322 Experiments made with the Aeroflatic Machine. on M. R. throwing fome fresh straw upon the fire, it immediately reafcended,amid the loud acclamations of a vaft multitude of people, who little expected to fee fo fudden a recovery. The balloon was then hauled down, and M. Giron de Villette placed himself in the gallery oppofite to M. R. They were once more let up; and, for fome time, hovered over Paris, in the fight of all its inhabitants, at the height of 324 feet. VII. Matters feemed now ripe for a free aerial navigation. A fmoke balloon, very amilar to the one laft defer bed, was prepared to go off at la Muette, a royal palace in the bois de Boulogne, where, we are informed, the King's children now ufually refide. All things being ready, on the 21ft of November, M. Pilatre de Rozier took his poft in the gallery, and the Marquis D'ARLANDES, a major of infan try, placed himself on the oppofite fide of this gallery as a counterpoife to preferve the equilibrium of the machine. After repairing tome damage done to the balloon in a firft effay, it was, at 54 minutes after one, abfoJutely abandoned to the element; and it afcended with great rapidity. When these bold anventurers were about 250 feet iu the air they waved their hats to the aftonished multitude; but they foon after rofe too high to be diflinguished, and are thought to have foared to an elevation of about 3000 feet. The biftory of this navigation (as we collect, not from this book, but from private information which we have reafon to think authentic) is, in fact, the hiftory of the arms of the Marquis D'Arlandes. When he found himself to high that becould no longer ditinguish the objeds upon earth, he thought both his amb tion and his curiofity fufficiently gratified, and defired his companion to cease laying fraw upon the fire, that they might defcend. M. P. de Rozier, however, deaf to the fe remondrances, continued his operations, and the Marquis continued murmuring. At length, being at the higheft elevation above mentioned, the latter perceived fome holes burnt in the fres of the balloon, and likewife heard nd cracks pear tre top of the ma2. which feemed to menace in ftant deftruction. He then became outrageous; quickly clapped wet fponges to the burning holes; and vowed that, if his companion would now defcend, he would take upon himself the whole blame of having thus fhortened their navigation. M. P. de R. at length liftened to his urgent folicitations; but on approach. ing the earth they found that they were defcending immediately over the Seine; and fearing leaft they might be carried away by the current of air that generally attends ftreams of wa ter, the Marquis was glad to affift in throwing freih Araw upon the fire; and thus they rofe again to a confi derable height. On their next approach to the earth, the Marquis feeing the danger they were in of being fpitted on the weather-cock of the Invalids, haftily threw a fresh bundle of ftraw upon the fire, and even spread it, in order to raise a greater blaze.-Ths carried them over a great part of Paris, where they took care to clear all the fteeples, &c. and paffing the Boulevard, they landed fafely in a field near Bicetre, without having experienced the leaft real inconveniency. The diftance they went was between 4 and 5000 toises. They were in the air about 25 minutes. The collective weight of the whole appa ratus, including that of the two travel lers, was between 16 and 1700 lb. and when they landed, they had twothirds of their combuftibles ftill left in ftore. VIII. The book we are here reviewing, was, no doubt, printed, and perhaps publifhed, before the exhi bition of a fecond aerial navigation (which may more properly be termed a voyage), fince the author makes no mention of it. As we wish to lay before our readers a complete fummary of all that has been hitherto done in this extraordinary bufinefs, we shall here collect, from affidavits, and other authentic aocounts, the moft Atriking circumftances of this bold enterprize. The globe prepared for this expe dition, was made like that of the Champ de Mars (No. 11.) of gores of filk, alternately red and white, and glazed with fome fort of gum. It was fpherical, and meafured 26 feet in diameter. It was filled with infam meble toifes. No acclamation, no found was heard, for the multitude flood filent with fear and amazement. The navigators, however, gave fignals of their fecurity, by frequently waving two pennants; and M. Charles apprized his friends below that they were easy and happy, by a note he threw down among the crowd. After continuing a thort time ftationary, they perceived themfelves moving nearly horizontally, in the direction of N. N. W. Finding that fome of the inflammable air evaporated, they difcharged fome ballaft, and foon after obferving that the heat of the fun dilated the inflammable air, they suffered fome of it to efcape; and thus they kept pretty nearly in the fame level. In this manner they floated twice acrofs the Seine; and over many towns and villages, the furprize of whofe inhabitants can more easily be conceiv .mable air, the making of which alone By The ift of December laft was fixed upon for this pompous difplay. Two hundred thousand people affembled in and near the garden of the Thuille. ries. The apparatus flood on a scaf'folding railed for the purpofe, in the middle of a piece of water, to prevent its being approached by the multirude. Upon this it refited, merely by the weight of the ballaft in the car. The friends of the navigators had ftored it with plenty of provifion and clothing; befdes which, proper inftruments were alfo embarked. A fmail balloon, which had been prepared for the purpose, was offered to M. Montgolfier, who, at the request of M. Charles cut the ftring by which it was held, and by this allegory tacitly received the tributary homage due to him and his brother as the authors of the invention. At 40 minutes after one Meffrs. Charles and Robert afcended the Car. They threw out 19 lb. of baliaft, and inftantly rofe, with an accelerated ve locity, to the height of about 300 after their departure, they found themfelves out of fight of Paris; they then defcended fo low as to skim along the furface of the ground, and converfed with feveral labourers in the fields: feeing a hill before them they caft fome of their fuperfluous clothing out of the car, and thus cleared the eminence. They now made a comfortable meal. Finding themselves near the Ifle D'Adam, where the Prince of Conti has a Palace, they again approached the ground, enquired after the Prince, and were told that he was at Paris. At forty five minutes after three they found themselves over Nefle, a fmall town about nine leagues (twenty feven English miles) from Paris. And there, after fliding. a little way along the furface of the ground, they alighted gently, and without the leaft fhock or concuffion," in a field. Of a great number of those who had galloped after the balloon from the Thuilleries, only the Dukes de Chartres and Fitz James, and Mr. Farrer, an English gentleman, who had relays pofted in the direction of the wind, arrived a few minutes after the landing. The others either lamed or killed their horfes or grew tired of the pursuit. After the warmest congratulations, an affidavit was drawn up, and signed by all the parties prefent. M. Charles M. Charles now declared his intention to reafcend alone; but to this the Duke de Chartres confented, only on condition that he would return in half an hour. M. Robert alighted, and by the diminution of his weight, the machine acquired a power of afcenfion equal to about foolb.. M. Charles made a fignal to a number of peasants who leaned against the edge of the car to keep it down, to withdraw ou a fudden, which being done, he rushed into the air, with great velocity. In ten minutes he thought himfelf at the elevation of about 1500 toifes. The globe being now in fo rarefied a medium fweiled confiderably, but fome of the inflamnable air being let out, it rofe Aill higher. The barometer which before his departure flood at 28 inches 4 lines, had now fallen to 18 inches to lines. The thermometer from 7d 5 above o,, or the freezing point ou Reaumur's fcale, had funk to 5d. below o.. A dif. ference of about 28d. of Farenheit's fcale. From thefe data the elevation of the globe was eft.mated at 1524 toiles. The scene that here prefented itself, muft no doubt have been awful and fublime beyond defcription. M Charles had feen the fun (etting before he left the land, but it foon rofe to him again, and not long after he faw it fet a fecond time. The va pours rifing from the ground colle&ed clouds under his feet, covered the earth, and concealed it from his fight: The moon fhone, and its pale light spread various hues over the fantaf e forms of thefe accumulated maf fes. No wonder that the first mortal eye who ever, in fuch circumftances, beleid fo majeftic a fcene, could not refrain from med ding tears of joy and aamitation. But recollecting now his By *We fulpec fome error here. ite Formula we can make no more ahan 8000 feet, or about one aile angi iralf of this elevation. # This part of our narrative is chiefly extracted from the account M. Charles has himself given to the Koyal Academy of his various feelings during this extraordinary navigat da. Few things, in our opinior, are better pictured than the impreßions be de rived from the magnificent display aoned him, «nd the novelty of his pation. promile to the Duke de Chartres, he. refolved to defcend,--he fuffered · fome of the inflammable air to escape, and he was moreover affifted by the coolness of the evening which condeufed that air. The globe was about half emptied when it fettled gently in a fallow, about three miles from the place from whence it had afcended the fecond time. This fecond fight lafted about 35 minutes. All the inconvenience he had experienced in that elevated region, was a dry, harp cold, with a pain in one of his ears, and a part of hs face; which he afcribed to the dilatation of internal air. We muft here obferve, that the fmall balloon let off by M. Montgolfier was found at Vincennes, in a direction oppofite to that taken by the great balloon. A circumftance which proves the different directions of wind at different elevations, whence no fmall advantages may probably be derived, hould aerial navigation ever be reduced to practice. Thus far the experiments hitherto made. Cetera pars Animæ per totum difta Corpus Paret. Luc. Tis a fine entertainment to take a view of the human foul, as the is feated in all her grandeur; dispenses her orders to the various members; and prefides in the court of the fenfes. The foul of man, as it labours under many inconveniences and dishonours from its prefent union to the body; fo it alfo enjoys fome dignities and fatisfactions, of which a created (pirit unembodied is, perhaps, utterly incapabe. On the one haud, innumerable pams and languors hang like fo many chains about it,which take their ong from the Beth: on the contrary, a thouand delights (pring up in the fenfes, glide fmoothly into the brain, paint tur magmation, and fmile upon the fout. It is a pleafant fpeculation, to repre fear the mind as the fits retired in her fecret apartment and collected in herfelf judges of the feverald:fferent reports of inetes fes. No monarch on his throne is attended by fervants fo diligent, exaft and numerous. The eyes waken and roll about for her recreation and improvement; inform ber of the promifcuous mifcuous colours of obje&s; and ftill prefent her with some fine and elegant picture. The ears open to entertain her with the miftery of founds, warn her of difcords and a harsh noife, or tranfport her with the heavenly Arains of harmony. She determines upon taftes by the various reports of the palate; the olfactory nerves regale her with incenfe and perfume; and the ideas of touch travel up to her throne through a million of different roads. By a fingle act of her will, the can command an army of bones and tendons, and at least fifty complaifant muscles fland ready to Hatter her whenever fhe is difpofed to laugh. Among the numerous organs of the body, none entertains the foul in a more All agreable manner than the Eye. The nature is covered with charms to allure and tranfport the faculty of feeing. For this, the light plays about the fields of æther, and paints the earth about us with its various landscapes. glow of bloffoms in the fpring, the changing verdure of the fummer groves the blush of the autumnal fruits, or the unfullied luftre of the fnows in winter, are owing to its promiscuous rays. It is to this that even the lovely fex owe their moft refifilefs graces. It fcatters the fair temple, and the rofy cheek with its blended colours; lights up a circle of beauties round the exact form; and kindles a rapture in the heart of the spectator. If the delights of the eye are very fuperior, no less wonderful is its ftructure, and manner of operation. Tho' the theory of founds is perplexed with greater myfteries than that of vifion, and there have been more nice advances made in the knowledge of the eye than of the ear: yet the vifive faculty ftill remains full of curiofities and woaders, to amuse the ingenious, and The feveral puzzle the inquifitive. humonrs that refract and temper the rays of light, as they pafs through to gild the retina; the feveral tunicles that inveft and feperate them; together with the mufcles that give them their fudden and easy roll, and the nerves which propagate the fenfation to the brain, are fo many demonftrations of an All wife Creator; and Arike the admiring philosopher into a Profound reverence and devotion. Sight is the most neceffary of all the fenfes, for the well-being of the living world. However difficult it may feem to determine, which of the fenfes is moft necessary for the individual, it is very plain, fight is of the greatest importance to the fpecies. All mankind might, perhaps, still live in communities, and maintain their forms of government, without the fenfes of (mell, or tafle, or hearing, but it would be next to impoffible for them to fubfift were an univerfal blindness scattered through the race. The feveral fenfes in the poffeffion of man, appear to me to observe the following order and method, as they afcend gradually one above another. The lowest of all is that of fmelling. Next above, and of a very near afAs the finity to this, is the tafte. hearing is a much nobler power than either of them, fo it employs more organs, acts in a fironger manner, and enjoys a much wider compafs of operation. The fight crowns the whole: It is of more importance in its uses; more various in its pleasures; more arbitrary in its action, and as much quicker in difpatch, as it commands a larger fphere in which to exert itfelf. My reader will obferve, that I have left the feeling entirely out of this fcale of fenfe, as it poffeffes no particular place of excellence, but is a kind of general medium to them all. Or, to fpeak more intelligibly, the (mell, the tafle, the hearing, and the fight, are all but fo many different modes of feeting. If the fight claims the precedence of the other fenfes, how great should be our commiferation to thofe few unhapPy parts of our fpecies, who from their birth are loft in a total blindness. They can form no idea of the most beautiful fcenes in nature; and are in a manner dead to the fublimeft fatisfactions of life. They wander in fhades and darkness, among all the glories of colour and light. Neither the delicacy of blush in the skies, nor the glow of the western heavens in the evening, can give one fingle joy to dawn upon their fancy. The gloom of midnight, and the blaze of noon are alike to them; and they are equally infenfible of the fierce fplendour of the fun, and the fofter lights of the lefs, or more diflant luminaries. I have Our I have often fancied to myself, that our ideas of the invifible world, are altogether as remote from the reality, as the imaginations which a man born blind, forms about colours. The way we have got of confounding fpiritual and fenfible things together, and mixing the conceptions of viuble and invifible objects, teams with as many absurdities,as a man blind from his birth would make in a treatise upon the rays of light. It is a well-known ftory of one of the fe dark gentlemen, that when he had with much labour and application ftu died the nature of SCARLET, he with uncommon fagacity and penetration, determined, it must needs be exactly like the found of a Trumpet. bleffed Saviour alludes to this incapacity of mankind fo funk in sense, to conceive the things of another world, when he tells us, "if I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how all ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things." Objects and actions of fo different a nature from any thing we have feen, could never be defcribed to our understandings any more than colours and light may be brought down to the apprehenfions of a man who never faw either. Those who would be glad of an example to il Juftrate the impotence of the imagina. tion to conceive fome fimple image, which it never received by the eyes, would do well to form an idea of the colour of thefe garments, with which, the Author of "A Voyage to the World in the Moon," fays, the lunar inhabitants covered themfelves from the cold, when his traveller [aw them. He tells us, that the colour was the moft beautiful he ever faw, but he could not defcribe it, because it was as different from any colour upon earth, as red and white. Having thus prepared my reader for it, I intend in my next to give him a late hiftory, from the Philofophical Tranfa&tions, of the cure of a perfon blind from his infancy. A Letter from an American Lady to her fon in Europe, on the celebrated letters of the late Earl of Chefterfield. nor do I wonder at it; I fhould have no opinion of your tafte, if you was not charmed with the correct ftile, the ele'gant di&tion,the harmony of language, the thoufand beauties of expreffion that run parrallel with the knowledge of the world, and the arts of life, through this complete fyftem of refinement. This masterly writer has furnished the prefent generation with a code of politenefs, which, perhaps, furpaffes any thing of the kind in the English language. But when he facrifices truth to convenience, prabity to pleasure, virtue to the graces, generofity, gratitude, and all the finer feelings of the foul, to a momentary gratification, we cannot but pity the man, as much as we admire the author; and I never fee this fafcinating collection of letters, taken up by the youthful reader, but I tremble, leaft the honeyed pofon, that lurks beneath the fairest flowers of fancy and Rhetoric, should leave a deeper tincture on the mind, than, even his documents for an external decency and the femblance of morality. I have no quarrel with the graces; I love the Douceurs of civility, the placid manners, L'aimable, and a'l the innocent arts of engaging the ef teem, and alluring the affections of mankind-The paffion is laudable, and may be indulged to the higheft pitch, confiftent with the eternal law of rectitude; but I love better that franknefs and fincerity, which bespeak a foul above diffimulation; that generous, refolute, manly fortitude, that equally defpifes and refifts the temptations to vice in the Purlieu's of the Brothel, or the anti chamber of the Princefs, in the arms of the emaciated, diftempered proftitute, or beneath the fmiles of the painted courtefan, who decorates her guilty charms even with the blandishments of honour. And however ennobled by birth, dignified by rank, or justly admired for his liter ary productions, I muft beg leave to differ from his Lordship, and think it by no means neceffary that a gentle. man, in order to be initiated into the fcience of good breeding, should drop his humanity; or to acquire a courtly mein and become an adept in politeness, that he should renounce the moral feel ings i |