The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-27 00:00:00

TIIR REV. C. C. COLTON.

The friends of this gentleman appear to be sensitively
and properly alive to any statement that appears to reflect
discredit on his character. A correspondent in a Mornin!,
Paper of yesterday took upon himself to give a positive and
unqualified contradictien to the whole of an article that
appeared in this paper ou Tuesday last respecting Mr.
Colton. The withdrawal of a large sum of money from
a banker's on the day previous to his departure from Lon-
don was a matter of notoriety among his friends; and the
fact, if necessary, could be substantiated. To the circum-
stance of his changing a lOW. note in a gaming-house. on
the evening of the 2stli of May, and losing only a very small
portion of it, the writer of this article was an eye-witness,
and also an ear-witness to Lis stating that he intended to
go to Epsom the next flay (Thursday), to see the races,
and also to hack Emilins. It is indeed said, that Mr.
Colton was not possessed of 3,0001. ; but it should be
known that this gentleman was engaged in very extensive
speenlations, and had always large sums at his command,
, of which, indeed, he was very constantly boasting, which no
doubt rendered him an object for the designs of the vagi-
bonds with whom, from his pursuits at the gaming-table,
he must have frequently come in contact ; and the circum-
stance of his having left his house in the manner described in
'the Morning Paper of s csterday furnishes some corroboration
to the inference that- he may have been murdered—per-
haps invited out under sonic pretence, like that under
which t'eare was entrapped, to render him the more easy
prey. One thing is certainly clear, via.—that Mr. Colton
has been missing since the 29th of May, 18E3, and no
person can be found to say that he has been seen or heard
of since that period.

MR. GRAHAM'S ASCENT FROM TAUNTON.
--..m.---
[From the Tatar:ow Catricr.]
'r'te failure in Mr. Grahaßs attempt to ascend from this
town, on the 16th instant, incited him to the most anxious
exertions to compensate for the disappointment he had oc-
casioned. Arratgements were Accordingly made for his
ascension with his balloon yesterday (Tuesday), and a
, large elevated field, opposite the Gas-works, in liolway-
lane' was selected for the purpose. On this spot the
tanks, and other works for generating the hydrogen gas,,
were erected. Mr. Griaham having announced that the field
should be thrown open, gratis, to the public, am'. that he
should rely on the voluntary contributions of those as-
sembled, published a particular statement of his expenses,
by which it appoars that histlisbursementsamounted to up-
wards of 3601. The free admission to the field occasioned
it to be filled at an early period of the day, by a vast mul-
titude of spectators, many of whom had arrived from
distant parts of the country. 'Carriages of every descrip-
tion snrroundcd the ground, many of them filled with a
bewitching display of female grace and beauty. Stands
we're erected for the accommodation of spectators, and
booths, in Which supplies were served out for refreshing the
thirsty pedestrian, alipeared in various parts of the ground.
A party of eudgel-players firm Wedmore displayed their
science in an adjoining, Meadow, on an elevated 'stage ; and
various homely aintts.ments enlivened the scene. The day
was calm, clear,, and of uncommon loveliness—the sun
having shone, without intermission, from the earliest
dawn ; the sky 'was, in consequence, delightfWly blue and
cloudless. _ _ _ .

At twelvt o'clock the process of inflation commenced,
and as the hour advanccd at which the ascent was ex-
pected, the anxiety of the multitude became painfully in-
sister', from the apprehension that some mischance might
wain frustrate the attempt. Mr. Graham hail, however,
very discreetly availed himself of the voluntary services of
sobe highly scientific slcntiemen, to whose honourable
Worts no inconsiderable praise is due for the admirable

arrangement of the process.
As we stated last week, this was Mr. Graham's first ex-
periment with pure hydrogen gas, his balloon having, on
all former occasions, been inflated with carburrcted hydro.
gen from the Gas-works; but 'soil gas is too heavy for the
purpose of' aerostation, that obtained from the establish-
ment in this town was inapplicable to the purpose. His
materials of iron and vitriol were, therefore, brought from
Bristol, at a considerable cost, and Mr. Graham is, indeed,
entitled to the greatest credit for having spared neither
pains nor expense in redeeming hit reputation from the dis-
advantage occasioned by ltioilarnt Whirr.
The process of inflation commenced at twelve o'clock,
and the balloon became rapidly distended; so rapidly, In-
deed, that the net-work, not hating been thrown over in
sufficient time, it was near escaping from the grasp of the
assistants—the consequence was, that upwards of 5,000
cubic feet of gas escaped through the valve, and soon
after four o'clock it was ascertained that no more gas could
be generated than was sufficient for the ascent of one
person.
Mrs. Graham, and one or two other aspirants for the ho-
nour of accompanying the aerial voyager, were therefore
compelled to forego their intentions.
At twenty minutes before five o'clock Mr. Graham took
his station in the car, and the cords having been simulta-
neously loosened, the balloon majestically rose to the in-
finite delight of the immense concourse of persons
assembled, who hailed the intrepid aeronaut with continued
shouts of applause. The balloon took a south-castern
direction, and moved calmly through the air onwards; and
the sky being delightfully clear and serene, the spectacle
was perhaps as interesting as any of the kind ever ant-
i nessed.

A few minutes after Mr. Graham ascended, he threw out
his travelling cap, and soon after a roll of paper, for the
purpose of affording increased levity to the balloon. After
sailing steadily through the air for about twenty minutes,
the balloon, when about a mile in height, was gently im-
pelled in a south-westerly direction, in which it continued
until a few minutes past six o'clock, when Mr. Graham pre-
pared for his descent, which was safely effected about
twenty minutes after six, in an oat field occupied by Mr.
R. Broomfield, about a quarter of a mile south-east of the
village of L'pottcry, Devon, distant from this town about
12 miles.

From the clearness of the sky, the balloon was in sight
the whole time, from the moment of its ascending to that
of its descent below the horizon.

This town was never remembered to have been so full of
company as on this occasion.
On the descent of the ballaon in Mr. Broom& eld,
it rebounded to the height of about 12 feet, but wa im-
mediately secured, and held down by some laboure on
the spot.
The spot at i'pottcry, where Mr. Graham descended,
is in the domain of Lord Elidmatitb, 12 miles from Taun-
ton, and six from Honiton. Mr. Graham being obliged
to lighten the car as much as possible, had been compelled
to ascend without his coat, Mr. Kitchener, his Lordship's
steward, in consequence, obligingly provided iin with
one and after Mr. G. had taken refreshment at his Lord-
ship's villa, he returned to Taunton at a quarter before
, one o'clock this morning. The utmost attention was
paid to Mr. Graham by Lord Sidmouth's family ; and as a
testimony of grateful respect, Mr. Graham presented her
Ladyship with a flag, which had been used in the present
and several other aerial voyages.

It is rather singular that so nicely was the quantity of
gas generated proportioned to the weight of the balloon,
that it was only by Mr. Graham'► divesting himself of his
coat and waistcoat, stripping the car of its velvet linings,
and leaving behind his grappling iron, that the silken
vehicle was enabled to ascend.

Mr. Green ascended from Shrevniburt in his balloon on
Monday, at 20 minutes before five o clock. From the
c.almneits and clearness of the sky, the balloon was visible
for nearly three-quarters of an hour. After ascending to
'a considerable height, it morel horizontally for some time
in the direction of Wellington, when it became invisible.
The crowd was immense.

The meeting of the three Choirs of Worcester, Hereford,
and Gloucester, is the oldest musical establishment in the
I United Kingdom. The hundred and first meeting will
take place next month at Worcester, at which the Bishop
of the Diocese is the President ; the patrons are, the
principal Nobility and Gentry of the country; among
them are--

The Earls of Coventry, Plymouth Monntrnoeris. Beauchamp,
and Somers; Viscounts Deerhurst, Eastnor, and Valentine; Lords
Foley. Aston,Dormer, and Northa ick; 800. Colonel Lygon ; Sirs
Charles Cockerel, Ban., Edward Blouut, Bart., Thomas Edward
Wincingtom Bart., C. Sidney Smith, Bart...pd Anthony Lech.
mere. Bart.; laent..Colonel Dories, H.P., A. . Solana, Esq.