CHAPTER XXXVII.

+OBSERVATIONS, HINTS, and CONJECTURES, on the SUBJECT of the BALLOON and EXCURSION FROM CHESTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPT. 1785.+

OF THE WEATHER, IN THE VICINITY OF CHESTER, ABOUT THE TIME OF THE EXCURSION.

Section 211. For more than ten Days _before_ the Balloon-Voyage, the Wind had blown (_interruptedly_ on Account of the Sea-Breeze) from South and South by West.

Monday the 5th of September:

A Conjunction of the Planet Mercury and the Moon, at +one+ in the Afternoon.

Tuesday the 6th:

A violent Hurricane in the South of England, at London, Portsmouth, &c.

The same Day at Chester North-North-West, and distant from London 182 Miles; South-Breeze; Rain most of the Day. Thermometer at Noon in the Shade, 62: and 14 Divisions colder each Night, than the _following_ Day, at an Average of five Years. Barometer, below _Much Rain_, viz. at 28 Inches ⁹⁄₁₀ths.

Wednesday the 7th:

Violent Squalls from South and South-West, with hazy Air, till half past IV in the Afternoon. Thermom. 58; Barom. Changeable, viz. 29½.

Thursday the 8th, which was the Day of the Excursion:

Much bright Sun. (On Enquiry) calm _below_ till half past III in the Afternoon, then West Sea-Breeze: South-West Breeze _above_ till half past IV. Calm bright Evening.

Also the upper Stratum of Clouds thin and _white_, in _quick_ Motion, when seen from _below_ till Noon: at which Time the Sky was almost cloudless: and, from _above_ the upper Stratum, were seen, interspersed, Multitudes of detached Thunder-Clouds in large Masses, rising at Intervals, in the _Middle_ of the upper Surfaces of white Clouds, and stretching _above_ them.

Friday and Saturday moderate: South and South-West Breeze.

Sunday the 11th. The Planet Mercury stationary.

Cloudy Morn. South-West Breeze. Thermom. at 60 at Noon. Barom. _above_, Changeable, viz. at 29½. +Much thunder+ and Rain in the Afternoon.

212. Quere, Had the _Thunder_-Clouds on Thursday, tho’ not remarked by any from +below+, yet visible to a great Extent from the Balloon _above_ them,—any Connexion with the _Thunder_ that happened +three+ Days after?

[Sidenote: Weather, to be prognosticated, by _Sight_, from the Balloon]

Answer: It appears to the Observer, that the _Thunder_ was _gradually_ collecting in the Air from _Thursday_ till Sunday: and if so; will not Balloons, when more _frequent_, prognosticate the Weather, _by Sight_, better than any other known Methods?