CHAPTER XVII.

BALLOON STILL DESCENDING.

Section 98. The Car, gliding _over_ Trees in the _farther_ Hedge-Row of a Grass Field, glanced on the Ground.

[Sidenote: Caution on Landing.]

The Aironaut, being _prepared_ for the Event, supported a _Part_ of the Weight of his Body by his Hands, grasping the _upper_ Hoop.

The Balloon _stooping_, and declining from the North-West Breeze, drew the _upper_ Hoop out of the Perpendicular: by which Means, the Bottom of that Division of the Barometer-Frame which contained the _Tube_, pressed against the Bottom of the Car on the Ground, was _separated_ from the remaining Half of the Frame, and fell on the _Grass_.

[Sidenote: More Ballast parted with, viz. seven Pounds.]

The Balloon, then rising with an elastic _Bound_, elevated the Car a few Yards, and descended to the Ground, but _more_ gently than before: rose again; and the Aironaut perceiving that the progressive Motion of the Breeze was bringing the Balloon near a _third_ Hedge; took up his Knife, (which lay by him _ready open_ for Use) and _cut away_ the remaining Half of the _Barometer-Frame_; threw out the _Basket with the Bottles_, and _Tunning Dish_; the _Speaking Trumpet_; the _Woollen Gloves_, the remaining half Mile of _Twine on the Reel_.[31]

The Car _cleared_ the Hedge, and _slightly_ for an _Instant_ touched Ground, the _third_ Time.

[Sidenote: Farmers offering their Assistance.]

99. During these Operations; the Aironaut had observed different Persons in Motion towards him, who proved to be several _Farmers_ and _Labourers_ who had run themselves out of Breath to _overtake_ the Balloon.

One asked the Aironaut, whether he intended to alight; and was answered, “_Not for any Time_.”

[Sidenote: Proof of the _gentle_ Descent.]

100. The Car alighted each Time so _smoothly_, that neither the _Watch_ nor _Thermometer_ that lay near each other on the _green_ Bays at the Bottom, were displaced. Nor was the _Glass Tube_ containing the Quicksilver, separated from the Division of the Frame in which it was originally fixed: but the whole was brought back, a few Days after, in a perfect State: except a small Hole, made in Consequence of the inverted Situation of the _Mercury_ in Vacuo, _which_ fell against the Top of the exhausted Tube.

[Sidenote: Balloon landed near Frodsham.]

The Car _first_ landed at 28 Minutes past III, in a Field belonging to a Farm called Bellair, in the Township of Kingsley, near two Miles East by South from the Town of Frodsham, and twelve from Chester.

END OF THE FIRST PART.

AIROPAIDIA.

THE SECOND PART OF AN AËRIAL EXCURSION

FROM CHESTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPT. 1785.