CHAPTER XXXV.
Section 196. The Route of the Balloon being now throu’ a _flat woody_ Country, with _tall_ Trees growing in the Hedge Rows; a Difficulty occurred, how to conduct the Cable, when the Balloon was _above_ or _between_ the Trees, without entangling: which gave the Conductor much Trouble, as he was frequently obliged to walk round a Field, the Balloon being held in the Center, before he coud espy a proper Opening.
[Sidenote: March of the Balloon.]
The Procession marched slowly forward: and the young Man was carried among _his Peers_ in Triumph through the Air, across the Turnpike-Road, into the Middle of an open Grass Field, where he descended; took a Companion _less heavy_, and left the Car.
This Stripling was a good Deal surprised the Instant he rose above the Trees; but ventured to look around: and appeared on the _whole_ much delighted.
197. A great Concourse of People were now collected.
Accidental Carriages halted: joined the Cavalcade, and partook of the Diversion: the _greater_ Part following the Balloon throu’ the _open_ Fields adjoining the Road.
[Sidenote: Caution to prevent the Escape of the Balloon.]
The Conductor _generally_ preferring the beaten Track; yet _suspecting_ the Balloon with its Adventurer in the Car, might _designedly_ be suffered to _escape_, took the Precaution to have the Grapple held by _nearest_ Relations to the Person in the Car.
198. The Gass evaporating; a smart young Fellow, who seemed ready for the Jaunt, stepped in: on which the former resigned his Place. But he was no sooner raised a few Yards above his Companions, than the _florid_ Colour forsook his Cheeks; he _trembled_; bent himself _double_ with Fright; and the Balloon was obliged to be hauled down.
[Sidenote: A Venus in the Car of the Balloon.]
199. A fond Mother then requested that her Child, a fine blooming Girl, might ascend: boasting of her Courage, and comparing it with that of the Person who had none.
The _Venus_ smiled, and mounted her Car with great Spirit.
[Sidenote: Politeness of the neighbouring Gentlemen.]
200. Some Ladies and Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood who had watched the Balloon, while it hung at an immense Height over Lymm, and the Gunpowder Works on the River Mersey, came, in their Evening Walk, to meet it: joined the Procession; gave the Aironaut _polite_ Invitations to their Houses, and shewed him every possible Civility.
[Sidenote: Effect of Air in _Motion_ on the Surface of the Balloon.]
201. The Resistance made by the _Surface_ of the Balloon, against the _least Breath_ of Air moving _horizontally_, was _frequently_ tried by occasionally holding the Grapple: and it was a decided Point, that the _least Motion of the Air_ was sufficient, together with the Action of _Levitation_, to prevent the Person, who held the Grapple when the Cable was extended, from transporting the Balloon against the Current: nay it was with Difficulty he coud remain in the _same_ Place: the Balloon sometimes pulling him forwards, and almost off his Feet.
[Sidenote: Effect of _calm_ Air on the Surface of the Balloon.]
202. When the Air was perfectly _calm_, which frequently happened while the Balloon migrated with different Passengers, as the Evening was the finest in the World, and the Country flat and woody in the Hedge-Rows; it was with _Difficulty_ that the Conductor coud draw the Balloon after him, faster than the Rate of a moderate _Walk_: viz. three Miles an Hour.