Drawing the Valve, while Mouth of the Balloon is open, shewn to be dangerous.
102. There being no proper Opportunity of closing the Mouth of the Balloon on its near Approach to the Sea, or during the Swiftness of its Descent; tho’ there had been frequent Inclination to attempt it; this little but essential Work was instantly resolved upon. And the more so, as the Mouth had continued open from the first: and as Mr. Lunardi did not happen to mention this Circumstance: the Utility of which, tho’ too late to be put in Practice, had, but a few Minutes before, very plainly suggested itself. His Directions were, to open the Valve in order to descend: which woud possibly have encreased the Rapidity of Descent: and, by introducing a thorou’ Air upwards, while the Motion of the Balloon was in a contrary Direcion, might have occasioned a dangerous Rupture of the lower Parts of the Balloon, which actually took Place in a preceding Excursion.
The Balloon drawn sideways.
103. The Balloon, tho’ rising quick, seemed not to be wholly disengaged from the Ground, but to have received a Check; and to lean a little out of the Perpendicular: particularly the Car, which was evidently drawn a different Way from the Balloon.
The half Mile white Flag impeding the Balloon.
On perceiving that the half Mile white Flag, fastened to the upper Hoop of the Car, sensibly impeded the Elevation of the Machine, by trailing along the Ground, (the Balloon being yet within the Influence of the Sea-Breeze, or lower Current of Air;) the Question was, whether it woud not be imprudent to suffer the Balloon to rise near half a Mile, before the white Flag; was disentangled and free to follow it.
For as neither the Twine, nor the lower Cords of the Balloon were of Silk; the Twine having lain on the Trees or moist Ground, might become a conductor from the Earth to any Stratum of Air that had less or more than what is called its natural Quantity[35] of the electric Fluid.
Twine cut, lest it shoud prove a Conductor of Electricity.
Adding to the above, a Wish to rise higher the second Time than the first; stooping for the Scissars, the String was cut: reserving a Remainder to tye the Neck of the Balloon; which was immediately done by gathering the Parts of the Balloon into the Hand, wrapping a Couple of Yards loosely round, and tying them on a slip or bow Knot: one End of which was purposely left hanging three Feet downwards, to untye instantly on Occasion.
Additional Levity of one Pound.