CHAPTERXXXV.Section 196.THE Route of the Balloon being now throu’ aflat woodyCountry, withtallTrees growing in the Hedge Rows; a Difficulty occurred, how to conduct the Cable, when the Balloon wasaboveorbetweenthe Trees, without entangling: which gave the Conductor much Trouble, as he was frequently obliged to walk round a Field, the Balloon being held in the Center, before he coud espy a proper Opening.March of the Balloon.The Procession marched slowly forward: and the young Man wascarried amonghis Peersin Triumph through the Air, across the Turnpike-Road, into the Middle of an open Grass Field, where he descended; took a Companionless heavy, and left the Car.This Stripling was a good Deal surprised the Instant he rose above the Trees; but ventured to look around: and appeared on thewholemuch delighted.197. A great Concourse of People were now collected.Accidental Carriages halted: joined the Cavalcade, and partook of the Diversion: thegreaterPart following the Balloon throu’ theopenFields adjoining the Road.Caution to prevent the Escape of the Balloon.The Conductorgenerallypreferring the beaten Track; yetsuspectingthe Balloon with its Adventurer in the Car, mightdesignedlybe suffered toescape, took the Precaution to have the Grapple held bynearestRelations to the Person in the Car.198. The Gass evaporating; a smart young Fellow, who seemed ready for the Jaunt, stepped in: on which the former resigned his Place. But he was no sooner raised a few Yards above his Companions, than thefloridColour forsook his Cheeks; hetrembled; bent himselfdoublewith Fright; and the Balloon was obliged to be hauled down.A Venus in the Car of the Balloon.199. A fond Mother then requested that her Child, a fine blooming Girl, might ascend: boasting of her Courage, and comparing it with that of the Person who had none.TheVenussmiled, and mounted her Car with great Spirit.Politeness of the neighbouring Gentlemen.200. Some Ladies and Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood who had watched the Balloon, while it hung at an immense Height over Lymm, and the Gunpowder Works on the River Mersey, came, in their Evening Walk, to meet it: joined the Procession; gave the AironautpoliteInvitationsto their Houses, and shewed him every possible Civility.Effect of Air inMotionon the Surface of the Balloon.201. The Resistance made by theSurfaceof the Balloon, against theleast Breathof Air movinghorizontally, wasfrequentlytried by occasionally holding the Grapple: and it was a decided Point, that theleast Motion of the Airwas sufficient, together with the Action ofLevitation, to prevent the Person, who held the Grapple when the Cable was extended, from transporting the Balloon against the Current: nay it was with Difficulty he coud remain in thesamePlace: the Balloon sometimes pulling him forwards, and almost off his Feet.Effect ofcalmAir on the Surface of the Balloon.202. When the Air was perfectlycalm, which frequently happened while the Balloon migrated with different Passengers, as the Evening was the finest in the World, and the Country flat and woody in the Hedge-Rows; it was withDifficultythat the Conductor coud draw the Balloonafter him, faster than the Rate of a moderateWalk: viz. three Miles an Hour.
CHAPTERXXXV.
Section 196.THE Route of the Balloon being now throu’ aflat woodyCountry, withtallTrees growing in the Hedge Rows; a Difficulty occurred, how to conduct the Cable, when the Balloon wasaboveorbetweenthe Trees, without entangling: which gave the Conductor much Trouble, as he was frequently obliged to walk round a Field, the Balloon being held in the Center, before he coud espy a proper Opening.
March of the Balloon.
The Procession marched slowly forward: and the young Man wascarried amonghis Peersin Triumph through the Air, across the Turnpike-Road, into the Middle of an open Grass Field, where he descended; took a Companionless heavy, and left the Car.
This Stripling was a good Deal surprised the Instant he rose above the Trees; but ventured to look around: and appeared on thewholemuch delighted.
197. A great Concourse of People were now collected.
Accidental Carriages halted: joined the Cavalcade, and partook of the Diversion: thegreaterPart following the Balloon throu’ theopenFields adjoining the Road.
Caution to prevent the Escape of the Balloon.
The Conductorgenerallypreferring the beaten Track; yetsuspectingthe Balloon with its Adventurer in the Car, mightdesignedlybe suffered toescape, took the Precaution to have the Grapple held bynearestRelations to the Person in the Car.
198. The Gass evaporating; a smart young Fellow, who seemed ready for the Jaunt, stepped in: on which the former resigned his Place. But he was no sooner raised a few Yards above his Companions, than thefloridColour forsook his Cheeks; hetrembled; bent himselfdoublewith Fright; and the Balloon was obliged to be hauled down.
A Venus in the Car of the Balloon.
199. A fond Mother then requested that her Child, a fine blooming Girl, might ascend: boasting of her Courage, and comparing it with that of the Person who had none.
TheVenussmiled, and mounted her Car with great Spirit.
Politeness of the neighbouring Gentlemen.
200. Some Ladies and Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood who had watched the Balloon, while it hung at an immense Height over Lymm, and the Gunpowder Works on the River Mersey, came, in their Evening Walk, to meet it: joined the Procession; gave the AironautpoliteInvitationsto their Houses, and shewed him every possible Civility.
Effect of Air inMotionon the Surface of the Balloon.
201. The Resistance made by theSurfaceof the Balloon, against theleast Breathof Air movinghorizontally, wasfrequentlytried by occasionally holding the Grapple: and it was a decided Point, that theleast Motion of the Airwas sufficient, together with the Action ofLevitation, to prevent the Person, who held the Grapple when the Cable was extended, from transporting the Balloon against the Current: nay it was with Difficulty he coud remain in thesamePlace: the Balloon sometimes pulling him forwards, and almost off his Feet.
Effect ofcalmAir on the Surface of the Balloon.
202. When the Air was perfectlycalm, which frequently happened while the Balloon migrated with different Passengers, as the Evening was the finest in the World, and the Country flat and woody in the Hedge-Rows; it was withDifficultythat the Conductor coud draw the Balloonafter him, faster than the Rate of a moderateWalk: viz. three Miles an Hour.