The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-19 00:00:00

BALLOON FAILURE.

It was announced in the public prints of Saturday, and
by means of innumerable gaudy placards, that Mr. Gra-
ham, of aerostatic notoriety, was to make his fifteenth
balloon accent, from the grounds of the Windsor Castle
Tavern, Hammersmith, at three o'clock on Mon•Liy, ac-
companied by his friend, Mr..Adatns, who trent up with
him from Sydney Gardens, Bath, some short time back.

In consequence of this 'atmtn;ciation, the hamlet. was
quite alive at an early hour, and several persons from" the
;ity" added to the concourse of expectant gapers during
the day. Signal guns were discharged, at intervals, during
the progress of inflation, which commenced at seven
o'clock in the morning; however, after a lapse of five or
six hours, it was found' that the ponderous machine had
not half expanded itself, and according to the supply of
gas, which then came but slowly in, it was altogether im-
possible that any ascent could be made, unless the pres-
sure was increased at the gasometer. Mr. Graham, who
appeared to view the possibility of a disappointment
with very sensible uneasiness, immediately set off to the
gas works, at llrentford, a distance of three miles, and
arrangements were made, under his suggestion, to give
better and speedier effixt to the inflation, after which the
gas was discovered to rush into the balloon with consider-
able velocity ; but from the smallness of the conductors,
(only three inches diameter in the bore), Mr. Graham
announced to the company that no ascent could possibly
take place until five o'clock, when he trusted every
arrangement would be completed, so as to enable
him to make good his engagement with the public. The
extreme beauty of the day, with the help of a tolerable,
though petite, band of musicians, made the delay almost
endurable for another hour, when the telltale clock of the
village church proclaimed the hour of three, and that
patience which had hitherto kept silence, now began to
wag its tongue in rather diasatisfied measures. Mr.
Graham then came forward and stated, that in consequence
of the severe frost it was altogether impossible to com-
mence the inflation earlier than seven o'clock, and
front the smallness of the main, and the distance the gas
had to come, lie found that unless the pressure was in-
creased the balloon could not fill. lie had taken
measures to insure a quicker supply, and trusted that
either himself or Mr. Adams would be able to
ascend at five o'clock. Disposed to accomodate, the
company continued to promenade the little muddy
circle of the machine on the "tip-toe of expectation" for
another hour. At this period the upper part of the bal-
loon was quite full, and the zone began to expand itself, so
that there was then some hope. Just at this period the
issue of gas from the pipe became slower, and the sun hav-
ing nearly got below the horizon, a very sensible decrease
was visible in the body of the machine. Mr. Graham once
more came forward, and stated that he felt great pain and
reluctance in saying, that in consequence of the very insuf-
ficient supply of gas which he had bad during the day, it
was quite impossible to think of going up, and he therefore
trusted that the company would kindly forgive hint for a
• disappointment that he could neither contemplate nor con-
trol. Those who had honoured him with their pretence
would receive money-checks at the door for to-morrow's
(this day) azeent, which would inevitably take place at an
early hour, as the quantity of gas in the balloon wot'ld be
preserved, and of course a very short time would complete
the inflation in the morning. With a few dissentients, this
announcement was passively received, and the company
dispersed. The Gas Company were in nowise blameable,
as she utmost exertions were made on their part to prevent
iticoproiutmeut.
The windows and roofs of the houses opposite the
iVinelsot Castle were peopled with anxious spectators, and
, a very general feeling of disappointment was evinced
, amongst those good folks, when the Intelligence of the
, failure transpired : hut the Londoners, who went down
r specially (as the lawyers have it), were wickedly bantered
, by their country cousins, on the folly of hunting after
" airy nothings."