The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-03 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1863.

MB. GLAISHE'R'S NINTH BALLOON
ASCENT FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES.

One of the principal subjects of research in the
balloon experiments of last year was the de-
termination of the law of decrease of temperature
with increase of elevation. It is a subject to which
very great interest is attached, and to the determi-
nation of which a great deal of labour and research
have been devoted, resulting in the adoption of the
theory of a uniform rate of decrease of 1 deg. of
Fahrenheit's scale for every increase of 300 feet.
The results from my several ascents last season
were, that when the sky was clear a decline of 1 deg.
took place within 100 feet of the earth, whilst at
the height of 30,000 feet a space of fully 1,000 feet
I had to be passed fora change of 1 deg. of tempera-
! tore, and that between these limits a gradually
increasing space was required for a change of tem-
; perature to the same amount, plainly indicating
that the theory of a decline of temperature for every
900 feet of elevation must be abandoned.
The previous eight balloon ascents were made in
i the months July, August, and September. It be-
came of the highest importance to have similar ex-
perimenta in the other months of the year, and the
British Association, at its meeting in Cambridge,
voted 2001. for experiments to be begun in the
spring, and some of them, if possible, during the
prevalence of east winds.
The first of these absents took place with Mr.
Coxwell's large balloon, on Tuesday last, March 31,
from the grounds of the Crystal Palace, by the kind
ipertnisaion of the directors. The gas was prepared
by Mr. Ohren, the engineer of the Crystal Palace
gas works ; and the several instruments were pre-
pared by Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, the former
gentleman being on the ground to adjust them
before starting.
The balloon left the earth at 411. 18m. p.m., the
temperature of the air being 50deg. At 4h. 25w. we
were one mile high, with a temperature of 331 deg. ;
the second mile was reached at 4h. 35w., with a
temperature of 26 deg. ; the third mile at 4b. 44m.,
when the temperature was 14 deg. ; and at 31 miles
high the temperature was 8 deg. A warm current
of air was then met with, and the temperature rose
to 12 deg., at 4h. 58w. At sh. 2m. we passed out of
this current, and when 41 miles high the tempe-
rature was just zero of Fahrenheit's scale.
In descending the temperature increased to 11
deg. at about three miles high, at bh. 38w., then a
cold current was met with and it decreased to 7
deg. We soon pawed through it, and the tempera-
ture increased to 181 deg at two miles high ; to
251 deg. at one mile, and to 42 deg. on the ground,
which was reached at 6h. 30m.
The air was dry before leaving the earth ; it be-
came very dry at heights exceeding two miles, and
at heights exceeding four miles the temperature of
the dew point was fully minus 40 deg.
The course of the balloon on leaving the earth
was from the east, and continued so till about
4h. 30m., when it changed, and at 4h. 45m. the
Crystal Palace appeared under U 8 ' • its course again
changed, and we met with several different currents
of air.
When one mile high, the deep roar of London was
beard distinctly, and its murmuring noise was
heard at a greater elevation. At the heights of
three and four miles, the view was indeed wonder-
ful—the plan-like appearance of London and
suburbs, the map-like appearance of the country
round • then, running the eye down the winding
Thames, the white cliffs at Margate, and on to
Dover ; Brighton was seen and the sea beyond, and
all the coast line was clear up to Yarmouth. The
north was obscured by clouds looking under us,
and to the south there were many detached cumuli
clouds resting apparently on the earth like patches
of shining wool, and in some places a solitary
cloud thus apparently resting on the earth, sur-
rounded by a clear space for many miles.
Looking towards Windsor, the Thames was like
burnished gold, and the surrounding water like
bright silver. Looking towards Putney, the rip-
pling of the water along the banks of the river was
distinctly seen. Railway trains were the only
moving objects visible, and they looked like creeping
things, caterpillar-like, and the steam like a narrow
line of serpentine mist. Taking a grand view over
the whole visible plain beneath, one was struck
with its regularity ; the view did not seem natural,
it was too even, apparently artificial. The effect of
the river scenery was very remarkable in this re-
spect : all the ships looked very diminutive, but
ware visible beyond the Medway.
At 5 we could plainly distinguish Greenwich park
like a garden, and the Royal Observatory as a grey
speck • the Green Man Hotel, Blackheath, was
quite distinct. All the docks were mapped out, and
every object of moderate size was seen clearly with
the naked eye. At the height of 31 miles Mr.
Coxwell said my face was glowing purple, and
afterwards both our faces were very blue. At
heights exceeding 3 mile* the feet and tips of the
fingers were very cold. The sky was of a deep
Prussian blue, when 3 miles high. On descending,
Mr. Coxwell, forgetful of the fact of the grapnel
having been exposed to a temperature of zero, in-
mutiously took hold of it with his naked hands,
and cried out in pain that he was scalded, and he
called me to assist him to drop it The sensation
was exactly that of scalding water. The blackness
creeping over the land at sunset was very remark-
able, whilst the sun was still shining on us.
The general results of this ascent confirm, in a
remarkable degree, those obtained from the pre-
ceding experiments, sad indicate that very few
more extreme high ascents will be necessary for
this purpose.
I cannot close this account without again express-
ing my sense of the great skill and judgment of
Mr. Coxwell. The circumstances of this ascent
were peculiar, laving the earth early in the season,
with a cold east wind, to pass high up into still
colder regions.. Mr.Coxwell never for an instant, from
leaving the earth to returning to it, took his eye off
the balloon, except when otherwise engaged in its
management ; indeed he was so completely occu-
pied that he was unable to make a single note. The
balloon descended at Barking Side, near Atford, at
half-past 8 o'clock—l am, dm.,