CHAPTERXXIX.Section 166.IN a few Minutes, a Side-Break throu’ the Clouds discovered a long ill-formed narrow Line or Ditch, something less than a Foot in Breadth, extendingseveral Ways: and which from its Proximity to Places that were known, and coming into View; viz. the Country about Norton and Halton-Castle;A narrow Ditch the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal.proved to be the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal.Suddenlycame in Sight thespaciousopenof the Mersey above Runcorn Gap: which appeared of aA Glympse of Runcorn Gap.ruddyColour, andverynear: as if the Balloon had againfeltthe Influence of theRiver.Balloon-Geographyfirst suggested forMaps.167. A new System, that ofBalloon-Geographyhere suggested itself: in which the Essentials ofProportionandBearingswoud be far more accurate, than by the present Method, both forMapsandCharts, viz. To make Drawings bysight, from the Car of a Balloon with aCamera Obscura, aided by a Micrometer applied to the under Side ofthe transparentGlass.The Season proper for such an aironautic Expedition, would beanycalm brightDay:Air presumed to be warm with South-West Wind long continued.the Wind having blown from the South West Quarter, for some Days before, which isfrequentlythe Case: the Air, atsuchConjuncture probably remainingwarm, to the Height of a Mile or more, unless in the very Midst of Winter.168. And particularly for Charts, which in amaritimeCountry aremostuseful:Balloon Geography forCharts.as Balloons have an extraordinary Predilection to becomestationaryover Channels and Rivers; altho’ a verystrongGale of Wind, shoud continue thewholeTime to blow in an horizontal Course directlyunderthe Balloon.Of which Event the Writer of this Account was anEye-Witness,Balloon in a Calm with astrongWindbelow.in the Case of Mr. Lunardi: who wasdetainedabove 20 Minutes over thebroad Bendof the River Mersey, near Ince, in Cheshire, the Day helandedbetween Tarporley and Beeston-Castle, ascending from the New Fort at Liverpool.He quitted his Station by the Escape of Gass, and descended into theStreamof Wind, which continued asviolentas before.
CHAPTERXXIX.
Section 166.IN a few Minutes, a Side-Break throu’ the Clouds discovered a long ill-formed narrow Line or Ditch, something less than a Foot in Breadth, extendingseveral Ways: and which from its Proximity to Places that were known, and coming into View; viz. the Country about Norton and Halton-Castle;A narrow Ditch the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal.proved to be the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal.
Suddenlycame in Sight thespaciousopenof the Mersey above Runcorn Gap: which appeared of aA Glympse of Runcorn Gap.ruddyColour, andverynear: as if the Balloon had againfeltthe Influence of theRiver.
Balloon-Geographyfirst suggested forMaps.
167. A new System, that ofBalloon-Geographyhere suggested itself: in which the Essentials ofProportionandBearingswoud be far more accurate, than by the present Method, both forMapsandCharts, viz. To make Drawings bysight, from the Car of a Balloon with aCamera Obscura, aided by a Micrometer applied to the under Side ofthe transparentGlass.
The Season proper for such an aironautic Expedition, would beanycalm brightDay:Air presumed to be warm with South-West Wind long continued.the Wind having blown from the South West Quarter, for some Days before, which isfrequentlythe Case: the Air, atsuchConjuncture probably remainingwarm, to the Height of a Mile or more, unless in the very Midst of Winter.
168. And particularly for Charts, which in amaritimeCountry aremostuseful:Balloon Geography forCharts.as Balloons have an extraordinary Predilection to becomestationaryover Channels and Rivers; altho’ a verystrongGale of Wind, shoud continue thewholeTime to blow in an horizontal Course directlyunderthe Balloon.
Of which Event the Writer of this Account was anEye-Witness,Balloon in a Calm with astrongWindbelow.in the Case of Mr. Lunardi: who wasdetainedabove 20 Minutes over thebroad Bendof the River Mersey, near Ince, in Cheshire, the Day helandedbetween Tarporley and Beeston-Castle, ascending from the New Fort at Liverpool.He quitted his Station by the Escape of Gass, and descended into theStreamof Wind, which continued asviolentas before.