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.