CHAPTERXVI.BALLOON DESCENDING.Air chilly. Therm. 55; Barom. 261⁄2.Section 92.NO sooner had the Balloondescendedwithin the Influence of theSea Breeze, than it becameinstantlycondensedby a certainchillinesswhichthenbegan to prevail.Balloon in theunderCurrent.93. This Height hassincebeen considered as theLeveloffleecy Vapour,Scud, or lowest Stratum of Clouds, inbrightandwarmWeather.[28]NovisibleClouds were presentednearthe Spectator. On the contrary, they seemed toshrink backto the Distance of a Mile round the Eye; and thenimmediatelyappear above it, the Balloon continuing to descend. Nor did anycircularHorizon of the Earth shew itself; till the Balloon had reached below this Level: viz. Barom. 261⁄2, Thermom. 55. i. e. Temperate.Prospects were mostextensiveand beautiful at this Altitude: which the Barometer estimates at full half a Mile.[29]Looking again at the Barometer, scarce a Minute afterwards; it had risen to 27.Sudden Effect of cool moist Air on the Balloon.94. The Condensation by Chill and Moisture, and quick Contraction ofitsDimensions acted like aCharmon theBalloon.In a Moment; as if dropped from the Clouds, theSeasuddenly presented itself.[30]It seemednear, and of aredColour.CircularLandscapes of thedistantCountries filled the Eye.Almost the whole Extent of the Channel was a perfect Calm: and ratherdazledthe Sight. But from the Peninsula of Hale to that of Runcorn, and upwards, apartialBreezefrom the North-Westruffledthe Surface (which was there of adarkand menacing Complexion;) and seemed in its Course to have reached andinfluencedthe Balloon: whose Descent provingmorerapid than was expected; the Sand-Bag tyed up, weighing 12 Pounds, was opened, and the Sanddispersed.Ballast thrown down, 12lb. and 12lb.95. The Aironaut continuing as before tostandupright in the Car, and having resumed his Card and Pencil; Thermometeragainat 55°, on finding the Descent notsufficientlyretarded, wrote swiftly, “no more remarks, mind the ship:” meaning the Balloon: and briskly stooping for the second Bag of Sand, weighing likewise 12 Pounds,dispersedit byHandfullsin the same Manner.Descent at first rapid.96. The circular Mouth of the Balloon continuing wide open, at about 18 Inches Diameter; so muchcoolandmoistAir rushed in during the Descent; that, tho’ its Momentum or acquired Motion was retarded byDispersionof the Ballast, it had not yet recovered anactual levity: being too near the Ground before the second Bag was discharged.Presuminghowever that 24 Pounds Weight of Ballast thrown out, was sufficient to break the Fall, tho’ in a cool moistcondensingAtmosphere ofpure defloguisticatedAir; the Event oflandingwaswaited for.AdepressingTorrent of Air on the Balloon.It has beensinceimagined that aheavydepressingtorrent ofcoolAir took Place from the North-West at a certain Height over the Water, andassistedthe Descent of the Balloon.The Balloon descended with arushingNoise.97. In order to judge with what Rapidity the Balloon descended, when solowas to be within the Influence of theunderCurrent, whilethecool moistAir rushed in at the Bottom, and most probably pressed out the Gass; the following Intelligence has been communicated by a Person of Veracity.Anecdote shewing the Rapidity of Descent, at first.As two credible Farmers were working, with their Servants, in theharvest; on hearing a hollow, rushing Sound in the Air, which they took to be aWhirl-wind, ordistant Thunder, and which seemed every Moment to encrease and approach them; they all retreated under a large Oak. While there, they first perceived the swift Descent of the Balloon. Two, who were afraid of Thunder, then began to take Courage, boldly exclaiming they shoud never fear Thunder again, since theFallingof a Balloon coud be attended with soterriblea Noise.
CHAPTERXVI.
Air chilly. Therm. 55; Barom. 261⁄2.
Section 92.NO sooner had the Balloondescendedwithin the Influence of theSea Breeze, than it becameinstantlycondensedby a certainchillinesswhichthenbegan to prevail.
Balloon in theunderCurrent.
93. This Height hassincebeen considered as theLeveloffleecy Vapour,Scud, or lowest Stratum of Clouds, inbrightandwarmWeather.[28]
NovisibleClouds were presentednearthe Spectator. On the contrary, they seemed toshrink backto the Distance of a Mile round the Eye; and thenimmediatelyappear above it, the Balloon continuing to descend. Nor did anycircularHorizon of the Earth shew itself; till the Balloon had reached below this Level: viz. Barom. 261⁄2, Thermom. 55. i. e. Temperate.
Prospects were mostextensiveand beautiful at this Altitude: which the Barometer estimates at full half a Mile.[29]
Looking again at the Barometer, scarce a Minute afterwards; it had risen to 27.
Sudden Effect of cool moist Air on the Balloon.
94. The Condensation by Chill and Moisture, and quick Contraction ofitsDimensions acted like aCharmon theBalloon.
In a Moment; as if dropped from the Clouds, theSeasuddenly presented itself.[30]It seemednear, and of aredColour.CircularLandscapes of thedistantCountries filled the Eye.
Almost the whole Extent of the Channel was a perfect Calm: and ratherdazledthe Sight. But from the Peninsula of Hale to that of Runcorn, and upwards, apartialBreezefrom the North-Westruffledthe Surface (which was there of adarkand menacing Complexion;) and seemed in its Course to have reached andinfluencedthe Balloon: whose Descent provingmorerapid than was expected; the Sand-Bag tyed up, weighing 12 Pounds, was opened, and the Sanddispersed.
Ballast thrown down, 12lb. and 12lb.
95. The Aironaut continuing as before tostandupright in the Car, and having resumed his Card and Pencil; Thermometeragainat 55°, on finding the Descent notsufficientlyretarded, wrote swiftly, “no more remarks, mind the ship:” meaning the Balloon: and briskly stooping for the second Bag of Sand, weighing likewise 12 Pounds,dispersedit byHandfullsin the same Manner.
Descent at first rapid.
96. The circular Mouth of the Balloon continuing wide open, at about 18 Inches Diameter; so muchcoolandmoistAir rushed in during the Descent; that, tho’ its Momentum or acquired Motion was retarded byDispersionof the Ballast, it had not yet recovered anactual levity: being too near the Ground before the second Bag was discharged.
Presuminghowever that 24 Pounds Weight of Ballast thrown out, was sufficient to break the Fall, tho’ in a cool moistcondensingAtmosphere ofpure defloguisticatedAir; the Event oflandingwaswaited for.
AdepressingTorrent of Air on the Balloon.
It has beensinceimagined that aheavydepressingtorrent ofcoolAir took Place from the North-West at a certain Height over the Water, andassistedthe Descent of the Balloon.
The Balloon descended with arushingNoise.
97. In order to judge with what Rapidity the Balloon descended, when solowas to be within the Influence of theunderCurrent, whilethecool moistAir rushed in at the Bottom, and most probably pressed out the Gass; the following Intelligence has been communicated by a Person of Veracity.
Anecdote shewing the Rapidity of Descent, at first.
As two credible Farmers were working, with their Servants, in theharvest; on hearing a hollow, rushing Sound in the Air, which they took to be aWhirl-wind, ordistant Thunder, and which seemed every Moment to encrease and approach them; they all retreated under a large Oak. While there, they first perceived the swift Descent of the Balloon. Two, who were afraid of Thunder, then began to take Courage, boldly exclaiming they shoud never fear Thunder again, since theFallingof a Balloon coud be attended with soterriblea Noise.