CHAPTER IV.
PREPARATIONS FOR ASCENT.
[Sidenote: Preparations for Ascent.]
Section 22. Before half past I, Mr. Lunardi had inflated his Balloon in the finest Manner; and having, with the most obliging and spirited Attention, made such Preparations, and taken such Precautions, as he thought were necessary to ensure the Success of the Expedition; sent to inform Mr. Baldwin (who continued purposely absent, that he might not disturb or precipitate the Process; but that every Circumstance shoud be conducted with Deliberation and without Hurry) that all Things were ready for his Departure.
[Sidenote: The Public reminded of the Necessity of preserving order during the Inflation of Balloons.]
23. And Mr. Baldwin takes this Opportunity of returning his best Thanks to his Friends and the Public, on the Day of Ascent, for keeping +the small Circle clear+, by strictly adhering to the Words of the Advertisement, which declared, “that in order to prevent an interruption of the Process in the Inflation of the Balloon, no Persons _were_ to be admitted +within the circle+, except those Gentlemen who politely undertook +in turn+ to hold the Lines which detained the Balloon.”
[Sidenote: Lead Weights placed at first in the Car, to prevent any Fatigue in holding the Lines, and the Necessity of weighing, unless at the Time of Ascent, to determine the Power of Levity.]
24. It may be proper to mention that Mr. Baldwin being resolved to prevent the disagreeable Circumstances of being _weighed_ in the Presence of Thousand spectators, at a Time when it is uncertain whether the Balloon has _acquired_ a sufficient Degree of Levity to raise his own Weight, together with the Instruments, Provisions, Ballast, and other Articles, all which are known or easily calculated; finding some Days before, his own Weight, and having calculated the rest as under[7]; he ordered his Servant, on the Day of the Excursion, to bring Lead Weights equal to the _Sum total_, with an overplus Weight of 10lb. for Levity of Ascent, and place them _gradually_ in the Car, attached for that Purpose to the Balloon, soon after the Inflation began. By which Means the Gentlemen who held the Cords were quite at Ease: nor was there Occasion to tye the Lines during the Inflation, to Posts fixed in the Circumference of the Circle; nor consequently to _cut them_ afterwards.
But it will be seen that Mr. Lunardi inflated the Balloon in a superior Manner.
25. All Things being thus prepared, Mr. Baldwin stepped into the Car: and finding, that, besides his own Weight, the Provisions, Articles, Ballast, &c. the Balloon woud support an additional Weight, and _still_ rise with superior Levity; Mr. Lunardi put in 12lb. of additional Ballast, and _guessed_ the encreased Levity at 10lb. more.
Additional { Ballast 12 { Levity 10 ——— 22 Added to the 234 ——— Make the Sum 256lb.
All which added to the Weight of the Balloon, _by Information only_, as follows:
Balloon varnished 113 Netting and Cords 18 Car and Hoops 24 Mended and added Parts 5 Grapple and Cable 4 ——— 164
With the 256 Make the total Levity of the Gass to produce an Equilibrium, equal to 420lb.
The Weight of a Quantity of Air equal in Bulk to the Balloon, being secluded; and the Gass substituted in its Room.
[Sidenote: Weight of Articles.]
26. The Calculation of the Weight of Articles was, as follows:
Pounds Articles. Averd. Ounces.
1. Eight coloured Bladders[8] (Section 13, Art. 18) 1 – 0
2. Preparations against extreme Cold. +A Winter Dress.+ Flannel or woollen Socks } Cap } Gloves } Drawers } 0 – 14 Under Stockings } ———— Waistcoat }
3. Brandy, Water, Flask, and Refreshments 1 – 8
4. Barometer (portable) 0 – 12½
5. Thermometer 0 – 3
6. Dial-Compass (a Mariner’s Compass in a double Box, will traverse better) 0 – 3½
7. Two white Flags, 0 – 4 with Dutch Twine on two Reels furnished with Swivels 2 – 8
8. Asses Skin Pocket Book, Blank Cards, Pencils, Knife and Scissars 0 – 4½
9. Map of Cheshire boarded, the superfluous Parts cut away 0 – 3
10. Speaking Trumpet 0 – 8½
11. Mr. Lunardi’s Flag 3 – 8
12. Basket and eight Pint Bottles labelled, one full of Brandy, another of Water 8 – 3 ——————— 20 – 0
[Sidenote: Weight of Ballast.]
27. The Ballast consisted of three Bags of dry Sand, and two red grit Stones, taken while in the Car, _additional_.
1st Bag tyed up weighed 12lb. 2d Ditto 12 3d untyed Ditto 20 1st red Grit 7 2d red Grit 5 —— In all 56lb.