.
The small Hank of yellow raw Silk tyed to the upper Hoop, and hanging down from it, appearedrough, as if electric: and, tho’ drawn thro’ the Hand, continuedfurredas before.
WhiteFlag wholly hung out from the Car.
66. It was now thought a proper Time to finish the original Work of unwinding the remaining Part of the half Mile of Twine: which proved equally tedious, as at the first; andtook up a considerable Time. When completed, thewhiteFlag was extended exactly half a Mile from the Car.
Cattle discovered from the Balloon.
67. Perceiving that the Balloon was descending verybriskly, by the Appearance of Cattle in the Corner of a Field;Ballast thrown out,first,oneof the two solid Weights was cast down: then theother.
Time in falling estimated.
A Return of Sound to the Balloon, from the lighter which weighed five Pounds, was heard in 130 Countings of a Watch, which made 120 of the same full Beats in a Minute.
Before the Weight became invisible; itappearedto move a good Deal out of the Perpendicular: owing either to an under Current; or to a Deception of Sight, respecting the horizontal Motion of the Balloon in a different Direction, during the Descent of the Stone.
The other must have fallen in soft Grass, or otherwise: as it was not heard.