The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

XIL GLAISBER'S FIFTEENTH DALLOON
.I.,,,CENT FOB SCIENTIFIC runrusis.

TO THE EDITOR OF Tar EXPRESi.

Sts,—The place of ascent was Wolverhampton,
where we have obtained the beet gas for our purpose, pre-
pared by Mr. Prowl, the eminent engineer of the gas woi km.
Crest interest has always beau taken be the direetoLa of
these gas works, to whom I beg to offer my best thanks.

The only member of the committee present to sanction
arrangements and witness the ascent was Last Wrotteeley,
who was on the ground between six ►nd ones o'clock,
laving sent his assistant to help me at a still earlier hoar.
The dates of the greater number of my ascents are in the
slimmer imi.ths. It is necessary that similar experiments
be made in all seasons ; the earliest in the year I have made
is March illst. ten days after the spring equinox, and the
committee of the British Association was anxious to have
corresponding observations about the time of the autumnal
equinox to compare with them.
On leaving, the sky was cloudy, with the wind S.W.,
varying to W.S. W. On looking down there was a general
whit ; higher up it appeared in very straight lines in some
places, and diffused in others; when at the height of one
soils, although we had pawed through no clouds, a general
layer of clouds was below and clouds were very high above.
The balloon was quite full at a mile in height ; above
this there were a few faint gleams of light. On passing I
above two miles we could see two distinct layers of clouds
below ns, and dense clouds still above. The view here was
much above my powers of description; there was present
every variety of cloud, in some places moat harmoniously
grouped, but the very hasty glances, and but few moments I
could spare from my instruments, do not enable,me to do
justice to so grand a scene.
In some places white cumuli clouds appeared resting on
the ground, like huge swans ; a different kind of cumulus
detached had somewhat the appearance of a simultaneous
discharge of heavy ordnance. In one place I counted twelve
of these, and in another thirty. No um was shining upon
us, but between the first and second layer the sun was
shioisg, and the illuminated earth looked like • beautiful
garden. Some slate-coloured clouds were carved, resting on
a base of cumulus. On some clouds there was a beautiful
blue tinge ; over SOW. portions of the landscape a deep
violet tinge. The shadows of high clouds upon low mist
were very one.
Mist was seen rising vertically from the earth, and smoke
from towns and villages to the height of a mile, but with
very little horizontal motion. On deecendiog the shadow
of t►e balloon traversing the fields and roads was very
dark and Lotman At this time, while passing over the
Molds, we disturbed • very large number of hares and
se►eral foxes, which ran wildly away. Not a single par-
tridge rose, although we afterwards learned they were

The bailee left at 7h. 43m. ; in two minutes we were 500
feet above the lath ; 1,000 feet at 7h. 47m. ; 2,000 feet at
7h. 52m. ; two miles at Bh. 30m. ; about two mile. and
a ball from Bh. 45m. to 9h. Bm. ; near two miles and
three garters from 9h. 15m. to 9h. 23m , and reached the
highest point. wii. 31 miles, at 9b. 3dm.
On desoading, we were 33 miles high from 9h. 33m. to ,
OA 52m. ; 21 miles at 9h. 59m. ; two miles at 10h. 4m. ;
mile at 10h. 9m. ; one mile ►t 1014. 13m. ; 3,000 feet
salt' at 105. 131 m. ; 1,000 fest at 10h. '23na. ; and on the
ground at 10h. 30m.
The temperature of the air on the ground had increased
from 43 dep. at 76. a.m. to 48 degs. at 7b. 43m., when we
left; it then declined immediately, being 43 dep. at
1,000 Gut ; 40 dep. at 3,000 feet ; 34 degs, at the height ,
of ore mile ; 97 dogs. at 11 mile ; 21 dep. at two miles.
A quick &ciao then took place, the thermometer readies
being WI low as 12 degs. ►t 21 mass, at which height we
imetinual a quarter of hour, the temperature first increasing
he 171 dells. at 811. 55m., and t►ea gradually decreasing to
14 dep. at 9h. 59e5., when there was a sudden decrease of
3 digs. in two mieutes, which was sensibly felt by Mr.
Coxwell sod myself. On pining above 21 miles, the tees-
pasture increased to 18 dep. at 9h. Bm. ; then deceased to
12 dep. at 9h. 15m. ; still further to 7 dep. at 9h. 23as. ;
sad jest about sere at 9h. 32m.
Oa descending, the temperature varied from 7 dep. to
15 dapt at the height of 23 miles between Oh. 3Om. end
fit. 5.2 m. ; it was 17 dega. at 941. 59ra. ; 22 dogs. at 10h. 4a;
31 dep. at 101 t. 9m. ; was 35 dep. at 1 mile; 40 dep. at
3,000 feet ; 50 at about 1,000 feet ; and was 53 dep. on
th. ground.

The temperature of the dew point (or that temperature
at which the water mixed with the air I. the invisible shape
of vapour, becomes visible es dew; being deposited upon
the bright surfaces of the hygrometers, which have been
previously cooled down by the application of ether) wee
44 dept on the ground ; 33 dep. at 2,003 feet high ;
Zr dep. at 1 mile ; 20 digs. at 24 miles; and varied at this
level between this point and 12 dep., being at times the
same as the temperature of the air ; thus indieatiag that
at this elevation the air wee partly saturated in some phew,
and wholly so in others. Passing above this level the dew point
dammed to 10 dogs. below zero ; the air was not saturated
bat •pproeelled more newly to thatetate than I hare usually
experienced et this elevation. On descending, the tem-
perature 'named, end was 46 dogs. on reaching the
ground.
On the earth the weight of the water actually present in
the air wee guise • cubic fool. ht the height of
2,000 feet then were 2} grains ; at *simile 1 j grain ; and
at 3} mike lees than half a grain.
The degree of the humidity of the air represents the rela-
tive quantity of water present I. the atmosphere, supposing
the imbed amount which could be present at the then tem-
perature of the air ea divided into 100 parts. Oa the ground.
sad up to 1,000 feet, this w a 90; at one mile was 72, and
varied front 70 to 100 up to the highest point reached.
ACTIECOMETSIC grrtcra or THE au:ea Lira.

On the morning of Monday. at 11 a.m., the force of the
ma's rays, as shown by Herchers aetbsometer, at Wrottes.
by Otessuitory, was 48 divisions in owe minute ; and at the
pas works it wee afterwards found to be forty-seven divi-
sions is on minute, and at five o'clock in the afternoon,
trims the sun was low, the increase was 25 divisions in the
name apace of time.
Thew wu no opportunity of rending this instrument in
the balloon till 9h. 4m.. when the increase* in one minute,
with a bright sun, was five divisions, this result was obtained
again at 9h. dm. ; this increase wee seven divisions at 9h.
19m.: and seven or eight divisions occasionally between
lb. 29m. sad 9h. 49m. At 10b. 71a., it was 20 division in a
zainnto, at 10b. 19w. was 25 divisions, and on the gross& at
10b. 45w. was 48 divinities.