CHAPTER XXXII.
The Aironaut was lost, tho’ in Sight of a Country well known when below.
Section 174. HE thought himself again over the Wever.
At 47 Minutes past III, over a red Rivulet.
At 47 Minutes after III, the Prospect beneath opened, just wide enough to shew, that he was suspended in the open Space over the Center of some Rivulet.
The Map of the Country which had been so carefully studied, was now consulted for the first Time, but coud not bring to his Recollection any Traces of the extraordinary Curves which then met his Eye.
They bore not the least Resemblance to any Part of the River Mersey.
No River like that below him had ever presented itself.
Its Doublings were so various and fantastic as to exceed the Limits of Credibility.
The Neck of the Balloon tyed some Time before to prevent the Descent.
175. He was still stationary, at an immense Height, without the least Inclination to descend: having some Time before taken the Precaution to tye again the Neck of the Balloon, as soon as he had perceived it did not inflate, as at first, to any dangerous Degree.
No Towns, no Houses appeared. No public Roads were discoverable. No Voices were heard.[48]
The Country beyond the Rivulet began to disclose itself: but was quite new to him at that Altitude, and seemed as if almost covered with Wood.
176. His Watch shewed the Time of the Day, and the Sun alone sufficiently indicated the Point of the Compass.
The white Flag manifested no Change in the Wind.
But whether he was near Liverpool, Wigan, or Manchester, he coud not discover.
The Country below unknown to the Aironaut, when in the Balloon.
177. He was entirely lost in the blue Fields of Air; far above the Summits of the Clouds; tho’ the Balloon was in Sight of the Earth, and of Numbers who were gazing at it.
178. The Colour of the new Rivulet was full as red, as any he had seen before.
He thought it might be an insignificant Brook, which tho’ curiously curved, was too small to be inserted in the Map.
Still he continued over it: turning and returning gently in small Curves.
179. He presently passed Northward of the Rivulet over a woody Country, in which he coud discover no Variety of Colouring either in the Ground Work or Enclosures; the whole having a dark green Cast.
Unusual Objects below.
An Appearance of a very distant and remote Plain then presented itself; the Size of a moderate Carpet: of a ruddy Colour; and surrounded by a green Border. Being an unusual Object it continued to engage his Attention.
180. Not far from the first, another of the same Kind, of a more dusky Cast, but less and somewhat nearer, that is more under him, then attracted his Notice.
He wished to decipher them, but in vain.
The Prospects opened, which demonstrated his Descent, owing to the Loss of Gass.
181. The Sun shone bright on both: and in a very few Minutes, the circular Prospects encreased: which was now become a regular and undeniable Signal that the Balloon had begun to descend. ([Section 17].)
The latter Plain appeared, at the first, about the Size of a common Handkerchief.
The Balloon continued to descend.
The same Spot perpetually varying to the Eye of the Aironaut.
182. In a Couple of Minutes, the Plain appeared intersected closely every Way, like the Coat of a ripening Melon. Descending a little lower; it seemed covered with a Net, the Meshes of which were distinct. And lower still; it extended itself greatly on all Sides: (at which Time a certain Degree of Chilliness prevailed:) and was then again mistaken, and looked upon as a dry Heath, deeply overrun with Shrubs of the same Name.
Ballast thrown out gradually.
183. The Descent of the Balloon being rather quicker than was expected, or desired; it was deemed expedient to have Recourse to the last Bag of Sand, which lay open, and weighed 20 Pounds.
It was accordingly thrown out, a Handful at a Time.
The remaining Ballast thrown out at once, in all 20lb. weight.
But that Method not seeming sufficient to check the Descent, when at the Height of 150 or 200 Yards; all the Sand was poured out, and the Bag thrown down.
Gentle Landing of the Balloon.
This had the desired Effect: and the Balloon continuing to descend with a Motion uniformly retarded, alighted, as the down of a Thistle, in the gentlest Manner, without any Rebound.
Anchor and Cable not made use of.
184. There being scarcely a Breath of Air abroad, the Aironaut made no Use of his Anchor and Cable: but continued as from the first, standing upright in the Car; which, having moved a Yard or two only along the Ground, rested in a perpendicular Situation.
The Balloon, suspended over him like a vast Umbrella, levitated vertically in the grandest Manner.
185. He was alone when he alighted: but, in a few Minutes, found himself surrounded by the Country-People, who had waded above Ancle-deep, and came running from all Parts, to see the wonder, and contribute their Assistance.
Landed at 53 Minutes past III. Thermometer 59.
186. He landed exactly, at 7 Minutes before IV: Thermometer 59: but where he coud not tell.
The first Question was “Pray where am I?” And the Answer;—in Lancashire.
On asking the nearest Distance to a Turnpike-Road; the People said he was within two Fields of one, and offered to conduct him thither.
He accepted their Offer, and shared his Liquor among them.
