CHAPTER IX.
OTHER AËRIAL SCENES DESCRIBED.
[Sidenote: Balloon Shadow traced on the Clouds.]
Section 56. During the Time that the Balloon from being stationary at 23¼ (corresponding to the Height of about a Mile and a half) began to _decline_, which it must have done with a brisk Motion, imperceptible to the Aironaut at the Time, tho’ since recognized, on Account of the great Opening at the Bottom; he traced its _Shadow_ over the Tops of Volumes of Clouds below. It was at first small: in Size and Shape like an Egg: but soon encreased to the Magnitude of the Sun’s Disk; and woud have made a solar Eclipse to a Spectator looking from the Cloud: still growing larger, as the Balloon descended, or Clouds arose. But his Attention was presently called to another equally novel, but more captivating Appearance; that of an _Iris_ encircling the whole _Shadow_, at some Distance round it. The Colours were remarkably brilliant.
This _celestial Phantom_ attended the Aironaut for a few Minutes: conforming, as a Vessel at Sea, to the Change of _Surface_; now plainly visible, now indistinct and disappearing; as it passed _throu’_ the _luminous_ or _shadowy Wave_ of Clouds _apparently_ at Rest.
[Sidenote: The Iris, a Frame to the pictured Land, vanishes.]
57. The Clouds, in which this Phenomenon continued, were of the superior or second Stratum in Height, as in fair Weather; rare; of a transparent _Blue_ and purest _White_, alternate. At the End of four Minutes they dispersed, so as to admit an unexpected Sight of the pictured Land thro’ +them+, and thro’ the Place of _the Balloon-Shadow_; whose Form first vanishing, _the Iris_ remained, for a few Seconds, complete, and in resplendent Beauty.
58. _Írides_, of the same Kind, tho’ of less vivid Colours, are seen round the Moon, in a mild Evening; as thin light Clouds move slowly under it.[20]
[Sidenote: Sun hottest when the Balloon was stationary.]
59. The Sun shone brighter and fiercer, when the Balloon was at its greatest Height: the _Heat_ piercing throu’ his Cloths, (which were of a _dark_ Colour;) while the Aironaut _stood_ with his Face from the Light.
[Sidenote: Lunardi’s Flag thrown out, at the Height of a Mile.]
The Mouth remaining open, it continued to descend, as appeared by the Barometer which had risen nearly to 24 Inches: at which Instant Mr. Lunardi’s _coloured_ Flag was thrown out, for the Information of a Friend; and that Spectators below might judge what was nearly the perpendicular Height of a Mile in the Air, according to Halley’s Table.
[Sidenote: The Flag was seen to descend for 3 Minutes.]
60. The Flag was seen by the Aironaut descend for three Minutes: at which Time it became invisible. It fell, _not_ perpendicularly; but in large Spirals, and by Jerks; darting first on one Side, then on the other. The Resistance of the Air made it act as a Parashute. The Flag was instantly pursued, and taken up in a Field one Mile distant from Chester. The Descent of the Balloon must have been retarded, being four Pounds and a half lighter.
[Sidenote: The Dove turned out.]
61. The Pigeon was then taken out of the Basket of Matting: Thermometer 54; Barometer 25³⁄₁₀. It trembled much. Being turned loose, it looked frequently up at the Car; but flew downwards in cylindrical Gyrations eight or ten Yards in Diameter, according to the Turn of its Head to the right, which seemed to rest in an oblique Attitude: the Wings and Tail continuing extended as much as possible, but without Motion, during its Descent. The Bird was out of Sight in a few Minutes: but continued, as _the Owner_ observed, full half an Hour, in the Air.