CHAPTERXXXVI.Sun set at 34 Minutes past VI.Section 203.THE Sun set at 34 Minutes past VI. and, tho’ it wasthennear that Time, the Post-Chaise wasnotarrived.204. On Enquiry for a dry smooth Meadow, he was recommended to proceed a little farther, to a Place on the Road within three Miles of Warrington.205. Having by this Time gratified the Curiosity of the Country in admitting Boys and Girls to the Age of six or seven Years, into the Car; and being arrived after Sun-set at the Place appointed, viz.Milton’s Croft-Green; he ordered the Balloon to be laid onits Side along the Ground: having removed the Car, and opened the Mouth; the inflammable Air or Gass, was soon pressed out by Means of along Polerolledacrossit by two Men, standing one at each End of the Pole: beginning at the Top or upper Valve, which was held down close to the Ground; and ending at the Mouth or Neck.It was then rolled up, put into the Car; and the whole Apparatus placed on the Top of the Chaise which arrived the Moment wanted.Balloon put up at 53 Minutes past VI.206. The Operation was completed at 53 Minutes past VI: the Conductor having accompanied the Balloon on Foot exactlythreeHours.Balloon in the Air five Hours and a Quarter.207. The Balloon had therefore continuedfloatingin the Air, with different Persons, in the whole, for the Space of five Hours and a Quarter.The Conductor, promising to acceptthe very polite Invitation offered him by Mr.Stanton, a Gentleman who is principally concerned in the Gunpowder-Works upon the Mersey; called at his House, and partook of some Refreshments.He then drove to Warrington, where he was met by a Person whom Curiosity had inspired to follow the Balloonon Footfrom Chester, as long as he coud keep itin View.208. Mr. Lunardi likewise with great Civility dispatched his Servant to assist the Aironaut inthe Careof the Balloon; but he did not arrive in Time; not reaching Warrington till VIII. at Night: having lost Sight of the Balloon aboutDaresbury, four Miles from Warrington.209. Nor was it visible to any, at least very few, of the Inhabitants of that Town, which was equally hidden from the Aironaut: who,thenignorant of his Situation, must haveremained a considerable Time suspended above the Clouds; which concealed both the Town and River.He saw Warrington but twice whenabove: for a short Time, at a great Distance, and amediateAltitude.210. The following Day he returned to Chester: was met by the Militia-Music, and ushered with loud Huzzaes into his native City.On his safe Arrival; besides the private and sincere Congratulations of his Relations and Friends; the Bells rang: his Flags were carried in Procession, and every public Demonstration of Joy was shewn on the Occasion.TO THE INHABITANTS OF CHESTERTHANKS.END OF THE EXCURSIONTHROU’ THE AIR.AIROPAIDIA.CHAPTERXXXVII.OBSERVATIONS,HINTS, and CONJECTURES,on theSUBJECTof theBALLOON and EXCURSIONFROM CHESTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPT. 1785.OF THE WEATHER, IN THE VICINITY OF CHESTER, ABOUT THE TIME OF THE EXCURSION.Section 211.FOR more than ten Daysbeforethe Balloon-Voyage, the Wind had blown (interruptedlyon Account of the Sea-Breeze) from South and South by West.Monday the 5th of September:A Conjunction of the Planet Mercury and the Moon, atonein the Afternoon.Tuesday the 6th:A violent Hurricane in the South of England, at London, Portsmouth, &c.The same Day at Chester North-North-West, and distant from London 182 Miles; South-Breeze; Rain most of the Day. Thermometer at Noon in the Shade, 62: and 14 Divisions colder each Night, than thefollowingDay, at an Average of five Years. Barometer, belowMuch Rain, viz. at 28 Inches 9⁄10ths.Wednesday the 7th:Violent Squalls from South and South-West, with hazy Air, till half past IV in the Afternoon. Thermom. 58; Barom. Changeable, viz. 291⁄2.Thursday the 8th, which was the Day of the Excursion:Much bright Sun. (On Enquiry) calmbelowtill half past III in the Afternoon, then West Sea-Breeze: South-West Breezeabovetill half past IV. Calm bright Evening.Also the upper Stratum of Clouds thin andwhite, inquickMotion, when seen frombelowtill Noon: at which Time the Sky was almost cloudless: and, fromabovethe upper Stratum, were seen, interspersed, Multitudes of detached Thunder-Clouds in large Masses, rising at Intervals, in theMiddleof the upper Surfaces of white Clouds, and stretchingabovethem.Friday and Saturday moderate: South and South-West Breeze.Sunday the 11th. The Planet Mercury stationary.Cloudy Morn. South-West Breeze. Thermom. at 60 at Noon. Barom.above, Changeable, viz. at 291⁄2.Much thunderand Rain in the Afternoon.212. Quere, Had theThunder-Clouds on Thursday, tho’ not remarked by any frombelow, yet visible to a great Extent from the Balloonabovethem,—any Connexion with theThunderthat happenedthreeDays after?Weather, to be prognosticated, bySight, from the BalloonAnswer: It appears to the Observer, that theThunderwasgraduallycollecting in the Air fromThursdaytill Sunday: and if so; will not Balloons, when morefrequent, prognosticate the Weather,by Sight, better than any other known Methods?
CHAPTERXXXVI.
Sun set at 34 Minutes past VI.
Section 203.THE Sun set at 34 Minutes past VI. and, tho’ it wasthennear that Time, the Post-Chaise wasnotarrived.
204. On Enquiry for a dry smooth Meadow, he was recommended to proceed a little farther, to a Place on the Road within three Miles of Warrington.
205. Having by this Time gratified the Curiosity of the Country in admitting Boys and Girls to the Age of six or seven Years, into the Car; and being arrived after Sun-set at the Place appointed, viz.Milton’s Croft-Green; he ordered the Balloon to be laid onits Side along the Ground: having removed the Car, and opened the Mouth; the inflammable Air or Gass, was soon pressed out by Means of along Polerolledacrossit by two Men, standing one at each End of the Pole: beginning at the Top or upper Valve, which was held down close to the Ground; and ending at the Mouth or Neck.
It was then rolled up, put into the Car; and the whole Apparatus placed on the Top of the Chaise which arrived the Moment wanted.
Balloon put up at 53 Minutes past VI.
206. The Operation was completed at 53 Minutes past VI: the Conductor having accompanied the Balloon on Foot exactlythreeHours.
Balloon in the Air five Hours and a Quarter.
207. The Balloon had therefore continuedfloatingin the Air, with different Persons, in the whole, for the Space of five Hours and a Quarter.
The Conductor, promising to acceptthe very polite Invitation offered him by Mr.Stanton, a Gentleman who is principally concerned in the Gunpowder-Works upon the Mersey; called at his House, and partook of some Refreshments.
He then drove to Warrington, where he was met by a Person whom Curiosity had inspired to follow the Balloonon Footfrom Chester, as long as he coud keep itin View.
208. Mr. Lunardi likewise with great Civility dispatched his Servant to assist the Aironaut inthe Careof the Balloon; but he did not arrive in Time; not reaching Warrington till VIII. at Night: having lost Sight of the Balloon aboutDaresbury, four Miles from Warrington.
209. Nor was it visible to any, at least very few, of the Inhabitants of that Town, which was equally hidden from the Aironaut: who,thenignorant of his Situation, must haveremained a considerable Time suspended above the Clouds; which concealed both the Town and River.
He saw Warrington but twice whenabove: for a short Time, at a great Distance, and amediateAltitude.
210. The following Day he returned to Chester: was met by the Militia-Music, and ushered with loud Huzzaes into his native City.
On his safe Arrival; besides the private and sincere Congratulations of his Relations and Friends; the Bells rang: his Flags were carried in Procession, and every public Demonstration of Joy was shewn on the Occasion.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF CHESTERTHANKS.
END OF THE EXCURSIONTHROU’ THE AIR.
AIROPAIDIA.CHAPTERXXXVII.OBSERVATIONS,HINTS, and CONJECTURES,on theSUBJECTof theBALLOON and EXCURSIONFROM CHESTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPT. 1785.
AIROPAIDIA.
OBSERVATIONS,HINTS, and CONJECTURES,on theSUBJECTof theBALLOON and EXCURSION
FROM CHESTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPT. 1785.
Section 211.FOR more than ten Daysbeforethe Balloon-Voyage, the Wind had blown (interruptedlyon Account of the Sea-Breeze) from South and South by West.
Monday the 5th of September:
A Conjunction of the Planet Mercury and the Moon, atonein the Afternoon.
Tuesday the 6th:
A violent Hurricane in the South of England, at London, Portsmouth, &c.
The same Day at Chester North-North-West, and distant from London 182 Miles; South-Breeze; Rain most of the Day. Thermometer at Noon in the Shade, 62: and 14 Divisions colder each Night, than thefollowingDay, at an Average of five Years. Barometer, belowMuch Rain, viz. at 28 Inches 9⁄10ths.
Wednesday the 7th:
Violent Squalls from South and South-West, with hazy Air, till half past IV in the Afternoon. Thermom. 58; Barom. Changeable, viz. 291⁄2.
Thursday the 8th, which was the Day of the Excursion:
Much bright Sun. (On Enquiry) calmbelowtill half past III in the Afternoon, then West Sea-Breeze: South-West Breezeabovetill half past IV. Calm bright Evening.
Also the upper Stratum of Clouds thin andwhite, inquickMotion, when seen frombelowtill Noon: at which Time the Sky was almost cloudless: and, fromabovethe upper Stratum, were seen, interspersed, Multitudes of detached Thunder-Clouds in large Masses, rising at Intervals, in theMiddleof the upper Surfaces of white Clouds, and stretchingabovethem.
Friday and Saturday moderate: South and South-West Breeze.
Sunday the 11th. The Planet Mercury stationary.
Cloudy Morn. South-West Breeze. Thermom. at 60 at Noon. Barom.above, Changeable, viz. at 291⁄2.Much thunderand Rain in the Afternoon.
212. Quere, Had theThunder-Clouds on Thursday, tho’ not remarked by any frombelow, yet visible to a great Extent from the Balloonabovethem,—any Connexion with theThunderthat happenedthreeDays after?
Weather, to be prognosticated, bySight, from the Balloon
Answer: It appears to the Observer, that theThunderwasgraduallycollecting in the Air fromThursdaytill Sunday: and if so; will not Balloons, when morefrequent, prognosticate the Weather,by Sight, better than any other known Methods?