The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

SPOR TING INTELLIGENCE.---This Day-,

CITY BETTING—THIS DAY.
STEWARDS' CUP.
12 to 1 agst Weatherspy (taken)
15 to 1 agst Catch'em Alive (taken)
15 to 1 agst Almack (taken)
GOODWOOD STAKES.
2to 1 agst Anfield (offered—take sto 2)
6to 1 agst Bellman (taken)
9to 1 agst Blondin (taken)
11 to 1 agst Zapateado (taken and offered)
25 to 1 agst Blackdown (taken)
60 to 1 agst Evenhand (taken)
GOODWOOD MP.
9to 2 agst Buckstone (taken and offered)
4to 1 agst La Toucques (taken)
Bto 1 agst Atherstone (taken)
Bto 1 agst Fairwater (offered)
20 to 1 agst Bellman (taken)

Mr. Glaisher's Thirteenth Balloon Ascent,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—Mr. Cox well having informed me that he
intended to ascend from the Crystal Palace on Tues-
day, July 21, and the weather having changed so
that rain was falling and the wind rising, I avctiled
myself of the opportunity to investigate some
points on the formation of rain in the clouds them-
e elves and its precipitation. My principal objects
may be stated to have been--
1. To determine whether there was another stra-
tum of cloud above that from which the rain Was
falling, to confirm the accuracy of Mr. Green's de.
ductions relative to rains—viz., That whenever a
falla st of, there rain e
happens, and the sky is entirely over-
cinvariably be found to exist another
will
ll
stratum of cloud at a certain eleVation above the
er
former."

2. To examine the size of the drops of rain at dif-
ferent elevations, as from all results hitherto ob.
tained the amount of rain collected in a gauge
placed near the surface of the earth is larger than
in any gauge placed above it, and that the higher
the gunge be placed the less water is collected.
3, To determine the temperature of the dew point
in its relation to that of the air below, in, and above
the clouds, &e.
We left the earth at 4h. 52m. p.m. In 10 secs.
we were in a mist, and in 20 seconds on a level
with the clouds. At 4h. 53m. the earth was out of
sigh*. At this time we were 1,200 ft. high. At
4h. 58m., at the height of 2,200 ft., we passed out of
thin rain. When at 2,500 ft., the clouds surround-
ing us were very white, and it was with difficulty
I read those thermometers which had ivory scales.
At sh. 4m. we passed above the clouds, and saw at
a considerable distance above us another stratum of
darker cloud. Presently the docks were visible
through a break in the lower clouds.
At sh. 7m. we saw clouds below us moving in a
different direction to that of the balloon, and those
near the earth with great rapidity. We then began
to descend, and at sh. 14m., at the height of 1,100
feet, scud was below, and the earth was visible with
rain falling fast upon it, though none was falling
upon the balloon. We then ascended, and at sh.
20m. Were 3,500 feet high, but still below the

higher stratum of cloud ; at sh. 22m., at 2,700 feet
high, we entered a dry fog; the grapnel, hanging
by a rope about 100 feet in length, was just visible ;
at 2,600 feet we were in a wet fog ; at 2,000 feet
very fine drops of rain were falling; the clouds be-
neath were black ; at sh. 28m. a thick mist sur-
rounded us, and the grapnel was scarcely visible ;
at sh. 30m. we were in a dense fog. At sb. 31m.
we saw Epping Forest, and heard the noise the rain
made falling on the trees 1,000 feet below ns ; at
sh. 33m. we again last sight of the earth, and two
minutes afterwards could see only a small portion
of the grapnel line; at sh. 37m. we saw an open
country, and then were enveloped in mist, and

hree minutes afterwards we descended to the earth

in a squall of wind and rain, the grapnel catching
on the bank of a piece of water, and landed with-
out breaking a single instrument.
From the existence of the two strata of clouds it
would seem to be an established fact that whenever
rain is falling from an overcast sky there is a second
stratum above. Last year in the ascent on the Ist
of September I was between two layers of cloud at
the time rain was falling from the lower. These
experiments, therefore, confirm the accuracy of Mr.
Green's observations and deductions.

It would also seem that when the sky is overcast
without rain that there is no stratum of cloud above,
but that the sun is shining on the upper surface.
In every instance in which I have been up under
these circumstances, I have found such to be the
case, agreeing in this respect also with Mr. Green's
observations.

The temperature of the air before leaving was 611-1
deg. ; at the height of 1,000 feet it was 59 deg. ; it
decreased to 54 deg. at 2,500 feet. We then de-
scended. At 2,000 feet the temperature was 55
deg., at 1,400 feet was 56 deg., increasing to 58 deg.
at 700 feet. We then turned to ascend, and the tem-
perature gradually decreased to 52 deg. at 3,000
feet, increased to 612 deg. on descending to 500 feet,
decreased to 57 deg on ascending to 1,800 feet, and
rose to 611 deg. on descending again to 500 feet,
after which there was no change, and the tempera-
ture on the earth was 611 dog.

The temperature of the dew-point was half a de-
gree only below that of the air before starting ; it
was nearly 2 deg. lower on first entering the cloud ;
then there was 130 difference between the two tem-
peratures while in the cloud, and the difference in-
creased to 3 deg. on passing above it. These obser-
vations were rtpeated, giving the same results on
every occasion of ascent and descent.
The size of the rain drops as they fell on my note-
book before starting was fully as large as a four-
penny piece ; they decreased in size on ascending,
but our upward movement was too quick, and we
soon passed out of rain. On descending from above
the clouds we first encountered a dry, then a wet
fog, passed into that which may be described as
damPs.ir, or exceedingly fine rain, then experienced
very fine but decided drops of rain like pins' points
covering the note-book ; these increased in size on
approaching the earth, but more rapidly when very
near the earth. The drops of rain ou returning to
the earth were as large as those noted on leaving,
and rain had been falling heavily all the time we
were in the balloon.

The direction of the wind at the time of starting
was S. by E. ; at the height of 2,200tt., we fell in
with a S.W. wind. At 6h. 7m., at the height of
2,300 ft., the clouds beneath moved with great velo-
city, and in a direction different to that of the bal-.
loon. At sh. 9m., at the height of 1,800 ft., we
seemed to be going back ; certainly our direction
was changed. At sh. 33m. 30sec., at the height of
about 1,000 ft. the pressure of the wind was
felt against our faces, and then we changed direc-

tion, and again at sh. 37m., on rising at the height
of I,looft. the wind prettied strongly against the face,
at both thee times the balloon must have been in
one current and the car in another, and
they are the first instances in which I have been
sensible of any wind in the balloon. At sb. 39M.,
at 800 ft. above the earth, we again changed our
direction on entering the lower current, which was
strong and gusty. Our place of descent was about
25 miles, in a straight line from the Crystal Palace,
performed in about 53 minutes.
Blackheath, July 23. JANES GLAISRER.

The trial of Bradley for the murder of Adam Grier-
son terminated at a late hour last night. For the
defence an attempt was yesterday made to prove an
alibi ; but the witnesses broke down on cross-exa-
mination, one of them, a woman, who swore posi-
tively that she had met Bradley in a neighbouring
town on the night of the murder, April 10, not being
able to tell the nab' e of thie, month, or the number
of the day. Sergeant Sullivan spoke to evidence on
behalf of the Crown, after which the judge charged
the jury, who retired to consider their verdict.
Having been called out several times, they stated at
length that they found it impossible to agree, and
two of their number being seriously ill, they were
discharged.