CHAPTER XV.
[Sidenote: Balloon over Aston-House, at 4 Minutes past III, and near a Mile high.]
Section 85. At 4 Minutes past III, the Balloon remained _vertically_ over the River, and over the elegant Mansion called Aston.
[Sidenote: Wind _below_.]
86. A Wind was heard +below+ for a few Seconds: and the Air felt a _little cool_. Thermometer 55, or Temperate: Barometer 25½, corresponding to the Height of near a Mile.[27]
[Sidenote: The Balloon going to Sea, determined the Aironaut to _descend_, in Hopes of finding a Sea-Breeze in _Time_.]
87. The Balloon continuing its eccentric Movements from _Side to Side_ across the Meadows; yet still gliding _down_ the River, in a North-West by North Direction, almost at right Angles to that which it _before_ had held; consequently _towards_ the Sea, and in a Line which continued must pass throu’ the Center of the Channel: some Step it was necessary to take, and +soon+. By throwing out Ballast, the Balloon woud instantly rise: but it woud probably, as _before_, rise into +a Calm+, and therefore _descend_ nearly in the same Line: which woud merely _protract_ the Time till the Balloon had reached the Center of the Channel: where, having no Resource, the Ballast being then expended; there might be some Risque in waiting for a Vessel, tho’ the Balloon woud not for +several Hours+, have lost its _levitating_ Power, so as to have sunk with the Aironaut. To him however it immediately occurred, that there might be an +under+ Current of Air, as usual in the Middle of the Day, blowing from Sea to Land: and, that if the Balloon was made to descend +quickly+ into the Sea-Breeze; it might, in a few Minutes, be carried so _far_ within the Country, as to be _soon beyond_ the Influence of the _Sea_ and _River_: and +then+, by throwing out some Pounds of Ballast, woud return into the _upper_ Current, and pursue a _safe_ Course towards Manchester; or even towards Prescot and Liverpool, if an easterly Wind prevailed _above_.
88. In Consequence of these Expectations; he looked downwards _towards_ the Sea, _then_ wholly _invisible_; tho’ the Murmuring of its Waves was _more_ plainly heard.
[Sidenote: Smoke blown to Land by a Sea-Breeze.]
+Thick Smokes+ were distinguished issuing from _different_ Places along the Marsh near the Coast: and _apparently_ skirting the Ground, as if impelled by a _brisk_ Wind from the Sea.
89. No Time was to be lost.
The Balloon having reached the Cascade; and continuing to move more regularly along the Course of the River, past the _Bridge_, and proceeded to _Rock-Savage_.
[Sidenote: The Balloon still going to Sea, the Mouth was opened.]
90. The Neck or _Mouth_ which remained shut, by its own Pressure against the Outside of the upper Hoop, as _it_ lay over it; was instantly brought within the Hoop, and set +wide open+ in a perpendicular Situation.
Not more than a Couple of Minutes had elapsed before Sounds were more audible and louder.
Cattle and Corn in the Fields became visible.
[Sidenote: Ballast in Hand ready to throw out.]
91. The Observer very deliberately stooping to put down his Card and Pencil; with his _left_ Hand grasping the Hoop of the Car, and with his Right holding a Sand-Bag, to throw over as he approached the Earth; found that the Balloon was _influenced_ by an +under+ Current blowing from the Sea: and marked his Progress by the half Mile +white+ Flag; whose Stretcher having acquired a Position parallel to the Plane of the Horizon, placed the Flag in an excellent Point of View: the Balloon _towing_ it _apparently_ with a _slow_ Motion, over the distant Tops of the _dark-green_ Trees.