231. 3. Water is also a Conductor of Electricity, tho’ a feeble one: and there is moreover a strong chemical Affinity between water, inflammable Air, Gasses, Floguiston, and Electricity.[53]
231. 4. Water will therefore conduct the Gass to itself: i. e. will draw the Balloon downwards, and with accelerating Velocity; as the Attraction is stronger, the nearer the Water.
231. 5. But if the Air over the Water be warmer than that over Land; then the Balloon, moving into a warmer Medium, as over the Sea in frosty Weather, most undoubtedly descends: till the included Gass has received the additional Encrease of Temperature from that of the Air, at which Time it will have a Tendency to re-ascend, and will rest suspended in Equilibrio, as in the former Case.
The above Causes however may be considered, as trivial.
The first may be avoided by making the Balloon Air-tight: and the second easily guarded against by throwing out a little Ballast.
The only formidable one, if any, is
the depression of the atmosphere.
This it will be necessary to consider with some Degree of Attention.
