CHAPTER X.
[Sidenote: 4th Cannon heard.]
Section 62. At 10 Minutes and a half past II. o’Clock, the fourth or last Cannon, a Six-pounder (to announce, by preconcerted Agreement, that the Balloon began to be invisible to Spectators in Castle-Yard, Chester) was distinctly heard by the Aironaut; but had no Effect on the Balloon: did not agitate it in the least: the contrary of which was expected.
For the same Cannon, discharged the third Time at the Distance of 30 Yards from the Balloon, when it had risen a few Feet from the Ground; affected it so strongly, that the Aironaut was +then only+ obliged to keep himself upright, by holding the Cords with his Hands.
[Sidenote: Balloon first invisible to the Inhabitants of Chester.]
63. At 17 Minutes past II. was heard the Sound of a Number of Voices, which it was then imagined came from Chester, as the farewel Salute after the last Cannon: but it was afterwards known that the Balloon did not become wholly invisible, till that Shout.
[Sidenote: Distance of the Balloon calculated.]
64. From an Observation made by a Spectator in the Castle-Yard, just half an Hour intervened between the Discharge of the third, and of the last Cannon; as therefore the Report was half a Minute, or 30 Seconds[21] longer in reaching the Balloon; the Distance of the Balloon at the Time of the Report was _nearly_ six Miles and a half.
[Sidenote: Chester seen as a _small_ Model.]
64. The single thin white Cloud of the first or lowest Order in Height that rendered Chester invisible to the Aironaut, was observed several Minutes before, _apparently_ to pass under the Balloon, retire from it, to approach, and expected to invelope, the _blue_ City of Chester: which for a long Time had been kept in View, and seen _obliquely_, under the _common_ Perspective, with a small Degree of Elevation above the Level of the Ground: suggesting to his Mind the curious and complete Model of Paris, exhibited some Years ago _on a small Table_, in many Towns of Europe.
[Sidenote: The Sight _doubly_ deceived in the Distance.]
The Cloud appeared, four Miles Distance at least from the Aironaut; below; and as if touching the City. The contrary Supposition, it seems, took Place, among the Inhabitants there: who thought, a Cloud, a Mile above them, had surrounded and inveloped the Balloon.
[Sidenote: Condiments tasted as usual.]
65. The Pepper Salt and Ginger were tasted, and found to retain their usual Pungency: contrary to what Travellers have reported to happen on the Peak of Teneriffe.
[Sidenote: Silk electric.]
The small Hank of yellow raw Silk tyed to the upper Hoop, and hanging down from it, appeared _rough_, as if electric: and, tho’ drawn thro’ the Hand, continued _furred_ as before.
[Sidenote: _White_ Flag wholly hung out from the Car.]
66. It was now thought a proper Time to finish the original Work of unwinding the remaining Part of the half Mile of Twine: which proved equally tedious, as at the first; and took up a considerable Time. When completed, the _white_ Flag was extended exactly half a Mile from the Car.
[Sidenote: Cattle discovered from the Balloon.]
[Sidenote: Ballast thrown out,]
67. Perceiving that the Balloon was descending very _briskly_, by the Appearance of Cattle in the Corner of a Field; first, _one_ of the two solid Weights was cast down: then the _other_.
[Sidenote: Time in falling estimated.]
A Return of Sound to the Balloon, from the lighter which weighed five Pounds, was heard in 130 Countings of a Watch, which made 120 of the same full Beats in a Minute.
Before the Weight became invisible; it _appeared_ to move a good Deal out of the Perpendicular: owing either to an under Current; or to a Deception of Sight, respecting the horizontal Motion of the Balloon in a different Direction, during the Descent of the Stone.
The other must have fallen in soft Grass, or otherwise: as it was not heard.