The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-04 00:00:00

SO TB/ EDITOR OF. THI HI PUSS.

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SlN—The results of this ascent, as compared
with those found previously, are distinct and highly inte-
resting. The balloon was remarkably free from revolving
on its axis, enabling me to make for the first time satisfac-
tory magnetic experiments. Also for the first time I was
enabled to mate experiments with the view of determining
the ratio of respiration to pulsation, an important physio-
logical inquiry.
The sky was cloudy at starting, but all the clouds were
within 8M feet of the earth • the sky wee then clear but of
a pale blue • the lower atmosphere throughout the jourusy
was thick, Obscuring for the most part the sun, and limiting
the view to a few miles only.
• The pith of the halloos was from 3ydeeham over Peep,
near to Bromley, down the Bevenoaks.road to Tonbridge,
over Cloudburst, near Cranbrook, over Tenterdeo, to Rom-
ney Marsh. The views, though limited in extent, were
beautiful, there being a constant succession of parks and
potlemen's seats, the whole oountry, so highly cultivated,
appearing like • continuous garden, the sun often lighting
op water, giving it the appearance of burnished gold. When
over &allude, the fountains of the Crystal Palace began
to play, sad although small in appearance, they looked very
pretty u lighted up by the sun.
The balloon left at Oh. 334 m. on the evening of June 27th,
with a temperature of 63 du. . • at 6h. 37m. we were over
Pup at the height of 600 feet, and the temperature was
57 dep.; our path was then near to Bromley, passed over
Hayes-common, at heights varying from 800 to 1,600 feet,
with temperatures varying from 55 dega. to 57 dogs. At
7h. lot. the temperature was 55 dep., at the height of 900
feet, this gradually declined to 43 dogs. by 7h. 15m. at the
height of 4,200 feet. The balloon then descended to 3,200
feet, st7h. 26m. ; audthe temperature increseedto 47 dep. ;
at this time we were passing down the Seveouire-road;
we thee turned to emceed, reached 5,000 feet at Th. 42m.,
being at that time nearly over Tonbridge, sad
the temperature declined to 42 dogs. ; our path
then was a little south of Tonbndge, over Goad-
htuet, near to Cranbrook ; the balloon for the most
part deseeridiaa, with increasiog temperatures, to the
height of 450 feet, nearly over Tenterden, by Bh. 54m.,
the temperature of the air at this height being 49 deg. We
then ascended to 6,000 feet at 9h. Bm. ; the temperature
here was about 37 deg., but it was too dark to read the very
fine column of mercury in my delicate thermometers, and,
after this, I could not read any instruments. We touched
the earth at 911. 21m. in a field half a mile from Chiral,
Court, about four miles from Lydd, and fire miles from the
'oast. At 9h. 30w., by the light of a lucifer match, I read
the temperature at 46deg. sm. The fliokenog and transitory
light was bad, however, to read by.
There was one peculiarity in this ascent, es I before said,
distinct from all others, and that was the frequent freedom
from any revolution of the balloon; at times, for 10 or 15
tolmates certain objects kept in the same azimuth ; this
enabled me to take twenty different seta of v.brations of a
horisoakel magnet with as much accuracy as I can take them
on the earth. The result of these experiments showed
clearly that the magnet vibrated in a longer time than on
the earth. This result is very valuable in our present state
of magastical knowledge.
There were in the ear, in addition to Mr. Cox well Lod
myself Mr. Woodroffe, of the Royal Horse Guard': Mr.
W. F. Ingelow. Mr. E. Atkinson, Mr. J. Atkinson, Mr. F.
W. Ellis, and Mr. Collies.
At the height of 1,000 feet the number of pulsations in
ou minute at the several gentlemen were as follows :
Mr. Woodroge, 120; Mr. Ingelow, 106 ; Mr. E. Minoan,
78 ; Mr. Collins, 106 ; Mr. Cox well, rrl ; sad myself, 104.
The number of respirations in one minute were :—Mr.
Woodroffe, 19 ; Mr.. Isgelow, 18 ; Mr. E. Atkielon, 17 ;
Mr. Collins, 11; Mr. Colwell, 15 ; and myself, 184. Mr.
Collins repeated the experiment with the lame result, and
spoke very decidedly about his correctpen. The ratio of
respirations to pulsations were, therefore, u follows :—Mr.
Woodroffe, Ito 6 ; Mr. Ingelow, Ito 6 ; Mr. E. Atkinson,
1 to 5; Mr. Collins, 11 to 10; Mr. Colwell and myself, 1 is
54. At midnight, at Brooklaeds, Mr. Co:well's pulsatioes tar
cue minute were 90 ; gr. Collins, 94 ; and mine, 81; and
respirations were 18, 13, end 17j, respectively. Therefore the
ratio of respirations to pulsations were—Mr. Coxwell. 1 to
5 ; Mr. Collins Ito 6 ; and mine Ito S. The ratio of my
adieu, respintioes to my ordinary pulsations is 1 to 44;
so that the removal of be small amount of atmospheric
premium es experienced on this oecaaion disturbed the
system, but with advantage, as enjoying the parity of the
mountain air without fatigue, increasing the ordinary pul-
satiate by2o to 30 in one minute ; increasing also the number
of respirationa, but not to the name degree. This dim-
tarbance bad lessened, but had not ceased, 2j hours after
we were again on the ground.
Oa the following morning my pulsations numbered 76,
sod my respirations 17, in one wmute, and had therefore
assumed their normal value.
. _ _

One of the recalls of Thirexperinunts on Jou l 3 was so
remarkable a uniformity of temperature at the time of
sunset for 2,000 feet from the earth, that it became very
desirable to determine whether this was accidental or not,
for if not accidents), the decrease of temperature with in-
crease of elevation which holds good by day might be re.
I versed at night, at least up to a certain height. I was
therefore desirous of having as many evening observations
as possible at this time of the year.
On Jose 20, I emended from the Arboretum, at Derby, two
hours before bonnet, and deeoeoded one boor before outset,
with results in close acoordence with the previous lay
aseente. The experiments briefly detailed above would
seem to show but little difference of temperature at the
times of sunset, but tt is to be regretted I bed no means of
reading in the balloon after 9 o'clock. Oar place of (lucent
was Romney Marsh. I have to thank Mr. James Holt, of
the Alliance Inn, Brooklanda, for kind guidance and as-
IliSillooll4 The three descents within a fortnight were all
managed so well that not • ebee instrument was broke,
nor Mead a single bump felt. The several occupants of the
oar on this occasion were load is their wake of the manner
in which Mt. Cozui in the dark brought the balloon to
the=Jay 2. GLADMER.