CHAPTERXIV.39 Minutes past II, Frodsham Town and Bridge seen.Section 77.AT 39 Minutes after II, Thermometer 60, Barometer 233⁄4, corresponding to the Height of a little more than a Mile.[22]the Vapours dispersing, discovered the Town of Frodsham, and Bridge over the Wever distant from the Town one Mile: the Balloon still continuing at a vast Height; having risen imperceptibly from the Time that the Ballast was thrown down.From a Conversation held the next Morning at Frodsham, with some intelligent Persons who had descriedit gliding gently throu’ the Air; the Balloon appeared so extremelyminùte, that it was thought impossible to be theoneexpected the same Day to rise at Chester with an Aironaut.R. Newton}design et pinx.T. Baldwin Arm.Stothard delin.Sharp sculps.TheBALLOONover HELSBYE HILL inCHESHIREseepage IIIIb.Published May 1st.1786, by T. Baldwin Chester.To use their own Expression, “it coud not have been larger than a Bladder, if they had seen it on the Ground.”Half MilewhiteFlag like a Feather.The same Persons observed thewhiteFlag, like aFeatherabout 8 Yards Distance from the Balloon.A second Air Bottle was thrown down.Course of the Balloon traced to shew the Manner in which it was affected by theWater.78. The Town of Kingsley being to the East; Frodsham-Bridge half a Mile to the West; the Conflux of the Rivers Wever, and thewideMersey falling into the Sea one Mile farther Westward; the Balloon proceeding in its usual Course over the Country in theupperCurrent; began to beimpeded, on its vertical Approachacrossthe Meadows to the Wever; was actually stopped; and beingentangledbytheRiver, evidently changed its former Direction: imitating, if possible,itsMeanders; or at least making Gyrations in Circles of different Diameters, at the same Time turning different Ways round its Axis: describing Curves, something similar to that of the Moon round the Earth in her Orbit; or of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, as thoseCurvesare delineated in thePrintsof Long’s Astronomy:[23]the Course of the River being itschangeableCenter.79. It is to be observed, that if the Balloon had continued to pursue itsformerCourse; no Danger was to be apprehended of its falling on the Sea, or on the broad Branch of the River Mersey towards Warrington.On the contrary, it must have gone into the Heart of the adjoining County, and passed near Manchester.It is likewise worthy of remark; that unless a Fragment of light Vapourintervened for a few Seconds; the Country immediately below the Observer wascontinuallyilluminated by the Sun’s Rays: tho’ none but the larger Objects were distinguishable at the Bottom of the profound Abyss,morethan two Miles in Diameter at one View: that being the utmost Boundary of the circular Prospect below.80. TheSeatho’ known to benearby the Dashing of its WavesCircularity of Prospect below, bounded byVapour.upon the Shore, which were plainly heard, was totally eclipsed: as if by Haze or Vapour, which began to be accumulated only at a certain Heightbelowthe Balloon; yet in such a Manner asnotto prevent the solar Rays from penetrating throu’, and shining bright upon the Water.81. There was now sufficient Leisure to trace the incredible Variety of most beautifulCurves, into which the Stream had worked the Bed of the River Wever in a Course ofTime, and in theCompass of a few Miles: an Appearance whichdemonstratesthe Incorrectness ofMaps.SomeactualClouds presented themselves in detached Groupes over the Land: and theLanditselfshoneplainer throu’ the Intervals, than in Places near whichnoClouds appeared.82. On reconnoitring the scattered Town of Frodsham, which like Chester was of alightBlue; the Balloon movingby Intervalsround its Axis, the Prospect seemed toopenon asudden; and the Aironaut coud discover theSight of Warrington.Town of Warrington: the Plan of which was small, neat, but of adarker Blue, inclining toGrey: the Slates[24]there used being almost peculiar to the County of Lancaster.83. From thisEnlargementof the Prospect over Land, he imagined that the Balloon was eithergentlydescending;or that it appeared throu’ theclearIntervals ofactualCloudsbelowhim.84. He had Time however to make the following Remarks. Cattle, if grazing in the Meadows, were not distinguishable; or at least were not distinguished. It was in vain to look for Sheaves of Corn, or Hattocks on the Ground: possibly from a Sameness ofColourlike the growingStalks, andField: orprotrudingbut a small Degree ofElevation; tho’ theShadoweven attwelve o’Clock[25]was somethinglongerthan theperpendicularHeight ofeachObject.[26]Noises of Carriages along the great public Road; especially Waggons and Cartsheavilyladen; (the Gratings of whoseWheelsagainst theStonesseemed uncommonlyharsh;)Pleasurable Circumstance peculiar to the Balloon.were discriminately heard, tho’ notdiscoverableby the Eye. Numbers of human Voices were almostcontinuallyhuzzaeing:except whilestationaryat the first Rise; whenall aroundwas wrapt in the Sublimity ofSilence; which afforded a pleasurable Contrast;—diffusing adelicious Calm.A third Bottle of Air was thrown out.
CHAPTERXIV.
39 Minutes past II, Frodsham Town and Bridge seen.
Section 77.AT 39 Minutes after II, Thermometer 60, Barometer 233⁄4, corresponding to the Height of a little more than a Mile.[22]the Vapours dispersing, discovered the Town of Frodsham, and Bridge over the Wever distant from the Town one Mile: the Balloon still continuing at a vast Height; having risen imperceptibly from the Time that the Ballast was thrown down.
From a Conversation held the next Morning at Frodsham, with some intelligent Persons who had descriedit gliding gently throu’ the Air; the Balloon appeared so extremelyminùte, that it was thought impossible to be theoneexpected the same Day to rise at Chester with an Aironaut.
R. Newton}design et pinx.T. Baldwin Arm.Stothard delin.Sharp sculps.TheBALLOONover HELSBYE HILL inCHESHIREseepage IIIIb.Published May 1st.1786, by T. Baldwin Chester.
R. Newton}design et pinx.T. Baldwin Arm.Stothard delin.Sharp sculps.
R. Newton}design et pinx.T. Baldwin Arm.
Stothard delin.Sharp sculps.
TheBALLOONover HELSBYE HILL inCHESHIREseepage IIIIb.Published May 1st.1786, by T. Baldwin Chester.
To use their own Expression, “it coud not have been larger than a Bladder, if they had seen it on the Ground.”Half MilewhiteFlag like a Feather.The same Persons observed thewhiteFlag, like aFeatherabout 8 Yards Distance from the Balloon.
A second Air Bottle was thrown down.
Course of the Balloon traced to shew the Manner in which it was affected by theWater.
78. The Town of Kingsley being to the East; Frodsham-Bridge half a Mile to the West; the Conflux of the Rivers Wever, and thewideMersey falling into the Sea one Mile farther Westward; the Balloon proceeding in its usual Course over the Country in theupperCurrent; began to beimpeded, on its vertical Approachacrossthe Meadows to the Wever; was actually stopped; and beingentangledbytheRiver, evidently changed its former Direction: imitating, if possible,itsMeanders; or at least making Gyrations in Circles of different Diameters, at the same Time turning different Ways round its Axis: describing Curves, something similar to that of the Moon round the Earth in her Orbit; or of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, as thoseCurvesare delineated in thePrintsof Long’s Astronomy:[23]the Course of the River being itschangeableCenter.
79. It is to be observed, that if the Balloon had continued to pursue itsformerCourse; no Danger was to be apprehended of its falling on the Sea, or on the broad Branch of the River Mersey towards Warrington.
On the contrary, it must have gone into the Heart of the adjoining County, and passed near Manchester.
It is likewise worthy of remark; that unless a Fragment of light Vapourintervened for a few Seconds; the Country immediately below the Observer wascontinuallyilluminated by the Sun’s Rays: tho’ none but the larger Objects were distinguishable at the Bottom of the profound Abyss,morethan two Miles in Diameter at one View: that being the utmost Boundary of the circular Prospect below.
80. TheSeatho’ known to benearby the Dashing of its WavesCircularity of Prospect below, bounded byVapour.upon the Shore, which were plainly heard, was totally eclipsed: as if by Haze or Vapour, which began to be accumulated only at a certain Heightbelowthe Balloon; yet in such a Manner asnotto prevent the solar Rays from penetrating throu’, and shining bright upon the Water.
81. There was now sufficient Leisure to trace the incredible Variety of most beautifulCurves, into which the Stream had worked the Bed of the River Wever in a Course ofTime, and in theCompass of a few Miles: an Appearance whichdemonstratesthe Incorrectness ofMaps.
SomeactualClouds presented themselves in detached Groupes over the Land: and theLanditselfshoneplainer throu’ the Intervals, than in Places near whichnoClouds appeared.
82. On reconnoitring the scattered Town of Frodsham, which like Chester was of alightBlue; the Balloon movingby Intervalsround its Axis, the Prospect seemed toopenon asudden; and the Aironaut coud discover theSight of Warrington.Town of Warrington: the Plan of which was small, neat, but of adarker Blue, inclining toGrey: the Slates[24]there used being almost peculiar to the County of Lancaster.
83. From thisEnlargementof the Prospect over Land, he imagined that the Balloon was eithergentlydescending;or that it appeared throu’ theclearIntervals ofactualCloudsbelowhim.
84. He had Time however to make the following Remarks. Cattle, if grazing in the Meadows, were not distinguishable; or at least were not distinguished. It was in vain to look for Sheaves of Corn, or Hattocks on the Ground: possibly from a Sameness ofColourlike the growingStalks, andField: orprotrudingbut a small Degree ofElevation; tho’ theShadoweven attwelve o’Clock[25]was somethinglongerthan theperpendicularHeight ofeachObject.[26]Noises of Carriages along the great public Road; especially Waggons and Cartsheavilyladen; (the Gratings of whoseWheelsagainst theStonesseemed uncommonlyharsh;)Pleasurable Circumstance peculiar to the Balloon.were discriminately heard, tho’ notdiscoverableby the Eye. Numbers of human Voices were almostcontinuallyhuzzaeing:except whilestationaryat the first Rise; whenall aroundwas wrapt in the Sublimity ofSilence; which afforded a pleasurable Contrast;—diffusing adelicious Calm.
A third Bottle of Air was thrown out.