BALLOON STILL RE-ASCENDING.
Balloon vertical over Aston, for 8 Minutes.
Section 107. THE Balloon being now wholly unconfined, continued to rise with great Rapidity: crossed the Meadow in the Sea-Breeze, and remained as before, for 6 or 8 Minutes,—by Intervals gently turning on its Axis—almost wholly vertical over Aston-Hall, but rather more to the Eastward of it.
The Country still exhibited bright gay and extensive Prospects.
108. Three Sail of Vessels appeared in the Channel: and four more were sailing down the River Wever, apparently just under the Balloon, diminishing to mere Cockle-Shells, or like Boats which have no Rigging.
Shouts continued.
Corn and Cattle were visible in the Fields and Meadows.
Aston, tho’ a large and elegant Mansion, appeared like a House which Children build with Cards.
Chilliness felt at the same Height in re-ascending.
109. A Chilliness in the Air was again perceived in rising, as he imagined, to the same Height at which he felt it in descending, indicated by the Thermometer at 55°. ([Sect. 92].)
He then found himself inclined to taste the Brandy and Water, ready mixed by his Order, and to eat a Biscuit: but on putting the Liquor to his Lips; thought it too strong, so drank none, nor eat any Thing.
110. The three Sail, and the Channel disappeared.
River red.
The River put on a deep red Colour, like the Dee. Its Meanders seemed to encrease; as its Width diminished to a broad Line. Its Water was lost to the Sight.
Corn and Cattle were no longer distinguishable.
The House at Aston was yet a beautiful tho’ minute Object: the Balloon moving several Times round it; as if loth to quit that and the River.
The Cascade was become a white Line: and the fine Bridge below, a yellow Straw crossing the broad red Streak.
Of the four Vessels in the Wever, not an Atom visible.
The Shouting entirely ceased.
Rocks Woods and Meads reduced to a coloured Plain of the mellowest Tints.
111. The blue scattered Houses, wide public Road called Sutton-Causeway over Frodsham Marsh, the Meadows Fields and Woods, the lofty Hills, Helsbye Crag and Halton-Tower, were reduced to one common Level; and diminished to the Size and Semblance of a coloured Map, but it was the superb and finished Colouring of Nature.
Balloon higher than at the first Ascent.
112. Ceasing to look down on the smooth Lawns below, which were now of the richest and fullest Patterns, seen as throu’ the small or inverted End of a common Perspective-Glass, and spun, as it were, to a fine Thread; Pleasure and Delight, tho’ of another Kind, fill’d the Imagination of the Beholder: who, raising his Eyes on a Level with himself, so as to look straight before him; found that the Balloon had already, and almost beyond his own Belief, soared to so amazing a Height in the Atmosphere, as to raise him far above the Rim of the immense Bowl or Crater; and that it was still stealing with Rapidity upwards.
Contemplation of the Prospect.
113. During the Contemplation of this magnificent Prospect, a perfect Calm took Place, and soothing Silence reigned.
And thus; for a while detached, far detached from Earth, and all terrestrial Thoughts; wrapt in the mild Azure of the etherial Regions; suspended in the Center of a vast and almost endless Concave; come, as a mere Visitor, from another Planet; surrounded with the stupendous Works of Nature, yet above them;—the glorious Sun except, which enlivened all, and shone with pure celestial Lustre;—a peaceful Serenity of Mind succeeded; an enviable EUROIA.[36] An Idea of which it is not in the Power of Language to convey, or to describe.
