CHAPTER XIII.
2d Balloon-Iris.
Section 73.AT 33 Minutes after II, the Balloon-Shadow was again the Center of a brilliant Iris, painted at some Distance round it on Clouds below.
74. One of the Pint-Bottles for light Air was prepared (as in [Article 14], of Section 12;)Bottle filled with light Air. and dropped from the Car.
The Water it contained was poured down, to observe the Effects of Air and Light on the Drops.
The Air did not at that Height oppose a Resistance sufficient to break the Stream into small Drops. Nor did they seem to coalesce: remaining, while they continued in Sight, of the same Size; some very large, others less so; and at the same relative Distance, as when they first left the Bottle.
The Colours seemed stronger than usual.
It may be here observed that none of the Bottles were returned; tho’ found, and a Reward promised.
The Country People, as soon as they saw a Bottle; imagining it must contain some Liquor, immediately contrived to open it: by which Procedure, the Intention of the Experiment was frustrated.
The Bottles, which are dangerous Companions even without Liquor, shoud, notwithstanding, be left in the Car: at least till the Time of landing the Balloon.
Burton and Flint seen at the first rising.
75. While the Balloon was first rising; a gentle Motion of the lower Current of Air carried it immediately towards the Sea. ([Section 46].)
At which Time, the Aironaut by a Glance discovered the Mouth of the River Dee, four and five Miles wide, yawning before him: the Prospect extending to the Sea, as far as the Smoke from the Lead-Works near a Place called Flint on the Welch Coast; and to Burton-Head on the Wirral Side; distant ten Miles from Chester.
He has since been informed; that the Balloon seemed to rest, for a few Minutes, in the Air: and then return slowly over Chester.
Balloon in a quiescent Bed of Air.
It is therefore more than probable, that as the Balloon continued to ascend; it was becalmed in a quiescent Stratum or Bed of the Atmosphere, which existed for a certain Depth or Thickness, between the lower and upper Current: and that the Direction of the Balloon was changed; the Instant it arrived within the Influence of the upper Current.
Of rowing the Balloon to any Point of the Compass.
Consequently, with a proper Apparatus to ascend and descend at Will, without Loss of Gass or Ballast; the Balloon woud have remained suspended invariably at the same Height, and vertically over the same Spot of Earth: or, with propulsive Machinery; might, on the same Level, have been rowed to any Point of the Compass.
The Balloon, influenced on its Approach towards Water.
76. In passing only across Trafford Meadows, three Miles from Chester; the Balloon lost its usual progressive Motion over the Country: for more than a Quarter of an Hour, following the Course of the River Goway to the West North-West, and towards the Sea, as at Chester: turning gently backwards and forwards round its own Axis, near the Villages of Great and Little Barrow: and making Curves over the Meadows, whose Breadth at those Places was about a Mile.
Its Progress marked.
The Balloon then returned into its former Direction: inclining, again, towards a Brook and Meadow near Alvanley: passed Eastward a little to the left of Manley (white) Mill: crossed the Forest of Delamere, and Crag of Helsbye, (about twice the Height of Shooter’s Hill, near London;) whose lofty Summit was apparently reduced to a common Level with the Valley made by the River Wever, and with the adjacent Sea Marsh. Nor coud it have been distinguished by a Stranger, as an Eminence.
Hills and Vallies on a Level.
Indeed, the Wood near Kingsley, which grows on a sloping Ground, skirting the Hill, and from the Sun, put on a dusky Hue; and the Tops of the Trees a darker Green: this Difference of Colour, conveyed the faint Resemblance of a rising Slope. A real Knowledge of the Country probably contributed to aid the Imagination in this Distinction.
Note: the Print representing a View of the Balloon over Helsbye Crag, refers to a Scene in the above Chapter.
