The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-13 00:00:00

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In this aerial voyage the heat of the sun was so
great that our scorched visages were a subject of
remark by the bystanders who had gathered to
witness the descent. The distance we had travelled
was about 60 miles, our course being almost due
west. A small pilot balloon sent from the Crystal
Palace about half an hour before we started, for the
purpose of ascertaining the exact direction of the
wind, fell at Laycock, near Chippenham, at 4 15
p.m., thus having gone in the same direction as the
Mammoth, and at about an equal rate of speed.
It would be unfair to Mr. Cozwell's aeronautic
abilities not to mention that they never shone to
greater advantage than on this occasion—a fact of
which our numerous former ascents with him en-
abled us to judge. At the outset of the voyage the
high north tower of the Crystal Palace was cleared
almost at a single bound. The place of our descent
was well chosen, and the descent itself effected with
admirable promptitude and skill.

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A writer in a contemporary sa) Yet hi*
often recorded the ascents of Mr. Coxwell's large
balloon from the purely scientific points of view
which the British Association delights to honour.
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from 800 to 7,000 feet. The directors of the Crystal
Palace liberally permitted us to make our ascent
from their grounds, and we (four in all, including
Mr. Coxwell, whose Experienced services I and two
friends had secured for the occasion) commenced
our aerial excursion last Friday morning at I I 10.
The sky was almost free from clouds, and afforded
an excellent opportunity of observing the magni-
ficent views obtained from different elevations.
The balloon, as I have stated, left the earth at
11 10 a.m., and in two minutes had attained an ele-
vation of nearly 2,300 feet. Proceeding in et
westerly direction, it kept gradually risicg, and at
11 26 a.m, was about 5,000 feet from the earth.
From this elevation we perceived, beyond a range
of cumulus clouds in the N.E., a wide extent of
country in the direction of Chelmsford, while to-
wards the east the windings of the Thames, as far
as the Nore, and the sea beyond, were visible.
Southwards the view was bounded by the range of
the South Downs, and the hills near Farnham and
Bagshot closed in the proepect towards the west.
Beyond these, and in all other directions, the dis-
tant view was hazy and indistinct; but objects
within six or eight miles could be seen with re-
markable clearness. At 11 31 we crossed the
Wandln and skirted the southern extremity of
Wimbledon-common and Richmond-park, imme-
diately above which the highest elevation (6,380
feet above sea level) was attained. The tempe-
rature, which on the ground was 54 deg., here
was 47 deg., and the aneroid barometer indi-
cated a pressure of 2375 inches. The heat of
the sun was most intense, probably owing to
the small amount of aqueous vapour present
in the atmosphere, a fact confirmatory of Dr. Tyn-
dall's remarks on the action of vapour in counter..
acting the effect of solar radiation. At 11 48 a.m.
we crossed the Thames between Kingston and Ted-
dington, and soon afterwards the dark fr planta-
tions on St. George's-hill appeared directly south of
us. The windings of the Thames and Wey near
Weybridge were remarkable features in the view
from this point. We now I:a.gan to descend rapidly,
and again crossing the Thames at Laleham, Mr.
Coxwell permitted the balloon to fall within 800
feet of the ground. Ballast was now thrown out
and we rose gradually to the height of about 5 000
feet, passing over Virginia-water and Bagshot-
heath in the direction of the line of railway from
Staines to Reading. The barren, black heaths ex-
tending southwards for miles presented a dismal
appearance, and contrasted strikingly with the
sandy ridges at Aldershott, which shone brightly
in the sun like plains of salt. The barren dreari-
ness of the numerous sandy roads over this district
seemed well described in the name of the "Devil's
Highway," the designation by which tho old
Roman road across Easthampstead plain is known.
This dreary view was, however, soon succeeded by
one over the cultivated country beyond Windsor
Forest, and passing over the long street of Brack-
nell, and the town of Wokingham, we perceived the
green meadows watered by
" The Loddon slow, with verdant alders crown'd,"
whose sinuous course, shining in the sunshine like
a thread of silver, could be traced for many miles.
Crossing this, and leaving the town of Reading on
the north, we passed over Shinfield and Burghfield-
common. From this point, at an altitude of about
3,500 feet, we obtained a most delightful view of
the weald like country lying between the chalk
hills and the valley of the Kennet. The Roman re-
mains at Silchester were distinctly visible, and the
fir plantations of Aldermaston Heath mingled with
the light green foliege of the " Okes grete," which
abound in this district, relieved., in their turn, by
the dark commons on the borders of Hampshire,
formed a prospect of no ordinary beauty. Beyond
these the steep chalk hills near Kingsclere and the
wooded park of Highclere were seen as gently
undulating slopes, their elevation appearing scarcely
greater than that of the valley beneath. Passing
almost immediately above the spired roof and tower
of Aldermaston-court, and its beautifully wooded
park, we perceived in the distance the old town of
Newbury among the green meadows on the banks
of the Kennet, and the Marlborough downs beyond.
We now skirted the Southern extremity of Green-
ham-heath, and looking down upon Newbury,
which by this time was close beneath us, Mr. Cox-
well selected a common about a miles distant as a
convenient spot for the descent. We reached the
earth at 3 22 p.m., at Newbury Wash, the precise
spot where the first battle of Newbury was fought,
and within a few feet of the tumuli which mark the
burial-places of the slain.