CHAPTER XXXV.
Section 196. THE Route of the Balloon being now throu’ a flat woody Country, with tall Trees growing in the Hedge Rows; a Difficulty occurred, how to conduct the Cable, when the Balloon was above or between the 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 was carried among his Peers in Triumph through the Air, across the Turnpike-Road, into the Middle of an open Grass Field, where he descended; took a Companion less 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 the whole much delighted.
197. A great Concourse of People were now collected.
Accidental Carriages halted: joined the Cavalcade, and partook of the Diversion: the greater Part following the Balloon throu’ the open Fields adjoining the Road.
Caution to prevent the Escape of the Balloon.
The Conductor generally preferring the beaten Track; yet suspecting the Balloon with its Adventurer in the Car, might designedly be suffered to escape, took the Precaution to have the Grapple held by nearest Relations 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 the florid Colour forsook his Cheeks; he trembled; bent himself double with 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.
The Venus smiled, 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 Aironaut polite Invitations to their Houses, and shewed him every possible Civility.
Effect of Air in Motion on the Surface of the Balloon.
201. The Resistance made by the Surface of the Balloon, against the least Breath of Air moving horizontally, was frequently tried by occasionally holding the Grapple: and it was a decided Point, that the least Motion of the Air was sufficient, together with the Action of Levitation, 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 the same Place: the Balloon sometimes pulling him forwards, and almost off his Feet.
Effect of calm Air on the Surface of the Balloon.
202. When the Air was perfectly calm, 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 with Difficulty that the Conductor coud draw the Balloon after him, faster than the Rate of a moderate Walk: viz. three Miles an Hour.
