CHAPTERXV.Balloon over Aston-House, at 4 Minutes past III, and near a Mile high.Section 85.AT 4 Minutes past III, the Balloon remainedverticallyover the River, and over the elegant Mansion called Aston.Windbelow.86. A Wind was heardbelowfor a few Seconds: and the Air felt alittle cool. Thermometer 55, or Temperate: Barometer 251⁄2, corresponding to the Height of near a Mile.[27]The Balloon going to Sea, determined the Aironaut todescend, in Hopes of finding a Sea-Breeze inTime.87. The Balloon continuing its eccentric Movements fromSide to Sideacrossthe Meadows; yet still glidingdownthe River, in a North-West by North Direction, almost at right Angles to that which itbeforehad held; consequentlytowardsthe Sea, and in a Line which continued must pass throu’ the Center of the Channel: some Step it was necessary to take, andsoon. By throwing out Ballast, the Balloon woud instantly rise: but it woud probably, asbefore, rise intoa Calm, and thereforedescendnearly in the same Line: which woud merelyprotractthe Time till the Balloon had reached the Center of the Channel: where, having no Resource, the Ballast being then expended; there might be some Risque in waiting for a Vessel, tho’ the Balloon woud not forseveral Hours, have lost itslevitatingPower, so as to have sunk with the Aironaut. To him however it immediately occurred, that there might be anunderCurrent of Air, as usual in the Middle of the Day, blowingfrom Sea to Land: and, that if the Balloon was made to descendquicklyinto the Sea-Breeze; it might, in a few Minutes, be carried sofarwithin the Country, as to besoon beyondthe Influence of theSeaandRiver: andthen, by throwing out some Pounds of Ballast, woud return into theupperCurrent, and pursue asafeCourse towards Manchester; or even towards Prescot and Liverpool, if an easterly Wind prevailedabove.88. In Consequence of these Expectations; he looked downwardstowardsthe Sea,thenwhollyinvisible; tho’ the Murmuring of its Waves wasmoreplainly heard.Smoke blown to Land by a Sea-Breeze.Thick Smokeswere distinguished issuing fromdifferentPlaces along the Marsh near the Coast: andapparentlyskirting the Ground, as if impelled by abriskWind from the Sea.89. No Time was to be lost.The Balloon having reached the Cascade; and continuing to movemore regularly along the Course of the River, past theBridge, and proceeded toRock-Savage.The Balloon still going to Sea, the Mouth was opened.90. The Neck orMouthwhich remained shut, by its own Pressure against the Outside of the upper Hoop, asitlay over it; was instantly brought within the Hoop, and setwide openin a perpendicular Situation.Not more than a Couple of Minutes had elapsed before Sounds were more audible and louder.Cattle and Corn in the Fields became visible.Ballast in Hand ready to throw out.91. The Observer very deliberately stooping to put down his Card and Pencil; with hisleftHand grasping the Hoop of the Car, and with his Right holding a Sand-Bag, to throw over as he approached the Earth; found that the Balloon wasinfluencedby anunderCurrent blowing from the Sea: and marked his Progress by the half MilewhiteFlag; whose Stretcher having acquired a Positionparallel to the Plane of the Horizon, placed the Flag in an excellent Point of View: the Balloontowingitapparentlywith aslowMotion, over the distant Tops of thedark-greenTrees.
CHAPTERXV.
Balloon over Aston-House, at 4 Minutes past III, and near a Mile high.
Section 85.AT 4 Minutes past III, the Balloon remainedverticallyover the River, and over the elegant Mansion called Aston.
Windbelow.
86. A Wind was heardbelowfor a few Seconds: and the Air felt alittle cool. Thermometer 55, or Temperate: Barometer 251⁄2, corresponding to the Height of near a Mile.[27]
The Balloon going to Sea, determined the Aironaut todescend, in Hopes of finding a Sea-Breeze inTime.
87. The Balloon continuing its eccentric Movements fromSide to Sideacrossthe Meadows; yet still glidingdownthe River, in a North-West by North Direction, almost at right Angles to that which itbeforehad held; consequentlytowardsthe Sea, and in a Line which continued must pass throu’ the Center of the Channel: some Step it was necessary to take, andsoon. By throwing out Ballast, the Balloon woud instantly rise: but it woud probably, asbefore, rise intoa Calm, and thereforedescendnearly in the same Line: which woud merelyprotractthe Time till the Balloon had reached the Center of the Channel: where, having no Resource, the Ballast being then expended; there might be some Risque in waiting for a Vessel, tho’ the Balloon woud not forseveral Hours, have lost itslevitatingPower, so as to have sunk with the Aironaut. To him however it immediately occurred, that there might be anunderCurrent of Air, as usual in the Middle of the Day, blowingfrom Sea to Land: and, that if the Balloon was made to descendquicklyinto the Sea-Breeze; it might, in a few Minutes, be carried sofarwithin the Country, as to besoon beyondthe Influence of theSeaandRiver: andthen, by throwing out some Pounds of Ballast, woud return into theupperCurrent, and pursue asafeCourse towards Manchester; or even towards Prescot and Liverpool, if an easterly Wind prevailedabove.
88. In Consequence of these Expectations; he looked downwardstowardsthe Sea,thenwhollyinvisible; tho’ the Murmuring of its Waves wasmoreplainly heard.
Smoke blown to Land by a Sea-Breeze.
Thick Smokeswere distinguished issuing fromdifferentPlaces along the Marsh near the Coast: andapparentlyskirting the Ground, as if impelled by abriskWind from the Sea.
89. No Time was to be lost.
The Balloon having reached the Cascade; and continuing to movemore regularly along the Course of the River, past theBridge, and proceeded toRock-Savage.
The Balloon still going to Sea, the Mouth was opened.
90. The Neck orMouthwhich remained shut, by its own Pressure against the Outside of the upper Hoop, asitlay over it; was instantly brought within the Hoop, and setwide openin a perpendicular Situation.
Not more than a Couple of Minutes had elapsed before Sounds were more audible and louder.
Cattle and Corn in the Fields became visible.
Ballast in Hand ready to throw out.
91. The Observer very deliberately stooping to put down his Card and Pencil; with hisleftHand grasping the Hoop of the Car, and with his Right holding a Sand-Bag, to throw over as he approached the Earth; found that the Balloon wasinfluencedby anunderCurrent blowing from the Sea: and marked his Progress by the half MilewhiteFlag; whose Stretcher having acquired a Positionparallel to the Plane of the Horizon, placed the Flag in an excellent Point of View: the Balloontowingitapparentlywith aslowMotion, over the distant Tops of thedark-greenTrees.