CHAPTER XXIII.
AIR WARMER ABOVE THAN BELOW.
Section 126. It was a Matter both of Surprize and Pleasure to observe that the Thermometer had risen +again+ to 60, when the Balloon had soared _above_ the Sea-Breeze; as the Aironaut had expected to feel the extreme Rigour of Winter; and had made Preparations against _intense_ Cold.
Nor did he find any Difficulty in Respiration _during_ the Excursion; which may possibly be accounted for from the _Warmth_ of the Air.
[Sidenote: The Breath not visible during the Excursion.]
That the Breath[37] was _not_ visible at _any_ one Time, and particularly while the Balloon was elevated above the _under_ Current, might it not be owing to the uncommon +dryness+ of the Air, which woud _dissipate_ the Vapour at the Instant of _Exposure_?
[Sidenote: Encreased Shadows seem to raise the Objects.]
127. It was remarked, some little Time _before_, and _during_ the _last_ Glance of the Prospect taken at the _highest_ Elevation, that the House at Aston was still visible, and the _dark coloured_ +Line+ forming its +diminutive+ Shadow seemed _thicker_ in Proportion to the _Plan_, than when the Mansion was _first_ seen before the Re-ascent. And it had a _sensible_ Effect in _apparently raising_ it above the _common_ Level.
[Sidenote: Prospects _below_ noted.]
128. The Circuit of the _Land-Abyss below_ was also greatly _contracted_: and a Haziness inclining to a _dark Green_ seemed to cover the _outward_ Verge _round_ the _Lawn_.
The _red_ River Wever only appeared.
The Channel and _broad_ Branch of the River Mersey towards Warrington, had long since vanished.
[Sidenote: _Down_ View like the Pattern of a Turkey-Carpet.]
The Lawn itself, which composed the Ground-View, was full of _innumerable_ Enclosures _almost_ +close+ to each other; with _much_ Wood:—dwindling to the Pattern of an elegant Turkey-Carpet: which, according to Principles of Mahommedan Faith, tho’ wrought in _gay_ and _vivid_ Colours, is _made_ to exhibit +no exact+[38] _Resemblance_ to the Works either of Art or Nature.
[Sidenote: The Earth _glowing_ with _primary_ Colours only.]
129. The Colours, of which the Ground Work was _principally_ formed (except +white+; also the _roughened_ Sea, which _alone_ was +black+; and Shadows, which _constantly_ gave a _transparent_ +violet+) were four simple and _primary_ ones, viz. +red+, +yellow+, +green+, and +blue+: all which seemed to +glow+, tho’ in a _less_ Degree, like the Colours of the Prism.
This unmixed _Coloration_ of Objects, to be seen from a vertical Situation _only_, to be seen without _Refraction_, is a new singular and _pleasing_ Phenomenon.
[Sidenote: _Cromátic_ view of the Earth, an Appearance peculiar to the Balloon.]
130. A View, taken _above_ the Level of the Clouds, may, from this Circumstance, without Impropriety, be called a +chromatic view+ or the Earth: of which, the _Print_ is an Example: delineating the Extent of the aërial Excursion; and placed at the End of the _second_ Part, including the Re-ascent.