The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-10 00:00:00

AN ACCOUNT OP THE LATE NIGH BALLOON

-Al6firiii Tibiniimiitifoii:

MR. °LUSHER'S ORSTAVATIONS.

On the earth at lh. 3m. the temperature of the
air was 59 deg., at the height of one mile it was 39 deg.,
and shortly afterwards we entered • cloud of about 1,100
feet in thickness, in which the temperature of the air fell to
36i deg., and the wet bulb thermometer read the same.,
showing that the air here was saturated with moisture. On
emerging from the cloud at lb. 17m. we came into • flood
of light, with a beautiful blue sky, without a cloud above us,
and a magnificent sea of cloud below, its surface being varied
with endless hills, hillocks, mountaic chains, and many
snow white mares rung from it. I here tried
to take a view with the camera, but we were
rising with too great rapidity, and going round
sod round too quickly to enable me to do so; the flood
of light, however, was so great, that ell I should have
needed would have bees a momentary exposure, as lb,
Hill Norris had kindly furnished me with extremely
sensitive dry plates for the purpose.
When we reached two miles in height, at 112. 21m., the
temperature had fallen to the freezing point. We were
three miles high at lb. Mn., with a temperature et 18 deg.;
at lb. 39m. we had reached four miles, and the temperature
was 8 deg. ; in ten minutes more we had reached the fifth
mile, and the temperature had passed below zero, and then
rmed mines 2 deg., and at this point no dew was observed on
Hermon Hygrometer when cooled closet' to minus 30 deg.
Up to this time I had taken the observations with comfort.
I bed experiencedjno difficulty in breathing, whilst Mr. CC/S-
-well, in consequence of the necessary exertions he had to
make, had breathed with difficulty for some time. At
lb. Mm. the barometer reading was 11.05 itches, but which
requires a subtractive correction of 0.25 inch. as found
by comparison with Lord Wrottesley's standard ba-
rometer just before starting, both by his lord-
ship and myself, which would reduce it to 10.8 inches,
or at a height of about 54 miles. 1 read the dry bulb ther-
mometer am minus 5 deg. ; in endeavouring to read the wet
bulb I could not see the column of mercury. I rubbed my
eyes, then took a lens and also failed. I thee tried to read
the other instruments, and found I could not do so, nos see
the hands of the watch. I asked Mr. Coawell to help me,
and hey said, he must go into the ring and he would when
he came down. I endeavoured to reach some brandy which
was lying on the table, at the distance of about a foot from
my hand, and found myself unable to do so. My sight
beams more dim. I looked at the barometer, and saw it
between 10 and 11 inches, and tried to record it, but was
unable to write. I then saw it at 10 inches, still decreasing
fast, sod just noted it in my book ; its true reading there-
fore at this time was about 94 inches, implying a height of
51 miles, as • change of one inch is the reading of the
barometer at this elevation takes place on a change of
height of 2,500 feet. I felt I was losing all power, and
endeavoured to rouse myself by struggling and
shaking. I attempted to speak, and found I
had lost the power. I attempted to look at the
barometer again ; my bead fell on one side
I straggled and got it right, and it fell on the other, and
finally fell backwards. My arm, which bad been resting on
' the table, fell down by my side. I saw Mr. Coawell dimly
in the ring ; it became more misty, and finally dark, and I
sank unconsciously as in sleep. This must have been about
lb. 54m. I then heard Mr. Ooxwell say, " What is the
temperature? Take an observation. Now try." But I
could neither see, move, nor speak. I then heard him speak
more emphatically, "Take an observation. Now, do try."
I shortly afterwards opened my eyea saw the instrument
and Mr. Co:well very dimly, and soon saw clearly, and
said to Mr. Coxwell, "1 have been insensible ;" and be re-
plied, "You have, and I nearly." I recovered quickly,
and Mr. Coxwell said, " I have lost the use of my hands,
give me some brandy to bathe them." His bands were nearly
black. I saw the temperature was still below zero, and
the barometer reading eleven inches, but increasing quickly.
I resumed my observations at 26. Tin., recording the
barometer reading 11.53 inches and the temperature
minus 2. I then found that the water in the vessel sup-
plying the wet-bulb thermometer, which I bed by frequent
disturbances kept from freezing, was one man of ice. Mr.
Coxwell then told me that whilst in the ring he felt it
piercingly cold, that hoar frost was all round the neck of
the balloon, and on attempting to leave the ring be found
his bands frozen, sod he got down how be could ; that he
found me motionless, with a quiet and placid expression on
the countenance ; he spoke to me without eliciting a
reply, and found I was insensible. He then said he felt in-
sensibility was coming over himself, that be became anxious
to open the valve, that his hoods failed him, and that be
seized the line between his teeth and pulled the valve open
until the balloon took • turn downwards. This act is
quite characteristic of Mr. Colwell. I have never yet seen
him without • ready means of meeting every difficulty as it
has arises, with a cool self-ixasession that has always left
my mind perfectly easy, and given to me every confidence
in his judgment in the management of so large a halloos.
On asking Mr. Coxwell whether he had noticed the
temperature, he said he could not, as the faces of the in-
strument were all towards me ; but that he bad noticed that
the centre of the aneroid barometer, its blue hand, and a
rope attached to the car, were in the same straight line ; if
so, the readitg must have been between seven and eight
inches. A height of six miles and • half corresponds to
eight inches.
A delicate self-registering minim thermometer read minus
12 degrees, but unfortunately I did not read it till I wee
out of the car, and I cannot say that its index was not dis-
turbed on descending. When the temperature rose to 17 deg.
it was remarked as warm, and 24 deg. as very warm.
The temperature gradually and constantly increased to
57 deg. on reaching the ground. It was remarked that the
sand was warm to the hand, and steamed on being die.
charged.
' "

Biz pigeons were taken up—one was thrown out at the
height of three miles, it extended its wings and dropped as
• piece of paper; a second at four miles flew vigorously
round and round, apparently taking a great dip each time.
A third was thrown out between four and five miles, and
it fell downwards.
A fourth was thrown out at four miles when descending ;
it flew in a circle, and shortly alighted on the balloon.
The two remaining pigeons were brought down to the
ground. One was found dead, and the other, a "carrier,"
had attached to its neck • note. It would not, however,
leave, and when cut off the finger returned to the hand.
After a quarter of an hour it began to peck a piece of ribbon
by which its neck wu encircled, and it was then jerked off
the finger, and it flew with 1101110 vigour finally towards
Wolverhampton. Not oee however had returned wises I
left on the afternoon of the 6th.
Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Proud, the
engineer of the gas works, for the production of gas of each •
mall specific gravity.
It would seem from these fact• that five mike is very
nearly the limit of human existence. It is possible, as the
effect of each high ascent upon myself has been different,
that in another I might be able to go higher ; and it is pos-
sible that I=o persona may be able to exist with lees air
and bear a greater degree of cold, but still 1 think prudence
would say to all, whenever the barometer reading falls as
low as eleven inches, open the valve at once, the increased
information to be attained is not commensurate with the
increased risk.
September 9.

JAMES GLAUSHER.

THZ Ray. J. LIVISZY.—On Monday evening a
meeting was held at fithellekl of the rube:Fibers to a testi-
mosiel fund for the Rev. J. Livesey. Dr. lam occupied the
chair, acid explained that the meeting was called to decide
what should be done with a subscription which was being li
raised, to show their unabated esteem and respect for the
rev. gentleman. It had been intended, in the first instance,
to raise the sum necemary to pay the fees to enable Mr.
Livesey to take the degree of doctor of divinity. Accord- '
ingly, the churchwardens had written to Mr. Liven,' to ask 1
his concurrence, and bad received a reply declining to accept
the proposed honour. The rev. gentleman wrote as follows:—
The degree of Doctor of Divinity, so sparsely conferred by
our venerable English universities, has ever been esteemed
an honour by greet and good men ; and no one can more '
highly appreciate it than myself. I think, however, you
will agree with me, that recent events (except es stimulants
to Christan exertion) bad tar better be buried in oblivion,
and that such a distinction, is contrast with such events,
would be wisely withheld. If, too, ea my friends believe, I
have been enabled by Divine grace to act with Christie
meekness under circumstances not a little trying to human
nature, will it not be more consistent with the meekness at
wisdom and with Christian simplicity to be content with the
grade common to my brethren in the ministry, sad to ea-
deavonr to ' purchase to myself a good degree' is the school
of Christ, by more devoted labours in His service'" Under
thews cirenmetaboes, it was unanimously resolved to present
Mr. Limey with the money which had been collected.—
Independent.