The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sirs,—The place of ascent was Wolverhampton, where
we have obtained the best gas for ow purpose, prepared by
Mr. Proud, the eminent engineer of the gas works. Great
interest has always been taken in these experiments by the
directors of the gas works, to whom I beg to offer my best
thanks.

The only member of the committee present to sanction
arrangements and witness the ascent was Lord Wrottesloy,
who was on the ground between six and seven o'clock,
having sent his assistant to help mo at a still earlier hour.
The dates of the greater number of my ascents are in the
summer months. It is necessary that similar experiments
should be made in all seasons. The earliest in the year is
March 31, ten days after the spring equinox; and the com-
mittee of the British Association was anxious to havo cor-
responding observations about the time of the autumnal
equinox.

On leaving the sky was clouly, with the wind SW,
varying to WS W. On looking down there was a general
mist, high, appearing in very straight lines in some places,
and diffused in others. When at the height of one mile,
although we had passed through no clouds, a general layer
of clouds was below, and clouds were very high above.
The balloon was quite full at one mile in height. Above
this there were a few faint gleams of light. On passing
above two miles, we could see two distinct layers of clouds
below and dense clouds still above. The view here was
much above my powers of description. There was present
every variety of cloud, in some places most harmoniously
grouped ; but the very hasty glances and but few moments I
could spare from the instruments do not enable me to dik,
„justice toocgrand a scene.
In some places white cumuli clouds appeared resting on
the ground like huge swans. A different kind of cumulous
clouds detached had somewhat the appearance of a simul-
taneous discharge of heavy ordnance. In one place I
counted twelve, and in another 30. No sun was shining
upon us, but between the first and second layers the sun was
shining, and the illuminated earth looked like a beautifu
garden. Some slate-coloured clouds were curved, resting
on a base of cumulus. On some clouds there was a beau-
tiful blue tinge, over some portion of the landscape a deep
violet tinge.

The shadows of high clouds upon low mist were very fine
Mist was seen rising vertically from the earth, and smoke
from towns and villages to the height of a mile, but with
very little horizontal motion. On descending the shadow
of the balloon traversing the fields and roads was very dark
and intense.

At this time, whilst over the fields we disturbed a very
large number of hares and several foxes, which ran wildly
away. Not a single partridge rose, although we afterwards
learned they were numerous.
The balloon left at 7h 43m, In two minutes we were
500 feet above the earth ; 1,000 feet at 7h 47m ; 2,000 feet at
7h 52m ; two miles at 8h 30m ; about 21 miles from 8h 45m
to 9h ; near 21 miles from 9h 15w to 9h 23m; and
reached the highest point, viz., 31 miles, at 9h 33m.
Oa descending we were 21 miles high from 9h 33m to 9h
52m ; 21 miles at 9h 59m ; 2 miles at 10h 4m ; 11 mile at
10h ; 1 mile at 10h 13m; 3,000 feet only at 10h 154 m;
1,000 feet at 10h 23m ; and on the ground at 10h 30w.
The temperature of the air on the ground had increased
from 43 deg at 7h a.m. to 48 deg. at 7h 43m, when we left ;
it then declined immediately, being 45 deg at 1,000 feet, 40
deg at 3,000 feet, 34 deg at the height of a mile, 27 deg at
11 mile, 21 deg at 2 miles, A quick decline then took place/
the thermometer reading being as low as 12 deg at 21
at which height we continued a quarter of an hour, the tem-
perature first increasing to 171 deg at 8h 55m, and then gra-
dually decreasing to 14 deg at 9h 59m, when there was a
sudden decrease of 3 deg in 2 minutes, which was sensibly
felt by Mr. Coxwell and myself. On passing above 2} miles
the temperature increased to 16 deg at 9h Sm, then de-
creased to 11 deg at 9h 15w, still further to 7 deg at 9h 23m,
and just about zero at 9h 33m.
On descending the temperature varied from 7 to 15 deg
at the height of 21 miles, between 9h 36w and 9h 52m;
was 17 deg at 9h 59w, 22 deg at 10h 4w, 31 deg at 10h 9m,
was 35 deg at 1 mile, 40 deg at 3,000 feet, 53 deg at about
1,000 feet, and was 53 deg on the ground.
Tho temperature of the dew-point (or that temperature
at which the water mixed with the air in the insensible shape
of vapour, becomes visible as dew, being deposited upon the
bright surfaces of the hygrometers, which have been pre-
viously cooled down by the application of tether) was 44 deg
on the ground, 35 deg at 200 feet high, 25 deg at 1 mile, 20
deg at 21 miles, and varied at this level between this point
and 12 deg, being at times the same as the temperature of
the air, thus indicating that at this elevation the air was
partly saturated in some places and wholly so in others.
I)4ssing above this level the dew-point decreased to 10 deg
below zero, the air was not saturated, but approached more
nearly to that state than I have usually experienced at this
elevation. On descending the temperature increased, and
was 46 deg on reaching the ground.
On the earth the weight of the water actually present in
the air was 31 grains in a cubic toot ; at the height of 2,000
feet there were 21 grains; at one mile, 11 grain; and at 31
miles less than half a grain.
The degree of humidity of the air represents the relative
quantity of water present in the atmosphere, supposing the
greatest amount that could be present at the then tempera-
ture of the air as divided into 100 parts. On the ground,
and up to the height of 1,000 feet, this was 90 ; at one mile
was 72; and varied from 70 to 100 up to the highest point
reached.